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How to move a 400 ton Lighthouse on Gayhead Cliff near Cape Cod

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Thu, Jun 11, 2015

In 1844 a lighthouse was built on the Gayhead Cliffs of Martha’s Vineyard. For over a century she has helped to keep innumerable vessels away from certain peril, guiding them past Martha’s Vineyard and on to Cape Cod and Buzzard’s Bay, or safely out to sea. Erosion of the cliffs was threatening this great landmark. The end was near, so funds were raised, and the lighthouse saved.

So how do you move 400 tons of 171 year-old brick and mortar, standing hundreds of feet in the air, 129 feet back from the edge of a cliff? “Very carefully” you might answer. The actual move is really an amazing success story. It’s estimated that the move, which was just in the nick of time, will keep the lighthouse safe for 150 years or more. Great story. Great photos:

How to move a Lighthouse - Martha's Vineyard on CBS

Gayhead Lighthouse

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The full story - a great read.

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How to move a Lighthouse - Martha's Vineyard on CBS

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Tags: cape cod waterfront homes, renovation cape cod, construction costs on cape cod, coastal building, cape cod custom builder, cape cod custom homes, new home on cape cod, Construction Costs, Real Estate Investment, cape cod home|cape cod real estate|cape cod home b

Outside entertaining for your Cape Cod Home

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Wed, Jun 03, 2015

It’s a beautiful, sunny Cape Cod day. You’re just back from the beach, ready to relax and refresh. Sit around the kitchen table? No way! Outdoor entertaining is where we all want to be, feeling the breeze, forgetting the winter.

Making the most of Cape Cod means living outdoors. Casual, comfortable space with room for everybody is an important part of a wonderful Cape Cod experience.

Here are some easy-to-create outdoor entertaining spaces, complete with fire pits, indoor-outdoor living, and a multi-level approach to arranging conversation and living zones. Great ideas…Enjoy!

Outdoor entertaining spaces for your Cape Cod home

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Outdoor entertaining spaces for your Cape Cod home

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Garden makeovers for your Cape Cod Home

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Wed, May 27, 2015

Overgrown side yard? --> Create a hidden patio.
Unsightly air conditioner? --> Lush, low maintenance grasses.
An average yard? --> An exceptional backyard.

Does your Cape Cod home say “Welcome”? Or “Please Help”? Many yards have an area or two that is crying for attention. Why not maximize the livability of your place by taking the landscape up a notch or two?

Here are some great ideas and motivating examples of yards that have been transformed from ugly to exceptional. And it doesn’t take that much time, energy or money to create a very inviting, livable outdoor space:

Great Garden Makeover Ideas

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Great Garden Makeover Ideas

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Best DIY Home Security Systems for your Cape Cod Home

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Tue, May 19, 2015

Summer fun is around the corner. Off to the beach, or the lake, or antiquing…all your belongings are at home, or maybe way back home. While you’re having fun, make sure your stuff will be home when you return. Our custom homes include an integrated security system, but even your antique Cape Cod cottage can be easily protected.

Good security systems are far more affordable and easier to install than even just a few years ago. Wireless technology has the bugs pretty much worked out. Place the sensors, download the app, program the settings, and you’re protected.

Here’s a review of the 5 best Do-It-Yourself security systems on the market. They all have their strengths. Check here to find the system that’s right for you. And then off to the beach!

Best DIY Security Systems for your Cape Cod Home

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Best DIY Security Systems for your Cape Cod Home

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Best DIY Security Systems for your Cape Cod Home

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20 Party-Ready Kitchens in pictures for your Cape Cod home

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Thu, May 14, 2015

Cabin fever may be behind us, but after such a long, cold winter…who’s ready to party?! It seems there’s pent-up demand for some relaxing time with friends. And where will this party happen? Most likely the kitchen will be involved, if not the center of activity.

Great kitchen spaces are important for any successful home design. Considerations include light, space, and ease of access…but what about accommodating gatherings for relaxed, fun get-togethers?

Here’s some photos of wonderfully “Party-Ready” kitchens. Chances are you’ll find some great ideas for your space!

