Impacts of El Niño and La Niña on the hurricane seasons

With the approach of the hurricane season and the strong potential for El Niño to develop during the next few months, the effect that El Niño has on both the Atlantic and Pacific hurricanes seasons is worth exploring. The hurricane impacts of El Niño and its counterpart La Niña are like a see-saw between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, strengthening hurricane activity in one region while weakening it in the other. To see how the current season is developing, go to the National Weather Center Weather Prediction Center at > http://origin.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/hurricane.shtml

3 Must-Haves For Hurricane-Proof Designs

1- Durable Roofing:
A TPO membrane from provides strong resistance to tears, punctures, and impact damage. Installed over waterproof plywood sheathing, the white material also reflects sunlight to help keep the house cool.

2- Strong Framing:
Laminated veneer lumber (LVLs) featuring cross graining and engineered layers provides superior strength and less waste.

3- Impact-Resistant Windows & Doors:
Impact-resistant windows and sliding doors with laminated glass and durable frames provide protection against large and small airborne debris.

These three items are the most important items in planning for the best Hurricane-Proof dwelling.
Information shared from 'Builder' Magazine, December 2014 - http://www.builderonline.com/building/three-elements-of-a-hurricane-proof-house_o

Use Plenum Trusses To Keep Ducts Out of Your Attic: If you want to do something really stupid with the ducts for a heating and air conditioning system, put them in an unconditioned attic.

In cold climates, designers, builders, and contractors know this and, for the most part, avoid it. They also have basements as an alternative location. In hot climates, designers, builders, and contractors do the really stupid thing all the time. Use Plenum Trusses To Keep Ducts Out Of Your Attic!

 

See-through fireplaces boost design options
Versatile indoor/outdoor propane fireplaces capitalize on the outdoor living trend while sealing out fluctuating weather conditions. This is a really great way to get the fireplace on an outside viewing wall without blocking the view! Really great on Ocean-Front or Water-Side cottages!

See-through fireplaces boost design options

Flood insurance bill gets final push from senators
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of senators made another push Tuesday (1-7-14) for a vote on legislation to delay hikes in federal flood insurance premiums, saying the number of property owners facing skyrocketing increases grows each day. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/01/07/flood-insurance-premiums-senate-bill/4362861/

Bahama Shutters are a great way to add shade to your windows while keeping a view. As some may not know, they can also be made to strong enough to protect your windows in storms too. They can be left open, or can be easily closed (from the inside) before a storm. (photo courtesy of Seacoast Systems, Inc., 109 N. 15th St., Wilmington, NC 28401) Also see Houzz Ideabooks http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/3186047/list?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u136&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery17

IKEA Designs an $86,500 Prefab, with the help of Ideabox. This seems to be a match made for the times... for those of you wanting a house RIGHT NOW, just place your order and wait for the semi to arrive. I love IKEA - It makes logical sense, but will it have staying power in today's market? Unfortunately, this is only available in the West right now, hopefully on the East Coast by 2014. http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57389515-1/ikea-designs-$86500-prefab-house-instructions-included/

Automatic Color Selector - Chip-It! by Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams has a new tool to help you find your favorite house colors. Just drag their new Chip-It! tool onto your web browser's tool bar and go! I tried it and it was really easy... it even shows some colors I was not aware of. Great tool! Now you can find out exactly what colors your favorite house is wearing. (photo from 2012 HGTV® Dream Home by Sherwin-Williams)

Cottages as close to the water as you can get!

These floating cottages are as close as you can get to the water. I love small, simple, prefab cottages. I found these at IdeaBox. Called the "Drift," a "Tender" series of floating homes. Check with your local codes to see if these are allowed in your area.

8 Elements For Classic Kitchen Style

This "Kitchen Workbook: 8 Elements of Classic Kitchen Style" by Rebekah Zaveloff of KitchenLab, discusses the elements to consider in order to create the classic kitchen. I believe a well designed classic kitchen can extend the useful age of any home! Photo by Chris Barnes, builder, CLB Custom Homes, Hampstead, NC (http://www.clbcustomhomes.com/)

Great Idea for Rainwater Harvesting

The Rainwater Hog is a NEW great way to harvest rainwater! Rainwater harvesting is smart for using FREE (natural & untreated) water for lawns, gardens and washing your pets or cars. Claim your own FREE Rainwater! The Rain Hog system is the first system I've run across that is attractive as well as practical. "Rainwater can be used for watering your garden as well as for toilet flushing, laundry washing and bathing. Rainwater stored in food grade HOGs can be used as an emergency potable water supply. Rainwater is soft water, which means that it wont cause a build up of calcium in your plumbing like hard water can. You can drink rainwater as long as your roofing material does not contain toxic materials. You will need to add a first flush diverter to the fine screen filter in the Inlet kit. Don’t let your rainwater go to waste - the Rainwater HOG is functional, efficient and visually discreet rainwater storage!" Check them out at "http://rainwaterhog.com/" - COASTAL DESIGNS

Hurricanes Cause Floods

Image via NJ.com

Hurricanes cause as much damage from flooding as it does from high winds. In the last Hurricane Irene, some of the people escaping the wind damage were hit by devastating flooding. Hurricane season isn't over, do you have flood insurance? If not, you need to call your insurance agent as soon as you can! No matter if you think you are not in a flood prone area, flooding can get you!

Go to this website, Flood Smart - The official site of NFIP, and learn all about it.

Related articles

• 6 insurance tips to prepare for Hurricane Irene (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Hurricane Irene: Insurance nightmare awaits homeowners (money.cnn.com)
• Hurricane-related flood damage? Few homes covered (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Hurricane Irene: Are You Covered? (online.wsj.com)

"How To Live Before You Die" - Steve Jobs

As most people already know, Steve Jobs announced his step down for Apple CEO a few days ago. Although it may feel like history ending, Steve Jobs stepping down as CEO is not a surprise, he has major health issues. He's not completely gone, Steve will step down to Chairman of Apple, where his genius and work ethic will still keep Apple one of the best companies in the world, now the second largest (by capital) in the world! Apple will still be the best computer product on the planet for a long, long time. Upon finding a photo online yesterday of Steve in a state of declining health, I can't help but think back to his commencement speech at Stanford University, June 2005. It's quite poignant and still relative! (click on the title above)

Repairing Your Flooded Home

For all the unfortunate people in the Northeast who had flood damage from Irene, I ran across this free PDF download from the Red Cross & FEMA that may help. It's VERY detailed! If you are in a flood area, it can also help you prepare for a flood. Great booklet!

Decorative Wood Shutters

Here's a few great shutters for your cottage. Storm shutters can replace to option of required impact-resistant glass on new construction, but these are great on old cottages! To get the best protection, use solid wood, buy the best rust-resistant or rust-proof hardware and hang them so you can easily get to them when they are needed! Shutters shouldn't just be considered for looks... make them work and earn their keep!