|
|
| Flood Hazards 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. |
| [Image: training center]Online Training Center We have begun and will continue to build upon this Online Training Center to assist the Louisiana and Gulf Region construction infrastructure with building science, best practices and building code-based information and continuing education. |
| [Image: rendering]LaHouse-Home and Landscape Resource Center A research-based showcase of solutions and educational programs to help you shape the future with homes that offer MORE benefits with LESS .... |
| Gulf Region High Performance Home Professionals List of professionals who have earned the Gulf Region High Performance Homes designation. |
| Reducing Summer Utility Bills You probably think of an air conditioner as something that puts cool air in your homes, but what it really does is remove heat from your home. So an understanding of how heat gets in your home is the key to choosing the most cost-effective ways to cut summer utility bills while staying cool and comfortable. |
| [Image: (Figure 2) OVE-Optimum Value Engineering]Building Systems: Ways You Can Get Framed in Louisiana Here are brief descriptions of currently available building systems for exterior walls and roofs. Some of their major properties that relate to sustainable development are mentioned. A generalized assessment of how each building system integrates and balances the five criteria for Louisiana conditions. |
| [Image: Flooded house]Flood Recovery Information From this page, you will be able to access information on a variety of issues related to flood recovery. |
| [Image: climate zone map]Geographic Basics - Climate, Flood, Wind and Termites Geographic Basics in Louisiana include Climate, Flood, Wind and Termites. Read about the climate, wind and flood hazards, and termites in Louisiana. |
| Terms of Use Users must indicate acceptance of these terms prior to submitting ANY personal, company, service or project information to the Registry. |
| Offer Contract Services Professionals who are currently licensed or registered by the State of Louisiana as building, plumbing or mold remediation contractors can join the Rebuilding Registry. Property owners will search for contractors based on the types of work they offer. If you offer a service that would be useful to people building, remodeling or restoring their homes, list your services in the Registry. Contact information you provide will appear as a “business card” that you send to property owners. |
| Contact a Contractor The Registry allows property owners to search for contractors by name or by the building services they provide. Property owners can contact their selected contractors anonymously through the registry, providing information about their rebuilding or restoration project, and ask if the contractor is interested. Contractors respond within the registry, indicating whether they are interested in pursuing a contract with the homeowner for the project. |
| Sign Up to use the Registry The Rebuilding Registry allows contractors to offer rebuilding services in parishes they serve. It allows property owners to search for those services, to "tell" contractors about their rebuilding projects, and to rate contractors who have worked for them. All users of the registry - contractors and property owners - must create a user account. The registry is a free service of the state. Signing up is easy. |
| Rate a Contractor The Registry allows property owners to rate contractors who have worked for them, and let others know whether the recommend that contractor. Property owners find contractors by search for the contractor's company name or by searching the registry for services the contractor provides. |
| Ready for Rain: Introduction to Floodproofing Introductory segment from the LSU AgCenter "Ready for Rain" video with overview of flood damage reduction techniques. |
| How Do I Strengthen My Home for Wind? Wind is the most common and most costly cause of damage to light frame structures in the United States. There are things you can do, however, to reduce the potential damage from high winds. |
| Your Durable Home Checklist Use this checklist to explore components and features of your sustainable Louisiana house. |
| [Image: hurricane connectors]Wind-resistant Roofs and Attatchments Proper construction techniques help to keep your roof where it belongs in a storm... |
| NOAA Extreme Weather 2009 Information Sheet for Southeast Louisiana A collection of phone numbers for Louisiana state agencies, parish emergency management and law enforcement offices in the southeastern parishes, as well as for national disaster information centers. |
| [Image: stud to plate]Wind-resistant Walls Build for Wall Strength.... |
| [Image: safe room]Storm Shelters and Storage Designed safe rooms can protect you from more than just a storm... |
| 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 | Next -> |
|
| NOAA Extreme Weather 2009 Information Sheet for Southwest Louisiana A collection of phone numbers for Louisiana state agencies, parish emergency management and law enforcement offices in the southwestern parishes, as well as for national disaster information centers. |
| Your High-Performance Home CHECKLIST Use this complete checklist to explore all the components and features of a sustainable home in Louisiana, or refer to each section seperately in the links below. |
| Checklist for Healthy Indoor Air Quality Use this checklist to explore and select features and components of a sustainable house in Louisiana. |
| Checklist for Energy Efficiency Use this checklist to explore and select features and components of a sustainable house in Louisiana. |
| Checklist for Decay Resistance Use this checklist to explore and select features and components of a sustainable house in Louisiana. |
| Checklist for Hazard Resistance Use this checklist to explore and select features and components of a sustainable house in Louisiana. |
| Checklist for Convenient and Practical Choices Use this checklist to explore and select features and components of a sustainable house in Louisiana. |
| Protect Your Home from Termites Things to consider when constructing or renovating a home to protect your house from termites. |
| How can I strengthen my home against wind? (Distributed 05/22/08) Wind is the most common and most costly cause of damage to homes and other “light frame structures” in the United States. The 75-mile-per-hour-plus winds experienced in hurricanes put tremendous pressure on the roof, walls and foundation, and windblown debris can significantly increase the damage. But LSU AgCenter disaster recovery and mitigation specialist Pat Skinner says there are steps you can take to protect your home in the long run. |
| Making Decisions Making every day decisions is not always easy. It came be even more difficult to make a decision after a catastrophic event such as a hurricane, tornado, fire, flood windstorm. Some people may believe they don’t have any options. While there are always options, it’s not always easy for some people to decide what to do. |
| The Real Estate Agent Real estate agents facilitate the buying and selling of property, such as land and buildings. These agents serve as representatives/negotiators for buyers and sellers. Real estate agents can serve as a “buyer’s agent” or as a “seller’s agent.” |
| The Home Designer or Professional Building Designer A building designer designs residential and agricultural light frame buildings, such as single family homes. A designer also might design decorative facades for larger structures. |
| Civil Engineers Civil engineers are concerned with the design, construction, and maintenance of an altered physical or natural man-made environment. For instance, civil engineers may design bridges, roads, dams, and buildings. |
| Professional Roles: Structural Engineers Structural engineering is a sub-specialty of civil engineering, but can also be a stand-alone degree. Structural engineers design the systems that ensure that buildings and other structures are safely supported and able to resist forces against them, such as hurricane winds. |
| Residential Contractor In simplest terms, a residential contractor constructs or renovates a building, or supervises the construction or renovation of a building. The contractor provides labor for the job, as well as schedules each phase of the job and the professionals involved. |
| Homeowner's Glossary of Building Terms This page defines some terms used in home construction, repair and maintenance. It is not a comprehensive list but will provide a quick reference for homeowners who are unfamiliar with building terminology. Based on the Housing and Urban Development's 1996 Glossary, but expanded to include terms related to flood and wind resistance, energy, new technologies and architectural terms. |
| How to Spot and Avoid Predatory Lending Predatory lenders promise loans that are "too good to be true" and pressure borrowers to take them on the spot. Here are a few tips from the Center for Responsible Lending to help you or your family and friends spot and avoid predatory loans. |
