Efficiency is not just for refrigerators and washing machines. Looking at a home’s cumulative efficiency is something our te...

Efficiency is not just for refrigerators and washing machines. Looking at a home’s cumulative efficiency is something our team takes into consideration during a build. In the midst of the coldest part of the year, ensure your home is operating at maximum efficiency with these tips for heat conservation.

Monitoring and maximizing your home’s efficiency has several benefits. In addition to saving on utility bills, it also lessens your home’s carbon footprint, making things better for the environment. It improves the longevity and sustainability of your home by way of windows, doors, pipes, and your heating system. And, it brings you peace of mind knowing that you have a safe, efficiently run home tucked away in the mountains.

Secure Your Seals

Sub-zero temperatures make it all too easy to find the areas in your home where seals are weak. Check all windows, doors, and cracks for cool air and address these as soon as possible; you are letting cool air in and your heat out.

Adjust to the Draft

If you have a particularly drafty window or room in your home, consider covering the window or door. A window insulator kit is a great temporary solution to get you through the winter. You may also consider keeping curtains closed or shutting the door to that room to further insulate the rest of your home.

Follow the Sun

Utilize the sun’s heat to your advantage. Open all the blinds or curtains on all East-facing windows in the morning and all West-facing in the evening, capturing the sun’s natural warmth. Strategically opening and closing your window coverings can help circulate additional heat in your home.

Schedule Routine Maintenance

Professionals know best and we have some high-quality companies that tend to the homes at The Divide. Having your heating system, including your furnaces, boilers, and heat pumps, checked on a regular basis helps ensure that things are running efficiently. Remember to replace filters monthly or as often as needed and when in doubt, bring in the professionals.

Fireplace Efficiency

Many of the homes at The Divide offer authentic, wood-burning fireplaces and our residents love to fire them up in the winter. When doing so, make sure that the flue vent is cleared out and cleaned on a regular basis to ensure proper safety and ventilation. When not using your fireplace, keep the damper securely closed, and if you know you will not use the fireplace for an extended period of time, plug and seal the chimney.

“The mountains are calling and I must go.” – John Muir

2020 has been one heck of a year; there is no doubt about that. While numbers are still on the rise, stress levels follow suit. Fortunately, for our residents at The Divide, they are surr...

“The mountains are calling and I must go.” – John Muir

2020 has been one heck of a year; there is no doubt about that. While numbers are still on the rise, stress levels follow suit. Fortunately, for our residents at The Divide, they are surrounded by the still, calming atmosphere you can only find among the treetops of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Here are four ways to recharge in the beauty of Blue Ridge.

Explore

Our community is fairly remote which means there are few distractions on your property outside the wandering bear or deer. This means that you have ample space and freedom to explore the landscape at your leisure. Just remember these safety tips!

Meditate

While this practice is not for everyone, now is as good a time as any to give it a try. You don’t have to take the traditional cross-legged position if you don’t want to; just find a comfortable seated position, perhaps out on your porch or deck, and just clear your mind; it’s as simple as that. If something pops into your head, push it back out. Enjoy the soft sounds of nature and just be.

Unplug

What did you do in your free time as a child? Play a card game? Read a book? Just chat with friends or family? One of the best ways to recharge is to unplug from digital devices, log out of social media accounts, and turn off the TV. Instead of streaming, try out a new recipe for dinner. Instead of Facetiming, have that friend over for a socially-distanced glass of wine. Give yourself some space from your devices and just unplug. It’s amazing how rejuvenating this simple act of disconnecting can be.

Decorate

Check out this article on how our builders constructed homes modeled after the landscape around them. Take it one step further and bring other natural elements into your home. Try including refurbished wood furniture, local décor, live plants, and a warm color palette of earth tones to make recharging in your home a breeze.

While almost everyone could benefit from a recharge most days, The Divide at Bald Rock is the perfect place to do so. Explore all we have to offer at www.dividenc.com.

The beautiful North Carolina Mountains are bursting with abundant wildlife and filled with numerous species of birds. The 4,000 acres of agricultural lands as well as streams, lakes and wetlands provide ideal habitat for our local feathered friends. While there are quite a few of these, we’ll...

The beautiful North Carolina Mountains are bursting with abundant wildlife and filled with numerous species of birds. The 4,000 acres of agricultural lands as well as streams, lakes and wetlands provide ideal habitat for our local feathered friends. While there are quite a few of these, we’ll give you a guide to identifying the ones you see most often! 

The wonderful world of birding is a simple pleasure you don't have to travel far to experience. In fact, the best birding can even be enjoyed from your own backyard. Engaging in this beloved pastime is both easy to do and can be done anytime, anywhere, especially when residing in such a nature-rich area.

If you want to learn more about the birds you are observing, guide books on the birds commonly found in the Blue Ridge Parkway can be helpful, or scroll to the bottom for a free app! Adding nest boxes on your property can bring more birds to your favorite bird watching spot. As amazing as it is to add bird feeders to your property, you must be aware that doing so will attract more than just your favorite birds; you may find a bear or two visiting as well. Our recommendation is to avoid the feeders, concentrate on installing many nesting boxes, and keep those binoculars handy to see them more clearly. Caring for the avian neighbors in your local area can support and provide homes to wildlife, ensuring they will be around for years to come.

Warblers - The Blue Ridge supports a large population of Warbler birds including the Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Canada Warblers.

Northern Saw-whet Owl - Northern hardwoods provide excellent habitat for high-elevation species. They are named for their song, which reminded settlers of the sound of a whetstone sharpening a saw.

Black-capped Chickadee - This lively little cheery sounding bird is full of active behavior and is often accompanied by nuthatches and kinglets. They’re also a big fan of sunflower seeds at the feeders!

