Update a room, add a screened porch, winterize a cottage, or expand in every direction

The combined skills of architect and builder become a great advantage in remodels, additions, or expansions of existing homes.

Wade Burns has an eye for seamlessly creating new spaces and features, while respecting the feel of the original home. It shows in his designs, and results in a finished product that is so well integrated, it’s hardly noticeable as an addition to visitors.

The barrage of construction rules, regulations, and ordinances that can feel like a gauntlet to the uninitiated. Wade Burns has decades of experience, negotiating and meeting these challenges, working with variance boards, meeting the elusive requirements of steep slope ordinances.

Click the arrows to move through each slideshow. Hover over any image to get details.

New stone fireplace in screened porch

The client remarked, “the masons were artisans.”

Mantle was a recycled old joist

Our masons meticulously positioned every stone in its place.

Bringing the outside in

Wade suggested adding a set of French doors to open up the transition from the indoors to the screened porch.

Panoramic screened porch

Wade replaced the multiple small screened opening, with just a few expansive ones, and raised the upper frame about a foot, to reveal the mountain views.

New exterior siding and a walkway.

Wade removed all the hundred-year-old siding, sprayed closed-cell insulation into all the exposed wall caverns, and finished with low-maintenance cement-fiber siding.

Retaining wall eliminated erosion

With high visibility, Wade went with something more than a simple block or cast-in-place concrete retaining wall. Now, the walkway remains passable, with virtually no upkeep.

Fits in with existing architecture.

In Montreat, it’s important to preserve the ambiance of the neighborhood. So, even with extensive remodeling, the finished project fits in beautifully, but inconspicuously.