True Bearing Built

Blower door test day! Our Lake Whatcom passive house tested a 0.53 ACH at 50Pa today! This was the prelim test for the project, and we now have a good baseline for continued work as we proceed on finishes! We will do a final test after the project is complete to verify the final performance stats. 👍

Way to go TBB team on the attention to detail!

Not only are passive homes good for the planet and personal energy-savings, but they also work to protect you in the chance of an environmental emergency. Great article about how even the non-mechanical aspects of a passive home prove essential in it's ability to regulate inside conditions.

The Houston Derecho: Field Notes from Clutch City Passive | Phius The Houston Derecho: Field Notes from Clutch City Passive Phius Certified Consultant Jesse Hunt chronicles his experience living in a Phius Certified home during a derecho storm in Houston, Texas that knocked out power for an extended period.

We love seeing beautiful projects come together with the perfect building materials! This stunning entryway features a Rogue Valley Door "Urban Series" door in fir with square sticking and Satin Etch privacy glass. It was a collaborative effort, special thanks to:

- FBS Millwork Sales Rep: Ashley Meyers
- General Contractor: True Bearing Built
- Designer: Nina Le Baron AIA - Island Architecture

This modern door, with its clean lines and timeless wood craftsmanship, perfectly complements the home's contemporary style. You can depend on Frontier and our team of experts to help bring your vision to life... Reach out today to discuss your remodel project or stop by our new Millworks showroom in Freeland for inspiration!

Big thanks to HKP Architects for hosting a tour of the new Mount Vernon Library Commons, the first publicly-bid Passive House library and community center in the nation!

We are excited to show off the nearly completed roof on our Lake Whatcom Passive house! Completed by Andgar, this 24ga standing seam panel roof will soon house a solar array by Ecotech Solar. A typical install setup for our solar attachments to metal standing seam panels utilize Ironridge rails with S-5 clamps to attach with zero penetrations through the roofing material. Also visible in this fly-over, are the battens over Steico exterior insulation product, prepped for siding installation. Stay tuned as we complete drywall interior and begin exterior siding application!

Further progress this week at our Lake Whatcom passive house collaboration with [bundle]. SIGA North America Air barrier install is complete, and furring strips being installed for sheet rock at lid. Outside, framing at screened porch area continues!

Work is progressing nicely on our Emerald Lake Passive House build with [bundle]! Visible in these recent photos are the carefully installed Stego Industries crawl space v***r barrier and the beginnings of the structural floor framing system by Dosch Construction. Hangers are now installed on layout for the TJI floor joists which framers will begin to roll tomorrow! Stay tuned as we complete the floor deck and proceed to wall framing.

Excited about the progress happening at our Lake Whatcom passive house new construction! Here the TBB team is seen discussing window details in preparation for siding and trim install.

Standing seam roofing panels are nearly complete, and preparation for solar panel infrastructure is forthcoming.

Siding panels soon to come! Interior finishes in the works!

[bundle]

A great review from a wonderful client!
Architect: Nina Le Baron AIA - Island Architecture
Cabinets: Smith & Vallee Cabinet Makers

"I was looking to remodel my house including the kitchen, master bathroom and to update the rest of the living area, replacing the windows and putting in new floors. My architect recommended True Bearing Built. After looking at their portfolio I met with Josh Williamson and they took on the project.

The remodeling work happened while I was living in the basement of the house. I found the entire crew to be professional and quick to answer questions. If I had any concerns they were quick to respond with a workable solution. Getting a printout each week on where we were with the project, what was coming up the next week and where we were with the budget was extremely helpful.

The kitchen was outdated and had a poor flow. The remodel included moving the location of the stove, refrigerator and dishwasher. The work on the kitchen created a beautiful space! It really is a dream come true. It has a much better flow for entertaining. I love my kitchen!

The master bathroom was cramped and very outdated. True Bearing Built created a space with a much nicer feel. It is beautiful! It space is much more open than before. The work done on tiling was masterfully done. It is a piece of art.

I really can't say enough about the professionalism from the entire True Bearing Built team. They were extremely helpful, knowledgeable and committed to making house a beautiful home.

