Dog Friendly Places to Eat

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Out with your four-legged Bestie, looking for places to eat that are dog friendly? Here are more than 10 options in Pittsboro where you can both drop in for a casual meal.

Here is where you can find some of those top places. All of these eateries will greet you and your dog with a smile. Some even provide water bowls and doggie treats, including, among others, Carolina Brewery, Pittsboro Roadhouse, Root Cellar, House of Hops, and Modern Life Deli & and Drinks.

The Root Cellar, 35 Suttles Rd, Pittsboro, NC 27312.

Outdoor tables at The Root Cellar. Dog friendly patio in Pittsboro at Penguin Place.

Carolina Brewery and Grill, 120 Lowes Dr, Pittsboro, NC 27312

The Pittsboro Roadhouse, 39 West st, Pittsboro, NC 27312

These are great places to socialize for you and your dog.

Keeping your dog close by and always on a leash at all of these establishments is the best practice. Use good Dog Etiquette and make sure Sam/ Fido/ Miley are being polite.

Want to build a dog friendly home in Pittsboro, Chatham County or the Raleigh region? There are hundreds of floor plans we can build for you – with whatever you’d like us to create for your entire family – including your pets.

Contact Travars Built Homes with your building questions. And learn more about what Pittsboro has to offer.

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Top Things to Do in Pittsboro – Visit Rock Ridge Park

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Wondering where to go to play frisbee golf in Pittsboro, NC? Getting outside and going to the park has a whole new meaning at Rock Ridge Park, just a few miles from the center of Pittsboro.

Things to Do in Pittsboro - Visit Rock Ridge Park

Things to do in Pittsboro at Rock Ridge Park include an 18 hole disc golf course, paved jogging trail, picnic area and play ground. Rock Ridge Park is a fifty two acre neighborhood park set in rolling hills of mature hardwoods.

Things to do in Pittsboro - Disc Golf at Rock Ridge Park

This is a terrific frisbee golf course that winds through scenic rolling terrain, designed by John Houck. He’s the Head of Course Design for the International Disc Golf Center, and has designed more championship disc golf courses than anyone else living today, so you know this is going to be good!

Bring something to write with if you want to keep score – cards are provided. If you’ve never played before, it’s a great time to start! Keep it simple at first, borrow a couple discs from a friend or pick up a “starter” disc, even Walmart carries them in the sports section. You’ll enjoy following the trails and seeing how close to the goal you can send your disc.

Rock Ridge Park picnic area - things to do in Pittsboro

Top things to do in Pittsboro include some great ways to stay in shape, for adults and for kids. Check out the teeter totter, trolley, slides, and benches, which can augment your CrossFit routine. Not pictured is a wonderful playground for the kids, with a very creative “natural theme” play structure, a trolley to ride, and much more.

Exercise and play area at Rock Ridge Park

Living in Chatham County can offer a relaxed environment. You can enjoy the peaceful setting of the countryside, much closer to the amenities of the Raleigh metro area than you might think. Check out some other top things to do in Pittsboro, here:

Considering building a new home in the Pittsboro area? Travars Built Homes can help you find a lot and work with you to create your custom home in Chatham County or anywhere within about an hour of RTP.

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Top Things to Do in Pittsboro NC – Haw River

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Haw River offers a great opportunity for outdoor fun that makes you feel like you’re in the mountains – right in the heart of Pittsboro, NC – with more than 1,000 acres to explore by foot, bike, canoe, or kayak.

North Carolina State Parks offers some of the top things to do in Pittsboro and Chatham County. The park areas extend along both sides of the Haw River, with its Lower Haw River State Natural Area – with access points where you can park in designated places along Hwy 15-501 and Hwy 64 and put in your kayak, walk a trail or snap some photos.

Hiking

Lower Haw River State Natural Area Trail follows the Haw River. It’s 7 mile stretch and is rated as a “moderate” hike, along a path that is not always clearly defined.

The trail includes 3 creek crossings (with water that could be waist deep, depending on time of year) as well as a mix of dirt and rocky terrain that is popular as a training run.

  • Lower Haw River Southern Trailhead: Look for a gravel parking lot just east of the bridge on eastbound Hwy 64. The trail is under the bridge.
  • Lower Haw River Northern Trailhead: Look for parking just below the trailhead on Bynum Church Road. The trail starts at the gate.

Kayaking/canoeing

Top things to do in Pittsboro include kayaking and canoeing. The 3 and a half mile stretch of the Haw River starting at Bynum Beach consists of Class I and II rapids.

