Are you sick of wall acne?

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  Wall clutter is one of my biggest challenges as a custom residential architect. There are controls for electric shades, light switches, thermostats, and sound systems. Since they are supplied by different manufacturers, they never match in either design or colors… very frustrating!  One of the most exciting products that I saw at the AIA… [Continue Reading]

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blue is the new green

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  “Water will be the 21st century’s oil – a much sought-after but dwindling natural resource. The biggest difference: a world without oil is possible; a world without water is not.”  -Scott Wolf, The Miller Hull Partnership Last fall, I attended the American Institute of Architects – Georgia state convention; the theme was Waves of… [Continue Reading]

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Building in a Hurricane Prone Area

Many people relocate to lowcountry from inland communities where there are not hurricanes. So often the first question a new resident asks is “What are the best practices for building in a hurricane prone area?”. Buildings need to simultaneously resist wind, rain, and flood. The International Residential Building Code (IRC) made significant revisions after Hurricane… [Continue Reading]

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Components of a Closed Crawl Space

Until around 75 years ago, houses in the Coastal South were built out of solid lumber components of stud walls,  diagonal sheathing, wood siding, and the interior was finished with plaster. When the walls got wet they were able to dry because there was no insulation and plentiful leaks to let air circulate in and… [Continue Reading]

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Closed Crawl Spaces

If you have had second thoughts about having a closed crawl space in the hot, humid South..think again. The North Carolina research company Advanced Energy “has confirmed over the long term…that outside air contains more water vapor than the air in the crawl space during the warm seasons, and has no potential to dry the… [Continue Reading]

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