HideWith Bastian’s selection of foundations, you can rest assured your home is on solid ground for years to come. We use carefully-chosen foundations that are best suited to the building site and requirements of the design. While other builders’ foundations may be acceptable, Bastian’s deliver the peace of mind all would want for our own families. All of the following foundations are designed by a Registered Professional Engineer and have earned state issued authorization.

• Pier and beam (used for raised houses). Typically a 10” drilled shaft with a 36” bell-bottom pier to a depth specified by the PE. Concrete compressive strength and rebar are typically 3500 psi and #3 rebar or as specified by the PE. From the top of the concrete poured pier, we used a variety of brackets to connect 4” x 6” or 4” x 8” pressure treated beams.
• Post tension slabs: We place a combination of rebar and high tensile strength steel cables in the foundation according to the PE design. After pouring the concrete, we allow it to cure for a specified time. We then tension the steel cables to the design criteria, creating a monolithic slab foundation that remains in compression.
• Conventional steel reinforced: We use a properly designed and executed steel reinforced monolithic slab foundation when the PE recommends it for a specific house design.

Hide At Bastian, what surrounds your home is just as important as the actual house. Extra efforts to beautify the outside of your home will catch the eyes of your neighbors and welcome you home from all the way down the street. Bastian values the appeal of your home and carefully plans each home’s site work, from wood fencing to the refinishing your private alley.

• Fencing: We use seven-foot pressure treated wood fence around the perimeter of the home, except along front.
• Landscaping: Landscaping is specified by the buyer to the landscaper within the budget provided in allowances.
• Driveways: The lengths and widths of driveways will vary. 5 1/2” thick at intersection of street, and 3 1/2” thick for the main drive. We will reinforce the driveway with #3 rebar at 18” on center.
• We will finish the home’s private alley with a base of limestone where applicable.

Hide As more time passes, more and more builders come up with new ways to use less wood when constructing a home. Not Bastian. Like many traditional and historic homes that stood the test of time, most Bastian homes are stick-framed. We combine pressure-treated wood and various engineered wood products to build a sound structure that will withstand the elements of the Houston environment. Every house’s frame adheres to the standards set by the City of Houston Code of Ordinances, International Building Code, and the National Association of Homebuilders. A typical Bastian home could contain the following.

• Floor systems are solid lawn lumber or floor trusses with either ¾” sturdy-floor plywood (when hardwoods are used) or 1 1/8” sturdy-floor (when carpeted).
• We conventionally frame walls with #2 southern yellow pine (SYP) top and bottom plates and either stud grade, #2 SYP or engineered finger jointed lumber for studs typically on 16” centers. Headers are sized according to the intended load for transfer and are typically double 2x materials with plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) gussets. Bottom plates in direct contact with concrete slabs are #2 pressure treated SYP.
• Rafters are typically 2x lumber with purlins and ridge supports added where needed.
• We completely sheathe all walls for shear strength and for assuring relatively flat siding with oriented strand board or plywood.
• Bastian uses tech-shield OSB roof decking (a radiant barrier applied to the underside of the OSB) to reduce air conditioning loads.
• We create interior shear walls by applying 1/2 “ plywood to interior walls with a variety of Simpson shear brackets that tie the shear wall system to the foundation where indicated by the PE.
• We will use various engineered wood products like laminated beams where called for by design criteria.
• Pressure treated, water resistant materials frame all exterior decks and uncovered porches.

Hide Unlike many homebuilders, Bastian believes you should have a choice in your home’s floors. Flooring can make a significant impact on the aesthetic of your home. Many Bastian homes are sold prior to floor installation and we gladly give you the opportunity to choose your finish floor within the prescribed budget, allowing you greater flexibility in one of the home’s largest amenities.

• Most Bastian homes have hardwood floors throughout the house with bathrooms and laundry areas tiled. We have used oak, Brazilian cherry, heart pine, beech and maple. When possible, we used salvaged old growth flooring.
• The homeowner typically chooses the tile for the master bath floor, shower, whirlpool, floors of the secondary bath, tub of the secondary bath, laundry area, fireplace hearth and kitchen backsplash.

Hide Bastian roofs are as energy efficient as they are beautiful. We make sure every roof includes accessories that make the most of your home’s efficiency. Proper ventilation will increase the life of the roofing, minimizing repair, as well as decreasing the air conditioning load on the house.

• The tech-shield OSB roof decking supplies a solid surface for applying the shingles AND a radiant barrier to lower the heat gain into the attic space, lowering the air conditioning load on the house.
• Typical shingles are 30-year GAF or similar quality asphalt shingle hand nailed over a lapped 15-pound roofing felt applied to the decking material.
• We properly flash all plumbing or HVAC vents with appropriate roof jacks to prevent water penetration. The edges of the decking have drip edge flashing to prevent “wicking” under the shingles. Chimneys are step flashed.
• Typical roofing installations used in Bastian homes include continuous ridge vents and soffit vents that provide an effective convection attic ventilation system when combined. This reduced heat and moisture build up in the attic, reducing electric costs.

Hide Simple details like matching elevations of door and window trim tops may initially go unnoticed, but gracefully add charisma to the personality of your home. We achieve the look and feel of historical houses by using appropriately scaled window, door and base moldings. Our windows are completely cased and topped with a pediment that matches the pediments over the doors, an element rarely found in the area’s houses.

