Stearns Design Build has a big vision. As our tag line says, “we design and build happiness.” Specifically we do this within the context of the home. The home is the space that each person identifies as her/his own. It is not public. Home is where we go to find solace, familiarity, safety and hopefully
At Stearns Design Build, we are big fans of siding; well some siding. One of the reasons that we like siding so much is because it is a big part of our vernacular architecture in Central Texas. Another reason that we like it is because of the problems with its alternatives; brick or stone. While those
profiles1 Siding works best when there has air movement behind it. We can accomplish this with something called a rainscreen. This is simply placing siding on a lath strip, holding it out from the wall so that water can drain and air can move. A rainscreen will help both the siding and the
profiles1 A typical wall profile in the Brazos Valley starts with drywall on the inside; then a 2X4 wall with R-13 fiberglass insulation between the framing members. On the outside of the 2X4 wall is nonstructural sheathing and then the siding.When replacing siding we usually remove everything down to the framing. This allows
There are few home repairs more thoroughly ignored than failing siding and exterior trim. This may happen for several reasons. Many people simply do not notice – out of sight out of mind. There is often a perception that the exterior of a home is invincible, however, even brick homes have trim that can fail.
There are many options when considering an ADA size specific, roll-in shower remodel. Although the primary need may be for wheelchair accessibility, a roll-in shower can also provide style and beauty to any bathroom. As you can see, the aesthetic flow of the bathroom was not interrupted by converting the existing shower into one that is
College Station, February 9, 2015- When Amy Rensvold, with the local Women, Infants and Children’s (WIC) office called Stearns Design Build she was hoping to get a bid to have some laminate countertops replaced. Instead Stearns Design Build president, Hugh Stearns offered to do the work for free. Thanks to the generosity of Lowe’s in Bryan, who contributed materials at half price, the project could be done with no cost to the WIC office.
Like many building products in existence, choosing the right siding for your home is never as easy as Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Each siding material comes with its own set of features and benefits, both from a sustainability point of view, price, climate appropriateness, and aesthetics. Sadly there is no category wide certification program to use as an overall guide. The first decision for choosing a siding material should come down to what is most suitable and allowable in your market or area of residence. Here is a list of commonly used siding for green-built homes.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Naomi Sacks, who runs the Therapeutic Landscape Network. She is currently working on a PhD in Architecture here at TAMU. But her accomplishments exceed that of many who have long had such academic di...stinction. Her book, Therapeutic Landscapes: An Evidence-Based Approach to Designing Healing Gardens and Restorative Outdoor Spaces, is available on Amazon. Though Naomi's focus is on landscape design in institutional settings, I look forward to learning as much as I can about her approach and applying it to the residential setting.
To the extent that we seek “green” or sustainable solutions, it is not enough to consider the resources that we use in building, we must consider our relationship to all resources. We must design homes that put us into relationship with life’s resources so that we can become aware of our part of a process of dynamic balance.
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Stearns Design Build
College Station Custom Home Builders
2151 Harvey Mitchell Pkwy S #219
College Station, TX 77840
Phone: 979-696-0524
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