Cape Cod Custom Builder | REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder

Great Kitchen Ideas for your Cape Cod Home

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Wed, Apr 26, 2017

Been spending a lot of time inside? How’s your kitchen looking? Time for a little updating? As we approach another Cape Cod Summer, many folks are taking a second look at the heart of their home…the kitchen.

Ready to get inspired? Here are some great resources for thinking and planning for your 2015 kitchen overhaul. Modern; classic; warm hardware tones – who knew?

These photos and design sites for fresh new kitchen ideas are bound to get your juices flowing, and your kitchen plans going!

Modern Kitchen Ideas 2015 for your Cape Cod Home

hgtvcom kitchen 2015 resized 600

HGTV's Best Kitchens for Cape Cod

Cape Cod Custom Kitchen by REEF Custom Builders Dennis Modern Custom Kitchen By REEF Builders Truro Cape Cod Kitchen Design by REEF Custom Builders Chatham

hgtv best kitchen 2015 resized 600

Fresh Kitchen Design Trends for 2015

0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Tags: cape cod waterfront homes, renovation cape cod, construction costs on cape cod, coastal building, cape cod custom builder, cape cod custom homes, new home on cape cod, Construction Costs, Real Estate Investment, kitchen design, kitchen, Kitchens

2017 Construction Cost Guide is Here!

Posted by REEF Custom Homes on Tue, Mar 14, 2017

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!

Dennis Bayview Cape kitchen stove with view.jpg

Custom Home Cape Cod, Stairs

0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Tags: construction costs on cape cod, cape cod custom builder, Construction Costs

How can REEF Builders guarantee the price before construction begins?

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Wed, Sep 09, 2015

Many of the folks I talk with are incredulous that REEF Builders guarantees the build cost and the occupancy date of their new homes. “How can you do that?” is a common question.

At REEF the Design – Build process is very carefully managed, and the cost of every process and fixture is captured. REEF invests a lot of time into understanding the conditions at the site, as well as developing comprehensive design specifications with and for the Home Owners. Ensuring that there are “no surprises” is crucially important to exceeding Customers’ expectations.

Watch as Brewster Home Owners share their experience. This brief video helps explain why REEF Builders consistently exceeds their Customers’ expectations, whether a simple cottage or oceanfront estate:

Cape Cod Homeowners describe their experience with REEF Builders

38 Carver Road after resized 600

Cape Cod Homeowners describe their experience with REEF Builders

Brewster Custom Cape left resized 600

0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Best Security Systems for your Cape Cod Home

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Thu, Sep 03, 2015

It’s back to school, and back to work! You’ll be gone from home for most of the day… We don’t like to think about it, but crime is never going to go away. The nicer your Cape Cod home, the more it is a target for unsavory types.

Every home we design and build includes a security system. They don’t have to be expensive to be effective. But what if your home is already built? What’s the best security system for you?

Here’s some great research into residential security systems, what works, and what doesn’t. Over 60 hours of research went into this report, and the findings are easy to understand:

Best Security Systems for your Cape Cod Home

Control Panel family Qol resized 600

Best Security Systems for your Cape Cod Home

Intrusion Sensors family resized 600

0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Off the Grid --> Power and Heat your Cape Cod home with a CHP

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Wed, Aug 26, 2015

Ready to get “off the grid”? Tired of paying high electricity rates, and wondering if the next storm will take out your power? Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units are gaining popularity around the world. The technology is not entirely new, but the application is changing the source of electricity and heat for many forward-thinking homes and offices.

CHP units use natural or propane gas powered engines to produce electricity, while channeling the heat by-product to warm hot water or heat interior living space. The result is economic savings, reduced environmental impact, and energy independence.

The units are compact, quiet, and clean. This short video will get you up to speed on CHP’s – part of the solution to the world’s growing energy needs, and an interesting alternative for your Cape Cod home!

Power and Heat your Cape Cod home with a CHP" target="_blank">Off the grid --> Power and Heat your Cape Cod home with a CHP

Yanmar CHP off the grid resized 600

Power and Heat your Cape Cod home with a CHP" target="_blank">Off the grid --> Power and Heat your Cape Cod home with a CHP

CHP unit resized 600

Power and Heat your Cape Cod home with a CHP" target="_blank">Off the grid --> Power and Heat your Cape Cod home with a CHP

0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Laundry Room ideas for your Cape Cod Home

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Wed, Aug 19, 2015

The Kitchen may be the heart of the home, but the Laundry Room pumps out the clean linen and clothes. Let’s face it, you probably spend more time in the Laundry Room then you’d like. The summer clothes line is handy, but there is no replacement for the washing machine. Virtually every REEF designed and built home offers a 1st floor Laundry, some of them with a view!

