JUNE 2011

The Official Magazine of the Greater Houston Builders Association • www.ghba.org

Also in this issue:

Builder

'Green 101'

OSHA's Fall Protection Standards in Effect June 16

Govt OR Calling all Leaders! Can you serve on the board?

H O U S T O N

New Home & Remodeling Show June 11-12 at Reliant Center

Summer LivingBringing the Inside Out!

Greater Houston Builders association – BuildinG a Better Future | Houston Builder | June 2011 13 June 2011 | Houston Builder | Greater Houston Builders association – BuildinG a Better Future12

About the Authors: Brandon Lynch is the founder and president of Keechi Creek Builders. He is a Certified Green Professional, a Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist, and is working towards the Certified Graduate Builder designation. He is

also an EPA-Certified Lead Renovator. Brandon is actively involved with the GHBA Remodelors Council and the Custom Builders Council. He is currently serving on the RMC board as the Education Committee Chair. He is active in community outreach and charitable events, thus he served as one of the coordinating remodelers for the 2010 RMC Charity project. As well, Brandon was awarded the first Certified Green Built Gulf Coast Bronze Level Home Remodel in 2010.

Larissa Michael is a graduate of the University of Texas with a degree i n C o m m u n i c a t i o n and has been working in the bui lding and d e s i g n i n d u s t r y f o r nearly 15 years. She recently started a new

business, Volume Control, and now handles the advertising, marketing, and public relations for several companies within the industry. As a member of the GHBA Remodelors Council, Larissa earned her Certified Graduate Associate designation, served as the 2010 Membership Chair, and currently serves as special committees – Marketing Coordinator. As well, Larissa received the 2010 Texas Association of Builders Star Award and the 2010 GHBA Houston’s Best Award for Best Print Ad – Remodeler.

There is nothing sweeter to a homeowner than the first breeze of spring, carrying with it the promise of fun times spent outside in

the pool, grilling a great meal, or entertaining friends. Nature. As a result, there is nothing sweeter to a remodeler than to hear the phone ring and a client ask you him to design an outdoor living space for them. Houston is a city that lends itself well to outdoor living and entertaining. For most of the year, residents are able to enjoy the natural surroundings right outside their door.

The more thoughtful we are about developing an outdoor living space, the more we can tailor it to suit the specific needs and desires of our clients. As the demand for outdoor living spaces increases, so does the number of available amenities. Staying informed about the latest design trends and innovative products is a good idea.

Design ConsiderationsWhen designing an outdoor living space, the most important thing to consider is

how it will function for your client. This will determine the products and structural components that are best suited for the project. For example, a stained concrete floor would not be a good choice for a pool surround; however, it may work well as the patio floor.

Furthermore, think about the environment and how it will impact the outdoor living space. Influences such as sun exposure, temperature, year round usability, and landscape limitations will also affect the design of a space. For instance, a west facing backyard would benefit from some type of cooling system in the evening during the hot Houston summers. It could be a ceiling fan, a wall mount fan or a patio misting system. Alternatively, during the cooler months, a fireplace or a fire pit is an option that would be both functional and add to the ambiance of an outdoor room.

Design OptionsWhen designing an outdoor living space it is important to remember that there are many design options. From the simple to the extreme, with your help, a homeowner can transform an uninspired outdoor space into a family’s favorite hangout—all it takes is imagination and knowledge of what is available.

When interviewing your client, be sure to gather as much information as you can. Ask detailed questions, walk the backyard and take stock of what is possible and what the limitations might be. Are the requests and desires of the client “doable”? Can you make suggestions that would enhance the vision of your client? Look for opportunities to improve upon the project by encompassing new trends, technology, or products.

Design TrendsDespite the economic climate, as homeowners, we continue to reconnect with our outdoor spaces. According to the 2011 American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Residential Trends Survey, most homeowners want function, efficiency and fire pits in their outdoor living spaces.

For 2011, the top outdoor living features are some of the most basic: light, fire, food and a place to sit and enjoy it all. Overall, exterior lighting is very popular for this year, followed by fire pits/fireplaces, and seating/dining areas which, not surprisingly, have remained near the top of the list. Grills are all the rage, but what type depends on the budget. Rounding out the top five is the unexpected addition of installed seating

FEATURE STORY

Trends in Outdoor Living

like benches or seating walls.

While the most popular outdoor features reflect an enduring sensibility, the interest in modern technology, like stereo systems, Internet access, and televisions, add to the growing trend of taking what clients enjoy inside, to the outdoors.

When it comes to landscape elements, efficiency and sustainability still reign supreme. The most popular for 2011 include low maintenance landscape, native plants, water-efficient irrigation, ornamental water features and food/

vegetable gardens. Other popular s u s t a i n a b i l i t y f e a t u r e s i n c l u d e permeable paving, reduced lawn and rainwater harvesting.

The Nat ional Associat ion of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) has named their its top remodeling trends for 2011, and it comes as no surprise that outdoor living spaces are in the top five. Homeowners are looking for more ways to enjoy their backyards, and, at nearly every level are still very much interested in creating livable outdoor spaces that function like indoor rooms.

POPuLARity PERCENtAGE RAtiNG:

Outdoor Living FeaturesLighting – 96.2%Fire pits/fireplace – 94.2%Seating/dining areas – 94.1%Grills – 93.8%Installed seating (benches, seat walls, ledges, steps, boulders) – 89.5%Utility storage – 61.3%Stereo systems – 58.3%Sinks – 54.7%Refrigerators – 50.2%Wireless/Internet connectivity – 46.3%Televisions/projection screens – 45.4%

Outdoor Recreation AmenitiesDecorative water elements (ornamental pools, splash pools, waterfalls, grottos, water runnels or bubblers) – 84.7%Spa (hot tub, Jacuzzi, whirlpool, sauna) – 75.9%Swimming Pools – 69.4%Sports/recreational spaces (tennis courts, bocce ball, etc.) – 47.7%

Landscape/Garden ElementsLow maintenance landscapes – 94.2%Native plants – 87.2%Fountains/water features – 81.0%Food/vegetable gardens (including orchards/vineyards etc.) – 80.3%Organic gardens – 65.5%Ponds/streams – 62.5%

Sustainable Design ElementsNative/adapted drought-tolerant plants – 88.8%Drip/water-efficient irrigation – 83.1%Permeable paving – 77.0%Reduced lawn – 72.6%Recycled materials – 64.5%Rainwater harvesting – 63.6%Compost bins – 49.4%Solar-powered lights – 48.8%

StructuresFencing (includes gates) – 85.1%Arbors – 83.8%Pergolas – 82.6%Steps – 79.3%Ornamental water features (fountains, splash pools) – 77.5%Decks – 74.4%Porches – 72.3%Art (sculpture etc.) – 60.7%Utility, tool or garden shed – 59.3%Play structures (tree house, swing set, etc.) – 58.9%Pavilions – 52.9%Awnings, including retractable – 49.6%Gazebos – 49.6%Columns – 40.9%ADA-accessible structures (ramps, bars, accessible shelving etc.) – 23.5%

PHOTOS BY KEECHI CREEK BUILDERS