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Keep up-to-date with the latest news about Living Stone Design + Build and browse some of our How-To videos for helpful Design + Build tips and tricks.

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Get your Roof Ready for Winter

thiemkeyFor many American families, homeownership brings a sense of stability, accomplishment and peace of mind. Owning a home also means being responsible for its upkeep, in order to make sure it is a safe, comfortable sanctuary for your family to enjoy. As the winter months approach, the first measure of protection for a home against rain and snow in many parts of the country is the roof.

These tips from GAF (gaf.com), a New Jersey-based roofing manufacturer, offers advice to home owners for how to get your roof ready for the cold winter. 

  1. Start off by checking the roof framing structure to make sure it is not compromised.  Visually scan the roof for any sagging or uneven areas. If you do see an area that looks uneven, this may mean damage to the roof deck below the shingles.

Living Stone Construction Has Another Successful Year at NCHBA STARS Awards

On September 17, Living Stone Construction attended the 2013 STARS  Awards Gala in Charlotte, NC for the sixth straight year and hoped to have yet another successful evening. The STARS Awards Gala is a prestigious ceremony that recognizes residential custom homebuilders all throughout the state for their superb work during the year in a wide variety of categories. Living Stone went into the ceremony with high expectations and did not leave disappointed.

In all, Living Stone walked away with four awards, which included: Best Television Commercial (The Living Stone Difference), Best Brochure/Marketing Piece for a builder, Best Single-Family Detached Home with a sales price of $250,000-$500,000 (The Rockcliff Residence), and Best Addition (The Thiemkey addition). Living Stone was the only builder out of the Asheville HBA to receive awards that evening. 

Know Your Home’s Electrical System

Your home’s electrical system helps provide your family with heat and A/C to be comfortable, appliances to make everyday tasks easier, entertainment to enjoy together, and light to extend your quality time well into the dark hours. It’s important to know how your home’s electrical system works, and what could be the cause if something goes wrong.  

The National Association of Home Builders’ MyHome Press has published a handbook for home owners, “Home Maintenance Made Easy,” and the excerpt below contains advice about the electrical system in your home and how to address any problems that may occur with it. 

Husband and Wife Team Receive CAPS Accreditation at 21st Century Expo

Living Stone Construction’s President, Sean Sullivan, and the Principal of ID.ology Interior Design, Laura Sullivan, recently traveled to Charlotte and completed the four-day CAPS course seminar and received accreditation in doing so. By completing this course, Sean and Laura are now considered Certified Aging-In-Place Specialists (CAPS), meaning they are well versed and obtain the necessary skills essential to competing in the fastest growing segment of the residential remodeling industry: home modifications for the aging-in-place.

Crime Prevention Month Tips to Protect Your Home

Bonesteel BackOwning a home is the most valued long-term investment most Americans ever make. And owning your home is much more than a material asset, homeownership builds a sense of stability, pride, accomplishment and peace of mind. So protecting your home—and your loved ones that live in it—is a top priority for most families. 

During Crime Prevention Month in October, here are some tips from the National Crime Prevention Council (ncpc.org) to keep your home and your family safe from crime.  

Inside your home:

The Importance of working with ID.ology Interior Design

About ID.ology Interior Design:  ID.ology Interior Design is an award winning, full service, Interior Design firm specializing in design for new construction and renovation. ID.ology guides clients through the, sometimes daunting, venture of building a new home or...

Managing Moisture in Your Home

Managing moisture in and around your home is one of the most important things you can do to ensure its longevity, make it comfortable to live in, and prevent damage to its contents.

The National Association of Home Builders’ MyHome Press has published a handbook for home owners, “Home Maintenance Made Easy,” and the excerpt below contains helpful advice on how to control your home’s moisture.

BathroomHigh Performance Home Benefits

New high performance homes incorporate the latest building science principles to control temperature and humidity, maintain indoor air quality and increase energy efficiency. Although your home may not include all of the latest air-sealing, ventilation, and moisture-management technology, you will be more comfortable in your home and it will last longer it you do everything possible to manage moisture. This includes replacing filters, controlling humidity, and—when outside air is cool and dry—allowing fresh air into your home.

Homeownership Tax Incentives Still Important to Americans

Universally Designed BathrromAs House and Senate lawmakers consider slashing tax breaks as part of their tax reform process, they should listen to the voters who put them in office and they will hear a loud and clear message: Americans overwhelmingly believe the mortgage interest deduction is an important middle-class tax provision that is worth keeping. The latest poll documenting this strong belief is a United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll conducted in July 2013. 

When the surveyed adults were asked how important it is to keep the mortgage interest deduction for people who own homes, 61 percent of respondents said it was “very important,” and an additional 25 percent said it was “somewhat important.” 

Strong Foundations First

Preventative Maintenance

Whether you seek the assurance of a comprehensive maintenance program or prefer personalized assistance for individual projects, Living Stone Design + Build is here to support you.

2023 National Custom Home Builder of the Year

30+ Years of Design-Build Experience

Green Building Leadership

Protecting your investment

We prioritize designing and building homes that are as low-maintenance as possible—but no home is maintenance-free. Much like a high-performance vehicle, a high-performance home is designed to perform at a higher level, but it still requires thoughtful, routine care to keep it operating at its best. Living Stone Concierge helps protect that performance—and your investment—by giving you a trusted team to manage the ongoing care your home needs for years to come.