| What is Predatory Lending? Predatory lending is the practice of making loans to consumers who have little ability to repay the loan. It involves the use of deceptive and/or high-cost consumer loans and equity-stripping mortgages. A common element of all predatory loans is exploiting a consumer’s ability to repay. |
| Navigating Post-Disaster Mortgage Issues In the wake of a natural disaster, homeowners, who may have also lost income, often face the daunting challenge of making monthly mortgage payments on badly damaged, perhaps destroyed residences. Lenders want to keep people in their homes and to help those who have lost them to purchase new homes or to rebuild their homes and communities. However, many disaster victims will need assistance for extended periods of time. |
| Find Qualified Real Estate Agents Louisiana law requires all real estate agents working in the state to have a license. Information on who has a license, how one can get a license, as well as information on filing a complaint can be found at the Louisiana Real Estate Commission's Web site. |
| <- Prev | 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 | Next -> |
|
| After a Hurricane Hits: Insurance, Assistance Q&A Answers to common questions about hurricane-related property damage. (Source: Louisiana Department of Insurance) |
| Builder Interview Information Knowing what questions to ask can save you lots of money and help you find the best contractor to build your house. The Capital Region Builder's Association has provided the attached information to help you ask the right questions. |
| Know What to Ask When Choosing a Builder Knowing what to ask before construction and/or renovations begin on your home could save you a lot of money. |
| Checklist to Use When Hiring/Working With a Contractor A checklist of recommendations from the Louisiana Licensing Board for Contractors to use when hiring a contractor. |
| Home Inspection Checklist This checklist provides a list of items to look for when you inspect a new or existing house before you purchase the home. |
| Hiring a Home Inspector Lenders usually require a termite inspection and mechanical equipment inspection. A more complete inspection is a good idea. Getting a thorough inspection before you buy a home can save you thousands of dollars. |
| Homeowner Construction Representatives As a result of The Road Home program a new job classification has been created in Louisiana called "Homeowner Construction Representative". Home Construction Representatives (HCRs) must pass the state contractor licensing exam, but are not required to carry contractor insurance. |
| Safety at the Flood Site Even when the disaster has passed, major health and safety hazards remain. Serious injury can result for anyone dealing with the aftermath of a major storm, so it's wise to be overly cautious. |
| Saving Wet Walls and Floors If your home was flooded, it must be disinfected and dried thoroughly to prevent mildew and future damage by wood rot. |
| Don't Overdo Strenuous Activity in Hot, Humid Weather Precautions to take to avoid dehydration while cleaning up after a disaster. |
| Using an Electrical Generator for Emergency Power Provides information and tips for using a generator for emergency power. |
| Katrina Cottages A Katrina Cottage is a small, yet permanent house to be built for about the same price as a FEMA trailer. Katrina Cottages may be “stick built” on-site or constructed from panels manufactured elsewhere. They must meet the tough standards of Louisiana’s new residential building code (based on the International Residential Code), including meeting the minimum elevation for flood protection. (Source: Louisiana Speaks) |
| Mobile Homes as an Option Living in a mobile homes is one option you can consider when planning for your future housing needs. In the past, mobile homes typically were considered starter homes. But today, many people are choosing to make mobile homes their permanent dwelling. |
| Mobile Homes in Louisiana -- Fact Sheet Mobile homes have been steadily growing in popularity as a temporary and permanent primary residence for many Louisiana residents. Mobile homes can provide years of comfortable and convenient living, while giving you the most for the dollar you spend on electricity. Using the following energy conservation tips will help you to make the least of your electric bill. |
| Modern House Styles Much of the architecture from the Modern movement represents a break with the threads of tradition. This page illustrates how architects are applying the modern styles. |
| Arts and Crafts House Styles The Louisiana Arts & Crafts style is characterized by broad, open porches, roofs with deep overhangs and exposed rafter tails, asymmetric compositions, grouped windows with a variety of upper muntin patterns,expressive trim and ornamental brackets. |
| Victorian Porches Pictures of Victorian Porches - reproduced from the Louisiana Speaks Pattern Book, with permission. |
| Classical House Styles The Classical Revival style is inspired by the work of such notable architects as Robert Mills and Benjamin Latrobe. Although the Louisiana Classical style includes influences from the earlier Greek Revival style, it is primarily based on Classical and Colonial Revival style houses from the early 20th century. |
| Victorian Architectural Massings Photos of Victorian-style houses in Louisiana. |
| Victorian House Styles The Victorian house style was a national style that achieved widespread popularity in the United States between 1860–1900. Named for the last decades of the reign of Queen Victoria in England, the style was readily accessible to many home builders as a result of pattern books that provided drawings of these early house designs, making it easier for the builders of both country estates and modest dwellings to adopt the style. |
| <- Prev | 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 | Next -> |
|
| Installing a Backflow Valve Installation of any of these back-flow valves below in an existing sewer line is dirty work, but not technically challenging. View a photographic sequence of installing a simple flap valve. |
| Checklist for Practical and Convenient Choices Use this checklist to explore and select features and components of a sustainable house in Louisiana. |
| Abbeville SmartCode The SmartCode is a planning tool that promotes a sustainable urban pattern while protecting the ecologically and culturally valuable Louisiana landscape. Created with the input of Abbeville citizens, it is a set of standards that determine where development will occur and how it will be implemented. SOURCE: Louisiana Speaks: Planning Tool Kit |
| Erath SmartCode The SmartCode is a planning tool that promotes a sustainable urban pattern while protecting the ecologically and culturally valuable Louisiana landscape. Created with the input of Erath citizens, it is a set of standards that determines where development will occur and how it will be implemented. SOURCE: Louisiana Speaks louisianaspeaks.org |
| St. Bernard Parish SmartCode The SmartCode is a planning tool that promotes a sustainable urban pattern while protecting the ecologically and culturally valuable Louisiana landscape. Created with the input of St. Bernard Parish citizens, it is a set of standards that determines where development will occur and how it will be implemented. SOURCE: Louisiana Speaks -- louisianaspeaks.org |
| Delcambre SmartCode The SmartCode is a planning tool that promotes a sustainable urban pattern while protecting the ecologically and culturally valuable Louisiana landscape. Created with the input of Delcambre citizens, it is a set of standards that determines where development will occur and how it will be implemented. (Source: Louisiana Speaks) |
| Lake Charles, St. Bernard Parish and Vermilion Parish Charrette Reports To help local communities rebuild and improve their neighborhoods, a series of local neighborhood workshops, called "charrettes," were held in Lake Charles, St. Bernard Parish and Vermilion Parish. People from each of the areas helped develop detailed plans for rebuilding their neighborhoods. These plans will become building blocks for the regional vision, demonstrating how big ideas can be implemented at the local level, one neighborhood at a time. SOURCE: www.louisianaspeaks.org |
| Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan: Vision and Strategies for Recovery and Growth in South Louisiana The Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan is a living document. It establishes a dynamic, flexible framework that can accommodate contingency and change while remaining true to a unifying vision. |
| Parish-by-Parish Long-term Community Planning The Parish Recovery Planning Tool (RPT), created by the Louisiana Long-Term Community Recovery (LTCR) planning team, is an exciting and unique Tool for long-term community planning. Each parish plan outlines an overall vision for recovery, recovery goals, and well-defined projects for meeting those goals. |
| Listing of Illegal or Unlawful Contractors Statistics show that at least 70% of all construction work permits issued in the state of Louisiana by local building officials for residential construction activities are being issued to homeowners who then hire illegal or unlawful contractors to perform the work on their personal property. |
