Rebuilding an energy-efficient home by the river
The Brahams - Lyons, OR
By Farima F.October 21, 20242 min read
After wildfires in Oregon in 2020, Richard Braham and his family had to rebuild from the ground up. See why they chose a Clayton home and how they customized it to make it more energy efficient.
Lyons, OR, is a small town known for its lumber industry and picturesque landscapes. In 1987, Richard Braham’s grandmother purchased a beautiful piece of property there, nestled in the lush forests near the Santiam River. Once the family added a manufactured home, the property quickly became a place for them to gather on special occasions while enjoying views of the river and surrounding Douglas firs. They enjoyed the home and property for many years, but that changed in 2020.
Rebuilding after Oregon wildfires
In 2020, wildfires swept across parts of Oregon, including the Brahams’ property.
“The house, the sheds, dock; everything was destroyed,” said Richard.
They decided to rebuild and remake the property into something more meaningful – a home and place for future generations. Richard and his brother Mike, who has a background in construction, started doing their research to help them choose a new home for the property. They looked into a few companies in both Oregon and Washington, including researching the company’s backgrounds, touring the homes and focusing on the quality.
“From our research online and from what we saw of the quality of the homes on the lot, we decided on Clayton homes,” said Richard.
The family was particularly impressed with the flexibility Clayton offered. Clayton sent them a few contractors to potentially work with, and the family went with 3-A construction. They poured the foundation, added all the doors, stained and painted the home, and put the two sides of the home together. The company even worked with the family to get as close to the river as possible, and at the best angle for the scenic views.
