New NC Building Codes for Energy Conservation

The North Carolina Building Code Council voted Dec. 14, 2010 to increase energy efficiency standards in new homes and buildings, which will save consumers an average of $30 to $100 each month, create jobs across our state, and help home builders who have struggled during the recession. The Council voted to increase efficiency standards in commercial construction by 30 percent and in residential construction by 15 percent beyond the building code’s current standard. The new building code will take effect in January 2012 and becomes mandatory in March 2012. In addition to the mandatory 15 percent increase in residential efficiency, the Council also established a voluntary compliance path and special recognition for builders who choose to build new homes to the higher 30 percent efficiency standards and above. The new building code takes effect January 2012.

Congress Extends Federal Tax Credit for Energy Efficient Homes and Other Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credits

Last night (December 16, 2010) Congress extended the $2,000 federal tax credit for builders who build energy efficient homes. The extension is from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011. The extension was part of a sweeping tax package negotiated by the White House and Republican Congressional leaders.

The legislation also includes a provision that extends the tax credit for consumers who purchase qualified energy saving products, but lowers the credit to its pre-economic recovery act levels. The new bill extends the credit to the end of 2011, but reduces the incentive to the original 10% up to $500. Included are provisions limiting window incentives to $200, oil and gas furnace and boiler incentives to $150-200, and water heater and wood heating system incentives to $300. As part of the legislation, Congress tightening the specifications for oil furnaces and boilers and gas boilers to 95% efficiency, up from the 90% efficiency in current credit.

DO YOU DO CUSTOM HOMES?

DO YOU DO CUSTOM HOMES? It seems I have been hearing that question as long as I've been in business. And, YES I DO! As a matter of fact, about 95% of all my home designs are customized. If you see a plan on my website you like but it's just not perfect - then let me customize it for you! I love custom design, I love a challenge, I love solving problems and seeing opportunities for making a home live better. In my many years of design, I've accumulated over 3,000 home designs and a ton of experience. Part of my experience comes from starting in the building business very early in life - cleaning new homes for a new home developer. That gave me an opportunity to see homes during all phases of construction - to touch boards and tar paper and shingles. From being a Landscape Architect, General Contractor and owning a Surveying business, I have experiences other designers don't have. So - If you see a house plan you like but it's just not what you want - let me help you design what you really want. It's really easy!

New Plans Added This Summer 2010

Hi there! Coastal Designs just wanted to let you know that we have added new plans to our website this summer under new sections, Traditional Townhomes and Traditional Homes. Traditional Townhomes come in as a duplex, tri-plex, and four-plex. As for Traditional Homes, they have single-level homes, multi-level homes, and Charleston style homes.

Here is a list of new plans added:

Single Cottages: Cottages Over 2,000 sf

Sealane 2467-4E

Traditional Homes: Single Level Homes

Rosemary 1825-3-CC

Mallow 1680-3-CC (coming soon!)

Beaufort 1592-3

Traditional Homes: Multi-Level Homes

Celebration 1900-4

Traditional Homes: Charleston-style Homes

Mt. Pleasant 2347-4-CC

Charleston 2010-4-CC (coming soon!)

Planning Links

Bath Fixtures
American Standard Fixtures
Delta Faucet
Jacuzzi Tubs
Kohler Fixtures
Lasco Bathware

Building Materials
CertainTeed
Chadsworth's Columns
Fypon Vinyl Trim & Moldings
Historic Doors
Home Depot
Lowe's Home Improvement
Lumber Liquidators (Hardwood Flooring)
Construction Network for products
NAILITE

Elevators
LEV Elevators
ThyssenKrupp Access
Waupaca Elevators

Green & Healthy Homes
HealthyBuilt Homes

Kitchen Fixtures
Delta Faucet
GE Appliances
Kitchen-Aide Appliances
Sub-Zero & Wolf Appliances

Lighting
Brass Light Gallery

Permits & Planning
CAMA Permits - North Carolina Division Of Coastal Management
FEMA | Federal Emergency Management Agency
Flood Maps - Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps
North Carolina Dept. of Environment & Natural Resources
North Carolina Dept. of Insurance - Building Engineering & Codes
North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors

Real Estate
Realtor.com

Siding
James Hardie Siding & Trim

Storage Solutions
ClosetMaid

Windows for coastal areas
Anderson Windows
& Doors
Jeld-Wen Windows
Peachtree Windows & Doors
Pella Windows & Doors
Simonton Windows & Doors

2 New Plans Added This Week (May 10-14)

Here is a list of new plans we just added to our website:

Traditional Homes (Single-Level)

Bayside 1254-3

Cottages under 2,000 s.f.

