Virtually everything REEF does is regulated by the Building Code. The Code is getting tighter and tighter. And Town Building Inspectors are required to enforce the Code. This protects homeowners’ interests, and is designed to ensure the safety of residential structures.

On July 1, 2014 a new Building Code will go into effect. It will improve the energy efficiency, and reduce the energy consumption, of residential structures.

It is projected to increase building costs by 3% to 5%. Significant.

What changes will be implemented by the new Building Code?
How will it affect your project?
What percent change in heat loss is projected?
What cost will it add to my project?

REEF has developed a summary of the changes required by the new Building Code. A helpful guide to answer most questions:

2014 Building Code affects all Homes on Cape Cod

2014 Building Code affects all Homes on Cape Cod

REEF Cape Cod’s Home Builder has been awarded “Best of Houzz” 2014 by Houzz, the leading online platform for residential design and remodeling. The Cape Cod design/build firm and other honorees were chosen by the more than 16 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community.

REEF Builders on Houzz.com

REEF Builders on Houzz.com

The “Best of Houzz” award for 2014 is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction award winners are based on responses from homeowner Houzz members who rated their experience working with building professionals. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the Houzz community.

REEF Cape Cod’s Home Builder was named “Best of Houzz” for Customer Satisfaction. “We take great pride in our work here at REEF. Our goal is to ensure a very high quality, stress-free experience for our Customers. REEF offers creative design and superior craftsmanship delivered on-time and at-budget every time. We are honored both by the wonderful comments that our clients posted on Houzz and the special recognition from the Houzz community,” comments Matt Teague, President of REEF Cape Cod’s Home Builder.

“Houzz provides homeowners with the most comprehensive view of home building, remodeling and design professionals, empowering them to find and hire the right professional to execute their vision,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of community for Houzz. “We’re delighted to recognize REEF Cape Cod’s Home Builder among our “Best Of” professionals for customer satisfaction as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

About REEF Cape Cod’s Home Builder
REEF is an award-winning design/build group serving residential clients located throughout Cape Cod. The company is a full service design, permitting, and construction firm, providing clients with single-source accountability, streamlined project delivery and maximum value. REEF’s Pricing and Delivery Date Guarantees ensure the quality of their Customer’s experience, with peace of mind throughout the process. The company designs homes around their Customer’s lifestyle, maximizing the opportunity offered by the individual land parcel, and respecting the project budget. REEF also performs whole house renovations and additions. Visit www.CapeCodBuilder.com for more information.

About Houzz
Houzz (www.houzz.com) is a leading online platform for home remodeling, providing inspiration, information, ‘advice and support for homeowners and home improvement professionals through its website and mobile applications. Houzz features the largest residential design database in the world, articles written by design experts, product recommendations, a vibrant community powered by social tools, and information on more than 1.5 million remodeling and design professionals worldwide who can help turn ideas into reality

Everybody I know is looking forward to spending a lot of time outside…but it’s still cold! The frost is gone, but the chill in the air still remains. How do you enjoy an evening beverage with friends, without enduring the chill?...FIRE PIT!

Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits have become very popular with many of our Customers. They have become a design component which is on the “must have” list in the first design meeting for many of our custom homes. It is a natural gathering place after the sun sets, and the Cape Cod fun continues.

Quiet talks, marshmallow toasting, campfire stories around which memories are made…these are all benefits of a carefully planned fire pit. Here are some great ideas for fire pits and outdoor fireplaces. Let us know where you’d like to have YOUR fire pit!

Fire Pit ideas for your Cape Cod Home

Fire Pit ideas for your Cape Cod Home

Fire Pit ideas for your Cape Cod Home

We’re home builders. Every day we are focused on designing and building beautiful custom homes. So Easter Eggs…? These are really cool Easter eggs! They’re amazing! And fun to make.

I remember growing up on Cape Cod, and the first signs of Spring…the daffodils, the warmth returning to the ground, ice no longer under my feet, frogs beginning to peep, the lake unfrozen. And then…Easter! It was a pretty big time at our place. And the Easter Egg Hunt was always huge!

