Rent a spot on Richland Chambers Lake

Want to come to the lake this Spring and Summer? Most Texas Lakes are still down but there is plenty of open water at Richland Chambers There are lots of fish and places to explore.  You can explore the lake from one of several homes right on the water without a lot of expense.  We have four vacation rental homes on the shores of Richland Chambers Lake. Whether you are looking for a private get away for you and your significant other or a place for the family to come and gather, we have the place for you.  RC Lake is quiet and uncrowded, just the ticket for some serious unwinding and relaxing.  All of our rentals are centrally located on the lake, easy to find and easily accessible.  They are fully equipped with all the essentials, beautifully decorated and are just nice places .  We can sleep up to 10 guests at 407 Hidden Oaks or for a small party Northshore Harbor Condos may be just the ticket.  Prices start at $169.00 per night so a lake getaway is very affordable.
Check it out at: www.buyrclake.com/richland-chambers-lake-vacation-rentals or call me at 903-641-3359.

Finishing can be challenging

Finishing the house is turning out to be a pretty good challenge.  It seems to be going on and on.  We have been redoing some things which always takes more time than if you did it the way you wound up wanting it in the first place.  Among other things we have been moving some light fixtures which means cutting out sheetrock and ceilings and delaying things.  Also we have had to move the plumbing for the vanities in the master bath, (missed by just a little bit).  All of these things do not sound like much but they wind up slowing down the whole process.  To anyone planning to build always think through every detail.  A good builder will help you in this process and speed things along.

Good places around Richland Chambers... Richland Chambers Hardware and Lumber

Richland Chambers Hardware and lumber is one of those hardware stores that has it all.  This place is packed from floor to ceiling with all things hardware and then some.  From the basics of nails, screws, light bulbs, rope, paint all the way to lumber, pipe and plumbing supplies you can find it here.  They've got lawn mower belts, gas cans, boating supplies, mops, brooms, gardening supplies, they make keys and well, you get the idea.  Les and Bev are always friendly and ready to help.
Richland Chambers Hardware and Lumber is located on the South Side of Richland Chambers Lake on FM 416 so you don't have to travel a long way to get the things you need. Check out their website at  www.rclakehardware.com .

Sailing On Richland Chambers Lake

Yes it has been cold, cold and water sports, apart from duck hunting, are not necessarily the first thing that comes to mind. So here is a reminder.  This is picture of some Richland Chambers Lake residents enjoying a sailing cruise on the the 3rd largest lake in the state. While it is not the open ocean, Richland Chambers Lake offers good opportunities for sailors to stretch out and enjoy an inland lake cruise.
The Richland arm of the lake has a pretty good area for sailing. From the center of the 'Y' to the damn is mostly clear of timber, about 6 1/2 to 7 miles long and at its widest a little more than 3 miles. Winds in the summer are pretty consistent at about 8-15 mph and the lake is always relatively uncrowded.
The Northshore Marina has good protected sailboat slips for lease with adequate water depths and is centrally located for easy access by land and from the water.
My best estimate is there are about 20-25 sailboats around the lake.
So get ready, warm weather will be here soon.

'Big Chill' coming to Richland Chambers

Rooter says "Bundle up!"

Like most of the country cold, cold temperatures are here at Richland Chambers Lake.  I actually saw a boat trailer at the ramp at  FM 2859 late yesterday afternoon.  The temperature was already in the upper 30's and the wind was blowing pretty good so talk about a hearty soul!  It takes true adventuresome spirit to be out on the lake in this weather.  

So we all know to take the necessary precautions in freezing temps, right?  Cover the outdoor spigots, bring in or cover the tender vegetation and make sure you have plenty of firewood.
What other things do you need to know about Lake Life in the extreme temps?  On Richland Chambers a lot of people have lake-fed irrigation systems.  The pumps are usually located in the boathouse or on the shoreline, normally in an enclosure.  These systems are susceptible to the freezing temperatures.  They need to be drained prior to freezing weather.  Usually a drain plug or drain valve is located somewhere in the system.  Removing the plug or opening the valve is all that is necessary.  The system drains and you're set.

Also it is common for a boathouse to be equipped with fresh water for fish cleaning and things like that. The water supply should be cut off and the drain valve should be opened to drain this system as well to keep from having to make costly plumbing repairs.
The low tonight is forecast to be around 21 degrees, wow that is cold for us!  Bundle up

Richland Chambers Lake Home Construction P4 - mechanicals

Construction on our house on Richland Chambers Lake moved along during the summer and into the fall of 2013.
After framing and sheathing we moved right into the mechanical items; electrical, plumbing, HVAC,  central vacuum and spider mister system.  The electrical work, like everything else is very important.  There are a lot of decisions to be made about receptacle and switch placement as well as how many, what kind and where to put light fixtures.

 Don't forget about things like under cabinet lighting, doorbell, communications, speakers and home automation. Be sure to take into consideration things like trash compactor, ice maker, microwave, floor plugs and areas that may have concentrated electrical usage.  The floor plug for the living room was one of those things I neglected and had to go back and cut the concrete to do.

While I'm on the subject another thing we had to go back and do was the control wires for the garage door openers.  Whoops!  It all came out OK and was not that bad to go back and do.

We  opted for pex pipe throughout the house for our water supply.  This is the blue and red high tech plastic pipe that runs through the walls and crawl spaces.  Also the water supply comes in to a manifold that allows you to individually control the water flow to every opening in the house and isolate it in the event of a leak. We are installing an on demand propane water heater sized large enough to supply the whole house.   Some other things to consider about plumbing are hose bib placement, salad sink, wet bar, coffee bar, utility sink, floor drains and garage sink. Obviously not every home has all these things but it is far easier and cheaper to do them in the rough in phase of construction that after.

HVAC systems are just as critical as any other thing. This one thing will determine the comfort and livability of your home. Choose a contractor that is experienced and does not cut corners. Multiple returns help move the air through your home more efficiently, thus creating more comfort and efficiency.  Also use careful consideration about the placement of your air handler units as this will affect you in the future every time you have to change the AC filter.

Richland Chambers Lake Home Construction part 3 framing

Framing a house is the exciting part. Watching the "bones" of the house go up and the shape of it coming together is fun to watch. Framing is dramatically important in several ways.  The structure must be solid and sound with everything properly supported and connected.  2x4's and 2x6's are usually used for studs in the walls and window and door headers are normally larger pieces.  Depending on the spans of a particular area an engineer can determine the size and type of beams or trusses needed to carry the load.  In our house in The Shores on Richland Chambers we have 24" laminated beams in a couple of places.  A good framer can really help develop the looks of the house in several ways.  Window heights, opening sizes and locations just to name a few.  Take into consideration locations for breaker boxes, water heaters, AC units and built in cabinets during this stage. 

 Most framers will also install the roof decking, wall sheathing and build the soffits. Different types of house wrap and vapor barrier sheathing can be used.  We opted for regular house wrap since we are planning on using foam insulation.