Since the last part of this series a lot has happened! We completed the design process and were able to obtain our final building permits through the town's building department. This process should take about 30 days, but with a large home, expect lots of questions from the building commissioner. Structural details and engineering had to be submitted and reviewed with our engineer and this process takes time. We began work in September, clearing the site and moving out excess soil that would have otherwise been in our way for construction.

Most of this soil will have to be brought back into the site for back fill, due to the limited area to work and the constraints inherent to construction in a conservation area. With the fill removed, we were able get to work on the basement footings and walls.

After the footings are installed, the next step is to form and place concrete in the lower level walkout basement walls, which will remain below grade once complete - you can see the form work in the next photo

Once the concrete has been poured in the lower walls and it has cured, the forms are removed and rigid foam insulation is placed against the walls to protect from frost from migrating through the foundation walls and heaving the soils below the house.

Here are some pictures with the foam insulation installed:

With the foam in place - the lower walls can now be back filled and we are ready to grade and compact the soils under the areas inside the footings to prepare for the flood slab. This is an important step in the process, as it saves time because it would be impossible to use heavy equipment inside the foundation after the walls are poured.

Next steps? This week we will be setting up the rest of the form work for the basement, installing the remaining reinforcing bars and pouring concrete in the walls! We will also start working on the foundation waterproofing system, drainage work and the plumbing that will go under the slab for the basement bathrooms.

If you are considering designing and building a waterfront new home, please consider our team here at REEF!

Here are some more useful links!

Construction Cost Guide for Cape Cod

Waterfront Property Guide

Interested in Post and Beam construction - check out our Timberpeg Page

We wanted to share some video a project we just completed! This custom home, designed and built by our team here at REEF features stunning, panoramic views of Cape Cod Bay, and Provincetown, and offers one of the most breathtaking sunset views we have every seen. This project was the result of a lengthy and fairly complex planning and design process due to the sensitive and unique location of the property. We'll be sharing interior photos next week - so check in to see what the inside of this custom home reveals... you might be surprised!

If you are considering building your custom home here on Cape Cod click here to download our waterfront property guide!

The REEF team is proud to present our new website! We have gone with a more visual format for the site, so we can better show our design and building capabilities, and we still offer our great informational guides and blog. Let us know what you think!

Click here to check it out! www.capecodbuilder.com

Over the last 10 years, we have seen the intensity and frequency of major weather events increase. In response to these increased risks, we have seen building codes change, specifically with regard to structural design and wind resistance. However, given the increasing intensity of weather events, you may want to consider designing a Hurricane Safe Room as part of your custom home or renovation project.

Hurricane safe rooms are designed as hardened structures or rooms that meet FEMA design guidelines and provide life safety protection in extreme wind events such as a hurricane or tornado.

These rooms are generally small, and constructed of concrete, or concrete block and reinforced to resist the highest levels of wind and structural loading that one may expect in a major weather event. Often times, these rooms are located in a basement area, except in documented flood zones.

Here's a link to some Frequently Asked Questions about Hurricane Rooms from Fema's Website with some great information.

FEMA also provides a basic design guideline that shows how a basic room might be constructed

Hurricane Safe Room Design

If you are considering a new custom home or renovation  project on Cape Cod, let the team at REEF Builders design and build your Cape Cod Home. 

If you want to know what your Cape Cod home project  might cost click here to download our Construction Cost Guide

If you're looking for a unique Cape Cod event this weekend, head to Woods Hole for the 26th Annual Woods Hole Film Festival.  Named one of the Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee, this event  is on-going through Saturday August 5th and sure to entertain those young and old.  Enjoy movie screenings, live music, workshops, celebrations and panel discussions. Tickets are available online.

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

If you're looking to build a home on Cape Cod to attend local events more often, please check out our 2017 Construction Cost Guide, click here to find out what it might cost!

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?"

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!