Search
Flood hardy constructions techniques for new construction, significant remodeling and minor restoration.
Formosan subterranean termites are more aggressive and cause more damage than native subterranean termite species because of special biological attributes.
Many homeowners who own a property built of wood have had problems with wood-destroying organisms. In United States, termites, and decay fungus cause more than $2 billion in damage to buildings every single year. In order to protect their home from these organisms, homeowners need to know what to look for, how to treat problems that arise, and how to keep their homes free of decay and termites.
Adjusting certain elements of architecture, construction and landscaping can help in Integrated Pest Management.
Over the life of a product, more-durable and longer-lasting options are generally better investments. These options are also better environmentally because they reduce both solid waste and resource waste.
A drainage plane is the layer of water-resistant materials between the cladding and the framing that drains water to the exterior and keep leaks (at windows, doors and cladding) from wetting the framing and insulation. Layers must be lapped properly so water draining from higher points on the house is directed over (not behind) lower layers.
Homeowners can design their homes to be built so as to minimize damages caused by flooding. Learning as much information as possible before starting the building process is important. This article gives information on Flood Insurance Rate Maps, the National Flood Insurance Program, base flood elevations, and more.
As a homeowner, you need clear information about the options that are available to reduce flood damage to your home and straightforward guidance on selecting the option that is best for you. Quite often this is a difficult task. By knowing the basic questions to ask, you are guided toward the investment in retrofitting that is appropriate for you.
Find out your relative flood risk today. Simply enter your property information and FEMA will show you the relative flood risk to your property.
There is no single V-zone certificate used on a nationwide basis. Local communities and/or states have developed their own certification procedures and documents. This fact sheet contains information that explains the certification requirements for structural design and construction in V zones. SOURCE: FEMA 499 Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction Technical Fact Sheet Series Technical Fact Sheet 5.
Any home repair or remodeling work you do presents an opportunity to help your home fare better in the next storm. Whether you are just replacing siding or you have damage that's requiring you to completely remove all the wall coverings – inside or outside – you can work to minimize future storm damage at every stage of the project.
Homes in coastal areas must be designed and built to withstand higher loads and more extreme conditions. Homes in coastal areas will require more maintenance and more upkeep. Homes in coastal areas will cost more to design, construct, maintain, repair and insure. SOURCE: Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction Technical Fact Sheet Series (FEMA 499) Technical Fact Sheet 1.
In Louisiana, waters rise - from rain and tidal surge. It can happen anytime, anywhere, to anybody.
Whether you are just replacing a few shingles or have damage that requires you to strip your roof down to the rafters, you can take steps at every stage of work to minimize future storm damage. In addition, for new construction and substantial remodeling or repair, you’ll have to meet residential building codes designed to reduce potential roof damage from storms.
Definitions of terms used in flood protection.
Use this checklist to explore and select features and components of a sustainable house in Louisiana.
Preventing wind damage involves strengthening areas where things could come apart. The walls, roof and foundation must be strong, and the attachments between them must be strong and secure.
Replacing an air conditioning unit can be a daunting experience for some people. But, for those who know what to do, this task can be a chance to upgrade the existing unit and install more modern equipment that will prove worthwhile in both comfort and cost.
With rising energy costs, energy efficiency is now on the minds of many homeowners. Homeowners and potential homeowners can see examples of simple methods, as well as high-end methods of reducing the energy consumption of a home by visiting LaHouse, the LSU AgCenter's demonstration home. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Energy prices are volatile. Consumers can take control of their energy bills by make adjustments to their homes for the winter. One way to save energy is by curbing air leakage inside the home. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Maps developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that show where flooding may occur, and in what depths, in the New Orleans and Plaquemines areas during future hurricanes.
Since November 2005, home building and home restoration in Louisiana are subject to provisions of the State Uniform Construction Code, which is adpated from the International Residential Code. These codes contain provisions that address resistance to flood, wind and rain damage, termite infestation, and decay. Whether you are bound by code, or simply because you recognize these threats to durability, there are things you can do to reduce your vulnerability.
Use this checklist to explore and select features and components of a hazard-resistant house in Louisiana.
