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

This ceramic tile rug right in front of the door is in lieu of ripping out all of the tile. Photo and tile repair by Kevin Stevens.

A Great Entry Tile Repair Idea

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Aug 21, 2012

One common question I get asked a lot is, “Can you fix this tile?” My answer is usually, “It depends.” In some of those cases the client has some spare tiles...

This drywall had to be cut to access electrical wires. Photo by Kevin Stevens.

Dumb Things People Do That Ruin Drywall

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Aug 16, 2012

Back in the old days, builders constructed walls of lath and plaster. The amount of work and skill needed for those installs is mind-blowing compared to the ease of drywall. Drywall,...

A custom copper gutter. (Photo: Ctd 2005/Flickr)

What to Know Before Hiring Gutter Installers

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Aug 15, 2012

Having gutters on your home is a good thing. Gutters can prevent water damage to your foundation and landscaping from heavy drip edge flows. But how do you choose the right ones? Whether...

Muffy, if you are going to hang curtains in your apartment, you'll need to ask mummy and daddy for a power drill. (Photo: Julia Freeman-Woolpert/sxc.hu)

Home Improvement Items Every College Student Should Own

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Aug 14, 2012

I just returned home from a 3000 mile road trip. Part of the preparation for this trip included clearing many tools out of the back of my truck to allow us to use the space for camping...

If you want to remove a hot tub, here's what you need to know. (Photo: Melvin Green /sxc.hu)

How to Remove a Hot Tub

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Aug 08, 2012

Over the years as a Denver-area remodeling contractor, I have both installed and removed hot tubs. The removal process is not complicated, but still involves some planning. In most...

This is an Ipe and Redwood deck by Kevin Stevens.

Cheap Materials = Deck Failure

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Jul 18, 2012

Decking building is one of my areas of expertise, and over the years I have re-built and built from scratch thousands and thousands of square feet of decks. One common thread I see...

A custom native edge wood desk by the author.

Native Edge Furniture

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Jul 12, 2012

Native edge furniture is made from slabs of wood, which are sanded smooth – all except the edge, which is left in the unique shape designed by Nature. Also known as “natural...

The author's deck cleaning set. (Photo by Kevin Stevens.)

The Right Way to Clean a Deck

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Jun 06, 2012

In the last few weeks I have done a couple of deck restorations for my Denver-area carpentry clients. The first was a relatively new hardwood deck, which I've cared for in the past....

Chris and Merete's tiny house

The Art of Tiny House Living

Posted by Kevin Stevens | May 31, 2012

Tiny is a relative term and generally refers to homes of 400 sq feet or less; many of these are much smaller at 98 to140 sq feet or so. One of the big drivers for people to downsize...

An Introduction to Earthships

Posted by Kevin Stevens | May 16, 2012

Imagine a home that heats and cools itself without the need of a furnace or AC unit; one that produces its own zero emission supply of electricity, and is not dependent on a municipal...