The State of Massachusetts has confirmed that January 1, 2018 will be the definitive date for adoption of the 9th edition of the building code. This code update will consist of the 2015 versions of the International Code Council regulations, with some modifications specific to the State.

Here are some highlights of the major revisions:

Massachusetts 9th Edition Changes

Some of the major changes have to do with the wind loading requirements, which will basically eliminate the need for upgraded "hurricane windows" or other special high wind requirements except in areas of extreme exposure (oceanfront or waterfront homes). The 9th Version also provides additional guidance on flood zone construction, which could have significant impacts on projects within or near the Coastal "A" zones.

Here's a link to the latest press release from the Department of Public Safety outlining the release dates and new regulations that will be in effect as of January 1, 2018

9th Edition Building Code Release Dates

If you are thinking of building a new custom home on Cape Cod, or if you would like to remodel or renovate your existing Cape Cod home, these new regulations will definitely have an impact on your project!

If you want to know what your new home might cost - take a look our Construction Cost Guide

If you are considering building new or renovating a waterfront property - take a look at our Waterfront Property Guide

You've been visiting the Cape your whole life, isn't it time you stayed?

Celebrate hydrangea season on Cape Cod! The annual Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival takes place July 7th through the 16th and spans the Cape with evens from Woods Hole to Provincetown. Enjoy garden tours, lectures , artist demonstrations or follow the cocktail trail at participating restaraunts . Get a jump start on all of the hydrangea festivities at Cape Cod Beer on Thursday July 6th for an opening night party. 

Hydrangeas are the perfect landscape compliment to a Cape Cod Home, if you're thinking about building or remodeling on Cape Cod, click here to find out what it might cost!

" You have been coming to the Cape your whole life, isn't it time you stayed?"

Here's a great list of things to consider when you are planning to build your new custom home on Cape Cod. After designing and building nearly 1,500 new home, renovation, and addition projects here on Cape Cod, we decided to put together a list of important considerations for those looking to build. This list will be helpful when selecting a piece of land or property for a new home project or renovation, and provides a list of questions to ask your prospective designer or builder.

1. Ask for references from your builder and designer, and follow up with them, ask about the overall experience
2. Ask about your builder’s warranty program and manufacturer’s warranties
3. Get your designer and builder out to your prospective home site BEFORE you decide to purchase the property
4. Ask how long it will take to get the design, permitting and engineering done, and expect that timeline to increase for waterfront or other properties near wetlands or sensitive areas
5. Set a realistic budget BEFORE you purchase land (Click here for REEF’s Construction Cost Guide)
6. Make A Wants List & A Needs List, it will help set priorities for the design and budget
7. Ask the builder or designer for a list of vendors they work with, and visit with them
8. Ask how the interior and exterior finishes are selected
9. How are changes handled, both before and during construction?
10. Ask to see change order documents and other forms used during construction
11.  Ask about fees the designer or builder charges for their work
12. Examine the cost estimate in detail and ask for clarification of each line item
13. Mentally visualize your floor plan, or ask for a 3D rendering to better understand your new home
14. Consider views, natural light, and window options
15. Understand the property you are buying and review boundaries and set-backs with surveyor and builder
16. Consider a walkout basement or drive under garage on sloping lots
17. Start your budget planning with Landscaping, as most people defer landscaping to the end of the project when the budget may be exceeded
18. Ask to walk the property with the builder prior to clearing and identify and save large trees if possible
19. Research the property tax rate so you know what the real estate taxes will be for your new home
20. Expect to pay more than you originally planned, and understand what is included with your contract
21. Use the highest quality materials available within your budget, it will save money in the long run
22. Ask your builder what is not included or specifically excluded from your contract
23. Plan for an outdoor living area, furniture, play areas etc.
24. Use proven, energy efficient systems with a strong performance track record
25. Examine the options for vaulted or cathedral ceilings to enhance the feel of important rooms
26. Include a convenient location for laundry areas, preferably near bedrooms
27. Ask about Universal Design or Aging in Place design for retirement homes
28. Design a walk-in pantry area
29. Consider multiple work / prep areas in the kitchen
30. Choose low maintenance materials
31. Create a light fixture and bath fixture list by room
32. Set a budget for closet storage systems and shelving
33. Include dimmers on light fixtures, both interior and exterior
34. Do not put covered porches on the north-facing side of homes
35. Consider additional exterior outlets on walls or roof lines for outdoor lighting
36. Create a separate space for an office / hobby/ or other flex space, away from the main living areas
37. Ask about the details, and take the time to read the manufacturers warranties and user guides for your selected products and finishes
38. Design with tall ceilings wherever possible
39. Use additional trim, moldings and details to dress up the home exterior
40. Install spare conduits in a few locations in the home for future wiring, speakers etc.
41. Review furniture layouts before your build, and inform your designer and builder of any special furniture pieces you might be considering
42. Insulate with the highest grade material available, the long term cost savings are huge!
43. Take time to study floor plans and elevation drawings, changes on paper are inexpensive, after building has started, changes are very expensive
44. Ask your builder to provide a construction schedule and determine a completion date
45. Visit local home shows to see new products
46. Meet with the local building inspector do ask questions about house size, orientation or other restrictions
47. Consider interior and exterior finishes that are timeless and tasteful, it will enhance the long term value of your new home
48. Consider efficient use of spaces in the home, every square foot costs money and you want to get maximum use out of each space
49. A well designed, efficient home may not have to be as big as you think!
50. Design a house that will serve your needs in the short and long term - it will add value

If you are looking for a designer or builder for your new custom home on Cape Cod, Contact the team at REEF Builders today! 

