About two decades ago, Meridian Construction built its first major home project on Lake Winnipesaukee, as seen here:

Prior to this build, our work was a varied mix of commercial, municipal, and residential projects. The home pictured above became the catalyst for us to develop our specialty in luxury lake house construction, in addition to state and municipal projects.

Digging the Challenges

We quickly discovered that homes of this nature require as much or even more engineering, environmental, permitting, mechanical, and structural considerations as do many commercial projects. And beyond all that, these distinctive home projects showcase the best of artistic architecture and artisan craftsmanship. The rewards of a job well done can be priceless for our clients, and that’s a big part of our “why.” Fulfilling homeowner dreams is why we focus on beautiful homes on New Hampshire’s placid waters.

Commitment to Architects and Homeowners

As we’ve gained momentum with multiple NH lake house projects, our reputation has grown among New England architects with clients looking to build summer or all-season homes in the Lakes Region. Currently, we have several large home projects on Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Sunapee which we plan to unveil in our residential project portfolio soon.

Here’s a sneak peek at a home that’s coming together nicely on a beautiful property in Tuftonboro.

All of these homes involve the sitework, architectural design, and construction details required for the best of modern lake house building. In the end, what really matters is that the owners can be home to enjoy life better when it feels like summer… 

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Gilford, NH – November 19, 2025

Kyle’s journey with Meridian began during his youth. He joined field crews in his early teens, learning the business from the ground up. A graduate of the Architecture/Engineering program at NHTI Concord and holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Business Finance from UNH, Kyle continued to advance within the company through grit and determination. Starting as an intern, he quickly rose through the ranks to become Assistant Project Manager, then Project Manager by 2015. Over the last ten years, Kyle continually and linearly took on more responsibility beyond the role of project management, and became more involved in operations, sales, new talent acquisition, and more.

As Vice President, Kyle will continue to take on top-level responsibilities including strategic planning, managing construction teams and large-scale projects, fostering strong client and stakeholder relationships, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving operational efficiency and business growth.

“His role requires deep construction expertise, strong leadership, financial acumen, and the ability to manage complex, large-scale projects from inception to completion,” said Tim Long, President of Meridian Construction. “After 32 years of leading a great company, it’s time to share the spotlight and set a plan for the future. Over the last 10 years, Kyle has worked hard at building relationships all over the NH construction landscape, and he’s earned the respect of the entire team within the Meridian family as well as throughout the industry. He will oversee the company’s entire construction operations, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and to high quality and safety standards.”

Kyle expressed both gratitude and enthusiasm for his further advancement. “I’m ready and excited to serve our team and client-base and feel blessed to have the opportunity to do so.” he said.

This promotion reflects Meridian Construction’s commitment to leadership development and long-term succession planning. With a legacy rooted in craftsmanship and collaboration, the company continues to expand its impact throughout New Hampshire by investing in experienced, dedicated leaders who understand every layer of the building process.

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Gilford, NH – October 8, 2025

A native of Laconia, NH, Luke earned his Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management from the Wentworth Institute of Technology in 2005. Soon after graduation, he returned to the Lakes Region and began his professional career with Meridian Construction as an Assistant Project Manager. By 2008, Luke had been promoted to full Project Manager and has continued to take on larger, more complex responsibilities, most recently serving as both PM and Estimator before his elevation to the executive team.

In his new role, Luke will lead all preconstruction efforts and oversee the project management teams and systems at Meridian. This includes setting strategic goals, controlling budgets and schedules, negotiating contracts, ensuring regulatory compliance, and aligning field execution with Meridian’s long-term business strategy.

“I’m so proud of Luke’s well-earned advancement,” said Tim Long, President of Meridian Construction. “I saw Luke’s great potential 20 years ago, and he has eagerly accepted every new responsibility, often exceeding expectations. He’s become a respected leader in the company and throughout the New Hampshire construction industry.”

Luke expressed his gratitude and excitement for what lies ahead.

“I was so happy when Meridian gave me an opportunity back in 2005,” said Salome. “I’m grateful for this VP position and look forward to the next 20 years or more. This company has helped me grow in my career, and I’m committed to doing the same for the next generation of construction professionals at Meridian.”

Luke Salome’s promotion reflects Meridian’s long-standing focus on developing talent from within and building a leadership team that understands the company’s culture and construction excellence from the ground up.

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The project that tipped the scales for us also won 3 other prestigious construction awards for its architectural sophistication, beauty, engineering and construction excellence.

We wish to thank the Laconia Daily Sun, our employees & subs, clients and all who gave us their votes. Thank you! We appreciate you!