Heavy rains can greatly impact this stretch, so whitewater paddlers need to be cautious and aware of conditions.

  • Hwy 15-501 Bynum Dam parking lot allows access for canoes and kayaks above the dam, where the water is typically flat for about a mile.
  • Robeson Creek has a full boat launch. The Haw River can be reached in about a mile, via Robeson Creek.
  • Hwy 64 Haw River Canoe Access has a parking lot, but is recommended for experts due to the more challenging navigation at that point.

Photography

Bring your camera, you might capture some of the wildlife, flowers or changing of seasons. Things to do in Chatham County include some great opportunities for photos.

Living in the Pittsboro area of Chatham County can offer a relaxed environment. You can enjoy the peaceful setting of the countryside, much closer to the frenzy of the city than you might think.

Considering building a new home in Pittsboro or Chatham County? Travars Built Homes can help you find a lot and work with you to create your custom home in Chatham County or anywhere within about an hour of RTP.

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What are the benefits of a side load garage?

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Side Load Garage Benefit #1

A side load garage can give your home a lot of benefits, including great curbside appeal. Placing the garage on the side will make way for windows on the front face of your home. A side load garage can also increase the perceived size of the home (instead of a big garage door that emphasizes vehicles).

White and Black Modern Farmhouse Exterior | Mebane NC New Homes

Side Load Garage Benefit #2

A side load garage can have a sweeping driveway into the side of the home instead of going straight in, which can give it a look of grandeur.

Benefit #3

A side load garage can be used in conjunction with a front facing carriage garage. A dual garage layout will separate vehicles from storage or shop space, and keep the rest of your home looking proportional.

Travars Built Homes can also add a third garage bay to nearly any floor plan, including carriage garages.

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Benefit #4

A side load garage can be positioned so that there is a courtyard in front of the home, providing more space for play or parking.

Hands-on process to building a custom home

When you work with TBH, we create your home together – the way you want it:

  • Modifying your floor plan to expand, turn, tweak, or change things you’d like to do differently
  • Creating secret passageways, secret pantries or other hideaways
  • Including aging in place, accessible, or special needs features
  • Creating special spaces – bigger pantries, more storage, more outdoor living areas… let’s talk about how to create the elements that matter most

Contact TBH to learn more:

    Home Plan Type:
    One storyTwo StoryMain Floor Primary Suite

    Sq Ft:
    2000 - 25002500 - 30003000 - 4000+

    Build Budget w/ site work (Lot additional):
    500 - 600K600 - 700K700 - 800K800 - 900K900K - Mil+

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    Can a custom builder make my floor plan bigger? 5 Ways to add square footage.

    Posted by Travars Built Homes on

    Yes, a design build custom home builder can add square footage to your floor plan. Below are 5 of the most cost effective ways that Travars Built Homes can add space to your floor plan.

    How to make a floor plan bigger: Guest living and multi-gen suites

    Adding a small apartment such as a multigenerational, mother-in-law or other extended guest living arrangement to your home usually means adding semi-separated living space. Special adaptations such as adding a private entrance to the exterior are also common. Additional square footage is often necessary to be able to fit in all of the extra requirements.

    Custom Home Design | Add Square Footage

    This kind of modification to a floor plan typically involves rearranging the existing layout, such as changing two bedrooms and a bath on the main floor into one bedroom, bath, and living room – possibly with a kitchenette.

    How to make a floor plan bigger: Expanding the kitchen or master bath

    This is one of the areas where it’s important to work with the custom builder to create the space you need, as you will be looking at pushing out specific walls to increase a small portion of the home. Sometimes the result you’re looking for can be accomplished within existing square footage. We will show you some options as we talk through your needs.

    Custom Home Design | Add Square Footage

    How to make a floor plan bigger: Basements and bonus rooms

    Basements and bonus rooms are common areas to start with when factoring in the need for additional living space. Most one story floor plans – and plans with a two story great room – are good candidates for adding square footage to the second floor.

    Pittsboro New Custom House Plans

    How to make a floor plan bigger: Adding a sun room, screen porch or covered porches

    Indoor/outdoor space is often expanded to increase the ability to utilize more of the property as living area, both in heated square footage as well as exposed areas.

    Custom Home Design | Add Square Footage

    How to make a floor plan bigger: Expanding the garage

    Adding a third car garage, carriage garage, or turning a front facing garage to a side load are popular requests for custom homes. Aside from the ability to park more vehicles inside, this is also a great way to have space for hobbies or storage.

