Maintaining Your Outdoor Fireplace During Summer Months

November 3, 2024 No Comments

An outdoor fireplace is a great addition to any outdoor living space. It ad

ds warmth, ambiance and can be a great place to hang a TV in your outdoor space. While a fireplace is nice and cozy it does require regular maintenance to function correctly and burn safely during cooler months. Here are some steps you can take to make sure your outdoor fireplace is ready to perform in the cool weather for many years.

Inspection

Your outdoor fireplace should be inspected at least annually by a professional chimney sweep to ensure it is clean and safe for you and your family. A regular inspection will alert you to potential problems before they become serious. Your chimney sweep will let you know when you are in need of professional cleaning.

Cleaning

A clean fireplace is a safe fireplace. Not only does a clean fireplace look best, it also functions best. It’s tempting just to leave ashes and leftover wood in the fireplace between fires but it’s best to remove the chunks and sweep the ashes once the fire is completely extinguished and cooled. Having a set of tools specifically used for fireplaces will speed this process along. Never use a vacuum cleaner, even a shop vac, to clean ashes as embers can stay hot for days and can reignite inside your vacuum.

Burn

While most people can start a fire it is essential for the health of your fireplace to build the right kind of fire. Hardwoods are best for burning in your fireplace. They burn hotter, longer and cleaner. Learn to build efficient, clean burning fires. A fire that is inefficient is very smokey and makes the firebox and chimney dirty with flammable materials like soot and creosote.

Monitor

Between professional inspections it is important for you to regularly monitor the condition

of your outdoor fireplace. Soot and creosote can build up inside the firebox and chimney and can make the fireplace very unsafe. If you don’t know how to recognize these build ups ask you chimney sweep to show you what to look for. If you notice a build up of soot and creosote in your fireplace have it cleaned before you build a fire in it again.

We love our outdoor fireplaces and we know you do too. Make sure you maintain your fireplace during the summer to ensure a safe, cozy experience come fall!

Project of the Month: April 2024

August 17, 2024 No Comments

In Texas, shade in the backyard is mandatory. To enjoy their outdoor space, these homeowners came to us for an escape from the sun and updates to their existing pool. They needed something more permanent than a cumbersome umbrella they had to replace yearly.

So, we set out to design a space focused on comfort, a total transformation built for unwinding, cooking, and dining. We’ll walk you through the updates we made to create the new 550 SF patio.

Let’s start with the pool. We completely updated the decking and removed the pea gravel.

Before

Integrating the Pool and Patio

Outdoor-rated porcelain Keystone Tile extends throughout the entire space, bringing the pool and patio together.

The Vaulted Ceilings

The vaulted ceiling is a pre-stained tongue and groove chosen to complement the existing siding on the house.

Bromic Heaters for Usage Year-round.

Sleek, understated Bromic heaters were added to ensure the space could be used year-round, even during our coldest Texas winters.

Adding the Full Outdoor Kitchen for the Ultimate Dining Experience

The outdoor kitchen has a triple burner Le Griddle, doors, and drawers from Cunningham Living.
The Aspen White granite countertop from Daltile was extended to create additional seating behind the bar.

Now, with all the comforts of home, the patio is now the family’s favorite room of the home.

Get started on your backyard transformation by clicking here to book your free consultation today.

The Best of the Best

texascustompatios November 3, 2024

Chances are if you are reading this blog right now, you are doing some patio pondering. So will it be a covered patio or pergola? Outdoor kitchen or dining (or both)? Maybe a fireplace or perhaps a beautifully lit fire pit? Stone, granite, paint color … so many things to think about, but your first question should be … why Texas Custom Patios?

Let us help you answer that first! We are a family-owned and operated business with offices located in Houston and Irving, Texas. We proudly serve the greater Houston area and parts of Dallas/Fort Worth. We have completed thousands of outdoor living projects since we opened our patio doors in 2004.

The TCP Difference

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. Start to finish, preliminary design stage all the way to project completion and clean-up. It’s nice to have one main person that you can really count on each day.

We specialize in providing turnkey design solutions for outdoor living, including patio covers; outdoor kitchens; screened porches; room additions; pergolas and decks; outdoor fire features and so much more! View our portfolio here to get a better idea of what you would like.

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 one million dollars in liability insurance to protect against accidents and injury.

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! So many times if you get a bid from multiple builders, they will give you a soft bid to entice you, but the costs add up as the project gets built, leaving you with something much higher than you were promised. Every estimate of ours includes a detailed drawing with specifications and dimensions, plus rendered views and elevations -so you can see a preview of your completed project! It’s like your day dreams come to life on paper, making it that much more fun to start building!

The Best of the Best (we always come full circle)

Year after year we are awarded and recognized for being the best in the business. We constantly receive an A+ from the BBB (read our reviews here), and we are noticed by everyone from the National Association of Home Builders to fans on Houzz. We love hearing from our customers and sharing the stories of how what we build for them has changed their lives.

We hope you will give us the chance to build a dream for you.

Most Popular Among 40 Million Users

texascustompatios November 3, 2024

Annual Survey and Analysis of Community of Over 40 Million Monthly Users Reveals the Top-Rated Home Remodeling Professionals and Most Popular Home Designs Houzz Inc., the leading platform for home renovation and design, today announced the community’s picks for Best Of Houzz 2017, a homeowner-to-homeowner guide to the top home builders, architects, interior designers, landscape pros and other residential remodeling professionals on Houzz from cabinetry or roofing pros to painters.

“We are so pleased to award Best of Houzz 2017 to this incredible group of talented and customer-focused professionals,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “Each of these businesses was singled out for recognition by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts for helping to turn their home improvement dreams into reality.”

The Best Of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 40 million monthly users on Houzz. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including the number and quality of recent client reviews. Architecture and interior design photographers whose images were most popular are recognized with the Photography award.

A “Best Of Houzz 2017” badge appears 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. Winners will be announced globally throughout the month.

To see the most popular designs, visit here!

About Houzz
Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a small room to building a custom home and everything in between, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community empowered by technology, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow and Tokyo. Houzz and the Houzz logo are registered trademarks of Houzz Inc. worldwide. For more information, visit houzz.com.

Greater Houston Builders Association Names 2016 Houston’s Best PRISM Award Winners

texascustompatios November 3, 2024

Texas Custom Patios was happy to walk away proudly with two awards … “Best Outdoor Living” and “Best Website.” …. but let’s back up, what’s this all about?

Over 100 awards were presented to Houston area builders, developers, remodelers and industry professionals at the 2016 Houston’s Best PRISM Awards black tie gala at the Royal Sonesta Hotel. The theme was Bollywood Nights!

The Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA) Houston’s Best PRISM Awards are an annual event designed to recognize excellence within Houston’s homebuilding industry and to support their efforts. This event is directed by the GHBA Sales and Marketing Council, and numerous volunteers from GHBA member companies. The Bollywood Nights theme showcased the accomplishments of Houston’s top tier within the homebuilding industry. There were 730 formal-attired guests on-hand to celebrate the finalists and winners.

Categories in Construction and Remodeling included price range and specific room designs and in the Developer category, promotion awards were presented for TV, Radio, Print, Outdoor, Direct Mail, and Special Events. The People awards honored excellence in sales, marketing, and construction supervision.This year’s award recipients were chosen by a panel of premier industry professionals from around the country. Judging criteria varied according to the category, but all category winners were required to be active members of the GHBA in good standing, and to have shown commitment and excellence to the homebuilding industry as a whole.

For a list of all the winners, click here!

Shooting For The Stars

texascustompatios November 3, 2024

IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE

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.

35 Million People Say This Is The Best

texascustompatios November 3, 2024

Texas Custom Patios

Awarded Best Of Houzz 2016

Over 35 Million Monthly Unique Users Nominated Best Home Building,

Remodeling and Design Professionals in North America and Around the World

Texas Custom Patios won “Best Of Houzz 2016” for Design and Customer Satisfaction on Houzz®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The leader in custom patio design and build was chosen by the more than 35 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than one million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

The Best Of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 35 million monthly users on Houzz. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2015. A “Best Of Houzz 2016” 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.