The concept, messaging, materials and Web presence for Do it Right...Get the Facts...Make the Choice. Build Safer, Stonger, Smarter were developed for hazard mitigation during recovery from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These products were developed by FEMA for and with the state of Louisiana, with leadership for the state being provided by extension educators at the LSU AgCenter.
The concept, messaging, materials and Web presence for Do it Right...Get the Facts...Make the Choice. Build Safer, Stonger, Smarter were developed for hazard mitigation during recovery from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These products were developed by FEMA for and with the state of Louisiana, with leadership for the state being provided by extension educators at the LSU AgCenter.
Record hurricanes can change our understanding of flood and wind risks. FEMA deploys scientists and Mitigation Assessment Teams immediately after the disaster, so homeowners have the tools they need for responsible rebuilding.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC)coverage to pay up to $30,000 for the cost of compliance with State or local floodplain managementlaws or ordinances (II1.D of the Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP)). In the event the requiredmitigation measures are not completed within two years from the date of the state's or community'sdeclaration of substantial damage and order that mitigation measures be taken, the ICC claim cannotbe paid a
Use this checklist to explore and select features and components of an eco-friendly house in Louisiana.
Use this checklist to explore and select features and components of a house in Louisiana with healthy indoor air.
Use this checklist to explore and select features and components of an energy-efficient house in Louisiana.
Low maintenance surfaces and products can enhance and add value to your home.
Landscapers have not been greatly affected by subterranean termites, but they are increasingly challenged by the Formosan subterranean termite. The actions of landscapers impact the risks of subterranean termites. Landscapers should educate themselves on this and other subterranean termites and alter their practices to reduce the risk of subterranean termites entering structures and to slow the spread of the Formosan subterranean termite.
Use of renewable fuels, fuel cells, and photovoltaics can help homeowners achieve energy efficiency.
Integrated pest management (IPM) may be defined as the intelligent selection, integration and use of actions to manage a pest while attempting to achieve favorable economic, ecological and sociological consequences.
An energy-efficient home lets you control the indoor climate and how much you'll pay for it. It is not only more comfortable, but also protects you from being at the mercy of unstable future energy costs. In many cases, you'll be able to save enough on downsizing your heating and cooling system to pay for the higher-efficiency products and features you need for an energy-efficient home.
Taking steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems could help reduce your utility bills, and increase your comfort at home. Make Energy Star® smart decisions when it comes to your home’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, read here for important details.
Your goal for home design and construction is to create a house that meets your immediate and long-term needs for space, function and aesthetics; keeps you comforable and safe by managing heat and humidity; drains and dries when water gets in; and resists damage from floods, high winds, freezing conditions, flying debris and termites. Your home will be more marketable if it ahcieves these goals while being practical and convenient. Includes links to checklists
In Louisiana's hot, humid climate, it is most important to minimize solar heat gain in the summer. How you orient the home in relation to the sun can make a big difference in your heating and cooling bill. Other goals include maximizing passive solar heat gain in the winter, capturing mild season breezes, and landscaping to best solar effect. In addition, solar orientation can be important if you're planning to use solar heat and lighting or to convert solar energy to electrical energy.
Universal design is design for life. The goal is safe and independent living for just about anyone, any age, any size and any ability. With thoughtful planning and product choices for a new home, universal design can be achieved at little or no extra cost.
Information in this section will help you maintain good indoor air quality in your Louisiana house by minimizing health hazards such as mold, dust mites, combustion pollutants and other common indoor air contaminants.
You can save money and be environmentally-friendly at the same time by making your home an ENERGY STAR Home.
Plan your home with dual purpose rooms and ample storage, room to maneuver, designed to grow with your family.
Use this list of guidelines to develop a convenient (family friendly and functional) kitchen plan.
Louisiana homes are susceptible to damage from floods (rising water, including storm surge), wind (hurricanes, tornadoes and other strong winds) and water (heavy rains infiltrating the building. These hazards and coping with them, are explained more fully in this section.
When the outside humidity is not high in spring and fall, a home designed with good cross ventilation can be comfortable without air conditioning.
Houses can be designed so that occupants can get the most or least light and/or heat generated by the sun.
