Population Downshift?
Cooling Off at the Beach ~ Crime of Opportunity ~ Currents
Wind-Smart Design
Decks and porches on beach homes take the brunt of any storm. Add to that the homeowners' desire for low-maintenance finishes that stand the test of time even in a salt environment, and it's clear that builders have to be especially fussy about their deck materials choices and installation methods...
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May the Best Practices Succeed
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Piling Costs ~ Coastal Plans Source ~ Trade Knowledge
Drawn to the coast for its natural beauty and wildlife, yet increasingly confronted by red tides, fish kills, and contaminated beaches, many coastal residents are deeply concerned about the environment. While they cannot single-handedly save the coast, a growing number are seeking out builders and...
Barrier Housewrap ~ Strong Hold ~ High-Performance Hips ~ Leakproof Liner ~Denailing Gun ~ The Next Cordless Revolution ~ Cedar Look-Alike ~ Modern Metal ~ PVC Trim Kits ~ New Cordless Nailer
Contributing R-3 to R-7.5 per inch, sheet foam is a handy way to boost a wall's total R-value without adding too much thickness. Rigid foam sheathing can also function well as a drainage plane to help keep wind-blown water out of walls, and it can act as both an air barrier and as a vapor barrier...
Classic Columns
Blown Apart
Water Woes
One Year After
Design/build contractor Andrew DiGiammo specializes in high-end custom coastal projects around Providence, R.I., and Fall River, Mass. He discusses the advantages - for clients and for his company - in being both the architect and builder, and examines the different challenges of residential and...
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Ventilation Fan Sources - Detailing Crawlspaces - Mold Remediation
Working on Long Island, remodeling contractor Mike Sloggatt has to prepare homes to weather the occasional nor'easter. So when it comes to installing windows and doors, he's not afraid of overkill. Here, he details the flashing routine he typically employs to create a drainable, water-resistant...
Low-Maintenance Railing - Speedy Anchor - Durable Decks - Shelter from the Storm - Faster Fastening - Revolutionary Roof - Synthetic Underlayment - Maximum Opening - Pristine Trim - Competing Compressors
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Building on Ledge - Erosion of Light-Commercial Property
Faced with an unprecedented coastal reconstruction need post-Katrina, the mitigation arm of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has released FEMA 550, Recommended Residential Construction for the Gulf Coast: Building on Strong and Safe Foundations. This must-have document for coastal building...
One of the most common problems found in the aftermath of hurricanes Frances, Charley, and Ivan was failure of the roofing system. The tile industry responded to the problem with new design criteria and installation details, which have since been added to the Florida Building Code. Charles Wardell...
Design Debate
Rising Coastal Waters - Green Building Gains Ground in Gulf
Rose-Covered Cottages
Small Task, Big Reward
Robert Van Cleef started Yankee Housewrights as a residential remodeling business in 1985 in Jamestown, Rhode Island. With a wealth of remodeling experience in his toolbox, Van Cleef tells us why certain new construction projects don't interest him and how preparing your business to handle two or...
Stainless-Steel Wiring Staples - Insulating Fire-Block - Site Shop Setup - Premium Sliders - Rust-Resistant Post Mount - Clear Storm Panels - Soundproofing Solution
Regardless of what the flood maps say today, the statistics show that flood zones will likely change during the service life of a home, making flooding an often inevitable consequence of coastal living. The answer, says building scientist Joseph Lstiburek, is to use drainable, dryable assemblies...
You can now get a prefabricated sunroom that will satisfy nearly every design and budget. But you have to work with the manufacturer to make sure you get what you and your customers want. Our guide to systems, glazing, and current codes will help you select sunrooms for the long run, leaving...
Durable Wood-Floor Finishes
Section R602.10 of the International Residential Code calls for "braced wall lines" composed of "braced wall panels." The location, width, and construction details of these braced wall panels, as well as the materials that can be used to build them, are spelled out in the code's text, tables, and...
Climate Quandaries
Restoring Trust - School of Demolition - Tougher Codes - High Hazard Study - Storm-Tracking Tools
In the hot, humid South, it's not enough to install high-efficiency air conditioning. Dedicated dehumidification, along with impeccable attention to sealing the building enclosure, is required. Researchers at LSU exhibit three practical systems that balance performance and cost in the "LaHouse"...
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.
Steven J. Koenig specializes in custom residential homes on islands along the South Carolina shore. At a cost of as much as $500 or more per square foot, his homes appeal to a select group of very high-end clients. Koenig discusses the unique challenges of working with this clientele and working...
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Pending Study - Cover Critique - Coastal Textbook
Architectural Shutters - Fail-Safe Decks - High-Tech Wood Preservative - Ladder Attachment - Foundation Straps - Flexible Perm Rating - Straw Structural Panels - Garage-Door Brace
Sealed Crawlspaces in Flood Zones
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...
Katrina by the Numbers
Dangerous Demolition - Gulf Renaissance - Insurance Rates to Climb - Named Storms Break the Record
Small Is Beautiful
Gulf Fixation
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...
High-Performance Underlayment - 36-Volt Power Tools - Drainage-Plane Clips - Bendable Borders - Impact-Resistant Glass Block System - Efficient Bracing - Integral Insulation
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...
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...
Termite Defenses for Slab-on-Grade Foundations - Making Sense of Air Barriers
Katrina's Fury
Systems-Built Solutions - Code Option Flies Out the Window - Common Code Violations - 2005 Tropical Storm Summary
Seaside Surge Solutions
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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Stronger Nails, Properly Spaced
GB General Contractors dodged a bullet when Rita roared to town. The second Category 5 hurricane of the record-breaking 2005 hurricane season moved north, sparing the Pearland community of the greater Houston metropolis a direct hit. Owner Gil Boyles breathed a sigh of relief - one born of...
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...
Drain Plane - Preformed PVC - Composite Components - Demolition Blades - Deck Protector - Sill Seal - Impact-Resistant View - Solid-Core Siding
Installing Ipe Decking - Latent Cooling Loads