Limestone fireplace in College Station custom home

Thermal Mass in Fireplaces can help store heat in the winter and maintain cool ambient temperatures in the summer.

In a previous post, we discussed the importance of using thermal mass inside a home in a hot humid climate like that in Bryan and College Station.  This time we will talk about home design ideas that will help achieve this.

Fireplaces

Using rock or brick around fireplaces can add beauty and thermal mass.  Consider extending this outcrop of hard surface in your home design.  However, do not connect thermal mass to the outside through an exterior wall, which will conduct outside temperatures into the house.

Rock walls

We incorporate rock or brick walls where possible in our custom-designed homes.  This is especially effective at entryways where a visual connection to the outside material can help create continuity.  Thermal mass adds contrast and texture to tall walls.  An especially beautiful wall can be created with a process called rammed earth, exactly what it sounds like.   Rammed earth is a manufactured sandstone using a precise combination of sand, clay, and pressure to form the structure.

These are not features commonly found in tract homes as they add to the cost per square foot, but they add beauty, grandeur, elegance, and energy efficiency, which makes them a great consideration for custom homes.  These green Practices are smart and beautiful for any home.