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

GERAS/stock.xchng

Sustainable Building: Reclaimed Wood Options

Posted by Kevin Stevens | May 10, 2011

During the framing stage of homebuilding, the sight that always impresses me it the “forest” of studs and the “cloud canopy” of sheathing. Seeing a home this...

Mattox/stock.xchng

Spring Chimney Maintenance

Posted by Kevin Stevens | May 06, 2011

As the heating season winds down, a quick spring maintenance check of your chimney can have you resting soundly through the summer months and be ready for fall ahead of your neighbors. ...

madmaven/stock.xchng

Help! A Raccoon Chewed Through My Soffit!

Posted by Kevin Stevens | May 03, 2011

Unlike a small squirrel or mouse, raccoons can weigh from 12 to 20 pounds. This larger body mass means they have more strength and can wreak more havoc than other pests. On the positive...

ziptrivia/stock.xchng

Roofing Rx: Treatment for a Mossy Roof

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Apr 14, 2011

The trouble with roof moss is that moss tends to allow moisture to accumulate and remain, and this moisture can lead to shortened life spans of many roofing materials. How Roof Moss...

The author's own deck.  Photo: Kevin Stevens/KMS Woodworks

All Hands on Deck!

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Apr 06, 2011

A couple of days ago, I fired up the BBQ on my deck after months of winter hibernation. As the cold and chill of winter slips away, its time to think about spring cleaning and all of...

lizevans/stock.xchng

Fixing a Broken Window Pane

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Mar 24, 2011

Windows these days can be pretty high tech. It is not uncommon to see double and even triple paned window filled with Argon and coated with special materials to limit heat gain and...

monokini/stock.xchng

Sealing and Maintaining Kitchen Backsplashes

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Mar 15, 2011

Unlike showers and tub surrounds, most kitchen and bathroom backsplashes are installed on regular drywall, rather than backer board. In these applications, special concerns should be...

PixelBoxD/stock.xchng

Advantages of Gravel Driveways

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Mar 15, 2011

The street I live on is about three-quarters of a mile long, with 22 homes scattered along it. Of all of these homes, just one has a paved driveway, which was laid last year. A couple...

Photo: Minimalist Photography/Flickr.

15 Old Tools That Are Better Than New

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Feb 10, 2011

When I was growing up I spent hours exploring the nooks and crannies of my grandfather’s workshop. As a Depression-era individual, he knew the value of things, and much to my...

A beautifully remodeled kitchen via ilovebutter/Flickr.

Contractor's Tip: Renovate Your Kitchen Mid-winter

Posted by Kevin Stevens | Jan 21, 2011

If you’re like me, you are just now getting over the chaos of the holiday season. Somewhere near the middle of November to the middle of January, nobody is thinking about ripping...