Coastal Designs

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

2012-02-09T09:51:00.006-05:00

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!

2012-02-08T15:20:00.004-05:00

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

2012-02-07T16:21:00.003-05:00

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

2011-12-02T12:10:00.005-05:00

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

2011-09-04T13:59:00.010-04:00

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.

"How To Live Before You Die" - Steve Jobs

2011-08-30T09:49:00.002-04:00

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

2011-08-29T21:23:00.003-04:00

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

2011-08-09T12:55:00.003-04:00

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

2011-07-27T10:16:00.003-04:00

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

2011-07-05T15:42:00.006-04:00

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

2011-06-28T10:01:00.008-04:00

"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!

2011-06-17T10:50:00.003-04:00

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!

2011-05-10T07:47:00.006-04:00

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

2011-05-06T16:44:00.001-04:00

"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

2011-04-28T19:53:00.004-04:00

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!

2011-04-12T22:03:00.005-04:00

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

2011-02-03T16:56:00.004-05:00

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!

New NC Building Codes for Energy Conservation

2010-12-17T14:35:00.003-05:00

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

2010-12-17T14:24:00.004-05:00

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?

2010-09-24T12:00:00.002-04:00

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

2010-09-22T15:09:00.007-04:00

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

2010-06-01T16:37:00.001-04:00

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)

2010-05-14T19:33:00.011-04:00

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

2010-05-08T15:03:00.005-04:00

"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)

2010-04-02T17:13:00.010-04:00

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

2010-03-30T16:18:00.003-04:00

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

Townhomes

Acorn Hollow 4-Plex

NEW! PDF Plans

2010-03-09T15:42:00.004-05:00

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

2010-02-16T17:45:00.003-05:00

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

2010-02-10T18:00:00.005-05:00

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

Plywood Hurricane Shutters!

2009-08-12T16:52:00.006-04:00

Image by mira d'oubliette via Flickr

From the American Plywood Association - APA, I found three new publications that can help you protect your windows in a Hurricane!

"It is the height of hurricane season, and APA (American Plywood Association) has three different publication series offering hurricane shutter design details. Each offers a collection of five hurricane shutter designs with recommendations for a variety of window and door openings in masonry and wood-frame buildings. The plans in the series include illustrations, materials lists, and step-by-step instructions.

This month we (APA) feature the newly published Hurricane Shutter Design Considerations for Florida. This region-specific publication presents two basic alternatives for hurricane shutters and five different designs to provide options to protect a home from damage in windstorms. The designs are based on requirements from the 2007 Florida Building Code. This publication is available only as a free downloadable PDF. Form T460, 19 pages.

Hurricane Shutter Designs, Form T450, is the original shutter design publication and includes recommendations based on the 2006 International Residential Code (IRC) and the 2006 International Building Code (IBC). This publication is available only as a free downloadable PDF. Form T450, 18 pages.

The details are also available as Hurricane Shutter Designs for Latin America in Spanish. The designs have been separated into five different publications."

These PDF's are available FREE, all you have to do is sign up on the APA site.

For additional information about Hurricanes, see my previous blog posts "Let's Talk about Hurricanes!" and "Hurricane Roofs" - They're still good!

New Plans Added: July 8

2009-07-09T12:40:00.009-04:00

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

Under 2,000 S.F. Cottages

1) Surf 1480-4

2) Sand Castle 1080-2

We will keep you posted with upcoming new plans.

100 Top-Requested Building Products Includes 53 Eco-Friendly Picks

2009-06-15T14:32:00.013-04:00

From the web site of EcoHome, their sister publication Building Products assembled the top 100 building products from Custom Home, Builder and Remodeling from mailer service cards. Click on the “Building Products” link and find several new products and many old favorites. You’d be surprised what people are interested in putting in their homes today. Energy-Efficiency and Green products are the most requested! It seems people want to buy products to save money, which in most cases means saving energy too! No surprise here.

It’s just that I feel most builders are stuck in the past ways of building. They either don’t know how to add new energy-saving products or are unwilling to move out of their old (if-it-works-don’t-fix-it) way of building. I know there are several innovative builders out there that take charge in presenting new energy-efficient and green products to their buyers. Some builders even take it on themselves to educate new home buyers about the energy efficient life-style. Yes, they probably feel like it’s a waste of time to educate home buyers on energy-efficiency when in most cases it fails to produce a sale.

