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!

Storm Resistant Roofing

I ran across this link that goes into how to create "Storm Resistant Roofing." A good strong roof is one of the most important features to weather storms! Check this out and get some real tips that could help save your house in a hurricane by making sure the roof stays on!

Planning Tips: Designing and Building your Vacation Cottage

Before you select a cottage design, consider the following tips in helping you with your choices. Any good design should be based on a collection of decisions, ideas, wishes and a great deal many tradeoffs that have to be considered and weighed in order fit your family to your budget. Any successful design is one that keeps on giving your family the best vacation it can have... for a lifetime.

1. The Building Site
2. Selecting a Cottage Plan
3. The Approval Process
4. Cottage Living Tip

Storm Warnings: Extreme Weather is from Climate Change

"More violent and frequent storms, once merely a prediction of climate models, are now a matter of observation" - says John Carey of Scientific American.
Some may call it Global Warming, others say it's just a natural cycle - whatever it is, weather is getting more extreme. Parts of the country have recently experienced record cold, now record rainfall and record tornadoes. If this is any harbinger to future possibilities, might we see more record breaking Hurricanes this year? I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hope that it's all coming from the recent La Nina which is trying to transition back to normal. Either way, my work keeps me thinking about hurricanes and their destructive power.

Instead of "On" the Beach, stay "Over" the Beach!

These floating Hotels allow you to stay at the beach as close as possible to the water - in fact, OVER the water! Check them out. However, I don't design floating beach homes, only the ones firmly attached to the ground so they don't wash away.

Floods Really Cost Taxpayers!

The recent flooding along the Mississippi River (again) has brought more misery and property damage of enormous proportions. I'm sorry, but it seems to me if people are required to build their homes and businesses ABOVE the Flood Elevations, we would have a lot less damage. I'm not suggesting we don't build in flood-prone areas, but we make it a requirement to raise construction higher. I have been designing homes along the Atlantic coast for several years and everything is designed to be built above the Federal Flood Elevations. Either our predictions of "Flood Elevations" are too low, or we have a different set of guidelines for people in the floodplains along the Mississippi. For instance, the damage from Hurricane Katrina to New Orleans could have been a lot less if people were REQUIRED to build above the flood levels! Knowing what I do, I would never build a house below the water level elevation of the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, in a time we really don't need more regulations, I suggest we consider adding a requirement (that) we build our structures above flood levels. I also think we need to revise our flood level elevations up to a more reasonable height, based on more recent floods. (click on the title to see ABC news report)

Build a SAFE ROOM For your loved ones

"Taking Shelter From The Storm: Building a SAFE ROOM inside your house". This is a FREE Book on HOW-TO, including construction plans and everything. FREE Stuff that might just save your life of the life of someone you love! Download or order the FREE book "FEMA 320" at the FEMA web site "http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/saferoom/fema320.shtm"

New plan added: April 28

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

Townhouses (4-Plex)

Bridge Creek Townhomes

Laurel Creek Townhomes

Wall Sheathing For Wind Resistance!

For wall sheathing that has the best wind resistance, use WINDSTORM by Norbord. It can meet Hurricane Code and is used in Florida's 140MPH Codes! Watch this video and learn more. This stuff is great! Meet Code The Better Way - Also Save Up To $1,000 Or More Per House. See more at "http://www.windstormosb.com/"

New Plans Just Added: Laurel and Palmetto

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

Cottages over 2,000 s.f.

Laurel 2800-5E

Palmetto 2184-3

Hope you have a great day!