Next week we'll be celebrating our America's birthday, and what better place to celebrate than right here on Cape Cod! 4th of July marks the unofficial start of summer for residents and visitors alike, and it is a great time to share all the Cape has to offer with friends and family!

There are several great events, parades and of course fireworks planned throughout the Cape next week. 

Click here to get a list ofparade and fireworks  events in each town so you can plan your 4th of July!

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

If you are looking to renovate, remodel, or design and build your Cape Cod home, click here to find out what it might cost!

This year, one of our past customers invited us back into their home to design and build a unique, contemporary art and music studio space. The team at REEF, worked with the owners to design a space with a clean, contemporary feel that would provide a space that captured natural light throughout.

Jim Hagerty and our design team looked at several options, and came up with a final plan that incorporated glass in several areas which would provide both light and privacy in the room. The bathroom in the space is completely surrounded by frosted glass, and the art / music spaces are separated by large custom frosted glass doors.

Other contemporary features in this renovation project are as follows:

Flush trim at the doors and windows:

Sleek stainless hardware with clear maple custom doors, and a custom pair of sliding barn doors

Industrial sink that doubles as the vanity and wash area for the art studio

Low voltage LED lighting and exposed spiral duct work.

It was fun for our team at REEF to get creative and work outside of out traditionally styled, Cape Cod Homes. It was also a great opportunity to show our design and building capabilities on this project.

If you are considering a renovation of your Cape Cod Home, or if you are looking for a responsive Cape Cod design and builder team,Contact UsToday!

If you want to know what your project might cost - download ourConstruction Cost Guide here!

Here are pics of our Brewster Retro Cottage that we recently completed. Although the exterior design of this custom home is fairly traditional, the interior really brings you back to the 1950's. REEF worked with this customer to incorporate a retr0-styled interior with authentic reproduction appliances, colorful and unique finishes such as vinyl flooring, which has now become very popular in new homes.  The "wood" flooring you see in the photos is actually a very high quality vinyl plank!  Everything in this house works well to provide the feeling of an old Cape Cod Cottage, with the covered porch on the front, screened porch in the rear, and we even installed simple wooden screen doors that provide the signature "slap" when they close!

If you are considering designing, building, or remodeling here on Cape Cod, let the team at REEF Builders design and build your next Custom Home project!

Here are some pics, compliments of our flooring team at Ideal Floor Covering!

Photo by Ideal Floor - Discover midcentury home design design inspiration

Photo by Ideal Floor - Browse midcentury home design ideas

Photo by Ideal Floor - Search midcentury home design design ideas

Photo by Ideal Floor - More midcentury home design photos

 

Photo by Ideal Floor - Browse midcentury home design ideas

Photo by Ideal Floor - Browse midcentury home design ideas

Photo by Ideal Floor - Browse midcentury home design photos

 

 

Many have you may be following the ongoing lumber trade dispute between the US and Canada over the last few months. Today, the National Association of Home Builders issued a statement denouncing a proposed 20% tariff on all Canadian lumber imports. 95% of the lumber currently used in the United States is imported from Canada, and it is the essential building component used in all levels of residential construction. So regardless whether you are planning an addition, or renovation project, or a custom built home, plan on seeing the overall cost of your project increase this year as this trade dispute continues.

Here on Cape Cod, we have seen lumber prices steadily increasing since late 2016. It is unfortunate, that our government has not taken more aggressive action to curb this sort of situation. Housing, at all levels, from starter homes to elaborate custom homes, is a vital part of both the national and local economies. After watching regulations steadily increase over the last 7 years, it is disappointing to see this lumber dispute add additional unnecessary costs to the construction process. Lumber makes up approximately 7-10% of the overall cost of a new home, so a 20% increase in materials costs will add about $3,600 to an average home, and can easily add $10,000 to $20,000 to the cost of a larger custom home or renovation project.

Here's more info from the NAHB: Proposed Lumber Duties will Harm Housing

Let's hope we can get this resolved quickly!

If you are considering a new custom home, addition, or remodel on your Cape Cod property, Contact Us today!

If you are considering building a new custom home in Truro, then you will definitely want to pay attention to the changes being proposed in the town right now. There are two proposals pending to restrict future home sizes in both the Seashore and Residential Districts within the town. These are most likely a reaction to the infamous Kline house which was the subject of several law suits over the last few years.

These new restrictions will definitely impact future design and home construction in the town of Truro if adopted.

Click below for more information

Proposed Zoning Restrictions- Truro

Here's a home we finished last year in Truro we'll see if it can be built again?

If you are considering designing and building your new custom hom in Truro or anywhere on Cape Cod, please Contact Us Today!

Building A Waterfront Home

REEF is starting another waterfront custom home project next week. We are planning a multi-part series on our blog over the next several months documenting the specific challenges and unique requirement of building on the ocean. This project is a great opportunity to look at the various phases of construction, and how the complex permitting, engineering and environmental management teams come together to create the final product.

We will begin next week with the erosion control, demolition and clearing phases at the site, tearing down the existing structure and preparing the site for the new home. Even more exciting is the fact that this project will also have a substantial beach and sand replenishment component, where we will go in and support the existing bank at the water's edge using a combination of sand and sand retention fencing.