Here are some really different new ways to make some wonderfully fun eggs for Easter. Drizzled, chirping chicks, metallic dipped, puffy paint…crazy! Welcome Spring !!

Get Creative with your Cape Cod Easter Eggs

Get Creative with your Cape Cod Easter Eggs

Outside living in on everyone’s mind. Cabin fever is rampant after such a long, cold winter! Living outside means enjoying the breezes and fresh air regardless of the weather…that’s where the porch comes in handy.

Front, side and even rear porches sometimes become a focal point of our custom homes. It seems our Customers often spend more time outside than they do inside! So exterior spaces are very important. But how do you make a porch a graceful and utilitarian extension of the living space?

Here are some great ideas to pique your creative juices. Refreshing or upgrading your porch may greatly enhance your enjoyment of your Cape Cod Home.

Charming Porch Ideas for your Cape Cod Home

Charming Porch Ideas for your Cape Cod Home

FEMA's new Flood Insurance Rate Increase has caused much anxiety and confusion in areas in and around the new flood maps. Real estate values and purchase transactions for homes in the new flood zones have been significantly impacted. The effect on insurance premiums has been drastic for homes in flood zones.

It is obvious to many that FEMA did not properly analyze the effect on these areas, and their economies, before promulgating the new flood maps. Legislators have been banging the drum for relief for months. Finally there is some relief, if only temporary. The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act was recently signed into law:

The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act repeals FEMA’s authority to increase premium rates when a property is sold. It also refunds the excessive premium to those who bought a property before FEMA warned them of the rate increase. The bill limits premium increases to 18 percent annually on newer properties and 25 percent for some older ones. The senate approved the bill on March 13, and the House of Representatives March 4.

Here’s a link to more information:

Obama signs Flood Insurance Relief Law for Cape Cod

Obama signs Flood Insurance Relief Law for Cape Cod

Forget tomorrow’s blizzard! Daffodils and crocuses are on my mind. Cape Cod is wonderful environment for all sorts of flowers, flowering shrubs, vineyards…you name it! Many of our Customers plan their garden spaces right on their site plan. One of the home sites with which we’re currently working includes a “deer garden” for an outdoor enthusiast.

It’ll be 50 degrees on Friday, with more warm weather right behind. Flower gardens, vegetable gardens, even casual spaces filled with modern grasses benefit from the wisdom of Cape Cod Organic Gardeners. Here’s a link to their blog, which is filled with great information for your Cape Cod garden:

Cape Cod Organic Gardeners blog

Cape Cod Organic Gardeners blog

Virtually every custom kitchen we design and build has solid surface countertops. They clean easily, wear very well, and look fabulous. But what are the options to granite? Creating a focal point in your kitchen, or just jazzing up a powder room, can be as simple as selecting a not-so-common countertop.

Before deciding on your next kitchen or vanity countertops consider some of these unusual materials. Here is a succinct over view of some different materials to consider, complete with square foot price ranges.

Kitchen Countertop Materials for your Cape Cod Home

Kitchen Countertop Materials for your Cape Cod Home

Spring is around the corner, and then Summer will be here! Visitors will arrive, and there may be a small child or two in the mix.

Many of our Customers ask us to design and build homes for active, busy family life. It’s a real joy to create spaces for families to enjoy life together. A little forethought can ensure that the Cape Cod family vacation home is safe and accommodating to even the youngest in the party.

Grandparents will agree that without the small ones around all the time, it can be easy to forget about child-proofing.

Here are some creative and useful tips to ensure your home is ready for all sizes of inquisitive visitors!

Is your Cape Cod Home safe for the kids?

Is your Cape Cod Home safe for the kids?

Spring is in the air! Or at least the snow is melting. Soon we’ll be tending gardens, and rejoicing in the sprouts returning even after such an arduous winter.

What is your garden’s personality? Introvert, with careful, protected spaces? Or extrovert, with pathways and multiple spaces with different sorts of offerings?

Here are some wonderful ideas to get your gardening juices flowing. Small spaces, entertaining spaces, walking spaces. These ideas are simple to implement, and can transform your Cape Cod Home.

Garden Personalities for your Cape Cod Home

Garden Personalities for your Cape Cod Home