Projects of the Month: Features Edition
May 31, 2020 Project of the MonthEach month we highlight a beautiful completed project. This month we have compiled several of the featured patios that all have unique features. Click here for more!
Each month we highlight a beautiful completed project. This month we have compiled several of the featured patios that all have unique features. Click here for more!
What is a lot survey and why do I need one to build an outdoor living space? We get this question a lot and here’s why…
A lot or land survey is basically a graphic depiction of your property that outlines the legal boundaries and other features. You probably received one when you purchased your home. It is necessary for Texas Custom Patios to see your survey so we can determine what can legally be built on your property.
The lot survey will identify any easements, building setbacks, or other restrictions on your property. It will inform us if your home is in a flood plain or if there are any other special considerations we need to know in order to design and build your outdoor living space.
What if you can’t find your lot survey? There are several options – check with your local tax assessor’s office, they may have one on file. Another option is to get a survey done, there are several companies that specialize in surveying land and can get it done quickly. Surveys typically cost between $300-$500.
When Texas Custom Patios is building your outdoor living space, we will use the survey to file for permits through the city and to submit to your HOA for approval. This is done in order to make sure any new structures are built without crossing over into easements or setbacks on your property. We need this info to not only ensure we are not building inside easements, but also to draw your existing property in our software to allow for an accurate scale for the new drawings we present.
Once it’s all approved, then the fun begins and we can begin building!
Summer is quickly approaching and our tastebuds are ready to adapt! What’s cool, refreshing and ready for a patio party? Here are some yummy summer treats perfect to beat the heat!
One of the first things that most people want to know, is how soon will they be lounging on their new patio? Use the handy guide below to know when your custom patio project needs to begin in order to be completed by these commonly requested dates. Factors such as material supplies and weather prevent us from guaranteeing completion dates, but we understand your excitement and work diligently to meet a desired date. The guide below was created to give you a ballpark look!
First, determine when you want your project completion to be, then discover what month you’ll need to contact our office to get started.
When you call our office, we’ll schedule an initial appointment. After the initial visit, we’ll follow up with a proposal. Once you’ve selected Texas Custom Patios as your outdoor design-builder, we’ll begin the permitting and homeowner association process. This can take up to 90 days depending on the particular rules of your community. When the design has met all requirements, a simpler concrete and cover takes about four weeks to complete. Including a kitchen adds a couple more weeks. Watch this video to discover more about our design-build process. More questions? Give one of our outdoor-living specialists a call at 281-265-1994 in Houston, or 972-915-2727 in Dallas/Fort Worth.
We are now offering complimentary virtual consultations in lieu of an in-home initial visit. As we continue to navigate through this ever-changing time in our world, keeping our customers and employees healthy is our top priority.
If you’ve been thinking about getting an estimate, but haven’t had time to schedule an appointment, now is a great time to do that! Here’s what to expect during your virtual visit.
STEP 1: CALL YOUR LOCAL OFFICE TO SET UP YOUR VIRTUAL APPOINTMENT:
HOUSTON: (281) 265-1994
DALLAS/FORT WORTH: (972) 915-2727
STEP 2: BE PREPARED
You will need a computer or tablet for your appointment (you will be asked to screen share). You’ll be virtually introduced with your one-on-one project developer and will be asked to email a few things:
It’s helpful to know the different styles and features you like, so you are prepared during the virtual consultation. You can find many ideas by browsing our gallery, here. You can also explore ideas on our Houzz page, here.
STEP 3: VIRTUAL CONSULTATION
You will receive a follow-up call within 24 hours of your set appointment to ensure the date and time still works well for you. About 5 minutes prior to your appointment, you will be e-mailed a link that will allow you to share a screen with your project developer. You will get a phone call from your developer and will be asked to click on the link. Two important things to note here:
You will then have an open conversation about your wants, needs, obstacles and expectations. Again, please carve out 30 to 40 minutes for this conversation and have your questions ready! To help you as much in advance, click here for a list of frequently ask questions.
GOALS OF 1ST MEETING
-Review space
-Talk budget (budget blog, read ahead of time)
-Discuss a timeline (timeline blog, read ahead of time)
-Chat about design
STEP 4: VIRTUAL BID MEETING
There will be 7 to 10 days between your first virtual meeting and your second virtual meeting. At this meeting you will be shown the drawings and ideas created by your project developer.
These are just ideas and suggestions based on your prior conversation regarding what you hope to have built in the given areas discussed. Each and every project is completely custom, with measurements and ideas for your home only. You will also be able to view a multidemential rendering of your projected project as well. Click here for an animated version of a rendering.
STEP 5: START BUILDING YOUR PATIO
Once you have decided to trust us with your custom patio build, we get to work! We handle all permits and approvals from the HOA and put a schedule together to get your project going.
At Texas Custom Patios, we really get to know our customers. When you choose to build with us, you get your own project developer who will get to know you, your goals, and your style, and will oversee your entire outdoor living project, from start to finish. We can promise you that you’re in good hands and in a no pressure situation. We hope to hear from you soon!
