Don’t Make this Mistake

November 26, 2019 Patio Contractor, Patio Design

There are so many things to be aware of while planning your outdoor living space that it can be overwhelming. Texas Custom Patios is with you every step of the way, but here are some things to consider when it comes time to build your dream covered patio.

Timing of your project… do you have a special event coming up? Or just want it done before summertime? Check out our timing schedule:

How much room do I really need? Great question… But you need to ask yourself a few more questions. What do you want to use the space for?

Do you want just a couch and chair to hang out and watch TV… plan on about 200 SF— you need room to move around the furniture but be placed far enough from the TV for the perfect view.

Do you want to have a small dining table as well (seating for 4 or 6)? Add another 100/150 SF. Or will you be entertaining more and need a table for more (8-10)? Make it another 200/250 SF.


What about an outdoor kitchen? Just make sure you have room to include a counter area with serving space and plenty of room for the grill master to move around. A good rule of thumb is to measure your indoor living room or kitchen or dining area and plan accordingly. Outdoor furniture takes up the same amount of space as indoor furniture. And you need to make sure there is space on the edges to keep everything dry.

When planning for your outdoor kitchen, you need to think about how much entertaining you will be doing or how you will be using your grill. If you are mainly looking to just grill for your family of 4, then a smaller counter area with limited storage and a small grill will work great. If you like to entertain and have people over, then you need to plan on having
the space available to lay out all the food (either food that you have prepared or dishes the guests bring). Make sure you have plenty of counter space for the buffet.

Lighting – how much light is needed? Once the sun goes down, it gets dark outside… make sure you have enough light on your patio. Can lights overhead (1 per 100 SF) and carriage lights on the columns are a good start. If you have an outdoor kitchen, lighting above the grill is
important so you can see how the steak is doing. Hanging a great chandelier is also a nice add not only for light, but a beautiful focal point.

There are many more things to consider, but this is a great start! Your project manager is there from start to finish, so you can enjoy the process and watch your dream patio become a reality!

Trending in the Outdoor Living World

December 30, 2018 Outdoor Living, Patio Design

So many dream of the day they can have an outdoor living space.  While we are daydreaming, budgeting and getting a plan together to make that dream a reality, let’s look at what’s on trend in outdoor living.

  • Outdoor Kitchens
  • Folding Doors
  • Fire Features
  • Ceiling Fans
  • Retractable Screens
  • Water Feature
  • Retractable Screens

We specialize in custom building your outdoor oasis to fit seamlessly with your home (including all of the above trends), so you can’t tell where your existing home stops and your new covered patio begins.  If you have a completion date in mind we have a nifty guide to help you know when to call us and get started!

Outdoors

 

 

What’s Our Specialty?

November 28, 2017 Outdoor Living

After 20 years as a non-profit executive director for the YMCA, with a lot of facility responsibilities, Rob Douglass was ready for a change.  “My wife Katherine and I both grew up in Houston , then went away for college and career building.  A few years later, when we moved back to Fort Bend County in southwest Houston, there were all these new homes springing up in one of the fastest growing areas in the country.

There was one word they thought all those homeowners needed more of… SHADE!  This is where Texas Custom Patios was born.  For the rest of the story and more on our specialty, read here!

 

Building a Patio Near You

February 27, 2017 Outdoor Living

At Texas Custom Patios, we are a custom builder specializing in custom built patio covers, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, screened porches, room additions and other outdoor living structures in the Greater Houston Area.

Houston

Our service area extends northwest to include the following communities: The Woodlands, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, Klein, and Jersey Village. Over the past 12 years, we have built outdoor living spaces in almost every neighborhood, including: Creekside, Carlton Woods, Augusta Pines, Coles Crossing, Champions, Fairfield, Copperfield, Towne Lake, Bridgeland, Black Horse Ranch, Gleannloch Farms, Stonegate, Canyon Lakes, Lakes on Eldridge, Wimbledon, Bridgestone, and more.

Our service area extends west to the communities of Spring Branch, The Villages of Hunter Creek/Piney Point/Hedwig, Memorial, Katy and Fulshear. Specific neighborhoods where we’ve done a great deal of adding outdoor patio covers and living spaces are Tanglewood, Briargrove, Memorial, Spring Valley, Royal Oaks, Windsor Lake Estates, Green Trails, Kelliwood, Deerfield, Grand Lakes, Cinco Ranch, Seven Meadows, Cross Creek Ranch, Falcon Point, Weston Lakes, and Firethorne.

On the southwest side, Texas Custom Patios designs and builds outdoor patio projects in Richmond, Rosenberg, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Stafford and Meadows Place. Because the business started in Fort Bend County in 2004, we have completed jobs in many neighborhoods, including First Colony, Sienna Plantation, Riverstone, Pecan Grove, Greatwood, New Territory, Telfair, Aliana, Waterside Estates, Longmeadow Farms, Lakes of Bella Terra, Westheimer Lakes, Sugar Creek, Sweetwater, Commonwealth and Quail Valley.

