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!

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!