• Solid wood custom built cabinets
• Thoughtfully finished closets that include useful storage space
• A heavy-duty attic pull down staircase provides easy storage access
• We offer a variety of garage door sizes and styles that include a garage door opener with two remotes.

Hide The last thing anyone ever wants to worry about in their home is plumbing problems. Bastian’s trusted plumbers ensure your home’s plumbing meets the city’s highest qualifications so that in several years, your plumbing continues to work just as well. A City of Houston plumbing inspector inspects all plumbing installations at various stages to decrease downtime throughout the construction process.

• Water supply typically comes from a 1” city water meter connected by a 1” schedule 40 PVC underground line. All water lines inside the house are typically type M copper.
• Drain, waste and vent piping is schedule 40 PVC.
• Interior gas piping is black steel pipe with gas openings for the heating units, water heater, fireplaces, dryer rand cook top or range.
• Bastian homes typically use conventional 40 gallon gas water heaters, or tankless water heaters in some installations. Electric water heaters are used where design dictates.

Hide Countertops are just as much about convenience as they are attractiveness. Your luxury countertops will have the durability to withstand countless family dinners and hand-washings while adding elegant touches to your home. Their versatile styles will complement changing décor throughout your home’s life.

• Solid granite kitchen countertops are typical installations in Bastian homes
• Bath countertops are usually solid granite, solid marble, or solid limestone. In some applications tiled tops are requested for both the look and the applicable allowance.

Hide Proper electrical work is a critical part of your home’s construction. Bastian wants your home’s wiring to increase safety and last long enough to accommodate any security and entertainment upgrades you desire in the future. Licensed electricians and inspectors will meet or exceed the National Electrical Code and the City of Houston adopted codes. From security elements like fire alarms and security systems to entertainment amenities like television and cable, your home will run as smoothly as possible. We do not use any aluminum wire that can lead to deterioration and connection problems.

• Service to the house is typically through overhead power lines.
• We determine the size of the main panel by the licensed electrician’s recommendation for the current load requirements AND typically increased for future loads.
• We use rocker type switches and outlets as standard devices.
• TV, cable and phone are installed according to the plans.
• We install a security system with all downstairs windows and doors wired and all direct access second floor windows and doors wired (i.e. porches or roof access).
• All bedrooms and code recommended locations have smoke detectors. They are parallel wired so that if one alarm sounds, they all sound.

Hide At Bastian, we believe you should also have an opportunity to choose which paint colors you want for the interior and exterior of your home. Your decisions will determine the colors of your home, and our attention to the paint’s application will ensure a long-lasting, rich color. Bastian takes additional steps to provide lasting interior and exterior paint that will maintain its appearance well into your home’s life.

• We typically use ½” standard drywall for the interior sheetrock. ½” water resistant sheetrock is used around showers and tubs. All drywall is finished in a three-step process.
• We finish ceilings and walls with a light “orange peel” blown texture. Walls and ceilings are primed with an acrylic latex primer.
• Allowance includes one ceiling color and two wall colors of acrylic latex paint for the home’s interior. The trim is typically painted one color, using oil or water based enamel.
• Allowance includes three exterior paint colors, usually a body color, trim color and sash color. The exterior wood and siding is primed using an alkyd-based primer, and then painted with exterior grade latex paint.
• All wood trim and doors are primed with an alkyd-based primer and top coated with low gloss enamel.

Hide Our HVACs will run from two independent thermostats that operate two independent systems, which means you will never have to feel like one bedroom is warmer than another ­ unless you want it to. Bastian HVACs are installed by licensed professionals with the City of Houston and inspected at various stages. Multiple units will give you more control over the amount of energy you use and when.

• Either Goodman , Amana, or Trane 14+ S.E.E.R. (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) rated matched air conditioning equipment is typically installed.
• The gas fire heating system is matched with the AC equipment and has a minimum 80% AFUE rating (an acronym used to define the method for calculating the efficiency of heating units).
• Supply and return ducts are R-8 insulated flex duct typically.
• Supply and return registers are typically painted metal.

Hide Upgraded appliances that will cater to gatherings big and small are chosen for each Bastian kitchen. You may choose appliances within the prescribed budget for your kitchen that complement cabinetry and help you achieve the benefits you want out of your personalized kitchen. Bastian usually installs the following in every home.

• Range or a combination cook top and wall oven
• Dishwasher
• Microwave
• Garbage disposal

Hide A home should allow you to escape from the Houston heat comfortably and affordably; your Bastian home will. Bastian pays as much attention to what is inside the walls of your home as we do what is outside of them. Our optimal insulation techniques will add security to your investment over time and will help create a relaxing living environment throughout the year.

• We apply polyseal sealant to all penetrations around the exterior of the house, including toe plate to decking, windows, doors, plumbing, HVAC or electrical penetrations.
• R-13 Kraft faced batts in exterior 2 x 4 framed walls
• R-19 Kraft faced batts in exterior 2 x 6 framed walls
• R-30 blown cellulose, rock wool, or fiberglass in flat ceilings. Baffles are added around soffit vents to maintain roof ventilation system.
• R-19 Kraft faced batts in second floor “cold” floor applications.
• All exterior doors weather-stripped.

Hide Decorative hardware is one of the most understated ways to showcase your personality. Though typically small accessories, your choice of hardware will add final and important touches to your home in the kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms. Bastian does not underestimate the impact of these small treasures and offers plenty of choices among doorknobs, cabinet pulls, towel racks and other bathroom accessories.