Curtis's Home Details

2226 Square foot home

5 wooded acres with large trees

Home designed by Barley & Pfeiffer architects who are nationally known for "Green" designs

Home built by Stockton Builders - one of the best

Deed Restricted KirbySprings Ranch Subdivision

Dripping Springs Schools

4 bedroom, 3 bath, 1 living area, 1 dining area

Over-sized garage with lots of storage

43,000 gallon rain water collection system with 2000 sq ft water barn

26,000 gallon concrete cistern has a 30 foot patio on top

2-car carport with high roof

On very quiet road

Dark night sky- no close security lights

Showplace native-plant landscape with lots of rare natives

Pending "Best of Texas Backyard Habitat" certification for animals- particularly birds (see below)

1.5 acres of deer proofed yard- 4 foot fence with electric wire

4 organic vegetable gardens allow rotating crops

Large, mature asparagus bed

Peach, plum, and pear trees

Extensive irrigation piping for watering vegetable and flower gardens

Backyard pond with waterfall

Very energy efficient custom home design (see below)

Propane appliances

200 sq ft covered rock patio, native flagstone walkways (stones from the property)

Low-maintenance home exterior

High-efficiency, low emission Quadrafire wood stove

High-efficiency Aquastar on-demand water heater

High-efficiency Asko dishwasher

Red Oak cabinets with oak roll-outs in kitchen

Ceiling fans in all living areas with wall mounted (3) speed controls

Thermal-chimney window for ventilation

Recycled glass low maintenance tile floors

Wet-spray cellulose insulation in walls makes home very quiet(no voids)

Wired for security and fire-wire(heat detection)

No-freeze garage-attached greenhouse

Custom plumbing with separate cutoffs for toilets, hose bibs, and outside irrigation pipes

Great "night sky"- no outside security lights visible from house

Photo album showing wires/pipes in all walls

"Forever" 4 foot chain-link backyard fence with concrete underneath

Large rainwater reservoir provides good water source in case of fire- and insurance discount

Energy Efficiency Specifics

Very-effective passive solar design keeps home cool in summer and heats itself on sunny winter days. Sun comes in south windows in winter- very little sun into house in summer.

House is one-room deep with circulation through every room

Ventilated metal roof - metal raised above decking with ventilation between

Radiant barrier under roof deck with ventilation underneath

Extra foam insulation board in ceilings to isolate sheetrock from framing

Custom wiring allows using less lights (task lights, switched outlets, etc)

Whole-house fan for quick night-time cool-down

Double glass thermal-break windows

Dual-zone a/c

No hot water pipes in slab - all insulated in walls

Gardens Details

Gardens built from scratch with tons of organic matter

Gardens are all organic

Each garden has its own faucet with a separate drain for freeze-proofing

Mature fruit trees are prolific producers

Annual Malabar summer spinach re-seeds it self each year

Perennial/annual gardens all have drip hoses with individual controls for each area

Antique roses are on their own drip line

Xeriscape Landscape/ Wildlife Habitat

Over 125 native and adapted plant species (see detailed list)

"Natural" backyard pond with solar pump (no filtering required)

MANY resident birds (oak trees were not stripped by catapillars thanks to the birds)

Eastern Bluebirds nesting each year

Screech owls raise young in front yard nest box each winter - visible from house

A pair of Rufous hummingbirds stay each winter- food must be kept for them

MANY hummingbirds each summer(hundreds of hummingbird plants)

Golden-Fronted woodpeckers are regulars at the suet feeder

Painted Buntings are regulars at our dedicated Painted Bunting feeder

Periodic sightings of Gray Fox

Periodically hear coyotes on adjacent ranch

Periodic sighting of Ring-Tail Cat