Stone Creek Ranch Homes of Distinction Tour 2010

I am proud to announce that Mattern & FitzGerald will be participating once again in the 2010 Homes of Distinction Tour in Fair Oaks. The tour kicks off on Thursday, February 25th and runs every Thursday through Sunday for the next three weekends until March 14th. The event showcases homes with the latest in green features and this year, we have chosen to partner with the Build San Antonio Green program. Being green doesn't mean boring either. This sprawling 7300 square foot home features a double-sized kitchen, media room, wine room and bar, resort-type area in back featuring pool and secondary jacuzzi area, and of course the cherry on top; regulation NBA half court air conditioned and inside! I will definitely be challenging some people in a game of horse before the homeowners move in. Come see us during the event and view for yourself this amazing entertainment-type home. Get more details at the below link:

http://stonecreekranchhometour.com

Coolstone

Coolstone is a product that we use to simulate a limestone look for fireplaces, hood vents, outside accents, etc. The examples that you see here saved thousands of dollars and most importantly, weight and structural support. These hood vents were first made with OSB plywood, wrapped in lathe and felt, then applied with a stucco product that dries to look and feel like stone. One trick that we do is hand grind the finished product to give it a smooth, natural look and feel. I've seen some who don't grind and I don't really like it because it looks more synthetic and pitted. You can then leave it a natural grey finish, as shown with the off-white color, or tint it with a glaze that gives it a more antiqued look. You can see how beautiful they turn out if you have a skilled stucco person. The floral details you see were all done by hand, which is amazing to witness. The more linear bands and corbels can be purchased at a foam specialty store to give a more detailed look. These products were drawn on paper, then brought to life so the possibilities are literally endless. Because they don't require much in the way of structural support, you can apply this type of process to sheetrocked columns, display walls, niches or whatever else you can think of.

K Stone Diamond Polishing

At the 2009 Parade of Homes this year we used a product in the garage known as diamond concrete polishing. There is a fantastic company here in San Antonio called K Stone www.kstoneinc.com . Rick, the owner has a crew that will come in and use progressively lighter abrasion wheels to finish the color to a mirror-like finish. This is quite different than acid-stain concrete applications that you may be use to. In the past, companies such as Bass Pro Shop and HEB have utilized products like this because it is very low maintenance and friendly on the budget when compared to tile or wood options. It is also becoming more and more mainstream in general living areas of the home. The price point is around $6 per square foot and can go up from there, which is a little higher than traditional acid stain. However, the long term maintenance costs are quite less. As stained concrete becomes more accepted in residential construction, it is a great option to consider when planning a flooring surface for your next home.