A great deal of solar heat gain on the west, east, southwest and southeast sides of a house can occur from the rising and setting sun. Cooling demand can be greatly reduced by providing shade structures, trees and shrubs on these sides of a house.
A passive solar home is designed to admit and store energy from the sun in winter for solar heating.
More does not always mean better. Learn the importance of building a house that is marketable, cost-efficient, and will keep its value for years to come.
Structured wiring, upgradeable packages and accessible installations can make a home adaptable to advances in telecommunications and automation without major renovation. Special baseboard and crown moldings designed to route cabling behind it are available. Plan ahead!
In addition to designing for flood damage reduction, here are several techniques you can use in building the home to reduce the potential for flood damage.
Architectural details should shed rainwater away from the foundations, doors, windows and walls of your home. This article contains important information regarding moisture control on roof leak reduction and leads to information on hot-humid and mixed-humid climate wall assemblies, water-managed foundations, air & humidity control, plumbing, long-lasting materials & equipment, and product warranties.
The healthy and eco-friendly home is designed and built to protect both the indoor environment and the outdoor environment, by reducing indoor pollutants, conservation natural resources, managing waste and waste-water and using materials that reduce pollution in their fabrication and transportation to the site.
Your ideal house will remain only a dream if it is not practical, cost-effective and reasonably easy to maintain. Build with locally available materials using labor-saving methods. Consider not just the purchase and installation cost of materials and systems, but also their life-cycle costs; lower operating costs off-set higher initial investments. Consider also the future marketability of your ideal home.
A functional, accessible and adaptable home will give you and your family room to breathe, room to work, room to play and the potential to expand. It will have adaptable spaces and systems for your changing needs, including advanced wiring so you can take advantage of today's technologies. If you employ universal design techniques, your home will be more visitable - perhaps fully accessible - by family and friends who have impaired mobility.
Building safer, stronger, smarter means your home is built to last. It will withstand the challenges of being in a hot-humid, rainy climate and resist damage from flood, wind, fire, and other natural hazards. It uses multiple methods to prevent destruction by Formosan subterranean termites and other damaging pests, and optimizes sun, shade, technologies and construction methods to provide indoor climate control with minimal consumption of energy. It is both durable and energy-efficient.
Hip roofs (four-sided roof design) are more aerodynamic and inherently more resistant to uplift forces of high wind than gable end and other roof designs. If your home has a gable roof (two-sided pitched roof), the end wall takes a beating during a hurricane and typical framing methods create a vulnerable “hinge” line at the joint between levels. If not properly braced, it can collapse.
Here is a checklist you can use to take steps to make your home termite-resistant.
Use multiple methods to make your home resistant to damage from termites, especially Formosan subterranean termites, and other wood-destroying insects. Since basic controls and most state approved stand-alone treatments are not fool-proof, it’s wise to invest in a second line of defense or even a totally termite-resistant structure. Click here to find out how to make your home resistant to termites.
Seek out incentive programs that could help you create a high performance home. When you “build green,” you not only get a home that is earth friendly and healthy, you are doing your part to help our nation and preserve our way of life for the coming generations.
Geographic Basics in Louisiana include Climate, Flood, Wind and Termites. Read about the climate, wind and flood hazards, and termites in Louisiana.
Louisiana floods - from excess rain and poor drainage; from overflow of rivers, streams and bayous; from drainage channels backing-up; from storm surge; from levee failures.
Flooding directly affects thousands of Louisiana citizens living in and near flood hazard areas.
The purpose of a safe room is to provide a space where you and your family can survive a tornado or hurricane with little or no injury. It is only safe when used wisely.
Our predecessors in Louisiana, the Indians and the early Europeans, avoided floods by vacating the floodplains during flood season or by building their homes on the higher ground and, even then, on piers.
With few exceptions, if you live in Louisiana you should have flood insurance. Flood damage is not covered under your homeowner's insurance policy. A flood without insurance is a terrible financial setback.
The durability of a coastal home relies on the types of materials used to construct it. Materials and construction methods should be resistant to flood and wind damage, driving rain, corrosion, moisture and decay. SOURCE: Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction FEMA 499: Technical Fact Sheet 8.