20 Party-Ready Kitchens in pictures for your Cape Cod home

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20 Party-Ready Kitchens in pictures for your Cape Cod home

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Tesla batteries power your Cape Cod home

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Tue, May 05, 2015

What good is solar power when the lines are down in a storm? No sun, no power. Right? But wait --> Tesla has announced a new residential battery pack that can store up to 8 hours of power for your home. The Tesla “Powerwall” is charged by your solar panels and/or windmill. If the power goes out, the Powerwall kicks in and provides electricity to the house. Very cool, even if you have a generator.

The battery has been developed for automobiles, and Tesla feels there is demand for emergency power in homes. Read all about it. And check out Tesla’s new $1Billion manufacturing facility in Nevada:

Tesla batteries power your Cape Cod home

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Tesla batteries power your Cape Cod home

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Tags: Cape Cod Builder|Cape Cod Custom Homes|beach house, Cape Cod Real Estate, New Homes Cape Cod, jaxtimer, norris, encore, cape associates, minglewood

Planting Flowers that attract Bees on Cape Cod

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Fri, May 01, 2015

Ready for some spring planting? You betcha! After such a long, cold winter, there’s a lot of “pent up demand” for some outside time. And there’s no better way to appreciate the outdoors than working in the garden. Sprucing up the yard is wonderfully and instantly gratifying. And planting flowers delivers all sorts of tangible and intangible rewards.

If planting flowers is on your list, why not consider flowers beneficial to birds, bees, and butterflies? Did you know that the Monarch Butterfly, which is increasingly rare, requires milkweeds to survive? And of course bees are the key to pollination, plant diversity, and healthy gardens. Here’s a list of beautiful flowers that will help keep your garden healthy and happy:

Flowers that attract Bees on Cape Cod

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Flowers that attract Bees on Cape Cod

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Granite, Marble or Quartz for your Cape Cod Kitchen?

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Fri, Apr 24, 2015

If the kitchen is the heart of the home, then the kitchen counter is…really important! Lots of effort and energy is invested in every custom kitchen we design and build. One of the real challenges for our Customers is the myriad choices of fixtures, finishes, colors, and textures.

Of course our design team is great at moving folks from overwhelmed to over-the-top happy. One of the biggest decision points is countertop material. Kitchen islands are very popular, and they become the central gathering place of the home, with all the traffic and commotion that goes with it.

So a durable, handsome countertop material is crucial to the longevity of a working kitchen. So what’s the best material?

Quartz? Granite? Marble? Corian? Wood? Lots of choices, lots of questions. Here are some great resources to help you sort it all out. And don’t forget about the best resource: the design team at REEF Cape Cod’s Home Builder!

4 Things you didn't know about Quartz vs Granite

Granite Sealing

Granite vs Marble vs Quartz-The Countertops Battle Royale

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Update on Natural Gas Moratorium on Cape Cod

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Thu, Apr 16, 2015

Natural gas is an increasingly popular fuel for heating and cooking. Most of the custom homes we design, permit, and build here on Cape Cod are serviced with natural gas. Until now.

National Grid, the gas utility on Cape Cod, announced in November 2014 that no new gas hookups would be allowed in outer-Cape towns for 5 to 7 years. Wow! Nobody saw this coming, and it caused some not-so-little-issues for many homeowners.

So what’s the status? What if I want to add a gas grill? Or a generator? What if my every house in my neighborhood has natural gas? Why can’t I have gas?

REEF Cape Cod’s Home Builder has developed some simple solutions to dealing with the gas situation. Call us for more information.

For a status report on the current situation, National Grid appeared at an information session a few weeks ago. Here are their answers to questions posed by homeowners and builders:

National Grid responses to Natural Gas Moratorium questions

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National Grid responses to Natural Gas Moratorium questions

Natural Gas

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What is the jurisdiction of Conservation Commissions on Cape Cod?

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Tue, Apr 14, 2015

What is a Coastal Resource Area? What defines a wetland? Why are wetlands important? What does the Conservation Commission do? What is their jurisdiction?

Many, if not most, of the custom homes we design, permit, and build are located near a wetland, or in a flood zone. Enjoying views of a marsh, bay, or ocean from the comfort of your own home is for some a primary reason for living on Cape Cod.

But how do you build a house near a marsh without endangering environmentally sensitive areas? Local Conservation Commissions play an important and powerful role ensuring that vital wetlands are protected for future generations.

Here’s a handy guide explaining the Wetland Protection Act and how Conservation Commissions help protect valuable resource areas:

Guide to the Wetlands Protection Act

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