“Anyone building, remodeling or decorating looks to Houzz for the most talented and service-oriented professionals” said Katherine Douglass, Managing Partner of Texas Custom Patios. “We’re so pleased to be recognized in this enormous community of homeowners and design enthusiasts actively remodeling and decorating their homes. Nothing is bigger than word of mouth, so we are honored to be talked about and awarded.”

Follow Texas Custom Patios on Houzz here.

About Texas Custom Patios

The family-owned residential remodeling contractor specializes in designing and building custom projects. Texas Custom Patios enhances outdoor living for customers and has completed more than 1,300 outdoor living projects since opening its doors in 2004. The dream builders provide turnkey custom design projects ranging in size. Their specialty is building projects that look original to the home, including patio covers, pergolas, screened porches, room additions, guest houses, decks, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, and custom patios.

About Houzz

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a small room to building a custom home and everything in between, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community empowered by technology, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow and Tokyo. Houzz and the Houzz logo are registered trademarks of Houzz Inc. worldwide. For more information, visit houzz.com.

Best in Outdoor Living Space

texascustompatios November 3, 2024

Texas Custom Patios was just awarded “Best Outdoor Living Space” by Texas Association of Builders. We are thrilled to be noted among the very best! The Texas Association of Builders (TAB) announced and presented the 2015 Star Awards Winners in conjunction with the Sunbelt Builders Show™ on July 29-‐30, 2015 at the Gaylord Texas Resort and Convention Center. The highly-‐coveted Star Awards are given annually 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 2015 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. Winners will be featured in the September/October issue of Texas Builder magazine. For more information about the Star Awards, please visit here.

Shining Stars in the Industry

texascustompatios November 3, 2024

The Texas Association of Builders (TAB) announced the 2019 Star Awards winners on Aug. 8 at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas. The Star Awards are given annually in conjunction with the Sunbelt Builders Show™ to recognize excellence in all areas of the homebuilding industry, these awards are highly-coveted within the industry.
There were a record setting 575 entries submitted to judge. The judges were industry experts from across the nation.
In 1992, TAB launched the Star Awards – the only statewide tribute to excellence in the homebuilding industry. The annual competition showcased the outstanding work of builders, remodelers, architects, designers, and sales, marketing, and construction professionals in Texas.

This year we had many shining stars that gained some attention! Take a look and click on the links below each picture for details on the selected project.

Texas Custom Patios’ 15 Year Anniversary: Our Story

texascustompatios November 3, 2024

Texas Custom Patios is a family-owned and operated business located in Houston, Texas and Irving, Texas, but our service area covers most of the greater Houston area and parts of the Dallas – Fort Worth area. We have completed more than 1,600 outdoor living projects since we opened our doors in 2004. As we celebrate our 15 year anniversary we thought it would be neat to talk with one of our owners, Robert Douglass, to hear some of the stories that built TCP into what it is today.

Growning up was this what you wanted to do?

I always had an interest in building and in outdoor living. My father was handy while I was growing up, building and repairing anything around the house. When I became a homeowner, I took on many of the same types of projects: tile, flagstone, decks, pergolas, kitchen and bath remodels, etc. I never considered doing this for a career until I moved back to Houston in 2001 and saw thousands of new homes in Fort Bend County and no company focused specifically on outdoor living.

The first half of my career I worked as a YMCA director for 18 years. While it seems like a complete 180 from construction, I had many facility responsibilities. I planned new facilities, additions, and renovations, from working with architects, to selecting contractors, to supervising the projects. It was one of my favorite parts of the job.

Do you recall your first project?

The first project I built was for a friend…a small wood deck and pergola, and a slate patio. Before we built the project, I tried out the framing crew on a project at my house and worked with them. The business started with smaller projects that didn’t require many trades. But with each new job, the projects became more complicated… roof structures, screened porches, lots of masonry work, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, entertainment packages. Because we are usually designing and building to look original to the home, we’ve had to constantly evolve and find new trades. But the first few projects were very simple

What was your vision for the company in the beginning?

