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It doesn't take a Category 5 hurricane to create a huge mold problem. Mold is rampant throughout the East and Gulf Coast regions. But coastal contractors need to know that mold is not toxic and does not cause diseases. It is simply an allergen that has to be dealt with accordingly.
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Done well, traditional three-coat stucco should be impervious to water, but the demands of schedule and budget have pushed many builders to opt for less durable one-coat stucco claddings and have enticed applicators to take shortcuts that compromise the integrity of otherwise good stucco. To remedy...
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Clear finishes that preserve the natural look of exterior woodwork take a beating in any climate but have an even harder time withstanding the onslaught of sun, salt, and moisture in coastal climes. In this article, we go to boatbuilders, paint chemists, door-finishing specialists, and marine...
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The tremendous surge from Hurricane Katrina that washed across Lake Pontchartrain and swamped New Orleans also took a serious toll on the houses in Mandeville, La. Ted Cushman, who traveled to the region to lend a hand in the recovery, was there to document two historic buildings that stood tall...
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All windows worth buying should carry a valid warranty and meet basic structural and thermal performance measures. On the coast, however, strong winds and blowing rain make it imperative that windows meet even more stringent performance requirements. Editor Clayton DeKorne sorts through the...
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Building scientists Jeff and John Tooley have been a committed father-and-son team diagnosing homes for moisture and energy problems for decades. In their combined experience, they have come to understand that the difference between a home that works and one laden with moisture and energy problems...
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While curb appeal still holds some cachet with buyers, it's what lies beneath a beautiful facade that really counts in the long run. Ted Cushman reports on the hard-won experience of Smokey Saduk, who has pioneered the use of low-maintenance synthetics backed by an impeccable weather barrier to...
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Architect and home builder Andrew DiGiammo takes a stroll through one of his earliest beachfront homes and candidly tells what worked and what didn't about the product and material choices he made
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Wherever wind speeds are likely to reach over 110 mph, coastal codes are now requiring an engineering analysis of the plans. In addition to shear, sliding, and overturning forces, the wind imparts intense uplift pressures. Ted Cushman examines how one Long Island architect has managed to meet the...
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Along the shore and intercoastal waterways, all sites are "difficult," requiring extra treatment for wastewater. Charles Wardell examines some of the more successful alternative treatment options that are being used by home builders up and down the coast.