    Custom Home Design | Add Square Footage

    As with all modifications to custom floor plans, it’s important to know what can be changed, and how it can impact your curb appeal, roof line, and the build of your new home. When recommending changes to your floor plan, Travars Built Homes will take into consideration the details of your floor plan, homesite, and potential restrictions such as local regulations and community covenants.

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    What is a multigenerational home?

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    Multigenerational homes (sometimes called multi-gen homes, homes with a mother in law suite, or apartment within a home) are designed for families to live together within one single home family dwelling that has an extended guest suite intended for long term stays.

    Multigenerational homes are one of the most common reasons why homebuyers choose to build a custom home.

    New Home Builder Apex NC

    Multi-gen homes can spread out the cost of living so that the combined living space is more affordable than having two separate homes.

    Site costs for one home are less expensive than site costs for two homes, with one clearing, one footing, one septic system, and one foundation.

    The size of the footprint impacts build costs, so multi-gen homes built with living space on additional floors are typically more cost effective than homes with everyone on one level.

    The Hampton Mill | Raleigh Custom Home Builders
    See the Hampton Mill floor plan here.

    Some multigenerational homes have a kitchenette in the secondary living quarters, for increased independence.

    Other families choose to design a larger kitchen around expanded usage, with elements such as dual ovens, a huge island or even two islands for more prep space, and special arrangements such as a microwave below the counter for easier use and aging-in-place future accessibility. Learn more about making changes to your floor plan, here.

    White and Black Farmhouse Kitchen | Mebane NC New Homes

    Dual master suites give equal prominence to two large bedroom suites with ensuite private bathrooms, big closets and occasionally other private amenities such as a personal sitting area or attached office or laundry room.

    The location of dual master suites can vary, with the most common arrangements being one on the main floor and one on the second floor, one in the basement, or both on the main floor. Get floor plans with dual master bedrooms, here.

    Chatham County NC Custom Homes | Vaulted Ceiling Master Bedroom

    Because schedules and lifestyles can vary within shared living arrangements, building in special features that add to privacy is a very good reason to build a custom home, so that you have the opportunity to include features such as sound dampening between walls or from one floor to another. Solid core door options can also lessen sound travel.

    A private entrance so you can come and go without interrupting the main flow of the house is another way to increase that feeling of having your own space.

    Depending on the plan and your homesite, you may include an exterior door with a small stoop or porch or another door from the garage to your private hallway.

    Travars Built Homes can be built in custom home neighborhoods or countryside locations within about an hour of Chapel Hill. We work closely with you to:

    Consider choices for cost effective floor plans that fit your lifestyle and budget

    Modify your layout to add multi-gen, accessible or other custom changes

    Build your new home with high quality materials, craftsmanship and passion for home building

    Offer a wide array of selections, options and upgrades

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    What are the most important questions to ask a home builder?

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    Are you asking the right questions when you talk with custom builders about costs for your North Carolina new home?

    Here are 7 smart questions to ask custom home builders about their services, processes, and prices – before you sign a contract.

    Chapel Hill Modern Farmhouse | Built In Bookcases

    Questions to Ask a Home Builder: What’s included in your services? 

    Travars Built Homes is a design/build custom home builder. We cover everything from permits to site assessment, plan modification, construction and completion of your home. We offer the highest quality standard features, finishes, materials and craftsmanship in the local market for affordable custom homes. Read more about our services and standards, here.

    Questions to Ask a Home Builder: Can you help me find a floor plan that can fit my budget?

    Yes, we will make suggestions for floor plans based on the budget you give us. When we go over plans together, we’ll offer suggestions for layouts and livability of the home, and tell you why certain types of architectural designs take more to build than others, even when layouts may appear to be similar. (Having the same number of square feet does not equate to the same build costs – specialty treatments and detail work in an architectural design that you might not even notice can make a huge impact on your build costs, even when layouts appear to be similar.) We can suggest modifications or alternate plans that can be more cost effective.  

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    Questions to Ask a Home Builder: Can you modify my floor plan?

    Do I need to pay an architect or is the price of modifications included with your home price? Travars Built Homes can make a wide variety of changes to your plan, at no extra charge. We can re-arrange the kitchen, include an in-law or multigenerational suite, add a basement, or convert a two story room into a bonus room upstairs. Ask us about your floor plan – we’ll show you all the possibilities.  

    Questions to Ask a Home Builder: What kind of details can I expect to see in a custom home quote? 

    Your Travars Built spec package will include about 15 pages of details about the materials, processes, services, and energy efficiencies in your home. Keep in mind that you can only compare what is given to you in writing – that’s what will be in your contract.