With a little creativity you can create a Laundry Room that even the kids will enjoy. Here’s some great ideas to take your Laundry Room from dingy to dynamite!

Laundry Room ideas for your Cape Cod Home

laundry room light main 27 resized 600

Laundry Room ideas for your Cape Cod Home

laundry room com1 resized 600

0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

What is a Blower Door Test on my Cape Cod Home?

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Thu, Aug 13, 2015

Many of our Customers are surprised to learn how very technical and highly regulated the residential building industry has become. Much of the increase in the cost of building homes is attributable to new regulations and codes.

Of course these regulations are designed to protect consumers, and ensure that homes are well built and energy efficient. But the fallout is often higher build costs.

The building code update issued in July 2014 required a maximum of 3 Air Changes per Hour (ACH) in any newly built home. The prior building code allowed about 7 ACH, so the new code meant that homes were required to be twice as “tight”, allowing less air in and out of the home.

How does one measure ACH? A Blower Door Test.

Professional energy auditors use blower door tests to help determine a home's airtightness. These are some reasons for establishing the proper building tightness:
*Reducing energy consumption due to air leakage
*Avoiding moisture condensation problems
*Avoiding uncomfortable drafts caused by cold air leaking in from the outdoors
*Determining how much mechanical ventilation might be needed to provide acceptable indoor air quality.

A blower door is a powerful fan that mounts into the frame of an exterior door. The fan pulls air out of the house, lowering the air pressure inside. The higher outside air pressure then flows in through all unsealed cracks and openings. The auditors may use a smoke pencil to detect air leaks. These tests determine the air infiltration rate of a building.

Blower Door Tests are now a regular part of the home building process. Here’s a look at the how this test is actually performed:

Blower Door Testing 101 for your Cape Cod Home

blower door test resized 600

Blower Door Testing 101 for your Cape Cod Home

blower door test resized 600

0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

56 cool Outdoor Kitchen designs for your Cape Cod Home

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Wed, Aug 05, 2015

It's summer! And time to soak in all the outdoors you can get! Cool breezes, long days, moonlit nights...that’s why an outdoor kitchen is the best idea!

Outdoor dining keeps you out of the house, and an outdoor kitchen keeps the cook in the fun.

Here are some great outdoor kitchen designs that will make your Cape Cod home even better. Enjoy!

56 cool Outdoor Kitchen Designs for your Cape Cod home

outdoor kitchen designs 31 resized 600

56 cool Outdoor Kitchen Designs for your Cape Cod home

outdoor kitchen designs 9 resized 600

outdoor kitchen designs 10 resized 600

0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

What is a HERS Index Energy Rating for my Cape Cod Home?

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Wed, Jul 29, 2015

Like most disciplines, changes are constantly happening in the home building industry. Because we are constantly designing, permitting, and building custom homes, the team at REEF is expertly familiar with the building code requirements. These requirements change with increasing frequency. We have experienced a new building code almost every year for the past few years.

What does this mean to you? One of the most significant changes in the code has been the increasing energy efficiency requirements. The energy code is now fairly complex.
In order to verify compliance with the current energy code, the Home Energy Rating (HERS) must be determined before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued. The HERS test is an independent review of each of our custom homes by a HERS Index Certified Energy Rater.

REEF-built homes rate very well in these tests. An Energy Star home generally scores an 85 on these tests, and REEF consistently performs 30% better!

The homes we build are so “tight” and energy efficient, one Customer thought the central A/C wasn’t working – it rarely turned on because the house was so tight it stayed cool!

Here’s a couple great explanations of HERS ratings, and how they work:

The HERS Index rating system explained...

HERS Index resized 600

How is a HERS Index Rating calculated?

0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Best Guide to Beaches on Cape Cod

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Thu, Jul 23, 2015

New to the Cape? Or maybe you're ready to try a new beach. How do you know which beach is a good bet for you, or for the kids? How’s this for a description:

Long boardwalk extends over salt marsh partway to beach. Excellent view of plant and marine life. Across the river is Dennis' Chapin Beach. Rather small. Picnic area. Not crowded. Large parking area. Some free parking. Lifeguards. Good for little kids. Bugs. Boardwalk only partway to beach.

And that’s just the beginning! This site has a clickable map that leads to descriptions of salt and fresh water beaches all over Cape Cod. This is the best, most comprehensive guide to Cape Cod beaches:

Guide to all Beaches on Cape Cod

beach with umbrella resized 600