Tahoe Cabin Addition
A 2,503 sq ft timber frame addition to an existing mountain residence in Soda Springs near Donner Pass, featuring three new bedrooms, an elevator, radiant floor heating, and mountain-modern finishes designed by Donald Joseph Inc.
Building at elevation
Located in Soda Springs near Donner Pass, this project transforms an existing 798 sq ft mountain residence into a 3,301 sq ft alpine home. The existing detached garage was demolished to make way for a new 2,503 sq ft wood and timber frame addition, purpose-built for year-round Sierra living.
The addition spans three levels: a garage level with mudroom, ski storage, laundry, and mechanical space; a main level with an open-concept kitchen, dining, and living area alongside the primary bedroom suite; and an upper level with a bunk room, two additional bedrooms, and sitting area. A residential elevator connects all three floors.
Interior design by Donald Joseph Inc. brings a cohesive mountain-modern aesthetic: Pierce Oak hardwood flooring, Grizzly Shaker cabinetry with Verona Bronze hardware, and Canyon Creek stone veneer. Eight independent radiant floor heating zones are planned to provide temperature control across the major living areas and bedrooms.
Scope of Work
- Demo existing garage, construct 2,503 sq ft addition
- Wood and timber frame construction across three levels
- Residential elevator installation
- 8-zone Schluter radiant floor heating system
- Residential fire sprinkler coordination as required by approved plans
- Standing seam metal roof and Andersen 400 Series windows
- Canyon Creek stone veneer and composite decking
- 707 sq ft deck with Trex composite in Teak
- Interior design by Donald Joseph Inc.
Floor Plan
- Garage Level Garage, mudroom, ski storage, laundry, mechanical, elevator
- Level 1: Main Living Open kitchen, dining, living room, primary suite, covered decks
- Level 2: Upper Bunk room, two bedrooms, sitting area, storage
Building at 6,768 feet demands a different playbook
Construction in the Sierra demands seasonal discipline. Earthwork windows, winterization requirements, snow load design, erosion control, and site-protection measures all shape how the schedule is built.
Material choices are driven by the environment, not just aesthetics. The standing seam metal roof, Andersen 400 Series windows, stone veneer, and composite decking were selected to support durability, weather exposure, and long-term maintenance in mountain conditions.
Every trade schedule, delivery window, and inspection is planned around weather. Road closures on Donner Pass, afternoon storms in summer, and early freeze dates in fall all factor into the timeline. You can't run a Sierra job the way you'd run one in the valley. The mountain sets the schedule.
Sierra-Specific Requirements
- 01 Grading Season Earthwork scheduling must account for mountain-season constraints, agency conditions, and winterization requirements.
- 02 Snow Load Engineering Structural design accounts for heavy Sierra snowpack. Roof pitch, framing, and connections are all sized accordingly.
- 03 Tree Protection Tree-protection fencing, staging controls, and grading limits are coordinated to protect retained vegetation and root zones.
- 04 Erosion Control BMP measures in place throughout construction. Silt fencing, straw wattles, and drainage management per county requirements.
- 05 Mountain-Rated Materials Standing seam metal roofing, Andersen 400 Series windows, composite decking, and stone veneer were selected for mountain durability and long-term performance.
Mountain-modern detail
Every material was selected to balance alpine durability with refined living, built to handle Sierra winters while creating a warm, cohesive interior.
Standing Seam Metal Roof
Charcoal/black metal roofing with Covered Bridge-stained wood siding and Canyon Creek stone veneer.
Andersen 400 Series
Black Capstock windows throughout. Carriage house garage doors in Chestnut stain. Entry door in Sherwin Williams Chestnut.
Pierce Oak Hardwood
Cali/Dream residential signature hardwood in kitchen, dining, and living areas. Carpet in attic loft only. Epoxy in garage.
Grizzly Shaker Cabinetry
Brown Grizzly Shaker cabinets with Berenson Brookledge hardware in Verona Bronze. Interior doors in white stain grade finish.
Original Cabin
Construction Progress
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