The post Meridian Construction Wins Best of the Lakes Region Gold Award – Construction Management appeared first on Meridian Construction | NH Construction Company.

The winners will be officially announced on June 25, 2025. Stay tuned for announcements!

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Tasked with designing a commercial complex, or a unique, ultra-luxe home on the scale of 7,000-8,000 square feet, architects and owners rest easier when they identify a construction partner with a proven track record of overcoming challenges.

A stunning design is only the first step of creating a year-round sanctuary on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, particularly when the clients insist on an environmentally friendly, extremely energy-efficient residence—incorporating the warmth of wood timbers and other native New Hampshire materials, including stone.

The magnificent lakefront home known as Blackey Cove Estate delivers on all counts, thanks to the inspired creativity of Christopher P. Williams Architects, PLLC combined with the ingenuity of Meridian Construction’s team. We surmounted numerous technical challenges by applying some uniquely ingenious techniques—and completed the project on budget and on schedule.

Before we uncover some details of solving the tough challenges, let the owners briefly describe their experience as conveyed in their appreciation letter: “We cannot thank you enough for our beautiful new home on Lake Winnipesaukee. It is everything we had dreamed of and more. Not only is the resulting house exceptional, but the process to build it was outstanding… from beginning to end… We were particularly impressed with how your team facilitated changes made along the way, changes motivated at times by your team’s insights and sometimes by our requests. They made us feel like no request was too trivial, and would skillfully accommodate changes in the plan.”

Earning the Accolades

The first challenge was preparing the site for this estate. Carefully chosen for its forested shoreline, ensuring privacy and breathtaking water views, groundbreaking revealed granite ledge which had to be exposed—with all the necessary permitting and neighbor notification before further work could begin.

Because the owners insisted on nestling their home within the existing forest and without cutting trees, Meridian built this home with only 6 to 8 feet of clearance between the natural soil and the foundation, working their way back from the live forest. The original framing design featured a metal connection with partially exposed wood beam with engineered framing members at the core. After the project started, the owners changed this to a true timber frame with traditional post-and-beam construction. Because some of the existing structural overlay roof items had to be integrated with the new timber-frame structural pieces, Meridian engaged a separate structural engineer for the building’s core.

One of the most remarkable features of the 7,600-square-foot luxury home is the latest in energy-efficient technology while allowing lots of natural wood to shine. Finished wood was integral to the design, as befitting its woodland setting. However, wood is vulnerable to the elements, especially moisture, and insects.

Meridian’s team worked with engineers and building material experts to incorporate double insulation and specialized thermal, air and moisture barriers to create a whole building “envelope” while showcasing the wood.

Building the most energy-efficient home in the region started with Intello membrane insulation. Highly adaptive, this temperature-sensitive membrane protects walls against condensation in winter by contracting and prevents walls from drying out in summer by expanding. Damage to walls from moisture and mold is greatly reduced, and the interior temperature remains stable and comfortable even during frigid New Hampshire winters.

Various barrier and sealing products were used to ensure this home would last for generations.

• TREMproof 250GC was used at the footings to prevent wicking of water.
• The foundation to the sill plate was sealed with Extoseal Finoc.
• Solitex Mento 1000 with built-in rain screen was used for the air barrier of the exterior wall, then sealed with Vana seal tape.
• Solitex Mento Plus was applied over the rafters, then dadoed out 2×4 on the top of the rafters as the roof air barrier, to prevent leaks at fasteners.
• Intello Plus “smart” barrier material was installed over the 2×6 exterior walls, under the 2×4 strapping as the interior air barrier, then sealed with Vana tape.
• Two layers of 2×4 strapping was applied in opposing directions to help with the thermal break. It also serves as a place to run wiring and plumbing without penetrating the Intello Plus air barrier.
• Windows and doors were sealed with Profil Tape.
• Contega caulk was used between layers of wood framing and in areas of dissimilar materials to reinforce the air-tight seal.

Another requirement was to have the “rafter tails” exposed. This posed a challenge because of the potential for air penetration. Meridian Construction solved this problem by running the exterior air barrier from the exterior wall right through to the roof. The exposed rafter tails decking and trim was added after, by having the roof strapping and plywood overhang the roof’s edge. This strengthens the assembly and maintains structural integrity, while looking as if the exposed rafter tails run through the walls of the house.

Plus, since zero to minimal VOCs were used for health and safety reasons, most typical insulation was out of the question, requiring Meridian to source new products. The result? From the exterior roofline to the soaring three-story hexagonal interior great room, the high-tech membrane is completely invisible.