Single Point of Contact
Vetted Trade Partners
Seasonal Inspections
Warranty Support

Two Premier Services

One Team, Long After Move-In

Membership

Preventative Maintenance Program

A membership-based luxury home management program designed to proactively care for your home.

By Project

Custom Care Plan

Personalized services tailored to individual projects, offering flexibility without the commitment of a subscription.

1

Point of Contact

4

Pillars of care

30+

Years Building Homes

How the program Works

Four Pillars of Concierge Care

Through the Preventative Maintenance Program, your Living Stone Concierge delivers single point of contact service, so you no longer need to worry about finding trusted service contractors or waiting countless hours for them to show up. When there are third party workers in your home you can rest easy that your Living Stone Concierge will be there monitoring and ensuring a quality job is done.

Comprehensive Assessment
01

Prevent

The best defense is a good offense. Our comprehensive assessment is designed to detect and prevent unforeseen issues in your home and deliver you a unique home care program. Our service program will maintain your property, ensuring its optimal performance. Using the results of your comprehensive assessment, a custom maintenance program will be developed to meet the needs of your property, ensuring the long-term value and reliability of your home.
White Glove Approach
02

Repair 

As repairs and upgrades are requested, we will coordinate and supervise every phase of the process. We will commit to ensuring all work meets the highest quality standards. Of course, this commitment applies whether you're part of our membership program or utilizing our Custom Care Plan for individual projects.
03
Personal Experience

Improve

Your home should evolve with the way you live. Our Custom Care team handles personalized improvements—from hanging artwork and installing shelving to building fences and completing those finishing touches that make your home work better for you.

04
Personal Partnership

Trust

We believe your time is better spent enjoying your home than managing it. Our team takes care of the details, giving you one trusted resource and access to our network of proven professionals—so your home is cared for and your time stays yours.

Michael Blackstone

Michael Blackstone

Warranty Specialist

As the overseer of our Preventative Maintenance Plan, he meticulously examines every detail of your home to ensure it is perfectly finished and maintained. With a wealth of experience in home construction and renovation from his years with various trade-related companies, Michael is the ultimate guardian of Living Stone standards. Beyond his professional expertise, Michael is a family man with a son, residing in the charming community of Old Fort. Entrust your project to Michael, where craftsmanship meets care.

mblackstone@livingstoneconstruction.com

Strong Foundations First

Preventative Maintenance

Whether you seek the assurance of a comprehensive maintenance program or prefer personalized assistance for individual projects, Living Stone Design + Build is here to support you.

2023 National Custom Home Builder of the Year

30+ Years of Design-Build Experience

Green Building Leadership

Protecting your investment

We prioritize designing and building homes that are as low-maintenance as possible—but no home is maintenance-free. Much like a high-performance vehicle, a high-performance home is designed to perform at a higher level, but it still requires thoughtful, routine care to keep it operating at its best. Living Stone Concierge helps protect that performance—and your investment—by giving you a trusted team to manage the ongoing care your home needs for years to come.

Single Point of Contact
Vetted Trade Partners
Seasonal Inspections
Warranty Support

Two Premier Services

One Team, Long After Move-In

Membership

Preventative Maintenance Program

A membership-based luxury home management program designed to proactively care for your home.

By Project

Custom Care Plan

Personalized services tailored to individual projects, offering flexibility without the commitment of a subscription.

1

Point of Contact

4

Pillars of care

30+

Years Building Homes

How the program Works

Four Pillars of Concierge Care

Through the Preventative Maintenance Program, your Living Stone Concierge delivers single point of contact service, so you no longer need to worry about finding trusted service contractors or waiting countless hours for them to show up. When there are third party workers in your home you can rest easy that your Living Stone Concierge will be there monitoring and ensuring a quality job is done.

Comprehensive Assessment
01

Prevent

The best defense is a good offense. Our comprehensive assessment is designed to detect and prevent unforeseen issues in your home and deliver you a unique home care program. Our service program will maintain your property, ensuring its optimal performance. Using the results of your comprehensive assessment, a custom maintenance program will be developed to meet the needs of your property, ensuring the long-term value and reliability of your home.
White Glove Approach
02

Repair 

As repairs and upgrades are requested, we will coordinate and supervise every phase of the process. We will commit to ensuring all work meets the highest quality standards. Of course, this commitment applies whether you're part of our membership program or utilizing our Custom Care Plan for individual projects.
03
Personal Experience

Improve

Your home should evolve with the way you live. Our Custom Care team handles personalized improvements—from hanging artwork and installing shelving to building fences and completing those finishing touches that make your home work better for you.

04
Personal Partnership

Trust

We believe your time is better spent enjoying your home than managing it. Our team takes care of the details, giving you one trusted resource and access to our network of proven professionals—so your home is cared for and your time stays yours.

Michael Blackstone

Michael Blackstone

Warranty Specialist

As the overseer of our Preventative Maintenance Plan, he meticulously examines every detail of your home to ensure it is perfectly finished and maintained. With a wealth of experience in home construction and renovation from his years with various trade-related companies, Michael is the ultimate guardian of Living Stone standards. Beyond his professional expertise, Michael is a family man with a son, residing in the charming community of Old Fort. Entrust your project to Michael, where craftsmanship meets care.

mblackstone@livingstoneconstruction.com