I highly recommend them for any project you may have. Be sure to look at their portfolio. You will see the quality in their work. Thank you True Bearing Built!"

See the full project details here:

Skyline Kitchen & Bath Remodel | General Contractor | Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan Counties | True Bearing Built Skyline Kitchen & Bath Remodel ABOUT THE PROJECT On this project, True Bearing Built was brought on to completely update the interiors of our client’s Skyline Home. As our fifth collaboration with Island Architecture, we knew that details and finishes would be on high display! The kitchen and prim...

Forms are stripped and foundation is ready to go on our collab with [bundle]! Looking forward to starting our floor framing on Emerald Lake Passive House next week! Here we go!

We're proud to be a part of Skagit/Island Counties Builders Association (SICBA), supporting builders in Skagit and Island Counties!

True Bearing Built is the SICBA sponsor of the week!

Drawing from diverse backgrounds in design, architecture, design build, construction project management, digital fabrication, carpentry, blacksmithing and finish carpentry, the craftspeople at True Bearing Built offer a unique perspective and unparalleled ability to create the right solutions for your built project.

Thank you, True Bearing Built for your continued support here at SICBA!


True Bearing Built

We were excited to take delivery today of the VETTA Windows windows and doors package at our Lake Whatcom Passive House collab with [bundle] design studio. This is our second project using VETTA, and we are always impressed by the quality and performance.

Manufactured in Poland, these units are all tripled-glazed with amazingly low U-values and sleek function and operation. Used in conjunction with the SIGA North America products for air sealing, we can ensure a comfortable, air-tight, energy efficient home.

Thank you to the happy homeowner for the 5 star review!

"We couldn't be happier with the exceptional service provided by True Bearing Built during our construction project. From start to finish, they demonstrated professionalism and a genuine commitment to customer satisfaction.

True Bearing Built impressed us right from the initial consultation with their friendly demeanor and willingness to listen to our needs and preferences. Throughout the project, their expertise and attention to detail were evident, ensuring that every aspect of the job was completed to perfection.

What truly sets True Bearing Built apart is their remarkable responsiveness. Whenever we encountered any issues or had questions, they were quick to address them, providing solutions promptly and effectively. This level of attentiveness made the entire process smooth and less stressful.

Even after the completion of the project, True Bearing Built continues to exceed our expectations. Their dedication to quality extends into the warranty period, where they have been proactive in ensuring that everything remains in top-notch condition.

We wholeheartedly recommend True Bearing Built to anyone in need of construction services. Their combination of professionalism, friendliness, and ongoing commitment to customer satisfaction truly sets them apart. Thank you, True Bearing Built, for an outstanding experience!"

-Tracy B.

See the full project details:

Mount Vernon Midcentury Modern | Contractor | Skagit | Burlington | True Bearing Built Mount Vernon Midcentury Modern ABOUT THE PROJECT The former layout of this home had the kitchen completely separated from the dining and living areas, making for a disjointed and closed off feel. The new design called for completely removing the “L-shaped” dividing wall allowing for an open floo...

Scenes from our Emerald Lake Way passive house collab with [bundle]. These picture show footings being poured last week by Cachet Concrete.

Really happy to see the progress on this one as we lock into full speed after a long earthwork (and rock removal) phase!

Photos courtesy of Damien Vines Photography

Building science class was in session for the TBB team! Thank you to Siena from SIGA North America for the tutorials and product demonstrations of SIGA tapes and barriers!

Many of our new build passive house projects are utilizing these products to achieve the required air tightness performance specs.

On this project, True Bearing Built was brought on to completely update the interiors of our client’s Skyline Home. As our fifth collaboration with Nina Le Baron AIA - Island Architecture, we knew that details and finishes would be on high display!

Learn more about this project:

Skyline Kitchen & Bath Remodel | Contractor | Skagit | Burlington | True Bearing Built BUILT BY: True Bearing Built ARCHITECT: Island Architecture CABINETRY: Smith & Vallee PROJECT DESCRIPTION On this project, True Bearing Built was brought on to completely update the interiors of our client’s Skyline Home. As