Kevin Stevens

Kevin Stevens

Originally from Michigan, I moved to Colorado in 1991 to be closer to the mountains that I love. Colorado has always been a destination for my rock climbing, skiing, hiking and backpacking pursuits. As a father of two young daughters I don’t get out quite as much any more, but I’m still fairly active.

I hold a Master’s degree in Biology and spent a dozen years working as an Engineering Specialist in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. I have also been a custom furniture builder and woodworker for over 30 years. About 10 years ago, I left the corporate world and started my own carpentry business, this career change stemmed from a 960 sq. ft. addition to my home I which I performed all but the basic “dry in” tasks. Here I found a passion and skill set that had been hidden away. In addition to basic handyman tasks I specialize in custom furniture, tile and hardwood flooring, kitchens, baths and decks.

Over the last few years I have become involved in the tiny house movement and I’m making changes to live a simpler lifestyle. We recently purchased over 40 acres of land in northern New Mexico and are building a small (200 sq. ft.) off-grid cabin there. Our long-term plans are to relocate / retire there and build a slightly larger off-grid home.

When I'm not up to my elbows in sawdust, I enjoy cooking, and photography. Time lapse and true infrared are a couple of my favorites in the photography realm. Another recent pursuit of mine is target shooting. I picked up a black powder muzzle-loading pistol a few years ago, and since then my collection has expanded a bit. My father is a 20 + year veteran of the police force, and we now share some of our spare time together shooting. He taught me to shoot all of those years ago and it has been fun to reconnect on that level with him.

Thanks for reading. You can follow some of my adventures on my blog pages.

http://kmswoodworks.wordpress.com

Photo of a carpenter installing kitchen cabinets by lisafx/istockphoto.com.

Six Problems to Avoid When Installing Cabinets

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Jun 24, 2013

Installing kitchen cabinets can come with some challenges. Over the years of my work as a Denver-area carpenter, I have learned how to avoid common cabinet installation problems. Here...

Photo of a solar landscape light by arenacreative/istockphoto.com.

Energy-Saving Lights: Options for Outdoor Lighting

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Jun 23, 2013

When it comes to lighting, consumers have hundreds if not thousands of choices. While many of these lights use traditional incandescent bulbs, the use of LED’s and compact fluorescent...

Photo of someone installing a tile backsplash by BanksPhotos/istockphoto.com

A Comparison of Tile Backer Boards

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Dec 23, 2012

Earlier this month, I started with a shower tile renovation for one of my Denver tile contracting clients. In this particular case the shower tile was still intact, which is a rarity...

One wall of my living room is entirely covered by IKEA Expedit shelving units. -Chaya

The Pro and Cons of IKEA Furniture

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Oct 31, 2012

A few weeks back I got a call from one of my long time clients. He had recently picked up some IKEA furniture and wanted me, a Denver-area carpenter, to do the assembly for him. With...

The solar generator in use in Zion National Park. Photo by Kevin Stevens for Networx.

My Amazing DIY Solar Generator

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Oct 12, 2012

I remember the inspiration for building my solar generator clearly. It was close to 20 years ago when we were camping at the dunes in Oregon. Our campground neighbor, in a huge RV,...

Flagstone patio and photo by Kevin Stevens of KMS Woodworks

A Flagstone Patio Replaces an Old Rotten Deck

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Sep 28, 2012

A Denver area carpentry client of mine was looking at a replacing an old deck. Years and years of weather and a slack maintenance plan had put this deck into a state of ugliness and...

Don't do this unless you want a clogged dryer vent. Photo by the author.

DIY Tips: Venting a Clothes Dryer

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Sep 19, 2012

A few months ago our electric clothes dryer died. It was expected from an entry-level machine which was getting close to 18 years old. I had done a few basic repairs over the years,...

Photo by Kevin Stevens

Pebble Tile Installation Tips

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Aug 31, 2012

Pebble tiles provide a unique look. Like most mosaics, they comprise many small pieces of rock, conveniently adhered to a mesh backing material. This makes installation possible without...

The author hard at work.

Challenges That Exterior Painters Face

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Aug 30, 2012

I prefer interior painting work to exterior work hands down. Why, you may ask? Interiors require far less prep, the surfaces are generally flat and you can work without having to deal...

We Tested It: How Hot Decking Materials Get

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Aug 24, 2012

Earlier this summer I was reading an article about some folks who installed aluminum decking. As a Denver-area deck builder and contractor it got me thinking about the thermal properties...