Nowadays, most Home Buyers want a bargain, or at least if they spend more now on energy-efficient add-ons, they hope it might save money later. The challenge lies in the fact that it is hard to pick a good energy-efficient or “Green” product from the thousands that are coming on the market that will cost less, save money, and last! For your new homes, seek third-party certification such as through LEED for Homes, NAHB Model Green Home Building guidelines, and Energy Star.

I remember all the hoopla about the solar fad back in the 1980’s. I educated myself about solar, even built a few successful projects using direct and indirect solar gain. But when the solar tax credits ran out and winters got warmer, people forgot all about it. People really didn’t seem to understand it anyway. I don’t think it’s like that way now. Solar, Wind, Geo-Thermal, Hydro, Bio-Mass, Hybrid and others are just many ways people are now realizing that it’s not a fad, energy-efficiency is finally here to stay - not only will it save money - but because we have to!

New and Updated Plans: June 12

2009-06-12T17:36:00.005-04:00

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

Under 2,000 S.F. Cottages

* NEW PLAN - Wrightsville 1792-4

* TWO (2) UPDATED PLANS
1) Channel Watch 3887-4E
2) Surf 1754-4

We will keep you posted with upcoming new plans.

What's Wrong or What's Right with Homes Today?

2009-06-08T11:20:00.009-04:00

I was surfing the web the other day (I know, what a waste of time) looking for inspiration or new ideas... and actually came across one! I came across an interview with Chris Andreson talking with Watts Wacker & Ethan Zuckerman where a Chinese appliance manufacturer, Haier, was trying to expand their market in rural areas and came across a situation where there was a complaint about cabbage leaves getting stuck in their washing machines. It seems that in rural areas, their washer was being used to wash produce in order to make it better and therefore get a higher price at the market. As it turns out, instead of adding a large notice that their washers shouldn’t be used to clean produce, they added a “produce washing” cycle instead, and therefore added to their market sales.

By watching this video, I thought, “what are some ways people use homes that designers don’t know about?” Therefore, I invite you to send in ideas about ways you use your home, or new ways you would like to use it. What do you use the “Living Room” for? What is the purpose of the “Sunroom?” does doing the laundry spill over into the hall? Would you like to cook more outdoors? Do you exercise in the living room? See what I mean? How do you REALLY use you home, or WANT to use your home? Send me a short reply, I’d really like to know.

New Prices!

2009-05-28T17:02:00.008-04:00

Since we have been adding more smaller plans less than 1,000 sf, we recently changed our price list to better provide for the popular smaller plans. Click to view new Price List.

Green Find: EcoHome Magazine

2009-04-22T17:02:00.003-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

Also, I would like to highlight a very good source for green products and technology with the new Hanley-Wood website, EcoHome. After getting a copy of the magazine itself, I have found many sources for answers to things like - What is the best 'on-demand' water heater?, what's the best spray foam insulation?, who has the best solar water heater? and many, many more green ideas.

Our "Financial Stimulus" Package

2009-04-13T15:31:00.002-04:00

In order to help future home owners, builders, and investors with start-up money, we are offering our own version of financial stimulus - we will be running a special 50% discount on all plans ordered by May 15, 2009. On top of that, we will also offer free shipping to go along with your order. Order soon - the sooner you order, the sooner you save!

New Plans Added: April 1

2009-04-01T17:04:00.002-04:00

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

Under 2,000 S.F. Cottages
* Seagull 800-3
* Seagull 928-3

We will keep you posted with upcoming new plans.

New (And Recycled) Tax Credits For Going Green

2009-03-26T15:49:00.009-04:00

Image by aflcio2008 via Flickr

President Obama has made some changes to the tax credits for energy efficient products. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is the program that President Bush initiated several years ago and was to end in 2007 and then was extended to end of 2008. On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed a stimulus bill (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) that made some significant changes to the energy efficiency tax credits. The changes are very significant for new homes and remodels. The highlights are:

The tax credits that were previously effective for 2009, have been extended to 2010 as well.
The tax credit has been raised from 10% to 30%.
The tax credits that were for a specific dollar amount (ex $300 for a CAC), have been converted to 30% of the cost.
The maximum credit has been raised from $500 to $1500 for the two years (2009-2010). However, some improvements such as geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, and solar panels are not subject to the $1,500 maximum - you get 30% Tax Credit on these! $1,500 is the maximum total amount that can be claimed for all products placed in service in 2009 & 2010 for most home improvements, EXCEPT for geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, fuel cells, and windmills which are not subject to this cap, and are in effect through 2016!
The $200 cap on windows has been removed, but the requirements for windows has been increased significantly. Not all ENERGY STAR qualified windows will qualify.