Look for regular updates over the coming week and throughout the summer. Our design team, lead by Jim Hagerty and Sara Hamilton, has been working with our engineering and environmental consultants over the last year to bring this custom home project to this point. The architectural design is nearly complete, so we'll begin construction of the home in the early summer. Here's what we'll be starting with:

 If you are interested in building a waterfront home - click here to download our Waterfront Property Guide

When searching for a custom home builder, or custom home design team here on Cape Cod, there are several choices a homeowner can make in the process.  There are several designers and builders here on Cape Cod, but it is important to get out and  see what current and past customers have to say about their overall experience.  Here are the things you'll to ask  about the team you are working with!

Was the designer attentive to the customers needs?

Was the design and building team providing sound advice based on knowledge and experience with zoning, building codes and other regulations?

Was the builder able to deliver a project on time and on budget?

Was the team respectful, professional and did they provide timely and accurate communication on the project?

Did the builder or designer provide several references, both past and current?

After over 30 years in business, and having designed and built over 1500 custom home projects, renovations and additions here on Cape Cod, the REEF team understands that the quality of the project is directly connected to the quality of the team you work with.

Click here to see recent reviews of our work!

If you want to see what we are working on today - check out our Facebook and Instagram pages.

We have published our 2017 Construction cost guide! 2017 Will be a dynamic year in the construction business, with pending building code changes, lumber price increases, and a scarcity of skilled labor. We have continued to see a high demand for vacant lots this year as well, as the aging housing inventory on the Cape, and low supply of quality existing homes has prompted a boom in new construction.

Despite these pending changes, investments in expertly designed, and exceptionally crafted custom homes have a great long term potential return!

Here are some of the other trends we are seeing:

• Smaller, more efficiently designed floor plans
• Stronger demand for energy efficiency upgrades like solar, spray foam insulation etc.
• Finished or partially finished basement areas, which provides additional living area at a lower unit cost
• Highly detailed exteriors on smaller homes, with enhanced trim, window upgrades for both durability and style
• Demand for homes with contemporary styling, both inside and out
• Strong demand for waterfront or walk to water homes, with solid return on investment.
• Continued stream of new and more stringent regulations that will continue to increase cost, but will provide for much more efficient homes in the future

REEF Builders provides complete design / build services for your Cape Cod home project. We offer expert architectural design and permitting services, along with complete construction services from start to finish. If you are considering building a new Custom Home, or planning an addition or renovation on your existing home. Contact REEF Today!

Click here to download our 2017 Construction Cost Guide!

We've seen it coming over the last few years, but now it's here. If you are thinking of building your new Cape Cod Home, there is no better time than right now. We are seeing major increases in materials prices and a serious skilled labor shortage not only on Cape Cod, but also nationally. When you combine these latest issues with the ever-increasing regulatory environment, it is easy to see why the cost of construction has gone up substantially over the last 5 years. However, with low inventory of existing homes on Cape Cod, and an aging housing stock in need of major repairs or upgrades, building a new home on Cape Cod is still a sound investment.

How do you protect yourself if you are planning a major renovation or custom home project for 2017?

1. Work with established designers and builders who understand the marketplace and have the resources available to manage the labor issues
2. Set a strategy for design and permitting that can allow for an expedited start of construction
3. Pre-purchase materials if possible
4. Thoroughly plan your project to ensure quick and accurate execution
5. Minimize waste and use modern production techniques such as off site panelization of major components (walls, roofs etc)

Here's some recent information from the National Association of Homebuilders discussing these Challenges for 2017

If you are considering Building your custom home on Cape Cod, there is no better time than right now! Contact us today to see how we can help!

If you are considering designing and building a custom home over the next year, you should take some time to understand some of the major cost components and how they can impact the overall cost of construction. Over the last few years, most construction cost increases have been driven by substantial regulatory change, and an overall shortage of labor vs. demand. Lumber, which accounts for 10-20% of the overall cost of a custom home has remained fairly steady over the last year or two. We did just get news from our team at Shepley Wood Products that lumber prices are expected to increase over the next year, namely due to lumber agreements between the US and Canada. Here's an explaination:

Softwood Lumber Agreement Information

With the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) between the US and Canada coming to a close and the possibility of a duty being imposed on Canadian lumber imports , we as consumers can expect to see price increases on both Canadian and domestic timber over the next few months. Speculators typically try to create panic in the market place about sharp price escalation to drive impulse purchasing and some mills have already imposed price increases out of knee jerk reaction. However, historically, sharp rises like this have been short lived and adjust quickly as the United States and Canada find compromise in the name of doing business.

We recognize how disruptive economic change like the end of the SLA can be to business, so in an effort to reduce its impact, Shepley Wood Products is making the following commitments.

• We will buy right and leverage our average inventory value to ensure our prices are always better than market. Well planned purchasing allows us to take the edge off of sharp market changes.
• We will buy enough inventory to keep your projects well supplied
• We will not over buy inventory, allowing us to more quickly lower prices as the market corrects
• We will not drop our price hold commitment below 30 Days
• We will always be forthcoming about market conditions and make sure you have the most recent and accurate information.

Click Here for More Information

Bottom Line: IF you are considering designing and building your custom home or retirement home, or even a major renovation project here on Cape Cod expect to pay more over the next year as lumber prices increase in reaction to this news about the Softwood Lumber Agreement.

We are expecting prices to change 3-5% over the next few months, and we are already seeing prices move 1% or so this month.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at sales@capecodbuilder.com

Once we get more information, we'll issue a new Construction Cost Guide for spring of 2017