Tag Archives: south

Xeriscaping: Beautiful and Sustainable Landscaping for Your Home

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Living in Texas, especially South Texas, means water is almost as precious as gold. Water restrictions are just a part of daily life, and nothing suffers more for it than our lawns. If you’re looking to build a new house or are considering landscaping alternatives, consider xeriscaping.

If you’re not familiar with the term, xeriscaping is landscaping and gardening that minimizes the need for supplemental water from irrigation by using plants natural to the environment. In fact, a xeriscaped yard uses about half the water of a traditional yard.

Other Benefits of Xeriscaping:

-          No need for pesticides or fertilizers.

-          It’s pollution free.

-          It creates a natural habitat for your local wildlife.

-          It requires a lot less maintenance, so it’s perfect for families who are always on the go or travel a lot.

-          Drought-proofing with Xeriscaping is a great way to improve the value of your property.

Beautiful and Green (sustainable)

Unfortunately, xeriscaping has earned a bad reputation as being unattractive. Sure, this type of landscaping means that you may not have an endless carpet of feather-soft grass in your front yard, but let’s face it, even with unlimited watering, that’s just not realistic. Still, this doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice beauty for practicality.

At Stone Creek Custom Homes, we work with some of the best landscape designers who seamlessly combine their knowledge with your own personal aesthetics to create a stunning outdoor environment for our client’s new homes.

Here are some things to keep in mind for your own Xeriscaped yard:

-          If you like to have a colorful yard, you can plant native wildflowers that are as hardy as they are gorgeous.

-          Use structures like walkways, pavers, stairs, a small bridge or other aesthetic elements, such as fountains, to minimize the need for plant life.

-          Make sure to consider the overall style of your home to help inspire the outdoor environment.

-          If you want to do some pre-planning and designing on your own, make a sun chart that delineates how much sun and where your property gets throughout the day. This will help you properly match the right plants with your home’s sunlight exposure.

-          Get your soil analyzed. You can send in samples to your local agricultural government office. This will help you determine what plants are realistically sustainable on your land and where your soil might need to be augmented.

Feel free to call us at your convenience at 210-494-5400 to discuss your own home and xeriscaping needs! Also, if you’d like to be added to our private email list to receive the newsletter, please sign up here.

Easy Home Maintenance and Energy-Saving Tips for Winter

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windows

People often forget the importance of winterizing their homes, especially in San Antonio where we sometimes enjoy 80 degree weather in January, like we have already in 2015. Still the weather fluctuates and it’s best to be prepared for the temperatures to drop again. Regular maintenance of your home keeps your house in tip top shape and helps you save money in the long run. Here are a few smart tips on easy things you can do to guarantee the efficiency and longevity of your beautiful home:

  • Set Your Ceiling Fans to Run Clockwise. By moving the hot air towards the floor you’ll save money on your energy bill.
  • Replace Filters. We often forget to do it, but it’s a simple and inexpensive way to save money and protect your heating and cooling system.
  • Insulate Cracks in Doors and Windows. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, up to 30% of energy is wasted due to drafts. This will also help you save money in the summer months as well. Consider installing storm doors and windows, using window insulation film or, in a pinch, rolled up towels or scraps of fabric to block out drafts from underneath the doors.
  • Flush Your Water Heater. At least once a year, you should flush the build-up of sediment that collects in your water heater to maximize your unit’s efficiency. A build-up of hard minerals is a problem in South Texas and could result in expensive repairs or replacements. It’s also a good idea to lower the temperature on the water heater to 120 degrees F. If you’re considering transitioning to tankless water heaters, check out our recent blog to learn more.
  • Programmable Thermostat. Many people have these already but don’t use them. For every degree you lower your thermostat, you save up to 3% on your energy bill. Programmable Thermostats do the work for you, so you don’t forget to adjust the temp during the day when you’re not at home and at night.
  • Keep Your Gutters Clean. We don’t generally see much ice and snow, but allowing water drainage to flow freely not only avoids ice dams but prevents potential water damage during torrential rainfalls, which we are quite familiar.

 

You can also avoid all the messy hassle of winterizing an old home and consider a fresh start with a brand new custom built home from Stone Creek Custom Homes. We’re here when you’re ready! Call us at 210-494-5400.

What Kind of Roof Do You Want Over Your Head?

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Standing Seam Metal Roof from Stone Creek Custom Homes

When deciding on what kind of roof you want for your new custom-built home, there are a myriad of considerations, such as longevity, durability and environmental characteristics that must be weighed. What aesthetic are you going for? What’s your budget?  At Stone Creek Custom Homes, we do our best to make sure our clients know all of the factors before making such an important decision. When it comes to roofing, there are three main options:  tile, metal and asphalt shingle. We always tell people we put on a 30-year shingle, metal lasts 50 and tile lasts a lifetime, unless you get a hailstorm!

Asphalt Shingle

According to todayshomeowner.com, asphalt shingles have cornered 80% of the residential roofing market. Asphalt Shingles are the most popular type of roofing for homes, mainly because they’re the most economical choice.

If you’re trying to go green, asphalt shingles aren’t the best option. They’re not considered eco-friendly because they are a petroleum-based product, and while they can be recycled, it’s more likely they’ll end up in a landfill.

The good news is, today’s asphalt shingles are made to look like slate, wood shakes or even tile, so you can still have a beautiful-looking roof. Colors and styles vary, including architectural shingles, which create an attractive contoured, dimensional look, but aren’t recommended for low-sloping roofs.

Metal

According to the National Roofing Contractors Association, the popularity of metal roofing products has increased significantly in recent years. No longer simply corrugated tin roofs, modern metal roofs are not only attractive but are considered a high-tech roofing solution that’s lightweight, durable and fire-resistant. They’re also the energy-efficient choice because they reflect heat from the sun.

Aluminum, copper, copper-and-asphalt, steel and lead are all very durable, although certainly more expensive than asphalt shingles. Steel and aluminum are the most common and viable options because they hold paint well and are the least expensive metals. Although aluminum is prone to damage because it’s a softer metal, it’s less likely to corrode than steel.

Tile

Tile is more expensive than asphalt shingles and metal, but if aesthetics is your number one priority for your new custom home, tile roofs can’t be beat when it comes to a stunning visage. The half cylinders of tile roofing are common on Spanish Colonial and Mission styles, a prevalent choice in south Texas.

Terra cotta tiles have survived the test of time, not only because they give your house a warm, sunny façade, but because they’re great at keeping buildings cool – a quality which can’t be underestimated during summer!

Solar Shingle

Solar Shingles are a great alternative roofing choice. Only commercially available since 2005, solar shingles allow you to transform your roof into a source of energy, making it the most eco-conscious choice. Designed to look like traditional asphalt shingles, solar shingles are photovoltaic cells that are able to capture sunlight and convert it into electricity. While solar shingles are considered a more expensive roofing solution, newer designs are much more cost-efficient and can be installed in 10 hours, compared to what used to take up to 30 hours.

Whatever type of roof you’re considering for your new custom home, we’re here to help guide you! For more information, call us today at 210-494-5400.