Red-breasted Nuthatch - This little bird has little fear in the presence of humans and may come close! They typically nest in conifer forests and you can find them in their dense forest habitat.

Scarlet Tanagers - These brilliantly bright birds can be commonly found in oak forests in the summer months, but make sure to look up to find them! Tanagers often remain out of sight in the upper branches above. 

Veery - You may hear this springy bird in summer or see it bouncing across the forest floor with little hops! 

Bird life thrives in the mountains and it can be exciting to catch sight of the numerous different species and even capture photos of them! Whether in your backyard or on the best bird watching trails in the area, birding can help you to be more aware of your environment and the vibrant life surrounding you. 

Bird watching is a great activity for those who love getting out into nature around them and observe the many different kinds of animals found right in their back yard. It can be rewarding to develop an appreciation and care for birds both large and small! Visit this link for fun Birding Bingo games to get started with backyard birding today. 

www.nps.gov/blri/learn/nature/backyard-birding

For those interested in identifying and keeping track of the birds you’ve seen and exploring the avian world more in-depth, you can download the Audubon Bird Guide App for free on the iPhone App Store and Google Play. It's now easier than ever to identify a bird you just saw and learn more about the birds you love. 

/www.audubon.org/app

It’s spring in the mountains and renewed life is abundant all around The Divide at Bald Rock. The leaves are beginning to fill the trees, the Flame Azaleas are in full bloom, and mountain wildlife is beginning to roam. With so much activity at The Divide, it is only appropriate for Westmark C...

It’s spring in the mountains and renewed life is abundant all around The Divide at Bald Rock. The leaves are beginning to fill the trees, the Flame Azaleas are in full bloom, and mountain wildlife is beginning to roam. With so much activity at The Divide, it is only appropriate for Westmark Construction Company to begin construction of Panther Ridge at The Divide!

This 4-bedroom, 4.5 bath, 4,488 square foot home is a gem in the making! Southwesterly views of Chimneytop, Rock, Whiteside, and many other mountains are a remarkable sight every day. Situated on lot 41 of The Divide and at an elevation of 4,300’, Panther Ridge features include a main level master suite, large open floor plan and a spacious Carolina room with an outdoor fireplace. 

Adventure awaits you and your family in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina and it begins with homeownership at The Divide. You will have access to the community amenities of The Divide and Bald Rock communities including hiking/equestrian trails into Panthertown National Forest, an on-site equestrian center at Bald Rock, open-air pavilion, and the many resort amenities of Sapphire Valley Resort.

Construction of this modern mountain retreat is running ahead of schedule, but there is still time to customize some of the selections to your style! We would love to talk to you about the possibility of making this property your home. Give us a call now at (828) 743-4124 or email us at info@westmarkconstructioncompany.com. We look forward to working with you!

Spring at The Divide is one of the most beautiful times of the year. The forests are green again, the mountain air isn’t as dry and cold, and everything comes back to life. In lieu of simply spring cleaning, spring offers the opportunity to get ahead of the times and focus on sustainability; ...

Spring at The Divide is one of the most beautiful times of the year. The forests are green again, the mountain air isn’t as dry and cold, and everything comes back to life. In lieu of simply spring cleaning, spring offers the opportunity to get ahead of the times and focus on sustainability; a fresh start! Here are some of our best tips on how to maximize your home’s efficiency, conserve our natural resources, and make a difference in your local community.    

• Home Repairs - On average, 10 gallons of water a day go to waste due to leaky toilets or faucets. Whether it’s you yourself or you hire someone to keep an eye on the place, check all sinks, showers, and toilets periodically for leaks. The tried and true food coloring test helps detect hidden leaky toilets. Simply place a few drops in the tank, and if you see the color leak into the bowl, you know you have an issue.
• Turn off the Taps – It sounds really simple, but when doing simple tasks like brushing your teeth or washing dishes, turn off the water when you’re not using it. This can save up to 900 gallons of water per month. Similarly, turn off the tap when you lather while washing your hands or showering.
• Take a Look at Your Landscaping – While few residents at The Divide have traditional lawns, each home is a little different. If you have traditional sod in patches, keep it a little longer – 1 ½ - 2 inches tall – to help with water retention. For flower beds and other landscaping, lay some organic mulch. This helps keep these areas nice and wet, which means saving water, time, and money. Pruning bushes and shrubs can also help them use water more efficiently.
• Plant Native – The natural landscape that surrounds the Blue Ridge Mountains is simply breathtaking.  Keep it that way and avoid planting non-native plants that can be invasive or harmful to the existing ecosystem. Opt instead for plants and flowers that are indigenous to the region. The existing wildlife will thank you for it.
• Compost – Speaking of planting, what better fertilizer is there than your own organic compost? Roughly one third of the food produced for consumption goes to waste each year. You can help knock this number down by putting your food scraps to work. A compost bin can help drive down your household’s waste while also serving your landscaping and houseplants! Just be sure to purchase one that locks. The bears of the region sure get curious.
• Trip Planning – Your mountaintop getaway is exactly that: on top of a mountain. This means that residents are farther from things like the grocery store and points of entertainment. Therefore, consolidate your trips and plan accordingly. If you know you need groceries but are planning on going to a show later in the day, take a cooler and shop before or after the show so you’re only making one trip. Carpooling with your neighbors is also a great way to get to know your community while keeping sustainability in mind.
• Volunteer – Whether you’re picking up a stray water bottle on a trail or establishing a state-wide recycling program, your efforts as a volunteer have far-reaching effects. Try to volunteer in your free time with an organization dedicated to preserving the environment (the Friends of Panthertown has many opportunities!) and help actively make a difference in your community.

Doing small things like these can help make the area of The Divide at Bald Rock a better place. Interested in experiencing all this community has to offer? Visit www.dividenc.com for more information.