Martin

I am a licensed landscape architect and an urban planner who practiced in California over the last 35 years. My wife who went to the Keys for over 20 years with her family has always been in love with the Keys. We have decided to move there to enjoy the Keys lifestyle.

Electrical Work within ICF Walls

December 20, 2017

Martin

Electrical

As we decide to build our house with ICF walls, floors and roof we need to think ahead as how to run electrical wiring. There is the typical electrical wiring and structured wiring. Structured wiring is a general term that refers to a whole-house network of audio, video, data, telephone, intercom, television, home automation, security alarms, cable and satellite hookups, ethernet and networking, security cameras, lighting, etc. With a house built of concrete, how electrical wiring is run is a…

Design Ideas – Electrical and HVAC

December 20, 2017

Martin

Electrical

Electrical Work Electrical work: Installing a high quality, house wide, surge protector by the power company, or whole house surge protective devices will be important to protect electronic devices and computers. Central air/heating. AC units are measured in SEER ratings. A SEER rating is the ratio of the cooling output of an air conditioner over a typical cooling season, divided by the energy it consumed in watt-hours. Central air is mandatory. What size? If you have a two level house do…

Design Ideas – Plumbing

December 20, 2017

Martin

Plumbing

PLUMBING As for water piping, we can use rigid plastic or CPVC. CPVC can handle temperatures up to 200 degrees F. CPVC pipe has comparable corrosion resistance to PVC pipe yet it is suitable for handling material at temperatures 40 to 60 degrees F higher than regular PVC. It is lightweight, easy to assemble and install. Job-site erection of a leakproof joint can be made in only a minute with solvent cement, or by threading. PEX piping is commonly used. It…

Design Ideas – Sub-floors

October 28, 2017

Martin

Sub-Floors

3.4 Sub-floors We decided to use something instead of wood for the exterior walls. We also wanted to eliminate wood use on the interior as well. Because we decided to build with a concrete system for our walls, and for sub-floors within the building envelope, we wanted to avoid wood products, even those rated as insect or fire resistant. It seems logical to look for a concrete solution for our porches or decks as well. To fully enjoy coastal living and…

Design Ideas – Structural Concrete – Updated

October 28, 2017

Martin

Walls

Design Ideas – Structural Concrete In the Keys, newer construction is using concrete rather than wood pilings or columns. The concrete specification for a house in a high salt climate can have additional additives to prevent spalling. Other additives can aid the concrete pour by making the mix slippery, to insure all areas inside the ICF blocks are filled. Fixing areas of visual concrete corrosion (spalling) is an good-sized industry in the Florida Keys. One person I talked with said…

Design Ideas – Site Work

October 28, 2017

Martin

Site Work

Site Work The FEMA requirement for structures in this area to be above the flood level, is +7.1 feet above sea level. Our average lot elevation is about +3.5 feet above sea level. We are allowed to start the total height of the structure at the highest street elevation of +4.93 feet above sea level. Currently 37′ is new height limit of the structure. So the total house height can be +41.93 feet above sea level. If the CC&Rs are no longer valid…

Hopes and Dreams vs. Budget

September 28, 2017

Martin

Cost Estimating

I would love to build a house without budget considerations. But reality is a cruel mistress (the only one I will ever get!) We could not afford a waterfront lot and certainly not a very large house. There is an elasticity between amenities and cost. More goodies, the higher the total cost. We have basic requirements; walls, roof, floors, indoor plumbing, etc, the City of Marathon has requirements; structural loads, roof wind resistance, minimum elevation for the house, permit fees,…

Hurricanes, Wind and Flooding

September 24, 2017

Martin

Wind and Flooding

Hurricanes, Wind and Flooding After living in California all of our adult lives, we are (mostly) nonplussed by earthquakes. We have experienced small ones barely noticeable, to those that damaged San Francisco and caused elevated highways to fail. Our current house is wood construction, which reacts well to moderate earthquakes. We accept that we cannot predict when they will happen. We hope we are prepared with food, water and shelter. Hurricanes on the other hand, we have limited experience. I…

Design Ideas – House Style

August 16, 2017

Martin

House Style

House Style The Florida Keys are known, somewhat, for a tropical style. Most homes do not express a particular style. Older homes were usually constructed on the ground. The new regulations require home to be built on piers, above grade. The higher above grade you build the “safer” you are, and the cheaper your flood insurance will be. I have seen different styles such as Bahamas style, Bermuda style, Caribbean style, Mediterranean style, Victorian style, contemporary style and everything else.…

The Planning Approval Process

August 16, 2017

Martin

Approvals

The Planning Approval Process The planning approval process was mostly a blur, as we started about 11 years ago. At the time most real estate transactions were handled by attorneys as well as real estate agents. I was a very nervous buyer. There were CC&R’s (covenants, conditions and restrictions), many local, county, state and federal (FEMA) approvals, including environmental and biology approvals or waivers. The attorney was important to me. Back then I did not have much confidence in Florida…