Have you ever wanted to see how a custom home is built on Cape Cod from start to finish? REEF and it's team of contractors have been selected for a special project called "Follow the Build" where you can watch one of our current projects from start to finish. The project is a custom home in a FEMA flood zone near Barnstable Harbor which was designed to meet all of the special requirements of flood zone construction and still meet the stringent requirements of the Old King's Highway Historic District. The original home on the property was built in the 1950's and was flooded twice during the winter of 2018, and the decision was made to rebuild.

Due to the small lot size and busy location near the harbor, the REEF team worked with our suppliers and framing contractors to build most of the project components off site. This minimized the time on the site, and the number of deliveries as the summer traffic near the harbor can be incredibly heavy. We worked with Shepley Wood Products and Cape Cod Panel and TM Framing to pre-fabricate most of the project off site. So what are the results? 1) Incredibly accurate and well made framing, assembled with computer controlled nailing machines, that far exceed the high wind zone structural requirements 2) Dramatic savings and time and waste on the job site, in fact we were able to build the frame of this 2300sf home with porches and decks in about 1 week !

Follow the build project here: Follow the build with REEF!

If you are considering building a Custom Home on Cape Cod, click here to find out more about Cape Cod Construction Costs

If you have a Waterfront Project in mind, click here to download our Waterfront Property Guide

If you are considering a custom home project in the town of Truro, you'll definitely want to read the latest article from the Cape Cod Times here: Truro Considers House Size Limits

Here are REEF we are constantly asked about building in flood zone on Cape Cod. We have designed and built several homes to the new FEMA standard. One of the first things we review when we are looking at a potential project is whether or not that site lies in a documented flood plain. Unfortunately, we are often the bearers of bad news for customers who had no idea they were purchasing or had purchased a home in a flood zone area. Here's a great website where you can check your flood zone status by simply typing in your property address:

FEMA FLOOD ZONE LOCATOR

Designing and building in a flood zone can be a very straight forward process as long as you work with a designer and builder who has experience. Here at REEF we have designed and built several homes in flood zones across the Cape. Here's a recent feature article about one of our projects in the Cape Cod Times:

Building in a Flood Zone

If you are in a flood zone and considering a major renovation or tear-down, Please feel free to contact us today!

Here's a project we completed last year in Eastham. This site is right across the street from the renowned bay side beaches, and the unique topography of the site allowed for sweeping views of Cape Cod Bay, and some of the best sunsets anywhere on Cape Cod.

Our design team worked with the owners to balance their need for entertainment, guest and kitchen spaces with the views afforded by this site. The final design ended up as an upside down house with the kitchen on the second floor, along with living and dining areas, which connect to a large roof deck, all with views of Cape Cod Bay.

If you are considering designing, or building your Cape Cod Beach house, or waterfront custom home, consider the team at REEF, Cape Cod's Home Builder.

If you want to know what your project might cost, click here to download our latest Construction Cost Guide!

The 2018 Construction Cost Guide is here! See how all of the various economic, labor, building code and trade issues will impact your Cape Cod home project.

Click Here to download: 2018 Construction Cost Guide

Here are some interior pics of our Chatham Waterfront renovation project that we recently completed. This project involved extensive permitting and design work as the site provided sweeping views of Ryder's Cove in Chatham. Our team worked with the owners and various regulatory agencies in the town to create the final product which takes advantages of the unique views afforded by this lot.

If you are considering a project here on Cape Cod, please contact our team here at REEF for complete design, permitting, and construction services. You've been visiting the Cape your whole life, isn't it time you stayed?

This spring, we expect to see lumber prices hit record highs due to a number of factors in the industry. Over the last year the US government has imposed a 20% tariff on Canadian lumber in an effort to protect US Lumber manufacturers. In addition to tariffs, lumber supplies have been limited due to bad weather and wild fires in western Canada. The supply shortages got so bad last month that some lumber yards in the western US completely ran out of materials! Current commodity projections now show lumber moving to unprecedented record highs.

So what does this all mean? Over the last 14 Months, lumber commodity prices have increased over 50% and we could see an additional increases as overall demand for construction materials is expected to skyrocket this spring and summer! Consumers can expect to pay anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 in additional costs on a new small to mid-sized home project.

If you are considering a new Custom Home project, or major renovation project here on Cape Cod, plan on increasing your overall budget by at least 2-3%. There are also several design considerations you may want to take into account to reduce waste and maximize the value of the structural lumber used in your project.

At REEF we provide complete design, permitting and construction management services for all of your project needs here on Cape Cod. Contact us today to see how we can help!

For more information about lumber prices - check out this article by the Wall Street Journal!

We are thrilled to be featured by HomeBunch in their latest design blog post this month. Check out the article they put together on our Dennis Beach House project highlighting the various design features and finishes throughout the project. Click Here to see the full article!

If you are looking to design and build your Cape Cod Beach House - please contact us today!

We also offer exclusive property search services to help you find your special piece of Cape Cod. Click here to download our guide to buying land on Cape Cod

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

Last week's storm was probably the first weather event in the last 40 years when the Cape experienced widespread coastal flooding. All of the areas that experienced this flooding are in documented FEMA flood plains. The combination of high winds and moon tides created the perfect conditions for flooding, especially along Cape Cod Bay. We are often invited to look at potential projects in these waterfront or coastal areas, and the fist thing we always check are the flood maps for each area.

Below are pictures from the Barnstable Harbor and Yarmouthport areas on Cape Cod Bay

Here are some things to consider if you currently own properties in a documented flood zone (A, AE or V) and are planning a renovation or new construction project:

1. Is your property in a flood zone and what type of flood zone are you in? You can start by looking up your address here: FEMA Flood Map Portal
2. How does being in a flood zone impact your renovation or addition project? Take a look at the Substantial Improvement Requirements from FEMA also known as the 50% rule. This means that any work on an existing structure that exceeds 50% of the value of the existing structure will require that the ENTIRE STRUCTURE meet current flood zone requirements and be lifted out of the floodplain.

If you are in fact in a flood plane (Zone A, AE or V) your ability to renovate or build new will be governed by the current flood zone construction requirements. In basic terms, FEMA will require that any new home or major renovation or addition project be built to current flood zone construction standards. Currently FEMA requires that all new construction or major renovations be lifted at least 1' above the floodplain. In areas closer to the shoreline where there may be waves during a flood the home may have to be 3' or more above the top of those waves.

Those considering projects in these areas should also be aware that traditional basements are not allowed, as foundations in these areas must be designed to allow water to flow through without causing structural damage. Furthermore, all mechanical systems such as heating, cooling and electrical equipment must installed above the highest flood elevation.

If you are considering a custom home or renovation / addition project in one of these areas, feel free to contact us at info@capecodbuilder.com to see how we can help!

If you would like more information about building in coastal areas, click here for our waterfront property guide

We have had the opportunity to design and build several beautify custom homes over the last few years and we wanted to take this opportunity to show some of the great kitchens, which are always a focal point of the interior design. Here are some of our favorites.

 If you are considering designing, building or renovating your Cape Cod custom home, consider working with the team at REEF.  We provide complete design, permitting and construction services throughout Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts.  If you would like to know what your new Cape Cod Home might cost, please download our Construction Cost Guide!