See more info on saving tax dollars when you build or remodel.

Thanks - Dennis Mercer

Now's the best time to build green!

2009-03-23T15:38:00.010-04:00

If you're considering buying land to build a home using green-building concepts. Today's building news might scare people off from building. With all the bad news about housing and everyone seeing "red" - it happens to be one of the best times I've ever seen to build! It also is a very good time to start a green home-construction project, based on several factors: Land prices are cheaper, the number of certified green contractors out there is growing and green is going mainstream as global warming and energy issues are on the front burner. Most General Contractors are also "sharpening their pencils" more just to stay in business. Additionally, federal tax incentives for some new-home construction elements have recently tripled following the recent passage of the stimulus package.

Instead of the previous 10-percent incentives offered, you can now write off 30 percent of the costs of buying and installing solar panels, solar water heaters, fuel cells and small wind-energy systems and geothermal heat pumps. There are dollar caps on some of these credits. See the Environmental Protection Agency website for the latest information.

Moreover, it's pretty clear that the latest green heating and cooling systems typically pay for themselves in energy savings over several years. If you're in North Carolina, you can go to the North Carolina Solar Center and click on 2008 Tax Forms for the latest NC Tax Guidelines. Depending on your situation, you could get up to $10,500 tax credit on a photovoltaic system, $3,500 on Active or Passive Solar systems or $1,400 for a solar water heating system in the same year. Active or Passive Solar systems receive tax credits depending on how they are constructed and designed. You find experts at the North Carolina Professional Directory of renewable energy professionals.

Several other states are offering additional green tax credits as well. Builders can also get tax credits for constructing energy-efficient new homes and should be able to pass some of those savings on to you indirectly. You can also check out the DSIRE Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency. Of course, you can go as green as your imagination and budget allow, ranging from the use of solar energy, natural lighting, energy-efficient appliances and low-emission paints to radon-resistant construction, resource-efficient landscaping and use of recycled or salvaged, locally processed building materials. It's important to check out your local building ordinances to see what is allowed in your area. Most municipalities have become far more progressive in this area.

But be wary. Some contractors instantly mark up a green project significantly without justification merely because people expect to pay more. Carefully screen your contractors. The United States Green Building Council's site (www.usgbc.org) has a rating system for promoting the design and construction of high-performance "green" houses that also features builder resources, green-certified contractor lists and a green-home guide. Also go to the Green Home Guide website and click on "resources" for availability of local, state, federal and utility incentives. Another organization, Build it Green, promotes green practices in California but also features universal guidelines and checklists that may help.

Be sure to keep up to date on what's being offered. By the time you start construction, there may be even more green incentives available.

A Green Home Begins with ENERGY STAR Blue.

It's a Great Time To Go Green!

New Plans Added: February 24 & 25

2009-03-10T12:32:00.005-04:00

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

Under 2,000 S.F. Cottages

* February 24: Bogue 1850-4

* February 25: Surf 1536-4

We will keep you posted with upcoming new plans.

New Plans Just Added: November 3-7

2008-11-07T14:22:00.004-05:00

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

Under 2,000 S.F. Cottages

* November 4, 2008 - Sand Castle 1008-2
* November 5, 2008 - Sand Castle 1064-2
* November 7, 2008 - Cape Lookout Tower 2458-3

We will keep you posted with weekly up-to-date news.

Order Brochures

2008-11-04T11:59:00.003-05:00

We just wanted to let you know that our 'order brochures' web page has been updated!

You can now order both brochures (Cottages Over 2,000 s.f. and Cottages Under 2,000 s.f.) for $40.00 plus shipping.

If you have trouble ordering, then please do not hesitate to let us know by phone, via email, or leave us a comment on this post.

