To view an online version of the magazine, click on the cover image above or click here.  The article is featured on pages 44-51.  Enjoy!

Our first new home to break ground is located in the Rivercrest subdivision of Houston.

The next home to begin construction is in the Memorial area.

This home, located in Piney Point Village in Houston, was our latest home to begin construction.

Stay tuned for updates on these projects in the new year!

Once again, Chris has returned from a National Custom Builders Council conference both energized and inspired!  Twice a year, this elite group of 16 premier builders from non-competing markets across the country meet to share their experience and best practices.

Having been a member of this group since its inception in 1998, CSCH has benefited from years of continuing education regarding effective industry technology and construction methods.  It’s been our goal following each conference to customize and incorporate what we learn into our everyday practices.  We are constantly aspiring to improve ourselves.

Chris has had the honor of serving as council president for the last two years and has gained extraordinary knowledge from the added responsibilities of this role.  Most importantly, he continues to be invigorated by the innovation and wisdom of his fellow members.

Click here for more information about the National Custom Builders Council.

]]> http://simsbuilders.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/national-custom-builders-council/feed/ 0 simsbuilders NCBC http://simsbuilders.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/giving-hope-for-three/ http://simsbuilders.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/giving-hope-for-three/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:22:08 +0000 simsbuilders http://simsbuilders.wordpress.com/?p=225 ]]> Through the years, we have had the pleasure of building many beautiful homes for our fortunate and gracious homeowners.  Now more than ever we have recognized our duty to use our experience and resources to give back to our community.  ”These are difficult times and everyone should be willing to pitch in… starting with us,” Chris says.

The most recent community involvement project that was presented to us hit particularly close to home.  The beautiful grand-daughter of our very own Administrative Assistant was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder early last year, which prompted her family to beginning getting involved with an organization called Hope For Three.  The family that helped to create this organization was in need of a few home renovations in order to better accommodate their family of six, which includes identical triplets each diagnosed with Autism.  Recognizing a perfect fit, Chris decided to contribute by installing new tile floors throughout the family’s home.

We would like to thank Hope’s family for allowing us to play a part in this very worthy cause.  We would also like to recognize the little girl who spurred our involvement to begin with… she also happens to be the cover girl of the new 2012 Hope for Three calendar!

If you are interested in learning more about Autism and the Hope for Three organization, feel free to visit their website at http://hopeforthree.org.

Progression of Main Stairway:

Progression of Main Kitchen:

Check back soon for final photos!

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Residents of Lake Pointe enjoy nearly three miles of pedestrian trails which loop around the 27-acre Brooks Lake, as well as walking access to Lake Pointe Town Center shops and restaurants.  A host of new medical facilities are also located in Lake Pointe, enhancing the urban convenience that residents experience.

We have enjoyed building fine patio homes in Lake Pointe’s The Villas and Creekbend communities for the past five years, and would love to answer any questions you may have about available homes and lots.  With very little land still available for new home construction in the coveted Sugar Land area, we are delighted to offer potential home buyers the opportunity to build a life in Lake Pointe.

Case in point:

In 2007, we began building this home in Riverstone, a Sugar Land community, with two goals in mind:

• Create a home that was unique to the area in its architectural design and finishes
• Apply our eco-conscious principles to build an environmentally-friendly home

Much of the exterior of the home is made up of “Old Chicago” brick, natural clay brick that was reclaimed from old buildings constructed in the Chicago area during the late 1800′s to mid 1900′s.  The many colors and quirky imperfections that show up in this brick only add to its appeal and charm.

Beams in the home’s Gameroom were recycled from the railroad trestle which used to cross the Great Salt Lake in Utah.  Upon close inspection, you’ll discover bolt holes, cracks, nail marks, and rust stains that give you a glimpse into its previous life.  Although reclaimed wood costs more than newly harvested timbers due to longer recovery and procurement processes, the final payoff has been worth it.

The flooring in the Master Bedroom was reclaimed from centuries-old homes in France.  While the buildings that this wood is typically recovered from are weathered, worn and decaying, the Oak beams and planks are extremely thick and sturdy.  We found that these floors have an unparalleled rich and authentic appearance.

To see more photos of this home, visit the Louisiana Acadian Portfolio on our website.

He came to us a few years ago after purchasing one of the last available lots in Sweetwater, a luxury custom home community in Sugar Land.  With a beautiful decades-old pecan tree sitting nearly in the very center of his lot, he was a bit weary about the sacrifices he would have to make to preserve it.  Nonetheless, he was determined, and so were we.

His home was designed around the tree, with the plans meticulously drawn to allow for necessary space and future growth.  As Pecan trees are common in the Sugar Land area, we were very aware of how sensitive they typically are.  As a result, prior to the start of the project we set up a deep root fertilization program, carefully pruned the tree, and installed a temporary fence around the root perimeter of the tree to protect it during the construction process.

As we do for all of our clients, the home’s construction journey was documented.  The tree’s presence was truly the only constant during the construction process:

Staking Piers and Placing Forms

Foundation and Rough Grade

Framing

Spring has arrived…

Advantages

Long Term Energy Savings:

Because tankless water heaters provide hot water only as it is needed, they don’t produce the standby energy losses that storage water heaters do.  In tests conducted by Consumer Reports, gas tankless water heaters were 22% more energy efficient than traditional storage-tank models.  The U.S. Department of Energy agrees, with their tests indicating a 24%-34% increase in energy savings for an average home’s daily hot water usage.

Unlimited Hot Water:

When using a traditional water heater, your hot water supply is limited to the amount of water that can be held in your storage tank.  With a tankless water heater, water is heated as it passes through the system by a gas burner or electric element each moment it is needed.  As a result, tankless water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water.

Space Saver:

While traditional water heaters require a large amount of space to accommodate a storage tank, most tankless water heaters can be mounted on a wall or even built into a home’s internal structure.  Below is a picture of a tankless water heating system that we recently installed in one of our homes.

Temperature Safety:

Temperature of the water is precisely controlled in a tankless water heating system, thus dangerous spikes in water temperature are not an issue.

Longer Life Expectancy:

Tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of more than 20 years and have easily replaceable parts that can extend their life even further.  Traditional storage water heaters last 10-15 years.

Disadvantages

Installation Cost:

Installing a tankless water heater in your home is substantially more expensive than a traditional storage tank model, especially here in the U.S. where tankless systems are not dominant.  The tankless models tested by Consumer Reports ranged in cost from $800-$1,150, compared with $300 to $480 for storage models.  In addition, if you currently have a storage water heater and would like to replace it with a tankless system, you may also incur additional costs to ensure that the electrical wiring or gas pipeline in your home can accommodate the new system.

Start-Up Delay:

In a tankless water heating system, it takes time to heat the water to the target temperature, and just like with storage models, any cold water in the pipes needs to be pushed out.  A circulating pump can be installed to combat this problem.

Limited Simultaneous Supply:

Sometimes tankless water heaters cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous, multiple uses in large households.  For example, taking a shower and running the washing machine may stretch a tankless water heater to its limits. To overcome this problem, some homeowners choose to install more than one tankless water heater.

Overall, it is agreed by all that Tankless Water Heaters are more energy-efficient than traditional storage water heaters.  Whether or not to choose a tankless system for your home will require a thorough understanding of the pros and cons as they apply to your personal needs.

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