Low Energy Use on a Grand Scale

You’ll see soaring timbers and arches reminiscent of ancient churches or sailing ships, as part of the true post-and-beam construction the clients required. The copious finished wood was sealed and protected with very low VOC lacquer to display its natural beauty without using potentially dangerous chemicals.

What the owners don’t see are high utility bills one might expect from a house with so much glass and wide-open space. Almost half of a home’s energy consumption goes toward heating and cooling, so maintaining a seasonally constant temperature saves thousands of dollars.

This lakefront gem sets an unparalleled standard for sustainable, energy-efficient construction, thanks to design and construction details devised specifically for this project. Meridian Construction brought the architect’s brilliant sustainable design to life in an eco-friendly, truly one-of-a-kind luxury property that will stand the test of time and the elements season after season for generations.

The post Deconstructing the Challenges of a Sustainable Lakefront Mansion appeared first on Meridian Construction | NH Construction Company.

New homes, especially luxury homes, are more efficient than ever, and the prices for energy efficient technology and building materials have decreased as more people decide to build with them. Going green is truly a win-win situation.

Super Efficiency in Splendorous Lakeside Living

Take for example the Blackey Cove Estate in Moultonborough, NH. This 7,600 square foot custom lakeshore home uses wood and stone products that are natural to New Hampshire. The end result is a home that is as much a part of New Hampshire as Lake Winnipesaukee, which it breathtakingly overlooks.

Energy efficiency was a top priority when constructing this beautiful home, so Meridian Construction utilized several advanced, one-of-a-kind construction methods to make Blackey Cove Estate the most efficient home in the region. It starts with the home’s Intello membrane insulation. Highly adaptive, the temperature-sensitive membrane protects walls against condensation in winter by contracting, and facilitates from drying out in summer by expanding. Damage to walls from moisture and mold are greatly reduced, and the inside temperature remains stable.

Almost half of a home’s energy consumption goes toward heating and cooling. Therefore, being able to keep your home at a seasonally constant temperature year round can save energy conscious and construction-savvy owners thousands of dollars in energy bills.

Other innovative building techniques of the Blackey Cove Estate include double roof and wall systems entailing double inch and a half strapping in correlation with Roxul insulation in order to create a thermal barrier. Roxul is an advanced yet very effective stone wool insulation material. The use of ductless minisplit heating and cooling units also aids in providing the house with outstanding efficiency levels. Blower door testing of the Blackie’s Cove Estate yielded air tightness results very rarely witnessed in residential applications.

Today’s Innovative Heating and Cooling Systems

It is also important to consider what type of heating system you wish you install when building your dream house. The EPA ranks geothermal heating systems as the most energy efficient, environmentally clean, and cost effective space conditioning systems on the market. Geothermal systems use a pump to transport air between your home and the earth. In the winter, warm air underground is brought up into your home through forced air or radiant floor heating systems. The process is reversed in the summer, where warm air is pumped out of your home and transported underground to be cooled. The constant temperature of the earth makes geothermal units twice as efficient as traditional air conditioners or air-to-air heat pumps. They also require little maintenance, saving you from the hassle with costly repairs. Of course, not all building lots can support geothermal systems due to various underground conditions but they are becoming more popular wherever they are feasible.

Sustainability Meets Luxury in Fine Homebuilding

Once the floorplan and infrastructure of your house is set, the next step in the process is choosing appliances and lighting elements. You can make the most of your home’s electricity through products that are Energy Star compliant. These products are certified to use 10 to 50 percent less energy than “standard” appliances. Anything from refrigerators to clothes washers can be eligible for an Energy Star certification. Many people have shown a willingness to pay more for Energy Star certified products in order to save money in energy over the products’ lifetime.

Another growing trend in new home construction is the widespread use of LED lights inside and outside the house. LED light bulbs are superior to incandescent, fluorescent, and halogen bulbs in terms of longevity, energy consumption, and maintenance costs. They throw off a soft and comfortable yet bright light for better evening vision. They’ve become so prevalent, that the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that LEDs will save Americans up to 190 terrawatt hours of electricity per year by 2030.

More and more people are utilizing some degree of energy efficient technology or sustainable (green) building practice in their homes. One nationwide program, LEED, (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) has seen the number of homes it certifies double between 2011 and 2013. There was a time when people were reluctant to go green, due to high costs and inefficient technology. Today, it is possible to indulge in high quality building products and techniques to create the house of your dreams, as well as enjoy the peace of mind that comes from saving money on energy.

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