While Clorox, paper towels, and sanitizers of any sort are hard to come by, it doesn’t mean spring cleaning should get a pass. Getting fresh air is the best thing we can do right now, so sitting on crisp, clean patio is exactly what the doctor ordered! Not to mention, getting 10-30 minutes of vitamin D from the sun can can help keep you healthy and well! So get out and get to cleaning… your health depends on it, wink, wink!
Below are a few recipes for an at-home all-purpose cleaner with ingredients that should be easy to purchase if you don’t already have them!
All-Purpose Cleaner
Needs:
One part white vinegar
One part water
Lemon rind
Rosemary sprigs
Combine the above ingredients together, pour into a spray bottle, shake, and then let infuse for a week before using. Once done, you can use the natural solution to remove hard water stains, clean trash cans, wipe away wall smudges, and much more. Besides a fresh scent, the lemon rind may help boost cleaning power. Caution: Do not use acidic cleaners on granite, as they will etch the stone.
Stone Cleaner
Needs:
2 drops mild dishwashing liquid
2 cups warm water
Mix dishwashing detergent and water the next time you want to clean natural stone countertops. Sponge over marble and rinse completely to remove any soap residue. Buff with a soft cloth; do not let the marble air-dry. Caution: Never use vinegar, lemon, or any other acidic cleaner on marble or granite surfaces; it will eat into the stone.
Grill Cleaner
Before grilling your filet, burger or veggies… it’s important to make sure your grill is ready for you to bring the heat! Take a peek at this grill readiness checklist, click here!
In the midst of a rapid firing virus, our world wakes each day with uncertainty of what the future holds. There are a few things we can do to make sure we are as healthy as possible, the human body is quite resilient, but we have to equip it with ammo!
Today we are focusing on recipes that build the immune system, give you natural energy, and help you to feel better!
Green Monster Smoothie – Vitamin A and C
Mango Agave Granola with Greek Yogurt – Probiotics
White Bean Dip – Zinc
Thyme-Roasted Marcona Almonds – Vitamin E
Chicken Pot Popovers – Protein (and let’s mention… a super comfort food)
Grilled Salmon with Tomatoes and Basil – Vitamin D
Raspberry Spoonbread – Vitamin K
Cucumber Lemonade Mocktail – Magnesium (Alcohol suppresses your immunity, so try this fun, tasty mocktail)
How many times do you go somewhere and you’re begging the host for the recipe?! Either that or you’re smuggling one last bite in your mouth trying to figure out if that’s rosemary or thyme, so that you can make that recipe next weekend! For this month’s featured deliciousness we are highlighting 5 star recipes… ones you will surly want the recipe for!
Appetizer – Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Salad – Jamie’s Cranberry Salad (we don’t know Jamie, but the salad is delish)
Main Dish – Whiskey Grilled Baby Back Ribs
Side Dish – Quinoa and Black Beans
Dessert – Sopapilla Cheesecake Pie
Cocktails – Honey Rose Margarita and 25 other springtime cocktails
Non-Alcoholic Sips – Luscious Slush Punch
The Annual People’s Choice Award from the Houzz Community Highlights Home Remodeling and Design Professionals with Most Popular Designs and Top Ratings
Texas Custom Patios of Houston and DFW have won a “Best Of Houzz” award for Design and Customer Service on Houzz®, the leading platform for home renovation and design. The custom outdoor living design builder was chosen by the millions of homeowners that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 2.5 million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.
The Best Of Houzz badge is awarded annually, in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design awards honor professionals whose work was the most popular among the Houzz community. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including a pro’s overall rating on Houzz and client reviews submitted in 2019. Architecture and interior design photographers whose images were most popular are recognized with the Photography award.
A “Best Of Houzz 2020” badge will appear on winners’ profiles as a sign of their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz.
“We at Texas Custom Patios are thrilled to be named as a Best of Houzz winner. We take pride in our projects and are so pleased our designs have caught the eyes of so many Houzzers. And we always strive to treat our homeowners with respect and work diligently to provide great service,” said Katherine Douglass, co-owner for the custom builder.
“This year’s Best Of Houzz awards go to an incredibly talented and service-oriented group of home remodeling and design professionals, and we’re proud to highlight the winners on the Houzz website and app,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “This award is particularly meaningful as it reflects the sentiment of the millions of homeowners in the Houzz community who are hiring home professionals for their projects across the U.S. and around the world.”
Follow Texas Custom Patios on Houzz for complete details of featured projects, custom ideas and more!
Click here for more details on this beautiful featured project in Katy, Texas.
Texas Custom Patios exceeded our expectations throughout our project. From drawing up plans, making changes and additions, through the clean-up process TCP made our dream patio cover a great experience. We knew everyday what was going to happen. Dean was our project manager and involved in every aspect. He was very professional and worked out every detail to make our vision come true. Thank you Dean and TCP! You guys are amazing! I highly recommend this company if you want a professional company to do a great job with the best materials and beautiful outcome.
As we continue to monitor the situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19), we are taking steps to help protect the health and well-being of our customers and employees. If you are able to do an initial appointment virtually, we are willing and able to accommodate you. Give us a call, and we can start the process today.