| Be Cautious When Giving to Charities Be cautious when giving to charities collecting for the recent disaster. Verify that the charity is legitimate before making a donation. Any charitable organization that solicits money from the public must be registered. |
| Avoid High-Cost Predatory Home Loan Traps Some unscrupulous lenders are using misinformation and high-pressure tactics to prey on vulnerable homeowners. There is no clear-cut definition of a predatory loan, but most experts agree this type of loan is the result of a lender misleading, tricking and sometimes coercing someone into taking out a home loan at excessive costs and without regard to the homeowner’s ability to repay. |
| Select Proper Windows for Energy Savings Read this article to find out which windows to install in your home to help save on energy costs. |
| Design for Mild Seasons When the outside humidity is not high in spring and fall, a home designed with good cross ventilation can be comfortable without air conditioning. |
| Your High-performance Home Checklist Use this checklist to explore features and components of a sustainable Louisiana house. |
| Your Earth-friendly Home Checklist Use this checklist to explore components and features of your Louisiana house. |
| Loading Ramp Safety Loading equipment onto a truck or trailer usually requires the use of loading ramps. There are some safety issues involved in using ramps. |
| Safety Read the following articles on safety and take all necessary precautions when rebuilding your home. |
| Long-lasting Materials and Warranties 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. |
| Formosan Subterranean Termite Identification & Biology One important key for successful management of a pest is to identify it. This publication can help you differentiate between ants and the dry-wood and subterranean termites that are pests in Louisiana. It also contains specific information on Formosan subterranean termites. |
| <- Prev | 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 | Next -> |
|
| Decay Resistance 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. |
| Hurricane and Tornado Resistance 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. |
| Ideal Wall Assemblies for Hot-humid and Mixed-humid Climates In a hot-humid climate, moisture flows from outside to inside most of the year. In a mixed-humid climate, moisture flow changes direction in cooling and heating seasons. Using the proper wall assembly in your home is important for controlling moisture. |
| Tight Construction (Air Sealing) Construction gaps and resulting air leakage can increase heating and cooling costs, create comfort and moisture problems, draw in pollutants, reduce fire safety and serve as an entry for rodents and insects. Homes should have a continuous air barrier system that surrounds all conditioned space — a combination of materials linked and sealed together to create a tight building envelope with little air leakage. |
| Flood Insurance Protects Your Assets 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. |
| Floodproofing Grant Programs & Insurance Coverage Several communities in Louisiana have participated in federal grant programs for which on-site protection of private property is an eligible activity. These programs fund elevation or relocation of floodprone buildings, purchase of floodprone properties and, for non-residential buildings, dry floodproofing. Drainage improvements are also eligible. |
| Flood Insurance Provides Limited Coverage For Permanent Protection Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage provides up to $30,000 toward the cost of elevating, relocating or demolishing a building that is being required to come into compliance with the community’s flood damage prevention ordinances because it has been substantially damaged by a flood. |
| Elevation Provides the Best Protection Elevation provides the best protection for flood damage, short of relocating the house to an area that is less prone to flooding. Raising a structure does not remove it from the special flood hazard area (SFHA); therefore, it does not exempt the owner or the mortgage company from flood insurance mandates. |
| Virtual Mall A place to "shop" for floodproofing products, contractors and professional services and to see examples of floodproofed properties. |
| Maintaining Trees to Improve Wind Resistance Even trees that are selected for hurricane resistance can have a hard time adjusting to worst-case scenarios. Proper tree maintenance and handling can improve their survival in severe storms. |
| Have You Seen This Insect? Help discover locations where the Formosan subterranean termite is not known to exist. |
| The Milne Street House The Mayne's house in the Lakeview neighborhood of New Orleans had never flooded before and they did not anticipate any problems as Hurricane Katrina approached Louisiana in late summer 2005. Rather than trying to clean and repair the old house, they knew they had to build new. The new house is engineered and built to withstand 130 mph winds and only water resistant materials are used beneath the elevated living space. |
| Partnering with Non-Profit Groups In recent years, residents living along the northern Gulf of Mexico have been reminded of the role of the private/public partnership in navigating the very long road to recovery from disaster. In many cases these partnerships have been exemplified by governmental entities working with, and even funding, non-profit agencies to support and effect the recovery. |
| Selecting-Installing-Maintaining Windows Windows make a connection to the outside world, light and views. But, they also can be passages for heat, cold, wind and moisture. Correctly installed, they can bring years of pleasure and comfort to your home. |
| Installing Windows for Durability and Comfort Windows provide light and ventilation to our homes.They also play a significant role in meeting building and energy codes. In this segment you will learn the all-important installation details necessary to prevent water damage, meet energy requirements, and promote efficient window operation. |
| Accessing an Elevated Home Using Elevators and Lifts The 2005 and 2008 hurricane seasons left thousands of south Louisiana homeowners with a need to build homes with the floor above ground or to elevate their existing homes to safer heights. Stairs, or even ramps, are not the optimal solution for accessing the raised floor; they can pose a problem for the disabled, aging and many others. |
| Integrated Pest Management of Termites and Other Wood Attacking Organisms: A Louisiana Perspective Considerations on integrated pest management of termites and other wood attacking organism are presented in depth. |
| Integrated Pest Management of Termites in the Landscape Landscaping practices may increase the risk of subterranean termites attacking a structure and of spreading formosan subterranean termites. Concepts on reducing the risks of termites during landscaping are presented. |
| Termite Facts and Figures Damage by termites can be very expensive. A comparison of costs of using treated wood, concrete or steel in construction is presented. |
| Drain the Rain on the Plane Create a continuous drianage plane to keep moisture moving away properly. |
| <- Prev | 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 | Next -> |
|
| LaHouse Facility Rental Fees The LaHouse Teaching Center and House are available for your next meeting. Facilities are FREE for LSU AgCenter educational and professional activities. LSU, government and commercial rates are comparable to similar campus venues. LaHouse is located outside of the LSU campus zoned parking plan, allowing for hassle-free parking for visitors. Handicapped-accessible and on-site bus parking are available. |
| Monthly Horticulture Lunch and Learn (June-Sept. 2009) Join us at LaHouse for an hour packed with beneficial landscaping tips and techniques.Each Friday seminar will be noon to 1 p.m. at LaHouse.June 12--Louisiana Irises (Claire Fontenot)July 10--Bog Area Plants (Dan Gill)August 7--Butterfly Gardens (Allen Owings)September 11--Herb Gardens (John Young) |
| Air Sealing Air sealing can be one of the most cost effective ways to reduce energy costs and increase comfort in your home. This fact sheet provides information on the most common places where air leaks in homes and how to fix these leaks. |
| Expert Presents ‘Best Building Practices’ Seminars Across South Louisiana The hurricanes of 2005 demonstrated what works and what doesn’t for the home-building industry, a prominent building expert said recently during a series of seminars across southern Louisiana presented by the LSU AgCenter. |
| LaHouse Contact Information LaHouse Office: 225-578-7913, LaHouse Main number: 225-578-2378, LaHouse Fax number: 225-578-9228, Address: LSU Campus-Gourrier Avenue between Nicholson Drive and River Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803. |