    Questions to Ask a Home Builder | NC New Homes

    Questions to Ask a Home Builder: How much interaction will you have with me when my new home is being built? 

    Our build process at Travars Built Homes is outlined in your personal online portal, where you can stay in-touch and informed about what’s happening with the build of your new home. You will also have the opportunity to meet with your builder on site at all key points during the build. 

    Questions to Ask a Home Builder: Is my site work (such as grading, clearing, driveway, septic, well) included in your pricing? 

    When you choose Travars Built Homes, your site work is allowance based. We allocate dollar amounts for your clearing, grading, footings, etc. The allowances are based on footprint size, topography of the lot, how much vegetation and trees there are, and other factors we consider based on years of experience building new custom homes in North Carolina. And we go over everything with you – just ask us for pricing.

    Questions to Ask a Home Builder: How long does it take to you to build a home? 

    A typical timeline to build a custom home by Travars Built Homes is about 6-9 months, once the project is underway. Get more details about our timelines to build, here.

    White Modern Farmhouse Bathrooms | Mebane NC New Homes

    Remember to ask each builder the same set of questions, and request pricing on the same (or very similar) floor plans so there’s no confusion about what’s offered. Want to learn more about the process to build a new custom home in North Carolina? Contact us!

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    How long does it take to build a custom home?

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    North Carolina new home building timeline

    A typical timeline to build a custom home is about 10 months from foundation. We’ll give you more information based on your plan and location.

    Available Homes | Chatham County New Home Builder

    What are the key phases of a pre-construction timeline? 

    Before we break ground on your new home, we’ll work with you through:  

    • Floor Plan Selection
    • Floor Plan Customization and Design
    • Build Permitting
    • Pre-Construction Prep

    Here’s how the overall timeline for your new home build project works:

    During the Plan Selection Phase, we help you find a new home floor plan that suits your lifestyle, budget, and home site. Start with some popular floor plans from a variety of architects on our site. Tell us what you’re looking for, if you want something different! The floor plan selection phase usually takes 2-4 weeks.

    During Floor Plan Customization and Design, we help modify your floor plan. What are some common changes we make? Here are the kinds of changes we can make to your plan as part of our design phase – at no extra cost to you:

    • Making a master shower larger
    • Separating sinks and vanities
    • Opening up the kitchen or adding an island
    • Adding a mother in law suite or small apartment in the home
    • Turning a front facing garage to a side load
    Modern Farmhouse | Chatham County New Homes

    Our in house design team works closely with you and your budget. This phase usually takes 2-6 weeks.

    Wendell North Carolina New Homes | Dark Cabinetry Master Bath

    Next, we submit for Build Permits. We’ll do your site assessment in conjunction with your floor plan footprint, water hookup, and setback requirements for your lot – taking things like the slope of your lot and the length of your driveway into consideration. The permit phase usually takes 5-7 weeks.

    You will meet with the builder on site to take a look at the survey placement for your new home before we get started on clearing and prepping.  

    How long does it take to build a custom home?

    What are the key phases of the home build?

    • Excavation: Grading, clearing and site preparation
    • Foundation, damp proofing
    • Framing
    • Windows and doors
    • Roofing
    • Rough mechanics, electrical and plumbing
    • Siding, exterior paint
    • Insulation
    • Drywall, paint primer
    • Interior trim, flooring
    • Cabinets, counter tops
    • Trim outs/ fixture installs
    • Final paint
    • Final punch work and clean up
    • Move in day!

    You’ll be involved and informed throughout the build with onsite and design selection meetings and your interactive online portal. 

    Want to know more about the custom home construction process? Reach out with your questions.

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    What is Design/Build: Working with a Custom Home Builder

    Posted by Travars Built Homes on

    Next month, a panel discussion led by Furniture, Lighting & Decor Editor-in-Chief Diane Falvey brings together four experts to talk about leveraging expertise among architects, builders, and designers when building custom homes.

    During the panel, “Common Ground: Finding Synergy Among Architects, Builders and Designers,” Phil Travars and Andrew Travars of Travars Built Homes will be talking about the ins and outs of working with a design/build custom home builder in North Carolina.

    “Having a clear understanding of the thought process around building a custom home can help everything go smoothly, from design through construction,” said Phil Travars, Owner and Builder at Travars Built Homes. “It’s a great opportunity to talk directly with experts from across the industry.”

    About 75,000 people from across the country and internationally are expected to attend the bi-annual Furniture Mart event represented by more than 100 countries, for architects, designers, furnishings buyers and others looking for the latest information and products for homes.

