Builders in coastal environments like Cape Cod know one thing: water is your enemy, and the combination of wind and water can wreak havoc on a home.  So on a day like today, when we are experiencing our second “superstorm” or nor’easter in less than 10 days, we felt that a little discussion on weatherizing might be appropriate.  A weathertight home is a combination of a number of factors, and the proper installation of everything from the framing and siding, to the house-wrap, flashings, and of course the roof, windows and doors.  Properly installed house wrap is a great place to start, with seams that overlap, and do not allow wind-driven water to be pushed into the home.  The building code now provides guidelines for minimum standards for weather barrier installations to guide builders through the process.   Windows and doors can always be a problem, and for the last several years, we have advocated the use of flexible flashings like Vycor, or Typar Tape, to create a virtually impenetrable seal around the windows.  All windows should also have a cap or head flashing made of plastic, aluminum or lead.   Doors are much the same, but also need to be caulked and flashed at the threshold to prevent water from blowing in underneath.  We use a rubber or lead pan to catch any water and divert it back outside the home. 

Here is a great article from Coastalcontractor.net that gives good overview of what you should be seeing on your next New Home, Remodeling or Renovation project on Cape Cod. 

Weather Barriers for your Coastal Home

   Almost all of our new customers ask about the need for hurricane resistant windows. Many people have heard that this is a requirement to build a new home on Cape Cod, however this is not entirely true. The need for hurricane or "impact-resistant" glass in a home is determined by an imaginary line drawn around the Cape, running 1 mile inland from the mean high water line at the coast. The state calls this area the "Wind Borne Debris Zone."

  Impact-resistant windows are very expensive, running at least twice the cost of traditional windows, and provide protection against flying debris that could damage a standard window, and could subject the home to substantial pressure differentials in high wind conditions.  If a window breaks under these conditions, the pressure differential could cause the windows on the other side of the house to completely blow out.   However, the building code allows for a much less expensive alternative, which consists pre-cut OSB panels with a specific screw pattern that can be left at the house, only to be installed in the case of a storm. This is a good alternative, but it does require that the panels be installed and removed with every storm event. You should also check with you insurance company, as there may be substantial differences in wind deductables and rates based on the use of impact glass vs. wood panels.

Here is a link from the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards listing FAQ's about the wind borne debris zone, and showing the map of the acutal zone: http://www.mass.gov/eopss/docs/dps/inf/bbrs-pdf-ppt-faq-wind-borne-debris-regions-all-ma-12-20-07.pdf

If you are thinking of building a new home or contemplating a major renovation on Cape Cod and would like to know if your home falls in the wind borne debris zone click here to find out: CONTACT US