| Termite Treatments Information on different methods and techniques for dealing with and preventing termites. The goal of termite Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is to prevent or stop injury caused by termites. There are several options for treating an existing structure for termites. |
| Building Fire and Termite Resistant When Hurricane Katrina approached the Gulf Coast in August of 2005, the Iberts took it in stride. The house on St. Andrew Street in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans had been in the Ibert family since 1901 and had been standing virtually unscathed since the 1800s. But, when their home was destroyed by fires that spread throughout the city, the Iberts rebuilt using fireproof and termite-resistant Aerated, Autoclaved Concrete (AAC) for the foundation and exterior walls of the home. |
| Community Rebuilding Expo - Calcasieu-Cameron This expo will help homeowners learn how to protect their homes from hurricanes and other storms. The event will provide information on the many options available for hurricane protection including retrofitting current structures for flood and wind resistance and energy efficiency. |
| Cameron Parish home tour to feature Hurricane Ike ‘survivors’ May 17 Newly built-to-code houses that have already survived one hurricane will be featured in this year’s Cameron Parish Tour of Hurricane-resistant Homes.The tour will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, May 17. |
| Houses featured in LSU AgCenter's 2009 Camerion Parish Tour of Hurricane-resistant Homes These houses will be featured in the 2009 LSU AgCenter Cameron Parish Tour of Hurricane Resistant Homes held May 17. |
| Weather-Proofing Walls with Wraps, Flashings and Drainage Planes It is in the building code-- all homes should have a weather-resistant envelope covering the entire exterior. The weather barrier is made up of several individual materials: housewrap or building paper (the WRB), flashings, sealants and tapes. When installed properly, these materials combine to protect the building from rain-induced moisture damage. If the WBR is sealed to block air flow it also contributes significantly to improving the home’s energy efficiency. |
| Central Air Conditioning and Heating: the Importance of Proper Duct System Design Central HVAC equipment distributes the air through out the house by a system called “duct work.” When this system is properly designed, air distribution is even and a uniform temperature is maintained. Proper duct work design can allow for the correct sizing of systems, thus increasing savings. |
| Rolling out new FIRMs In 2003, FEMA began modernizing its Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), updating flood risk information and creating maps in digital form. This process in Louisiana was fast-tracked following the 2005 hurricane season. To support community involvement in the transition to new maps, web sites have been developed that display the existing FIRMs, advisory information, and the preliminary Digital FIRMs. This page describes those support systems in Louisiana. |
| Checklist for Termite Resistance Use this checklist to explore and select features and components of a sustainable house in Louisiana. |
| Formosan Subterranean Termite Damage and Detection Most people are aware of the damage fire and severe weather can do to their homes, but many overlook the threat of termites. Photos of termite damage and signs of termite infestation are included in this publication, which covers Formosan subterranean termites and other subterranean termites. |
| Elevated First Floor New homes in floodprone areas are protected from flood damage by building them so the living space is above expected flood levels. Learn more about elevated foundations and development regulations. |
| Managing Imported Fire Ants in Urban Areas Properly identifying the ant species is the first step in determining whether and how to control them. In this publication there are options for managing various kinds of imported fire ant problems. |
| Natural Access Options for Elevated Homes Extensive damage from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike has caused many homeowners to build at higher elevations above ground, or to raise their existing homes to safer heights. Many people have, or will, turn to elevators, platform lifts or other mechanical systems as their primary means of accessing the elevated floor. |
| Understanding Heating and Air Conditioning Understanding Heating and Air Conditioning - Taming the Dragon |
| Borrow Pits to Ponds - Elevating on Fill Property owners are choosing to achieve the desired flood protection elevation by borrowing dirt from part of their property to make a building pad. The widespread adoption of moving earth on site for home construction is resulting in many properties being left with unsafe and unsightly borrows pits. There are several things you can do to create a pond rather than a pit. |
| <- Prev | 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 | Next -> |
|
| New Cameron Parish House Built Safer, Stronger, Smarter After Hurricane Rita devastated Southwest Louisiana, taking away her house, Margaret Jones decided she would build a new house that could stand up to a hurricane. |
| Window Opening Protection Protecting the window openings of a house is probably one of the most important steps a person can take to protect their family and belongings. When a hurricane hits, high winds and pounding rains are the result. High winds can cause objects such as roof tiles, branches, garbage cans and so on to become projectiles. When this happens, the outer envelope – the separation between the interior and the exterior environments of a building is at risk. |
| Licensed, Bonded, and Insured - What's That? This article explains what the words "licensed, bonded, and insured" mean in the context of construction professionals. In explaining these terms, the article also states why hiring someone who is licensed, bonded, and insured is important. |
| Hazards Involved in Self-Contracting There are risks and requirements involved in self-contracting. Building your own home almost never ends up costing less than you anticipated. There almost always will be extra costs associated with something that happens as a result of mistakes made, or unforeseen situations that require additional work. The risk can cost you more than what it is worth. |
| The Residential Electrician This article informs the consumer what a residential electrician does, what licenses are required, if any, in the state of Louisiana in order for the electrician to work on your home, how to verify any licenses, and how to become an electrician. |
| Protecting and Securing Entry Doors Just as homeowners should take steps to protect windows on their dwellings, they also should take steps to protect the doors. Doors also can serve as an entry point for rain and other debris blown by winds. A blown-in entry door and/or garage door can create uplift forces strong enough to blow a roof off a house. |
| Special Issues with Older Homes Preserving and maintaining the great benefits of having an older home will take time, commitment, and money. |
| Professional Roles -- The Landscape Architect The role of a residential landscape architect is varied and can be complex. In very broad terms, a residential landscape architect generally develops and provides design plans for a homeowner’s property that utilizes both landscape and hardscape (built structures or constructed elements such as patios or arbors) elements to provide beauty and function for the homeowner, as well as to solve any related issues. |
| Professional Roles – The Energy Rater An energy rater assesses a house to determine the home’s level of energy efficiency. This audit , called a rating. |
| Professional Role: The Residential Building Inspector The residential building inspector examines residential projects under construction to ensure they are being built according to the building codes adopted by the state and/or local municipality. In so doing, the building inspector helps protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Residential inspectors are typically employees of the local jurisdiction, but may be third-party providers. |
| Insulating Walls that don't have Weather Barriers Hundreds, if not thousands, of older homes damaged in Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ike, are waiting to be rebuilt. Rising energy costs, the focus on reducing carbon emissions, and the green movement are driving energy-efficient building practices. This has put insulation, air sealing and weatherization high on the safer, stronger, smarter rebuilding list of desirable features. |
| Insulating the Raised Floor One of the challenges with above-grade construction is insulating the raised floor. For new construction, the building code requires R-13 insulation. The challenge in Louisiana is to get the required insulation value without creating moisture problems. Pros and cons of the four most common options (fiberglass, closed-cell spray foam, open-cell spray foam, and foam board) are explored. |