South and southeast of Houston, we have a large presence of building patio covers in Pearland, Manvel, Friendswood, Clear Lake, and League City. Neighborhoods where we have built outdoor living spaces include: Shadow Creek Ranch, Southwyk, Southfork, Silver Lake, Silver Creek, Sedona Lakes, The Forest of Friendswood, West Ranch, Lakes of Highland Glen, Bay Oaks, Pine Brook, and Nassau Bay.

Northeast of Houston, we build backyard patio covers in Humble, Atascocita, Kingwood and Porter, including the neighborhoods of Fall Creek and Summerwood.

Finally, we provide our services to all communities and neighborhoods near and inside the 610 Loop, like West U, Bellaire, Meyerland, Montrose, Upper Kirby, River Oaks, Midtown, Southside Place and The Heights.

Now let’s hop on 45 North … we also proudly build in the Dallas – Ft. Worth metroplex. Our service area extends to the Hurst, Euless, Bedford area in Tarrant County. Lewisville, Flower Mound and Highland Village north of DFW are also areas we build outdoor living spaces. McKinney, Frisco and Little Elm are in our Collin County service area. Allen, Plano and Richardson are on the eastern border of our service area, and we build patio covers in Grand Prairie, Arlington and Mansfield as a southern border.

DFW

We’ve designed and built patio covers in the neighborhoods of Timarron in Southlake, Woodland Hills in Colleyville, Hackberry Creek in Irving, The Tribute in the Colony, Bent Tree in Dallas, the Arbors of Creekwood in Mansfield, along with many other patio covers, outdoor kitchens, and fireplaces in Lewisville, Coppell, Frisco, Little Elm, and McKinney.

We can build everything from traditional to contemporary  … super modern or farm house chic covered patios … if you can dream, we can build it!  We know that the Super Bowl just ended, but if you would like to enjoy this year’s football season at your own patio party, give us a call now!  Use the guide below to help you with your timeframe in getting started.

 

CALENDAR DATES

Shooting For The Stars

August 22, 2016 Awards

IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE

Awards - Best Outdoor Living Builder

2016 Star Awards & Excellence under 45 Awards Winners

The Texas Association of Builders (TAB) announced the 2016 Star Awards winners at the Gaylord Texan® Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine. The highly-coveted Star Awards are given annually in conjunction with the Sunbelt Builders Show™ to recognize excellence in all areas of the home building industry. In 1992, the Texas Association of Builders launched the Star Awards – the only statewide tribute to excellence in the home building industry.

The 2016 Star Awards recognized the outstanding work of builders, remodelers, architects, designers, sales professionals, marketing professionals, construction professionals and industry leaders in Texas and the Southwest. Entries were judged by a distinguished panel of industry experts from across the country.

Winners will be featured in the September/October issue of Texas Builder magazine. Click here to see a list of complete award winners.

Texas Custom Patios grabbed, “Remodeler – Best Outdoor Living Space” in two different price categories!  We are thrilled and honored.

Best Outdoor Award

Start Tomorrow?

June 23, 2016 Patio Contractor, Patio Design

We are continuing our series of most popularly asked questions with a question nearly everyone asks. Everyone wants every thing now, now, now!  We often get calls requesting an immediate start date of “tomorrow.”  While we are just as excited as you, it takes just a little bit more time to  get things going.   So a popular question asked daily is, “can you start tomorrow?”  The answer is, we can get the ball rolling, but we won’t be installing the outdoor kitchen sink by tomorrow’s patio party.

We have a thorough process that includes really getting 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!  Your new best friend will oversee your entire outdoor living project, from start to finish!

Schedule your free consultation today by calling our office or filling out our contact form. We will send one of our experienced project developers to your home to gather information about your project. If we can provide an outdoor living project that meets your budget, then we will create a proposal for you.

Not sure how to budget for your outdoor living project? Look at our dream patio budgeting guide for some ideas.

What Can I Expect During This Visit?

  • You will see photos of similar projects to help us determine your preferences
  • We will take measurements and photos of the project area
  • We will ask lots of questions about your expectations
  • We will talk to you about your project budget

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After your project developer visits your home, we will provide you with a proposal that includes an exact quote proposal for your project. On average, the proposal will be completed in about a week. This proposal will include a design drawing with specifications and dimensions and rendered views and elevations so you can see what the project will look like after completion.

 

Your project developer will schedule an in-person meeting with you to go over your proposal and answer any questions. Once we have signed a contract, you can visit our office showroom to view samples and make final selections for your project!

 

 

Build a patio

No Such Thing as a Dumb Question

May 17, 2016 Patio Contractor, Patio Design

We are answering the most commonly asked question as part of a series we are doing each month.  So many want to know the answer to these questions, so we thought we would share it with all of you!  Last month we talked all about our specialty, and this month we are focusing on the big picture.  So here are some of the most commonly asked questions that all have, surprisingly, the same answer.

Can you put clear plastic over my pergola?

Can you add screens to my existing patio?

Can you just pour concrete?

As much as we would love to help you with all of that, we are a design build contractor who manages the project from start to finish scheduling multiple trades.  If your job requires only one trade, then it’s best to hire that trade directly!

If you are wanting to do more, we have the easiest process around … so easy that you’ll feel like it’s just one trade you are utilizing.