    The Travars brothers were asked to participate in the event to share their thought leadership about home building and designing together with CIRCLE Design Studio, LLC Principal Architect John Dorlini and Principal/Owner Theresa A.C. Dorlini.

    How to Build a Custom Home | New Home Builders

    Topics about the custom home build process are expected to include:

    • How designers and builders work together compose a custom home.
    • How creativity can create excitement through different points of view.
    • What to look out for when choosing a custom home on a budget.
    • What to think about as you integrate designs for furniture, lighting, fixtures and finishes into your new home.

    “This is a great opportunity to bounce around ideas for your new home, if you’re considering a custom build,” said Andrew Travars, Builder and Designer at Travars Built Homes. “We put a lot into making each home unique – this panel will help explain what it takes to create through design/build.”

    How to Build a Custom Home | New Home Builders

    Travars Built Homes builds new custom homes in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Durham and the surrounding region. Get information about building a custom home:

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    How Your Homesite Can Affect The Bottom Line

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    Topography, soil, regulations – here’s how your lot requirements and footprint can impact your new home build cost

    The spot where your home can be built on your lot is dependent on a variety of factors in North Carolina. Here are terms and factors you need to know about aspects that can impact your homesite – and build cost.

    Homesite: The spot on your lot where your home will be built

    The final decision about the location for your homesite is determined by more than what you can see at first glance, such as the direction it will face or what’s outside the windows. As a turnkey builder in NC, some of the most common factors we will discuss with you regarding your footprint are topography, soil and regulations. Here’s why that’s so important:

    Build On Your Lot NC | How to Build a New Home

    Footprint: The shape and size of amount of space your home takes up on the ground

    If you look at what the imprint of your home will be on the dirt where it is built, what does that shape look like? That’s your “footprint”. Whether your home is a square box, stretches out horizontally or vertically, has a courtyard, or has lots of “cutouts” that turn and curve in a variety of directions, everywhere it touches affects your build costs. The more simplistic, the less it usually costs to build a home with that footprint. The more complex, the more it can take to get everything done, starting with the topography and soil.

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    Topography: The amount of slope in your lot

    Take a look at the Topo Map (short for topographical map) below. This is an example of what topography looks like, on a Geographic Information System (GIS). Although each county in NC has its own GIS system and representation, the lines you see here are indicative of how much slope this area has. The closer the lines are together, the more slope there is. The slope of your lot can help determine if your home will require a basement, crawl space, tall crawl, or slab on grade. In North Carolina, a crawl space foundation is the most common, unless the home is accessible in which case a slab on grade is used most often built. We will talk with you about how the topography affects your lot and homesite, specifically, at your lot assessment.

    Chapel Hill Modern Farmhouse

    Soil: Support for your septic system as well as your home

    Soil quality and consistency vary across North Carolina. Here are two of the most important reasons why soil plays a major factor in the build of your new home:

    The homesite where your home will be placed needs to have appropriate compaction and bearing capacity. Probe Tests as well as taking into consideration aspects such as slope, exposed rock, size of trees, potential wet lands, and other factors in which soil plays a part.

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    A Percolation Test (abbreviated as a “Perc Test”) is required on most lots of over 1/2 acre to determine the water absorption rate of soil, which will indicate the type of septic system that is required. Your builder will interpret the results that a soil scientist or the county provide, and tell you next steps and build costs. A conventional system will usually have the least cost. A pump may be required, which would add to costs. An engineered system for a drip system or pre-treat drip system are the most expensive and take the most time to get approved. We will walk you through how this works as part of our initial overview of your build processes and steps.

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    Regulations: Local requirements and community covenants

    Every new home must have build permits before it can be built. TBH will handle those for you, along with everything else necessary for the build of your home on your lot. Here’s how local requirements and covenants come into play as you choose where you want to build your new home:

    Most new homes are built in communities, regulated by a Home Owners Association (HOA): Each neighborhood has its own set of rules and restrictions, detailed in Community Covenants. You will want to read Covenants thoroughly before purchasing a lot. Experts can also help you understand potential building restrictions within a neighborhood. Architectural Review Boards (ARBs) review details about a new home, such as exterior paint colors and materials such as brick or stone. Your new home will need to be approved by these committees if you want to build in their neighborhood.

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    Even new homes that are built in the countryside are subject to local requirements, typically set down by the county. This can include things like how much clearing you can do, what the setback requirements are from the street, and other mandates specific to that location.

    Contact Travars Built Homes for a lot walk and assessment or any other building questions for your North Carolina new home.

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