Stan George

mostly residential development tweets, with some occasional customer service complaints

[Stan George @stangeorge]

@Sam_Ault_ky This would definitely have been an option. The space was initially planned to be storage that became a gym after the fact. We already joists running through and we didn’t plan a beam, nor would I likely have paid more for one. Budget drove this room. But that could have been cool

[Stan George @stangeorge]

Spray foam is a polarizing topic, but it works well if you manage the vapor problem. Open-cell foam is permeable, which can lead to trapped moisture and roof rot if you aren’t considering the entirety of the system. Here is how I solved this in two different, budget-mindful ways in my personal home: 🧵

[Stan George @stangeorge]

@CRA_DESIGN Rockwool was actually my preferred option, but early 2025…couldn’t find a single supplier near me who had enough 😭

[Stan George @stangeorge]

Here’s a pic of the gym’s attic set up, and the RH readings from the Xsense app from before/after the dehumidifier

[Stan George @stangeorge]

For my gym in the detached garage, I went even more budget-friendly with 100% open-cell foam. I have a mini split in the gym, but without central air to run ducts, relative humidity in the attic spiked to 70%. The fix? A cheap Amazon dehumidifier and Xsense RH sensors. I’m now holding steady at 45% RH. It’s more to manage, but without a doubt the cheapest way to solve the vapor problem.

[Stan George @stangeorge]

@ATX_fight_club @HTXSpaceCowboy The crew has jack scaffolding that fits in the space. Otherwise, turn sideways, and take a deep breath!

[Stan George @stangeorge]

Houston. You either appreciate the distinct culture and opportunities it provides, or you study about it in your graduate Urbanism class and you absolutely hate it.

I built these homes a few years ago. Each of these are 3/2/2's, sold in the low $300k's, and are about 10 min east of Downtown. All bought by single, young professionals.

Absolutely not in a walkable part of town. In fact, the new sidewalks we built in front of their homes don't lead anywhere but the ends of the property. My buyers appreciate the storage that the garage affords them even though, as criticized by many, it takes up 50% of the home's elevation. And the best part - immediately across the street is an enormous warehouse that makes rags out of rejected clothing donations.

I do get it - you can't walk to your local cafe and buy baguettes, and walk to work or school. But you can take a 15 min Uber to the happening parts of town, and afford to own your house on a single-income, and walk to your favorite rag supplier on a Saturday morning.

Houston is a weird place, and I love it.

[Alicia, Courtyard Urbanist @UrbanCourtyard]

@AstorAaron @evan7257 I was talking to a Houston developer who said that local builders and designers have no conception of doing zero lot line construction. Like it doesnt exist in their imagination as a thing one can build

[Stan George @stangeorge]

@dbagwell Hah. Yeah, I do wish I was making it up.

[Stan George @stangeorge]

In 2015, I transitioned from audit to my family’s concrete mfg business.

One of my favorite stories from the first week there, was when one of the office employees had an issue with her PC monitor.

*Important context: She was 20 yrs old, and born and raised in Houston*

I was brought into fix up operations, so I learned in that moment that I was the IT guy now. I didn’t know what the heck was going on, so I decided to swap monitors with her. VOILA. It worked. Her original monitor had died.

I look over at her, and her mouth is open, and her eyes are wide. I ask her what’s wrong, and she said she doesn’t understand how I did this. I let my newfound IT knowledge get to my head, and I begin to explain my monitor-swapping strategy, and she cuts me off.

“ - but no. How are my icons in the same place? How did the new monitor know how I had my desktop arranged on my old monitor?”

Now MY mind is blown. I don’t remember if I even said anything in that moment. I thought about her question for weeks. Years. Still haunts me.

[Stan George @stangeorge]

@FreedomONcro Technically Denver Harbor - but yes, trust me!

[Stan George @stangeorge]

I know someone building a quadplex on a 5K sf lot near one of my builds. Will be listed for ~$1m. 99% chance that (if it sells) it will be bought by an investor that rents out the units.

If it works, I’m glad. I believe a mix of product is good for an area, but selling homes that provide one attainable ownership is also necessary.

[Stan George @stangeorge]

I mean this in a very honest, and genuine way. I welcome any urbanist that is critical of Houston developers to DM me to schedule some time to go through project numbers in person, or on Zoom.

Not interested in any vague ideas or concepts. I want to discuss specifics - unit density, home style, living sf vs framed sf, bedrooms, bathrooms, construction prices, sales price.

Interested in learning what I'm missing because building shotgun homes are significantly easier to build than these plagued structures. I have zero confidence that someone would pay significantly more per sq ft of living space to live in a shotgun w/o a garage in an unwalkable part of town, facing a 100,000 sf warehouse. But I do want to be proven wrong.

Again - genuinely interested. If you desire to see a beautiful Houston, DM me!

[Savannah @mssavalina]

@stangeorge @evan7257 These houses are a plague to the city and its distinct shot gun and bungalow houses … you can’t even tell which area you’re in bc of these houses bc they’re all lover and lack all the character.

[Stan George @stangeorge]

@texasreb126 @Swirvana_ Yeap! Describes most of my buyers.

[Stan George @stangeorge]

And I believe that’s a fair point. I walk builds all the time, and it’s honestly a shame what other builders get away with. I have a very poor design eye, and am not great with selecting cool finishes - but I am obsessed with construction and implementing building science into my homes. In fact, I’m waiting to walk into a building science symposium as I type this.

Most builders don’t care about a lot of the details behind the drywall because buyers aren’t demanding it, and especially at the lower price point, are not paying a premium for it. But as much as cost will allow me, I structurally build my homes as I would one that is 4x the cost.

I’m not confident in most things, but am very confident that in my market I sell homes at, they are probably among the best structurally. All my home buyers have my personal cell phone number.

[Stan George @stangeorge]

@kittensmelting Good morning! Yeah, most of that way is way above my pay grade. The only thing I can control here is the materials that the box is made of, and I am happy to let you know it’s not made of particle board.

[Stan George @stangeorge]

@texasreb126 @Swirvana_ Hah yes. I’m building in that exact area now. Part of Fifth Ward. More and more, I hear that pocket being called “East River”

[Stan George @stangeorge]

@hitsamty Yeah, you can’t drive around Houston on a weak stomach.

Appreciate the share - will check out

[Stan George @stangeorge]

@BrianPThomas It's not spin - it's the life of most Houstonians.

It may seem miserable to you, and you would be correct.

[Stan George @stangeorge]

@aeste015 Totally agree. I grew up on the Eastside and am grateful that the East End is a desirable destination. Plenty of developers who took risk establishing cool commercial spaces and businesses.

[Stan George @stangeorge]

@TraceyRyniec Yeah quite literally nowhere.

[Stan George @stangeorge]

@fedpoasts Yes it is. And it’s a little ugly. But it’s my ugly city.