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Coastal Contractor January 2007

January 2007

Features

Securing Soffits
by Tim Reinhold and Richard Reynolds
The eaves of a home can expose the structure to the ravages of wind-driven rain on two fronts: when soffits are blown out during a storm, and when winds of 90 mph or greater drive water through vented soffits. Effective December 2006, the Florida Building Code requires soffit systems to be able to withstand the same design pressures that are applied to windows. This change came about in part because of a recommendation by the Institute for Business & Home Safety's consultant Eric Stafford. Here, IBHS's Tim Reinhold and Bradenton, Fla., contractor Richard Reynolds take a look at the pilot tests of soffit performance that led to the FBC change and recommend what builders can do to prevent soffit failure and water intrusion in real-world situations.
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Common Callbacks
by Steve Easley
Callbacks typically result from three things: poor design, faulty construction, or the actions of a clueless homeowner. While this is true everywhere, coastal environments are a whole lot less forgiving of such errors. Wind-driven rain and infrequent drying opportunities can drive moisture deep into building cavities. Steve Easley explains the most common exterior detail blunders he sees and offers some simple solutions that will fend off moisture problems.
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Wetlands Done Right
by Aaron Hoover
For coastal developers, the preservation of wetlands often seems like a hindrance to growth. But advances in the science of wetlands restoration and new environmental policy just may be able to find some common ground. Aaron Hoover looks at the issue of "compensatory mitigation" and the policy of "wetlands banking," as well as what it takes to make wetlands restoration a success.
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Departments

From the Editor: Dodging a Bullet
Dodging a Bullet
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Design: Designing Roofs Along the Coast
by Gordon Tully
Designing Roofs Along the Coast
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Soundings
Lift-and-Slide Doors ~ Crawlspace Mold
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Products
Window Seal ~ Job-Site Heat ~ Bamboo Countertops ~ Durable Decking ~ New Plastic Trim ~ Deck Drainage ~ Dramatic Door ~ Hollow-Point Bit ~ Safety Plugs ~ High-R Insulation
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Backdoor: Sand Blasted
Sand Blasted
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