| Dealing with Moisture on Raised Wood Floors With so many homes being build above ground, and with many of those homes being in flood hazard areas where the water table is likely to be high, it's easy to run into moisture problems with the floor. The problem may be from humidity rising up from the ground, or it may be from flooring being installed when the subfloor or the flooring is too wet. A moisture meter can help you tell how wet wood is. |
| Door Installation Doors, like windows, create structural openings in the frame of the house - and openings in the weather-resistive envelope. The proper installation of doors can affect the door's performance in a nubmer of areas: energy efficiency (air leakage), rot and other rain damage, and the ability of the house to withstand high winds. |
| Stopping Air Infiltration in Existing Homes Stopping Air Infiltration in Existing Homes through Caluking and Weatherstripping |
| Federal and Louisiana Energy Tax Credits for 2009 2009 Federal & Louisiana Energy Tax Credits |
| Anchoring and Strapping a Raised Floor Structure Anchoring and Strapping a Raised Floor Structure |
| Lead Safety in Remodeling Lead is a naturally occurring blueish-gray metal. It is very abundant and mined in numerous counties around the world including the United States. The problem with lead is it is toxic. The human body has no use for lead, so even small amounts can be toxic. The most notable health effect of lead is in the mental development of young children. |
| Basic Moisture Management in Walls Basic Moisture management in walls |
| Roofing to Resist Wind and Rain Damage Whether building a new roof or repairing an existing roof in south Louisiana, there are steps you can take to improve your roof's resistance to hurricane winds and driving rain. Here are the essentials for selecting and installing a roof and roofing components. |
| <- Prev | 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 | Next -> |
|
| How Non-Profit Agencies Can Help You One thing many people have in common with their neighbor(s) is a belief and pride in their personal independence. It can be very hard for some people to ask for assistance. As the events of the last part of the first decade of the 21st century have shown us, sometimes we all need a little help. |
| URBANbuild Brings Homes, Knowledge The URBANbuild program gives students hands-on experience building a structure while also making a productive contribution to the recovery of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. |
| Staying Home Longer Gerald Brennan was 84 years old when he observed, “Old age takes away from us what we have inherited and gives us what we have earned.” He was referring to those physical capacities we are born with, but, if some of the things we have earned over time such as our unique identities and our homes, then circumstances and old age may well take those away from us also. |
| Safe, Accessible Bathrooms It is no secret that the bathroom is the site of many home accidents. Many people take measures to reduce the possibility of injuries—most notable by reducing “slipperiness” with higher friction mats, coatings and by attaching “safety tread” type materials. This is a good start, but, it is only the beginning. |
| Accessible Kitchens A kitchen is often thought of as the “heart of the home.” For generations, families and friends have gathered in the kitchen to make and break bread and to engage in a wide range of social activities. Today, we live longer than our predecessors did and as a result, are less likely to be as dexterous as we once were and significantly less mobile. |
| Accessible Laundry Rooms An accessible home incorporates adaptation and accommodation preparations and installations in living and work areas that can make a dwelling safe and functional to the residents for a lifetime. Making a home more accessible for life is a good investment on every level. |
| Broadcast Baits for Fire Ant Control A Southern IPM Center publication. When choosing a broadcast bait to control imported fire ants, consumers and professional pesticide applicators face a confusing array of brand names and active ingredients with varying product performances. This guide addresses common concerns about broadcast baits to help consumers and professionals choose products that best fit their needs and situations. (PDF Format Only) |
| Save Energy by Changing Bulbs Settings and Appliances Save Energy by Changing Bulbs Settings and Appliances |
| Floor Insulation - Raised Home Construction Floor Insulation for Raised Home Construction Homes |
| Raised Floor Construction - Ventilation Information about meeting code for ventilation of raised floor construction homes. |
| Tankless Water Heater Determine whether a tankless water heater is right for your home. |
| Landscaping your Elevated Home Once you’ve decided to elevate your home, or moved into a home that is already elevated, there’s no reason to keep it stark and camp-like. Using creative landscaping, an elevated first floor can be hidden or enhanced, and the elevated home can even offer a new perspective. Window boxes and hanging plants on porches can help add another vertical layer of landscaping. This is a visual guide to landscaping your elevated home, and includes references to local resources. |
| Landscaping your Elevated Home - Getting it Done Once you've gotten past idea stage, you'll need to develop a budget, prep the yard, choose plants, put shovel in the ground, and be prepared to maintain your landscape. |
| Landscaping Photos - Hideaway and Change Focus When you’ve committed to adding landscaping to your home, walk or ride around to get some landscaping ideas from other homes. See what is being used in your community and what other people who have elevated their homes to a similar height have done with landscaping. general ideas about how to integrate an elevated first floor into a landscaped yard. Photos from around New Orleans. |
| Landscaping Photos - Canvas and Building In When you’ve committed to adding landscaping to your home, walk or ride around to get some landscaping ideas from other homes. See what is being used in your community and what other people who have elevated their homes to a similar height have done with landscaping. general ideas about how to integrate an elevated first floor into a landscaped yard. |
| Ornamental Grasses Ideal for Low-Maintenance Landscapes Ornamental grasses are an often overlooked group of herbaceous perennials that thrive in the Louisiana climate and will grow beautifully with minimal effort. It’s time to get beyond lawn grasses and take a look at this other category of grassy plants. You’ll really appreciate what they can add to your landscape. |
| Avoiding Mold Hazards in Your Flooded Home A flood-damaged building requires special attention to avoid or correct a mold population explosion. |
| Foundations in Flood Hazard Areas Homes in Flood Hazard Areas require special foundations to ensure stability. This article addresses foundation requirements for homes built in wave-action areas. |
| What Will Your Soil Support? The load bearing capacity of Louisiana soils varies widely. It is important to know the soil type in the area that you plan to build. Often you can determine if you want to select a certain location for your new home or look further by knowing as much as you can about the area. It is wise to know the flood zone, availability of utilities, and believe it or not the soil type. |
| Finding a Contractor - Using the LSU AgCenter Online Rebuilding Registry Finding a Contractor Using the LSU AgCenter Online Rebuilding Registry |
| <- Prev | 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 | Next -> |
|
| Using the LSU AgCenter Online Rebuilding Registry This Online Learning Module provides instruction on how to create a personal account on the Online Rebuilding Registry. |
| Rebuilding Programs The LSU AgCenter rebuilding group and its partners in the Road Home rebuilding project offer a wide array of educational programs related to construction and natural hazard awareness. This page lists many of those program titles, and provides contact information for people wishing to request a program or presentation or ask for our participation in a community event or fair. |
| Community Rebuilding Expo - Vermilion Parish Abbeville High School is the venue for a day of presentations and real-world demonstrations of sustainable rebuilding and flood damage prevention methods. Plan to come to Abbeville February 28th for formal presentations, information educational seminars and demonstrations, and visits with professionals involved in recovery and rebuilding. |
| Savings Strategies Almost 70% of Americans live from paycheck to paycheck, courting disaster if their income is suddenly reduced or stopped. Katrina and Rita took homes and jobs, leaving many with a need to save for rebuilding. Here are some strategies for saving for recovery. |
| Who Needs Insurance? Almost everyone who lives in the 15 coastal parishes that... |
| Characteristics of Insulation Systems R-value and other characteristics of various insulation materials. |
| Choosing a Conventional Water Heater Learn how to choose the right water heater for your home by choosing the best fuel type, size, first hour rating (FHR), energy efficiency, and assess the cost. |