Thanks

New Plans Just Added: October 29 & 30

2008-11-03T11:28:00.002-05:00

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

Under 2,000 S.F. Cottages

* October 29, 2008 - Surf 1868-3
* October 30, 2008 - Lookout 1664-4

We will keep you posted with weekly up-to-date news.

New Cool Metal Roof

2008-10-05T13:30:00.007-04:00

I have found a roofing product that can save cooling costs. The Energy-Efficient Titan® “COOL ROOF”.

A product made by Custom-Bilt Metals called LAST-TIME® is a metal roof with a premium two-coat system based on the same 70 percent PDVF (PolyvinylFluoride) resin-based coating system supplied as Kynar 500® material to coat any LAST-TIME® brand product.

“Cool Roof coatings are highly reflective, with a minimum solar reflectance of 25 percent, and up to 70 percent on lighter colors. When applied and cured on properly prepared substrates, a Cool Roof exhibits outstanding color stability, chalk resistance, durability, abrasion resistance, chemical resistance and flexibility while also providing outstanding solar heat deflection and energy efficiency.” This product qualifies for Energy Star® Tax Credit. And Earns Certification points with The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™. Therefore, if you want to save energy AND have a colored metal roof, you can use the Titan® “COOL ROOF.” However, I can’t figure out how a penguin could climb up on that metal roof.

The Best Roofs on the Coast - Part Two

2008-10-03T16:14:00.013-04:00

To continue - "What's the best roofing material I can use for hurricanes?"

Engineering-Roofing is now coming around.

Some manufacturers have developed an "engineered roofing" product that looks like wood shakes or slate and are made of recycled materials such as post-industrial plastics, wood-fiber, flax-fiber, hemp-fiber, and crumb rubber from recycled tires. I don't know the long term performance of such products, but time will tell. Engineered-roofing can be made to look very close to No. 1 grade cedar shakes, and also have a 50 year limited warranty, mold, mildew, insect and hail resistant. In today's construction trends, look for more "Green" building materials that will help our environment and our economic independence. These types of roofing appear to be suitable for roofing in hurricane-prone areas, but with more use, again, time will tell.

Clay or Concrete tiles are another type of roofing you may consider.

Some benefits of concrete ceramic tiles are being fireproof, they are available in many colors, easy to maintain and very durable. Some of the drawbacks with clay are being very expensive, heavy, fragile to walk on and replacement is not easy. Clay tiles have a more Mediterranean, French, Spanish and contemporary look. Performance in hurricanes is satisfactory, but difficult to repair. If tiles get cracked or broken, it can allow wind-driven rain to cause more roof leaks.

I don't know of an "Eco-Roof" yet but it might be a consideration if you're so inclined.

Eco-Roofs are flat to moderate sloping roofs made of soil (lightweight soil) with a vegetation cover. The ultimate "Green" roof which could possibly grow your own vegetables! While this type of roof has the potential of becoming the ultimate environmental roof, it could surely help save our planet! I haven't see this type of roof used on beach cottages yet but don't see why this couldn't be something to consider, if you have the means and location. One company in England is a specialist in "greenroofs" - Greenfix Sky-Garden Grass could even be grown on raised parking decks - making it possible to run barefoot in the grass at the beach, or even have your own ultra-private "yard." However, be sure to use a push mower.

Slate is a roofing material used in very high-end markets.

Use of slate requires highly trained workers and a lot of money. Like clay tile, slate is also heavy and easily damaged by foot traffic. Slate will out-last most roofing materials and will hold up to hurricanes extremely well. Greenstone Slate in Poultney, VT have a Notice Of Acceptance (NOA) from Miami-Dade County, FL that states their "Greenstone Roofing Slate-Natural" meets their High Velocity Hurricane Zone. Slate will not rust, milder, rot or burn. Repairs are however sometimes very costly.

Sometimes, mixing different roofing materials might give you the look you want as well as saving money. I have added metal roofs to small porches or decorative gable dormers while using fiberglass-asphalt on the main roof of a house. This has been a good compromise in some cases.

