Over the last several years, REEF has been asked to look into various "green" consruction materials, systems, and techniques.  Often times, after intense research, consultation with experts, and a common sense assessment, we have found that although many of these products and concepts are innovative, environmentally responsible, and efficient, many of them are still unproven, and the ultimate decision comes down to cost and return on investment.  See this article from Investopedia regarding assessing green residential construction http://www.investopedia.com/articles/mortgages-real-estate/10/green-home.asp#axzz1fC1HRKks

Much of the work requested over the last several years has been for small, nicely detailed, and smartly-designed homes to replace family cottages in areas near many of Cape Cod's beaches. Zoning bylaws do allow cottage tear-downs in most towns, and you would be surprised what towns will allow to replace them.  Often times customers come in with a desire to remodel or renovate an old cottage, but once they find out the poor condition of the structure, the cost to upgrade all mechanical systems, and the requirements of the structural and energy codes, the costs often times far surpass the costs of new construction.  REEF has new home plans tailored for this scenario called our Cottage Collection (Click here to see our -Cottage Plans.)  These plans are compact, efficient, and but stylish and offer a lot of flexibilty and they are a good starting point for many of our customers. Click below and contact us today to find out what we can do for you!!

At this time of year it is critical to properly winterize your home. Damage from frozen hose spigots, outdoor showers, and ice dams can cause thousand s of dollars of damage.  Often times, homeowners don't even realize the damage has happed, or leaks can go unnoticed for several months.  Here are some tips from NARI which might be helpful. 

• Decrease drafts in the home by testing windows and doors for air leaks and sealing them with caulk or weather stripping.
• Install storm windows or plastic sheeting over single-pane windows or if a homeowner is considering a replacement, try specially coated double-pane windows designed to reflect heat back into the room.
• Clean or replace the air filter to maximize the efficiency of the heating system. Clean out ducts, warm-air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators too.
• Insulate ducts running through attics, crawl spaces and garages. Check for separation, holes and leaks and seal them.
• Seal the fireplace by keeping dampers closed when the fireplace is not in use. Or install a glass door to fit inside the opening when buring out the fire.

 A few weeks ago we started a new home in West Dennis... we have posted various progress photos on our twitter page @reefcapecod. Today we are installing windows and getting ready to apply the roofing this week.  This project started as a teardown and has gone exceptionally well given the predictability inherent in the teardown process. Find out more about our process at capecodbuilder.coom  Here are some photos...