| Insulating Your Home Choosing the best method to insulate your home. |
| Careful Cleanout - Gutting a Historic Building Thousands of older and historic homes in New Orleans were affected by Hurricane Katrina and the flooding that followed. But that does not mean that every material with mold on it needs to be discarded |
| Alternatives To Air Conditioning An explanation of cooling mechanisms and effective alternatives to air conditioning. |
| Are You Ready for Rain? In Louisiana, waters rise - from rain and tidal surge. It can happen anytime, anywhere, to anybody. |
| Safely Use Ladders When Removing Debris Not all jobs can be done safely with a ladder or by one person with a ladder. Serious falls are common; every year about 300 deaths and 175,000 serious injuries occur in the United States. Read this article for safety tips when using a ladder. |
| Removing Odors from Refrigerators and Freezers after a Power Outage Steps to rid your refrigerator and freezer of noxious odors after a power outage. |
| Accessibility This modules deals with accessing the raised floor contruction home - whether you are handicapped or not |
| Reaching Your Goal through Financial Management Charting your way to Home Ownership, "Reaching Your Goal through Financial Management" |
| Navigating Your Way to a New Home Charting your course to home ownership, "Navigating your way to a new home" |
| Soils Moisture and Termites Raised Floor Construction, Soils Moisture and Termites |
| History of Raised Floor Construction History of Raised Floor Construction in Louisiana |
| Materials for Sills, Joists, and Sub-flooring Raised Floor Construction, Materials for Sills, Joists, and Sub-flooring |
| Raised Floors and the National Flood Plain Insurance Program (NFIP) Raised Floors and the National Flood Plain Insurance Program (NFIP) |
| <- Prev | 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 | Next -> |
|
| Raised Floor foundations Raised Floor Construction in Louisiana, Foundations |
| A Portrait of the Vision The new master site plan creates a portrait of the vision for Louisiana House – Home and Landscape Resource Center. It shows the long-range plan for its seven-acre site on Gourier Lane, west of Nicholson Drive and adjacent to the LSU golf course and shop. |
| Inscribed Brick Order Form Imagine walking through beautifully landscaped grounds and seeing a brick paver with your name permanently engraved on it. |
| Pre-purchase Termite Inspection What to look for on termites and termite damage when buying a new home. |
| Gifts And In-kind Donations To LaHouse Gifts and letters of commitment for in-kind donations should be addressed to Chancellor William Richardson and mailed to this address. |
| Comparative Summary of Building Systems Here is a comparative summary of available building systems that sufficiently integrate and balance the five criteria for a sustainable Louisiana house and have particular advantages in specific conditions. |
| Floodwalls A floodwall is a self-supporting barrier to floodwater. It may look like a garden wall or privacy fence, but it has more internal reinforcing and a more substantial foundation. |
| Above the Flood - Slab Elevation Video Houses built on slabs can be raised above flood level with a technique brought to Louisiana in the mid-1990s and proven on five homes in the Amite River Basin. |
| Your Home and the Sun 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. |
| Safe Room 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. |
| Finding out about Places You May Want to Live If you're thinking of rebuilding in a new location, and would consider moving to a new community, you can do some "long distance" research on the Internet, but visit the new community before making a decision. |
| Stop Sewer Back-Up A back-flow valve in the common sewer line should allow sewer water to flow from the house to the sewer system, but prevent flow toward the house. To provide best protection from a flooded sewer system, the valve should provide a good seal and operate automatically. |
| Design for Passive Solar Winter Benefits A passive solar home is designed to admit and store energy from the sun in winter for solar heating. |
| Instructions for using FEMA's Map Search tool Detailed Instructions for using FEMA's Map Search tool to find your house on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). |
| Retain Traditional Urban Fabric When Rebuilding New Orleans As New Orleans rebuilds, it is important to retain the nature of its traditional fabric which are the neighborhoods and streets, routes of public transportation, green spaces. We must also build with improvement of people’s lives in the neighborhoods in mind. |
| Waste Management Reducing the amount of waste produced when building and living in homes can make a big difference in the number, longevity and cost of needed landfills. One way to reduce construction waste is to design modules that have dimentions in increments of two feet, since many building materials come in sizes that are multiples of two feet. |
| LaHouse Building Systems and Features (West Wing) Description of building systems and features on the west wing of LaHouse. |
| LaHouse Building Systems and Features (Garage) A room-by-room description of the systems and features of LaHouse. |
| LaHouse Building Systems and Features (East Wing) Description of building systems and features of the East Wing of LaHouse. |
| Take Control of Your Investment 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. |
| <- Prev | 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 | Next -> |
|
| Waiver of the Two-Year Time Limit for Increased Cost of Compliance Coverage 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 |
| Design for a Lifetime 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. |
| Moisture Basics Water vapor is one of the many gases that make up air. A little water vapor is good; too much is trouble. The goal is to maintain an indoor relative humidity (RH) in the 40% to 60% range, for comfort and health benefits (including deterring the growth of mold). For optimal dust mite control, maintain an RH below 50%. Read more on moisture basics. |
| Building Industry Professionals with Specialized Training The National Association of Home Builders offers several "Designations" for industry professionals who complete specialized training. Check this page and the NAHB on-line directory to find professionals with NAHB Designations. |
| House Plan Requirements To obtain a building permit you'll need a description and drawings of your construction plans. This page describes some minimum plan requirements. |
| How Wind Affects Buildings Wind affects different homes in different ways, depending on their design, location and neighboring structures. |
| Lightweight Steel vs. Wood Frame Construction for Homes Wood framing has been the standard framing method used in residential construction for many years. Commercial construction has used masonry and steel methods and, now, lightweight steel to frame structures. Light weight steel framing is used in approximately 4 % of new homes built in the United States. Either can be used and meet the codes for strength.The pros and cons of using these methods are: |
| Kitchen Design and Space Guidelines Use this list of guidelines to develop a convenient (family friendly and functional) kitchen plan. |
| Family-friendly, Functional and Adaptable Floor Plan Plan your home with dual purpose rooms and ample storage, room to maneuver, designed to grow with your family. |
| Heads of Termites Heads of the types of termites in Louisiana are shown. |
| Overview for Integrated Pest Management of Subterranean Termites in Louisiana This article provides an overview of integrated pest management of subterranean termites in Louisiana. |
| Hail and Freeze Hazards Learn how to protect your roofs and pipes from damages caused by hail and freeze hazards by reading this article. |
| Improve Your Home to Improve Your Health A home remodeling project – and your investment in it – can do so much more than update. It can make your home a healthier place to live and breathe for you and your family. |
| Source Credits for Information Resources used in gathering information about wind resistance. |
| Information Needed to Get a Building Permit When you go to get building permt, you will need to provide certain information about your construction project. This page lists the most common items. |
| Dry Floodproofing Sealing a building so water will not enter is called dry floodproofing. The interior spaces, equipment and contents of the building stay dry. |
| Insulation Systems with Good 'Whole Wall' R-values R-value is standardized measure of a material’s resistance to heat flow — the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating ability. However, the actual R-value of a wall or ceiling can be a lot less than the R-value of the insulation material in it, depending on the installation. |
| Insulating Corners, Windows and Doors Advanced framing details provide a much more continuous insulation system than traditional framing techniques and prevent insulation voids that can result in moisture problems. The biggest insulation gaps in the thermal envelope are windows and doors. |