No matter what roof material you choose, I recommend you pick a light color. Because the solar radiation from lighter roofs would help cool our planet better, and save on your cooling costs. Dark colored roofing is very fashionable, for now, but I see a time where fashion will give way to environmental needs in the very near future. The new fashion trend nowadays seems to be heading toward being "green." That's a good thing, even if it's the "In" thing! Galvalume galvanized roofing is one of the best solar reflectors and requires less to cool in those hot summers. The best roof angle in studies seems to be a slope of around 30 degrees, or about a 6/12 pitch. Any other roof angle will add to wind uplift. Select a roofing material with a Class-A Fire Rating. Select a roofing that has the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) Wind-Resistant Rating.

Therefore, as I said in the beginning, it all depends... on what architectural look you're after, how much money you have to spend, how much you want to gamble, and how fast you want the roof repaired after a storm. Choose wisely.

Dennis Mercer

The Best Roofs on the Coast

2008-09-26T16:31:00.025-04:00

I have had many of my home design clients ask - "What's the best roofing material I can use in coastal areas subject to hurricanes?"
I have asked this question myself many times.
The answer: "It depends"

Metal roofing, such as standing-seam steel roofing can perform very well in hurricane-force winds. If you consider wind-resistance to be a good factor (it is), the standing-seam steel roofing performs much better than other roofing materials. For one thing, standing-seam metal can be made in large sheets which are more of a structural component adding to the strength of the roof system. Steel sheeting can be calculated and engineered to perform a better function in holding the roof on in high winds. Depending on the thickness and size of steel sheeting it can have more resistance to blow-off than many other roofing materials. Another plus for metal roofing is their superior ability to dispel lighting strikes. Metal roofing has been very popular in coastal areas lately, more due to fashion than finance. Metal roofing is not a good material to store extra material for future repairs, its large and bulky and the replacement roofing would still not match the old roof, because of sun exposure. One drawback is that metal roofing is more expensive that other roofing types. The Kynar® coated colored metal roofs are a bit more expensive than "5-V" or corrugated galvanized Metal roofing but will last longer than some other roofing types and are more energy efficient than other roofing materials. If you want to save energy, lighter colors and silver galvanized finish will be cooler and save more on your cooling bills.

Copper roofing oxidizes over time to a dark brown patina and could become a heat sink. If we all switched our roof color from a dark color to a light color, we would slow down the greenhouse affect on the entire planet! Copper and Stainless Steel are other choices but are very, very expensive, however they both last a very, very long time. A good economical selection for a metal roof is the Galvalume coated galvanized finished "5-V" roofing or corrugated roofing. Galvalume roofing will not rust as quickly as standard galvanized roofing. Some metal roofing has been tested at wind speeds up to 200 MPH.

Green Tip! Another great thing about metal roofing is its ease of recycling. Other than wood shakes, metal roofs are very "green."

However, this is not to say other roofing types don't have merit, or are inferior.

Composition or "Fiberglass-Asphalt" shingles have been made by several companies to be both wind-resistant and durable. Fiberglass-Asphalt shingles are a lot more economical than metal roofing and are easier to replace after a storm. Several roofing contractors suggest roofs that are less than 6/12 pitch will be services before steeper roofs because they are easier and faster to walk on. Steep roofs and roofs that are more than one story off the ground require extra safety precautions (OSHA laws) for roofers. Therefore, after a hurricane, you will see the lower pitched roofs and lower houses repaired first. Fiberglass-Asphalt shingles can be made to be fire-resistant, with Class-A being the best. Several companies make Wind-Resistant shingles to 130 MPH that meet the UL highest standard for impact resistance - UL 2218, Class 4.

Many different colors and textures of roofing are offered in fiberglass-asphalt shingles and they seem to have more variety than other roofing choices. Fiberglass-asphalt shingles have a life-span of 15-30 years and are subject to mildew and moss. The asphalt in this roofing makes it less "Green" than other roofing types, it's environmentally unfriendly. Extra replacement shingles can easily be stored away for later repairs.

Wood shake or shingles are another possibility. Wood shakes and shingles come in several lengths and thicknesses. Shakes can be hand-split (more expensive) or resawn, which are called shingles. Wood shakes are certified and graded by the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau. For instance, No. 1 grade Blue Label® western red cedar shake roofing is one of highest quality wood roofs. Wood is a natural fuel for fire, so it needs a fire-retardant treatment to make it good for roofing use. I would not recommend wood shake roofing unless it was fire-retardant treated. Wood shakes are more "Green" than some other roofing materials. However, wood can split, rot, grow mold and mildew. Pressure treated wood is also available. Wood shakes perform a little better than fiberglass-asphalt roofing but replacement will never match the original shingles. Wind tests done in Dade County, FL found Certigrade® shingles withstood wind speeds of 173 MPH, whereas Certigrade® shakes withstood wind speeds of 245 MPH. Wood weathering will create an oxidized grey tone to its surface and it is impossible to match with new wood.