Coastal 1186-3

Hope you have a great weekend!

The Do and Don'ts of Building in Hurricane-Prone Areas

"The Do and Don'ts of Building in Hurricane-Prone Areas" by NJIT (New Jersey's Science & Technology University) architecture professor Rima Taher, PhD. This is a version of an original press release dated June 15, 2009, but the message is worth repeating.

Taher has written extensively about best building design and construction practices to reduce wind pressures on building surfaces and to resist high winds and hurricanes in residential or commercial construction.

She is a civil/structural engineer who teaches at NJIT’s College of Architecture and Design. Her courses include topics related to wind and earthquakes with guidelines and recommendations for better design and construction in hurricane and earthquake prone areas.

Her recommendations in the forthcoming article should be heeded by anyone building in high wind regions. They include the following.

Design buildings with square, hexagonal or even octagonal floor plans with roofs of multiple slopes such as a four-sloped hip roof. These roofs perform better under wind forces than the gable roofs with two slopes. Gable roofs are common only because they are cheaper to build. Research and testing demonstrate that a 30-degree roof slope will have the best results.

Wind forces on a roof tend to uplift it. “This explains why roofs blow off during extreme wind events,” Taher said. To combat uplift, she advises connecting roofs to walls strongly with nails, not staples. Stapled roofs were banned in Florida after Hurricane Andrew. The use of hurricane clips is recommended. The choice of roofing is important. Different roofing systems perform differently under hurricane conditions. In tile roofs, loose tiles often become wind-borne debris threatening other structures.

Aim for strong connections between the structure and foundation. Structural failure—one structural element triggering the collapse of another—can be progressive.

Hurricane shutters can protect glazing from wind-borne debris. Various designs are available.

Roof overhangs are subject to wind uplift forces which could trigger a roof failure. In the design of the hurricane-resistant home, the length of these overhangs should be limited to about 20 inches.

The design of the researched cyclonic home includes simple systems to reduce the local wind stresses at the roof’s lower edges such as a notched frieze or a horizontal grid. Install the latter at the level of the gutters along the homes’ perimeter.

An elevated structure on an open foundation reduces the risk of damage from flooding and storm-driven water. All foundation piles must be strengthened by bracing and should penetrate deep enough into the soil to reduce the risk of scour."

For Video of Rima Taher, PhD, discussing her findings, go to "http://www.njit.edu/news/2009/2009-224.php"

3 New Plans Added This Week (March 31-April 2)

Here is a list of new plans we just added to our website:

Traditional Homes (Single-Level)

1) Bayview 1296-3

2) Bayside 1373-3

3) Beaufort 1496-3

Have a great Good Friday/Easter weekend!

New Plans Added: March 30

Here is a list of new plans we just added to our website:

Townhomes

Acorn Hollow 4-Plex

NEW! PDF Plans

Coastal Designs just added a new service called "PDF Plans," which you can purchase house plans as a PDF format for half the price of single unit 8 sets (printed) or duplex 8 sets (printed). We currently have our special 50% off all PDF Plans until May 31, 2010 (Memorial Day).

View our Prices List for more details.

How do I receive my PDF Plans order?
Adobe ® PDF Files are sent by email to Purchaser and are the FASTEST WAY TO RECEIVE PLANS!

If you don't already have Adobe Reader installed on your computer you can download it here: http://get.adobe.com/reader/

How do I print out my PDF Plans order?
PDF Plans can be printed at most large document print centers such as FedEx Office (formerly known as FedEx Kinko's), or on any large (C to D size) document printer.

New plan added: February 15

Here is a list of new plans we just added to our website:

Under 2,000 S.F. Cottages

Onslow Beach 1800-4

New Plans Added: February 10

Here is a list of new plans we just added to our website:

Under 2,000 S.F. Cottages


1) Cedar Point 1898-3



2) Pinfish 1825-3



3) Surfside 1536-4