| Types of Pumps Sump pumps sit in the sump. "Trash" or "utility" pumps usually sit above water level and draw through an inlet hose. |
| Using Pumps in Flood Protection If you protect a building with a floodwall, sealant, plastic wrap or any other barrier, you will need to pump water during floods. |
| <- Prev | 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 | Next -> |
|
| LaHouse building features (Throughout) Descriptions of building features thoughout LaHouse. |
| LaHouse Building Systems and Features (Mid Section) Description of the building systems and features of the Mid-section of LaHouse. |
| Avoiding Scams Be on guard for people trying to take advantage of you or the situation. Here are a few things to be wary of. |
| Practical Building Has Its Benefits 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. |
| Contracting Basics Choosing the right contractors -- and knowing how to work with them -- can mean the difference between excellent work and shoddy work. Informed homeowners can save time and headaches and get the best value for their money. |
| Living with the Risk Flooding directly affects thousands of Louisiana citizens living in and near flood hazard areas. |
| Choosing trees for hurricane resistance Trees and shrubs can provide a valuable buffer zone that can reduce storm damage to homes and property. Trees can be classified as hurricane survivor trees or hurricane victim trees. |
| Building Material Insights Building materials have performance characteristics that change with changing conditions. Controlling the conditions , or choosing the right materials for your conditions, can help you achieve maximum performance. |
| Fortifying Wall Openings According to recent wind technology research, it's important to strengthen the exterior of your house so wind and debris do not tear large openings in it. |
| Strengthening Walls for Wind Resistance To overcome the forces that wind places on a building, construction of the walls with connectors and sheathing is important. |
| Using Panels as Closures for Flood Protection Most floodproofing systems have openings that need to be closed and watertight during a flood. |
| Pier & Beam Construction Pier and beams construction can make temite tubes visible, if good construction techniques are followed. |
| Wind-resistant Roof Design 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. |
| Wind-Resistant Small Project List This list of home improvements to increase wind resistance is divided into cost categories. You can tackle these projects one at a time, but remember – the more you do, the stronger your home will be against hurricane winds. The material below is from the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). Prices are pre-Katrina. |
| Location & Directions - LaHouse Resource Center LaHouse Resource Center is located at the southwest edge of the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is on Gourrier Lane, between Nicholson Drive and River Road, adjacent the LSU golf course. |
| Checklist for Environmental Quality Use this checklist to explore and select features and components of an eco-friendly house in Louisiana. |
| Shelter Tubes Shelter tube on piers and foundations |
| Guide for Consumers Use the Registry to find state licensed or registered service providers who wish to work in your parish and who offer the services you need. |
| About the Registry Learn about getting around in the Registry and about using this resource when building outside Louisiana. |
| Guide for Building Industry Professionals Building professionals who are licensed or registered to operate in Louisiana can offer services used in building, remodeling or restoring homes. |
| <- Prev | 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 | Next -> |
|
| Reducing Humidity in an Energy-efficient Home Energy-efficient homes in a humid climate, especially when ductwork is well sealed or within the conditioned space, need little or no cooling during periods of mild temperature, resulting in not enough dehumidification and higher than desired indoor humidity. The best solution is not to sacrifice energy efficiency, but to add dehumidification |
| Water-inflated Barriers Series Water-inflated tubing is a new and effective emergency method of closing a gap, temporarily raising the height of an existing levee or putting a barrier around a building. |
| Wet Floodproofing The phrase “wet floodproofing” may sound like a contradiction, but it is the label used to refer to a collection of methods intended to reduce damage to a building when flooding occurs. |
| Louisiana House Styles - Described Louisiana has housing stock representing six styles: Vernacular, Victorian, Classical, Arts and Crafts, Ranch and Modern. Brief descriptions are provided for each of these styles. |
| Flood Wraps and Temporary Shields You can keep shallow flood water out of a slab-on-grade home using plastic sheeting supported by the wall of the building or on special stands away from the wall. This is an emergency protection measure that is more effective than using sandbags, but does require advance preparation. |
| Stop Floodwater in the Yard Floodwalls and levees are self-supporting barriers to floodwater. They keep the building dry and protect it from, unequal water pressure on building walls, erosion at the foundation and damage by floating debris. |
| Control of Other Indoor Pollutants Other common unhealthy indoor pollutants include: pesticides; formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from pressed wood products, paints, finishes, adhesives, solvents, carpeting, upholstery, draperies, and household products, etc... Read more information about controlling indoor air pollution and radon-resistant construction. |
| Detailed Explanation of Permitting Requirements When seeking a building permit, you may need addition documents. This page describes the Flood Zone Determination, Elevation Certificate, Foundation Plan, Damage Inspection Rating and an On-Site Waste-Water Treatment Permit. |
| Three Ways to get the Floor Up Elevating a building to prevent flood damage doesn't always mean picking up the entire structure. Explore these three ways to get the floor up. |
| Chain Saw Safety Chain saws are popular tools for both homeowners and professionals because they have so many uses – tree trimming, cutting firewood, cleaning up after storms, etc. Although chain saws are handy, they are potentially dangerous and must be used carefully to avoid serious injury. |
| Use Preservative Treated Wood for Building The Formosan subterranean termite is now considered the most destructive insect in the Gulf South, costing millions of dollars for treatments; repairs; defaults on loans; and collapse,demolition and rebuilding of structures. Your new home can be safeguarded by using preservative-treated wood and following an integrated pest management program at the time of construction. |
| Bracing Your Garage Door Because of their width, double-wide garage doors are more susceptible to wind damage than single doors. |
| Protecting New Buildings from Future Flood Damage New homes in flood prone areas are protected from flood damage by building living space above expected flood levels. Learn more about elevated foundations and development regulations. |
| Pollution Prevention and Ecosystem Protection Look for alternative materials that are environmentally safe to help protect our earth's ozone layer. Read how using a design concept and system called permaculture to create sustainable human environments |
| Appliances with Low Life-cycle Costs Look for Energy Star appliances and compare EnergyGuide labels to invest in appliances with a low life cycle cost. |
| Control of Combustion Pollutants Burning creates several combustion pollutants, including carbon monoxide (CO). In high levels, CO is deadly, but low levels are also harmful. Every source of combustion in the home should be vented to the outdoors. Read more on controlling combustion pollutants. |
| Water-Efficiency Treatment of drinking water and wastewater is increasingly expensive, even in high rainfall regions. Conserving water not only cuts your monthly water and sewer bill, it also reduces the public cost for water treatment capacity, and slows the depletion of ground water supplies. More than half of household water consumption is for outside purposes. Avoiding the use of treated drinking water for watering plants and washing the car is first priority. |
| Design House to Minimize Solar Heat Gain Houses can be designed so that occupants can get the most or least light and/or heat generated by the sun. |
| Fire Protection When building or planning to build you home, consider using fire resistance construction materials, especially roofing and cladding. Many property insurers offer premium discounts for these features. |
| Do's and Don'ts for Using a Portable Ladder Each year about 300 deaths and 175,000 serious injuries occur in the United States because people don't properly use ladders. This article lists some "Do's and Don'ts" for using a portable ladder. |