THE TCP DIFFERENCE

At Texas Custom Patios, we offer personalized service and flexible payment terms, and when you choose to work with us, you’ll work with the same project developer every step of the way (that’s the easy part we mentioned), from the preliminary design stage to project completion and clean-up.

We specialize in providing turnkey design solutions for outdoor living, including: patio covers, outdoor kitchens, screened porches, room additions, pergolas, fireplaces and so much more!  See our website for a complete gallery or on Houzz to see finished projects!

Texas Custom Patios

 

WE STAND BEHIND OUR WORK

At Texas Custom Patios, we’re confident in our work – and we want you to feel confident, too.

That’s why we offer a two-year warranty for materials and workmanship, and a five-year warranty for structural components of your home improvement project.

We also have $1 million in liability insurance to protect against accidents and injury.

 

NO SURPRISES: OUR EXACT QUOTE PROMISE

When you schedule a consultation with one of our experienced project developers, you’ll receive more than just a ballpark figure. We’ll tell you exactly how much your outdoor living project will cost – down to the penny.

But that’s not all. At Texas Custom Patios, every estimate includes a detailed drawing with specifications and dimensions, plus rendered views and elevations – so you can see a preview of your completed project.

Builder Spotlight

April 15, 2016 Patio Design
We take so much pride in not only what we build, but who builds it!  Often times homeowners fear who will be the one at their home while they are not there (or present), trust is a very important part of our process. We are a general contractor that have trusted Project Developers and subcontractors that we consider to be our partners in creating your outdoor living space.  Many times, our TCP family member becomes a member of your family … enjoying backyard bbqs in the dream space they built together!
Texas Custom Patios

 

We would like to spotlight someone who has been working with us for 12 years, he knows a lot about building your dream patio, outdoor kitchen, and adding style to your outdoor life!  Take a moment to get to know one of our most talented partners …

Mike - Texas Custom Patios

Full name: Michael Rodriguez,  Owner of Tile Services

 

How long with TCP? I’ve been with TCP since their beginning in 2004 . I started with them by handling their tile installations. I now handle building their outdoor kitchens by welding them on site to the stone or brick installations and installing their appliances.  I handle most of their stone and brick installations such as fire pits, fireplaces, columns , sitting benches, etc.  I continue doing tile and travertine installations for Texas Custom Patios .

 

How long have you been in this business?  I’ve been in business since 1998 doing tile installs for custom home builders .

 

What’s your “specialty?”  I would say I am a tile installation expert, but now after working with Texas Custom Patios I feel I have learned the ins and outs of outdoor kitchens.  I’ve built them every way you possibly can … out of wood, cinder block,  metal studs and now we weld them together out of galvanized tubing which I find to be a much cleaner look, stronger and safer .

 

What do you enjoy most about what you do?  Making customers happy and pleasing them by making their ideas become reality .

 

What’s inspiring in the construction/build world to you?  Making a simple idea written on scratch paper come true.

 

Do you have a favorite project from the past?  I really don’t have a one favorite project, I believe all the projects have their special unique feature since all of them are so different .

 

What trends have you seen in outdoor design in the last few years?  Transformation of a simple patio to an extraordinary outdoor living area.

 

What’s the one thing that most clients say they HAVE to have?  A flat screen TV to watch sports!

 

What is your biggest obstacle you face during the design/build process?  The rain.

 

What do you hear most often from clients when everything is completed?  How satisfied they are and can’t wait to throw a party.

 

What do you think outdoor living space does for a home and person?  A great added feature that gives the customer more area for guests and entertaining.

 

What do you hope to build/design in the future? Whatever a customer can dream up!

 

So you heard it here … get to dreaming and Texas Custom Patios can build it with the help of our very talented, Michael!

 

 

The HOA … “Oh, No Way”

September 30, 2015 Outdoor Living, Patio Contractor

RemodelFor many homeowners just the thought of dealing with a Home Owners Association (HOA) for a remodeling project invokes fear. Homeowners worry that they’ll find difficulty or denials when they work with the associations. Many times it’s easier to just squash the dream than deal with the red tape.

In the majority of areas where we build outdoor living spaces, homeowners live in areas governed by an HOA. The associations serve to set standards in the neighborhood to keep property values high and provide common resources to the neighborhood.

No fear; no headaches.

When you choose Texas Custom Patios to remodel your outdoor living space, our Project Developers handle all the headache of submissions and approvals with your HOA. Our Project Developers work with your HOAs on a regular basis, so we’re familiar with the process, the standards and the wait times. We confidently navigate the process for you, so you can avoid the fear and any headache with your HOA.  So no “oh no” moments to deal with on your part, just a perfect new patio to enjoy!

Have a project in mind? We work throughout the Houston and Dallas - Fort Worth areas.

Our Customers Love Us

We worked with Mark, who came to us with plans and fully explained the costs, materials, timeline, and talked about the construction methods. The project was well organized, with a new crew arriving once each stage of construction was completed. I kept a photo record of it, which was fun and friends are wowed by the timeline. I completely recommend Texas Custom Patios.

© 2024 TCP Custom Outdoor Living

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