Here are some fun decorating ideas for your upcoming or holiday or winter event on Cape Cod! Once you have decided build your dream home on Cape Cod, there is nothing more fun than decorating it for each season.  This slideshow from DigsDigs.com has some interesting, yet simple ideas that are a lot of fun!  Click here: WINTER DECORATING

So everyone loves a nice outdoor living space, and a deck is one of the most popular spaces we design and build on our Cape Cod Homes.  An elevated deck can be a very nice addition to a home with a walkout basement, or as a feature off of the 2nd story of a home to take advantage of water views.  The problem with an elevated deck is that they can create a dark space, that is not weather resistant, and can't be used when it is raining.  Well there are now several solutions available to turn the space below your deck into a covered porch. These systems use a series of panels that attach to the underside of the framing and direct water out to a gutter system.  So now, instead of a dark, wet, space under your deck, you can have a bright clean outdoor space to enjoy during inclement weather.  One of the better products we have came across is called the Zip-up system.  Click here to see their brochure: Zip-Up System

    So, everyone has heard of Fashion Week in NYC, right? Well the Italian tile industry holds it's own "fashion week" event every year called Cersaie in Bologna, Italy. This year, color and texture seem to be leading the style trends in tile for 2013.  We like the wood-textured tiles shown in the slide show.  So if you are planning on Building a New Home, Remodeling, or Renovating your Kitchen or Bath here on Cape Cod, you may want to consider some of these Italian tiles for your project!

Here is an article and slideshow from builderonline.com: Italian Tiles

Here is a link to the official show website: Cersaie

   REEF began another project today, tearing down a house on Bass River.  After a lengthy cost analysis, permitting, and design process, it was determined that tearing down the old house and re-building was a more cost effective way for the homeowner to acheive their goals.  When considering remodeling or building new, one must take all of the new building code requirements into account.  In this case, it made sense to build a new home!

If you are considering Building or Remodeling on Cape Cod, contact us by clicking below and see how we can help!

    The building code in Massachusetts has changed several times over the last few years.  One of the biggest changes has been in the area of energy efficiency.  The new building code requires barriers against both heat loss and air infiltration, which can be very hard to acheive with traditional fiberglass insulation. One of the best solutions we have found has been Closed Cell Foam insulation.  Closed Cell Foam has a very high R-value, and creates an almost impenetrable barrier against water, moisture, and air infiltration.  We began using closed cell foam about 4 years ago and the performance has been exceptional. 

    One of the drawbacks of this type of insulation is that it creates such a tight building envelope, that it can prevent fresh air exchange in a home.  To eliminate this problem, we always recommend a heat recovery ventilator, also known as an air exchange system, that mechanically removes stale air and replaces it with fresh air from outside. 

Here are some of the other benefits of Closed Cell Foam:

1. Stiffens the structual frame of the home
2. Only insulation approved by FEMA for flood-resistant construction
3. Insect resistant
4. Low permeability and moisture absorption rates.

So if you are thinking of Building, Remodeling, or Renovating on Cape Cod, you should definitely look into Closed Cell Foam Insulation for your next project. 

Here is a brief article  from coastalcontractor.net on the subject that talks further about the benefits:  Closed Cell Foam

Here is some video shot from Veteran's Beach in Hyannis yesterday at high tide.

   So, what better topic for today than Hurricane windows!  So people often ask us what the options are for hurricane protection on Cape Cod and everyone thinks it is very expensive... so here are the answers to some frequently asked questions on the hurricane windows for your Cape Cod Home!

1. When and where are hurricane windows required?
   1. The answer is actually NEVER… but we will get into that later.  In reality, hurricane resistant windows are required anywhere within 1 mile to mean high water on Cape Cod, and there is a map that shows this area defined here: Wind-Borne Debris Zone
2. Do I have to purchase the hurricane-rated windows and how expensive are they?
   1. If you are inside the Wind-Borne Debris Zone, and doing new construction, or changing the sizes of your original windows for replacement purposes, the building code provides 2 options:

             i.      Option 1 (For windows / doors under 4’x8’) – structural wood panels can be pre-cut and left on the site to apply during a storm

             ii.      Option 2 (for windows / doors over 4’x8’) – impact-resistant or hurricane windows must be used

1. The cost of impact-resistant doors / windows runs about 2-3 times the cost of standard windows, so yes they are VERY expensive
2. What is the benefit of using impact-rated windows vs. standard windows with storm panels?
   1. Impact windows are great for a summer house, or  if you think you might be unavailable during a storm event
   2. Some insurance companies will reduce wind deductibles and other costs if you choose to build with these windows, however, the cost savings will not pay for the added expense of the windows over a reasonable amount of time

   If you are thinking of Building your New Home, or Renovating or Remodeling your Cape Cod Home and want more information about these windows... please feel free to contact us by clicking below: 

  Many of the national security companies, and even Comcast have been advertising new capabilities for home security and home monitoring.  Some of these systems also integrate home controls such as lighting and HVAC.  One of their biggest features is home monitoring with video cameras.  These systems are relatively inexpensive, and in a new home or renovation project, they are very easy to install.  But who wants to look at a bunch of cameras hanging all over a house?  Well, we found some unique cameras that can be "hidden" inside or outside a house which are really cool!.  Here is the full article from Decoist.com: Hidden Cameras

     Last week we talked about the Death of Stainless Steel in your kitchen, and this week, I guess we can talk about another dying feature... the Dining Room.  Rarely over the last 10 years, in either Custom Homes, or Remodeling have we built or even designed a true formal dining room.  Maybe it is a trend towards more multi-function space, such as the typical large great room, eating area, kitchen area that you see in most modern homes.  Part of the reason that dining rooms have declined in popularity, is that they only serve one purpose, and after you put the dining room table in there, there is not much room left for anything else.  There are creative ways to design a formal dining space that still can serve many purposes, and doesn't waste space in the home.  If you are thinking about Building  a New Custom Home, or Renovating your existing Cape Cod home, contact us today to find out how we can help!

   In our years of experience, we have become all too familiar with the results of poor or improper home maintenance in the fall.  Whether you are in an existing home, New Home or have recently completed a Renovation or Addition, you should make sure you complete these tasks at a minimum to avoid problems during the winter and next spring:

1. Drain your outdoor shower - every year we get calls for damaged pipes, walls, carpets, and flooring resulting from a frozen shower valve outside. These repairs are expensive and time consuming.
2. Blowout / Drain Lawn Sprinklers - Have a professional drain and blow out your lawn sprinkler heads to avoid costly repairs and leaks from frozen heads and pipes
3. Remove & Store Screens - We always recommend removal and storage of window and porch screens for the winter. They collect ice and snow and can easily rip in high winds. Clean the screens as your remove them and store them in the basement and they will be ready to go for next year.
4. HVAC Service - Your HVAC system should be serviced at least annually to ensure effiency, safety and proper function.  And at a minimum filters should be changed monthly during the peak heating and cooling seasons
5. Clean Gutters / Drains - Leaf-clogged gutters are one of the major contrubutors to ice dams and water leaks in homes. The gutters need to be checked and cleaned regularly

These simple steps can really save you time and expense over the winter.  If you have questions or need help with these types of items, you should contact our Small Projects Division by clicking below: