Featured Articles~

Insulation That Works

by Steve Easley
In more than 25 years of consulting with builders on ways to avoid callbacks, Steve Easley has spent his time solving problems related the heat and moisture transfer, because this is where builders — even very good builders who deliver well-appointed homes to the coastal elite — most often get things wrong. With tougher requirements for the Energy Star label substantially raising the bar for thermal and moisture building performance, however, that scenario may be changing. Easley makes a case for using closed-cell spray foam (ccSPF) to correct insulation woes as he highlights some of the most frequent problem areas addressed by the EPA's Thermal Bypass Checklist Guide.

Weather Barriers for Coastal Conditions

by Bill Robinson
According to general contractor Bill Robinson, the building industry is going through a renaissance of sorts when it comes to weather protection. He predicts that as the current best practices become standardized, even more detailed requirements will be brought back to the codes. And that's a good thing, Robinson notes, because as is, the basic code is the bare minimum for coastal conditions. He outlines how to go beyond the code and manufacturer's guidelines to install state-of-the art weather barriers that will meet the coastal challenges of high winds and water intrusion.

Coastal Building Resources

by Clayton DeKorne
Daunting as the coastal climate can be, the home-building industry has the capacity to construct homes capable of withstanding the ravages of hurricane-force winds, floods, home-crushing waves, incessant rain, high humidity, short drying cycles, scorching sun, and corrosive concentrations of salt. What's needed is the know-how from a number of different sources. The must-have titles gathered here provide a good representation of this collective knowledge and even point the way toward overcoming new perils looming on the horizon.

Native Landscaping for Coastal Homes

by Aaron Hoover
Drawn to the coast for its natural beauty and wildlife, yet increasingly confronted by red tides, fish kills, and contaminated beaches, many coastal residents are deeply concerned about the environment. While they cannot single-handedly save the coast, a growing number are seeking out builders and landscapers who can help them make a difference in their own front yards, by landscaping with environmentally friendly native plants.

Coastal Connection~

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