"You've been coming to the Cape your whole life, Isn't it time you stayed?"

Welcome to Part III of our series on planning, designing and building a waterfront custom home on Cape Cod. Currently, this project is nearing the construction phase, and the final plans have been turned into a 3D rendering to allow our customer the ability to get a very accurate feel for the design both inside and out. An accurate, 3D rendering is a great way to view the house on the site, with accurate topography, finishes and furnishings, and allows the owner to see and feel what it will be like to live in their new home. When designing a waterfront custom home, maximizing the view is always the driving factor. However, important considerations such as interior and exterior finishes, interior layout and overall feel of the home are still incredibly important. Our 3D rendering capabilities are extremely helpful in assessing the overall design and confirming that we have met the owner's design intent.

If you are considering designing and building a home on Cape Cod, contact us today to see what our design and construction team can do for you. Our team of designers and custom builders have a 30 year history of successful projects here on Cape Cod. As we always like to remind our customers, "You've been visiting the Cape your whole life, Isn't it time you stayed?"

There are several great tools available to designers and homeowners to help envision what a new custom home, renovation, or addition might look like in 3-D. Readily available software like AutoCad, Revit, and Sketchup can all produce high quality renderings, but nothing beats a true architectural model. Recently, we had the opportunity to work with one of our customers and have their design printed to scale on a 3-D Printer. This exercise was extremely helpful to our customer by providing a clear look of how the spaces will feel and look, far better than any computer generated views of the home.

Here are some pictures of the model (printed to 3/16" =1' Scale) in actuality - the physical model is about 12"x12"x8" tall

Over the last week we have made some good progress on what is probably the most important part of the work involved in building on this waterfront home site. Our design, engineering and environmental team was able to negotiate some sand replenishment and fencing down on the beach to protect the owner's investment in their new custom home. The first step was to demolish the old house at the site (always fun to watch)

 

A post shared by REEF Custom Builders (@thecapecodbuilder) on Apr 14, 2017 at 5:37am PDT

The sand replenishment plan has 2 phases, first, the construction of a very robust oak and green heart sand fence, set on large pilings dug several feet into the beach.

The 2nd phase involves using the excavated clean sand from the future foundation, and placing it behind the fence. As you can see from the photos, this operation involves some detailed coordination and several pieces of heavy equipment on both the home site and the beach below. As the excavator gathers the sand above from the foundation hole, it is cast down to the beach where smaller machines install it behind the fence. The theory here is that the fence will reduce wash out of the sand on the beach during winter storms, providing a stable building platform and high level of protection for the future home. Based on the sensitive nature of this site, permitting and planning for this phase alone has taken well over 6 months. Our team was able to get permission from the town board of selectmen to access the beach from a nearby landing. However, we are only allowed to access the beach for a very short time, so good coordination with the subcontractor team is critical.

The next steps will be to finalize the architectural details and begin home construction.

The kitchen is the focal point of all of our custom homes that we design and build here on Cape Cod. It's a place where family and friends gather to cook, eat, and celebrate throughout the year. Kitchen design trends continue to evolve, but clean, classic lines, and eclectic textures and materials appear to remain as a theme this year. Take a look at these kitchens from Houzz.com

Best of Houzz - Kitchens from Around the World

We will definitely incorporate some of these design motifs over the next few years as we work to design and build all types of custom homes on Cape Cod. Here are a few we complted recently

If you are need architectural design or building services for your Cape Cod home or renovation project, consider REEF for your next project

If you want to see what we're working on  follow us on Instagram

Coastal and waterfront properties are in high demand here on Cape Cod. From Falmouth, Mashpee and Osterville, to Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, and Truro and Provincetown, waterfront land and homes are one of the great treasures of Cape Cod. Here at REEF, we are currently working on several waterfront and coastal custom home design and building projects, both on raw land and land with existing homes for teardown or eventual renovation.

We recently came across a great coastal real estate guide published by the Barnstable County Cooperative Extension and the Woods Hole Sea Grant program. This guide provides a good guideline for those considering purchasing a waterfront property, or current waterfront and coastal home owners considering a major renovation or addition.

Click here for the 2017 Updated Waterfront Property Guide

REEF Provides complete design / build services, and specializes in design, permitting and building custom homes and major renovations throughout Cape Cod.