Nov 15 2008
STEPS
Surprise, surprise! Most mountain homes are built on land that is not flat!
Therefore, you have upside houses and downside houses.
Seldom flat land houses, that’s for “down the hill” (as it is called up here, actually it should be down the mountain, the homes up here being anywhere from 4,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level).
Older homes, which often equates to less expensive homes, almost all have outside steps, that’s just how they built homes in the past, seems silly now, but there they are .
These older upside homes have steps leading from the driveway. The beauty of upside homes is that most have some kind of view – of trees, mountains, lakes and sometimes electrical and telephone lines. Upside houses also tend to be brighter.
With older downside house you usually have a parking deck that is level from the street and steps leading down to the house which is most likely more shady because you’re down in the trees. Downside houses are easier to carry your groceries to – it’s downhill – and quieter, noise rises. Although in most mountain communities there are few significant noise problems.
Within the last 15 years, newer houses (more expensive) were built with level entry into a garage. And like down the hill homes, the garage opens into the main house although some garages might have interior steps leading up to or down to the main floor.
Interior steps are far better than exterior steps – you seldom have to shovel snow or sweep pine needles from interior steps. They do need to be vacumed though.
WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT STEPS?
Steps keep you fit. Remember at the gym the Stair-Master? Step aerobics? Steps can be your friends.
They can also save you money.