All About Aging in Place

Aging in Place, or Universal Design, means living in one’s home independently regardless of age or ability.  During the design phase of construction, Living Stone carefully integrates universal design elements to suit the needs of the client. 

89% of people 50+ wish to remain in their own homes indefinitely (AARP)
68% of remodelers already perform aging-in-place remodeling (NAHB).
Over half of all 55+ households rate their current home a 9 or 10 out of 10 (American
Housing Survey).
The aging population is the number two issue to affect the remodeling industry over the
next five years, only behind the availability of skilled labor (NAHB).
Remodelers report that the most requested aging-in-place features include: grab bars, higher
toilets, curbless showers, wider doorways, ramps or lower-thresholds, and task lighting.

What should my home contain if I want to age in place?

  • A master bedroom and bath on the first floor.
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The Settings of Black Mountain is BACK!! (FAQ)

The Settings
The following are a series of frequently asked questions (FAQs)

1. What is the process for getting into the Settings at the weekend?
The gates are open from 7am to 7pm Monday through Saturday. This is a private community and prospects must be accompanied by Realtor at all times. Please do not send clients in with MLS sheets to drive around on their own. Sunday the gates are closed but operable by entering the access code available from ShowingTime.

The code changes on the 1st of each month, and Jane Fuqua at IP will update this code monthly as it changes. Should this not be updated, Jane can be reached at 828-650-6867 or JFuqua@ipmhoa.com.

2. Are there any outstanding assessments at the Settings?
There is an assessment of $1,200 that has been approved by the board for the finishing of Phase one roads. Check with your agent for an update. As at January 2013, yearly dues are $1150 whether you own a lot or a home.

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Asheville Builder uses Superior Wall Foundation for moderate mountain lots

Superior Walls foundations feature patented, insulated, precast concrete wall panels that are formed in a factory-controlled setting and delivered to the new home job site, where the panels are lifted into position with a crane and carefully bolted together and sealed. The walls are custom-designed and built to virtually any architectural style, complete with window and door openings.Superior Walls

Superior Walls foundations are dry, using a special low water/cement ratio concrete that requires no additional dampproofing.  They are warm, with full-length insulation built in to increase energy efficiency. Superior Walls high strength 5000+ psi concrete is reinforced with steel rebar and polypropylene fibers for added strength and performance. The wall panels also feature convenient features like built-in accesses for wiring and stud facings for easy drywall installation with screws. Another important feature for builders is the speed of installation. A typical home foundation can be installed in less than one day. For more information click here:

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Lot in The Village of Cheshire, 20 Wordsworth Rd

Lot in The Village of Cheshire, 20 Wordsworth Rd


Building lot in Cheshire, a luxury community. Trees and year round mountain views. This is a flat lot yet has mountain views! $84,900 where residents can work live and play in harmony with nature. Cheshire offers shops, restaurants and gourmet food market. Lot also offered as pre-construction by Living Stone Construction – craftsman style home lot/home package. Please contact us 828.669.4343 for more information. See mls # 526336.

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President Sean Sullivan “Understanding your Foundations”

President Sean Sullivan “Understanding your Foundations”

Choosing the foundation for your mountain home requires paying attention to good counsel. Most people and even many builders have no idea how important these choices are for building in the mountains. In this video, Sean addresses the three key components to determine the best kind of foundation for your project. First, topography. Your topography should dictate what type of foundation system you should consider. Secondly, structure is the foundation system and could include cinder block. superior walls, poured walls or ICF’s (Insulated Concrete Form). Lastly, topography and structure of your lot will dictate how you are going to use the home. Some items to consider will be the driveway approach the location of the garage, whether your foundation will include a basement, crawl or slab.

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