We have a great opportunity in our business to create a space that will potentially be our client’s favorite “room” in the house. We get to take a blank slate and turn the backyard into a much more usable space. The vision was to offer a turnkey experience that included creative design, managing approvals (HOA and permitting), and then building a high-quality, all-inclusive project. Our vision was to serve the entire Greater Houston Area by having Project Developers who lived and worked in different service areas. Finally, we hoped to develop a trade base of craftsmen who are experts in their particular area; who can grow with us; and who can meet the challenges of increasingly complex jobs. Ultimately, we wanted to complete a final project that exceeds the clients expectations, helps them enjoy their backyard, and adds value to their home.

What is your vision for the company now?

First, we see our design work as something that really sets us apart. We are constantly providing continuing education to our Project Developers so that every client is getting the best project to meet their practical needs and their aesthetic wants. We want to be on top of the latest trends and products, and we even want to pioneer some new ideas based on our vast experience in outdoor living.

Second, we want to give our clients a positive experience on the project management side of the business. That’s what turns into good reviews and referrals. That means creating best practices for scheduling and supervising trades and making consistent progress on jobs through to project completion. It’s not easy… many factors impact that, including weather and bottlenecks with some of our trades. In the areas where we have bottlenecks, we are constantly trying to broaden and improve our trade base.

Finally, in 2015, we opened a new office in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. We realize we have a business model that is replicable and we hope to explore opportunities to continue expanding into other markets. But for now, we have our hands full just serving the entire Houston and DFW areas. Katherine (owner and wife) and I grew up in Conroe and we recognize that we have only a minor presence north of The Woodlands… Montgomery County is an area of growth that we will pursue in the next couple of years.

What has been the most rewarding?

By far the most rewarding aspect of creating a new business has been the understanding that we are providing a livelihood for over one hundred people. Not just the full-time employees in two offices, but dozens of sub-contractor crews who primarily work for TCP going from job to job. Each of those subs have numerous employees creating long-term relationships that have been rewarding.

What has been tough?

The biggest challenge is managing growth. When do we bring on a new Project Developer? How do we grow the trade base to meet the increased demand? So many questions we have to ask ourselves along the way.

What sets TCP apart from other remodel companies in your eyes?

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, 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 and patios; room additions; pergolas and decks; outdoor fireplaces; and more.

Any funny stories to share along the way??

Although we’ve built over 1600 projects, we’ve probably visited 10,000 people over the years. When you meet that many people, you’re going to run into some characters. Like the homeowner who wanted me to look out his back window so I could see that he didn’t have a “money tree.”

2018 Star Awards Winners

texascustompatios November 3, 2024

The Texas Association of Builders (TAB) announced and presented the 2018 Star Awards winners on Thursday, Aug. 9 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas. 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. More than 500 entries were submitted for consideration for this year’s awards. Entries were judged by industry experts from across the nation, including Aaron Crowe (Benton, Ark.), Mike Goodrich (Beaverton, Ore.), Gretchen Palmer (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and Bill Sager (Tacoma, Wash.).

In 1992, TAB launched the Star Awards – the only statewide tribute to excellence in the home building industry. The annual competition showcased the outstanding work of builders, remodelers, architects, designers, and sales, marketing, and construction professionals in Texas.

We are proud to announce we are the winners in three categories:

Remodeler – Best Outdoor Living Space – $100K-$150K

Remodeler – Best Outdoor Living Space – Under $60K

Remodeler – Best Outdoor Living Space – $70K-$95K

Check out our website for details on all our featured projects, learn more!

Blog

Category: Outdoor Living

Maintaining Your Outdoor Fireplace During Summer Months

Inspection

Cleaning

Burn

Monitor

Project of the Month: April 2024

The Best of the Best

Most Popular Among 40 Million Users

To see the most popular designs, visit here!

Greater Houston Builders Association Names 2016 Houston’s Best PRISM Award Winners

Shooting For The Stars

IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE

2016 Star Awards & Excellence under 45 Awards Winners

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

35 Million People Say This Is The Best

Texas Custom Patios

Awarded Best Of Houzz 2016

Over 35 Million Monthly Unique Users Nominated Best Home Building,

Remodeling and Design Professionals in North America and Around the World

Best in Outdoor Living Space

Shining Stars in the Industry

Texas Custom Patios’ 15 Year Anniversary: Our Story

2018 Star Awards Winners

We are proud to announce we are the winners in three categories:

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