Over time however, the shingles will get back to their oxidized-grey finish. Shingles used on some old Coast Guard stations are still in place over 200 years, and they still look great.

See my next post for more information about roofing on Monday, September 29, 2008.

Dennis Mercer

Let's talk about HURRICANES!

2008-09-03T14:53:00.004-04:00

1. To go to the latest maps on Hurricanes and Tropical Storms, go to the National Hurricane Center website.

2. One of the best sources of information on how to build homes in coastal areas is found in the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) FEMA 55, Edition3/August 2005 "Coastal Construction Manual" Principles and Practices of Planning, Siting, Designing, Construction, and Maintaining Buildings in Coastal Areas. Get it here. It's free and it's a wealth of information on how to build and prepare for flooding, hurricanes and storm protection.

3. To find local FEMA Flood Maps for your area, go to their web page and look under "Latest Available Flood Maps. You can view some maps online or purchase printed maps from FEMA.

4. A wealth of additional information concerning all types of Disasters can be found at the FEMA website. This site has an enormous amount of information and links that will keep you busy educating yourself.

We are going GREEN!

2008-08-12T14:01:00.000-04:00

Yesterday our website, coastaldesigns.com, has been updated with a new look.

What's new at Coastal Designs:
- Our brand-new blog!
- Changed our navigation bar from color red to...GREEN! :-)
- Added new contents: blog and faq (frequently asked questions)
- FAQ section consists information about our plans, what is included, how to order plans, and cottage plan prices.
- Expanding our "Cottage Plans" section with new plans to add to our site real soon!

Also, we will be adding information about "green" building in near future.

Welcome!

2008-07-23T15:11:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Coastal Designs' blog site!

We are using our newest blog to post up-to-date news about our plans, brochures, information, etc. We also will post useful tips and links for you to know about building cottages.

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

Under 2,000 S.F. Cottages

* June 4, 2008 - Seaspray 1288-4

Duplex Cottages

* June 12 - Sea-for-Two 2226-4E Duplex
* July 2 - Sand Castle 1620-4 Duplex
* July 3 - Sand Castle 1836-4 Duplex

Over 2,000 S.F. Cottages

* July 17 - Hampton 4157-6E
* July 21 - Shipwright 2634-5

Coastal Designs

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

Cottages as close to the water as you can get!

8 Elements For Classic Kitchen Style

Great Idea for Rainwater Harvesting

Hurricanes Cause Floods

Related articles

"How To Live Before You Die" - Steve Jobs

Repairing Your Flooded Home

Decorative Wood Shutters

Storm Resistant Roofing

Planning Tips: Designing and Building your Vacation Cottage

Storm Warnings: Extreme Weather is from Climate Change

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

Floods Really Cost Taxpayers!

Build a SAFE ROOM For your loved ones

New plan added: April 28

Wall Sheathing For Wind Resistance!

New Plans Just Added: Laurel and Palmetto

New NC Building Codes for Energy Conservation

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

DO YOU DO CUSTOM HOMES?

New Plans Added This Summer 2010

Planning Links

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

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

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

New Plans Added: March 30

NEW! PDF Plans

New plan added: February 15

New Plans Added: February 10

Plywood Hurricane Shutters!

New Plans Added: July 8

100 Top-Requested Building Products Includes 53 Eco-Friendly Picks

New and Updated Plans: June 12

What's Wrong or What's Right with Homes Today?

New Prices!

Green Find: EcoHome Magazine

Our "Financial Stimulus" Package

New Plans Added: April 1

New (And Recycled) Tax Credits For Going Green

Now's the best time to build green!

New Plans Added: February 24 & 25

New Plans Just Added: November 3-7

Order Brochures

New Plans Just Added: October 29 & 30

New Cool Metal Roof

The Best Roofs on the Coast - Part Two

The Best Roofs on the Coast

Let's talk about HURRICANES!

We are going GREEN!

Welcome!