| <- Prev | 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 | Next -> |
|
| Window and Patio Doors Ways to protect your windows and doors against damage during a hurricane. |
| Understanding Your Flood Risk 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. |
| Protecting and Securing Garage Doors Because garage doors are so big, usually the single biggest opening of a house, and because most old doors are so weak, the survival of a house’s garage door is very important to the survival of the house. Failure of the garage door allows the full fury of the hurricane to act on interior walls, doors, ceiling or roof that form the barriers between the inside of the garage and the rest of the house. |
| Monolithic Slab Construction Termites cannot eat through solid concrete. To enter a structure they must come up around the outside edges or enter through some other opening in the slab. Traditional termite treatments require the application of a continuous chemical barrier to the soil around all possible entry points. |
| Rising Above the Floods Repetitive flooding affects thousands of Louisiana homes and businesses. In this publication and its companion videotape, a procedure to demonstrate a non-invasive method to flood proofing is explained as it was demonstrated by a Michigan contractor. Special attention is given to adapting the technology for use in Louisiana’s floodplains. |
| Fortifying Roofs Against Wind Damage How can you recognize when your roof has problems? Use these inspection tips, and suggestions for strengthening. |
| Stopping Sewer Back-flow by Blocking Points of Entry There is an alternative to blocking the common sewer line. The alternative is to block each drain line where it enters your home - also known as the points of entry - using plugs and caps. |
| Groundbreaking Celebration - Louisiana House Home & Landscape Resource Center More than 100 Contributors, Partners, Allies, team members and friends participated in the July 15, 2003, Louisiana House – Home and Landscape Resource Center (LaHouse) groundbreaking ceremony and recognition reception on the LaHouse site. |
| LaHouse on the Move - Louisiana House Home and Landscape Resource Center Moving and evolving with LSU’s campus master planning process over the last year, the third and final Louisiana House location, master site plan and house design were officially approved by the LSU Board of Supervisors in April 2002 |
| Many Thanks to Early Key Contributors Great appreciation and a heartfelt welcome go to the newest Key Contributors for their generous gifts to the LSU Foundation for Louisiana House. |
| Asthma: Bad News and Good News Asthma is a disease that makes it difficult to breathe during an attack. Asthma attacks are set off by triggers,which are different for different people. |
| Floor Plans: Louisiana House - Home & Landscape Resource Center Louisiana House Floor Plans |
| Home Entry Doors Your home has either double or single entry doors. If they are solid wood or hollow metal they probably can resist wind pressures and hurricane debris. However, if you are not sure whether they are strong enough, take these precautions. |
| Strengthening an Existing Roof When you're building a new home, or putting on a new roof according to the building code, the roof will be built to resist the winds prevalent in the area. However, an existing roof can be strengthened even when you're not re-roofing, and often without disturbing any portion of the home that would be visible to the occupants of the home. |
| Anchoring Code Defends Manufactured Home from Katrina's Winds David and Laquetta Passman moved their manufactured home from Enon to Franklinton during the winter of 2002. The relocation required the Passmans to come into compliance with new building codes, which mandated stringent anchoring standards intended to protect manufactured homes from high velocity wind forces. |
| Hurricane-Resistant Home Improvement Seminars The LSU AgCenter offers hurricane-resistant home improvement seminars for people who wish to build or restore their homes to make them more resistant to storm and flood damage. This video gives a brief description of material covered in the full 2-hour package. Long and short seminars and trainings can be scheduled on these topics to meet the needs of your group. Call the LSU AgCenter at (225) 578-6087 or the Rebuilding Information Station in New Orleans at (504) 280-5577 for more information. |
| Helpful Building/Rebuilding Tips for Future Integrated Pest Management Adjusting certain elements of architecture, construction and landscaping can help in Integrated Pest Management. |
| Air-conditioning Tuneups Are Profitable This publication explains the importance of a complete air-conditioning tuneup, including information on restored capacity, lower energy usage, longer compressor life and increased energy efficiency. |
| Avoiding Mold Hazards in Your Water-damaged Home A flood-damaged building requires special attention to avoid or correct a mold population explosion. |
| Flooded Lawns and Gardens Hurricanes and heavy rains can create excessively wet soil that, when combined with high temperatures, can create stressful, and potentially destructive, conditions for bedding plants, perennials, vegetables, shrubs and even trees. If floodwaters have covered any part of your landscape, here are a few tips... |
| <- Prev | 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 | Next -> |
|
| Using Water-inflated Barriers for Flood Protection Water-inflated tubing is a new and effective emergency method of closing a gap, temporarily raising the height of an existing levee or putting a barrier around a building. This article includes information on using and constructing water-inflated barriers. |
| After the Flood - Private Water Well Safety After a flood, you’ll be anxious to use your normal water supply – your private well. But, when floodwater covers your well, or neighboring wells, there’s a possibility the water in your well will become contaminated. |
| Hire an Arborist for Residential Tree Needs An arborist can help you keep your trees healthy and give you peace of mind. Their professional services can help you with an array of other tree care practices, including transplanting, pruning, fertilizing and managing pests. Most arborists are also skilled in tree removal and value appraisals. You will want to read the questionnaire provided in this article to help you decide if you need any of these special services. |
| Preventing Mildew and Decay After the Storm What to do to prevent problems with mildew and decay after storm waters receed.. |
| Little Black Ant Management in Structures Identification, biology, and treatment of Little Black Ants. |
| Tetramorium bicarinatum: Pavement Ants Identification, biology and treatment of pavement ants |
| Proper Debris Removal Keeps Formosan Subterranean Termites from Spreading After Hurricanes Cleaning up wood debris after a hurricane or other severe wind storm can inadvertently spread one of Louisiana’s most destructive pests – the Formosan subterranean termite. The highest concentrations of this termite in the continental United States are in Lake Charles and New Orleans, cities flooded following Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. |
| Elongate Twig Ant Identification, biology and treatment of the elongate twig ant. |
| Crazy Ant Control in Structures Identification, biology and treatment of the crazy ant in structures. |
| A Guide for Integrated Pest Management of Termites There are about 2,500 species of termites worldwide. Although only about 2% are frequent invaders of wood structures used by humans, termites must be managed because they can and will cause great damage. This publication includes information on how to manage them. Only available in pdf format. |
| Automatic Valves & Manual Valves This is a picture gallery of different types of back-flow valves. Three are automatic and two are manual, requiring someone to be home to close them when floodwaters rise. |
| Coastal Construction Course for Design Professional This 2-day course will acquaint participants with FEMA’s Coastal Construction Manual and involve discussion of best practices for the design and construction of residential buildings built in coastal environments. |
| Rebuilding the Family Home This article tells the story of how one Lakeview homeowner rebuilt his family home after the original was damaged in Hurricane Katrina. The homeowner first built a townhome duplex to live in while he planned and built his permanent home. In doing so, the homeowner learned valuable lessons from the first construction project. This enabled him to see what worked best and what he would change in building his new home. |
| Rebuilding Information Station The Rebuilding Information Station is an outreach center at the New Orleans Lakefront that is set up to assist homeowners in managing the rebuilding of their hurricane damaged homes through information, education and outreach. Partners in the Station are the LSU AgCenter, University of New Orleans Center for Hazards Assessment, Response and Technology, Tulane City Center and The Road Home program. |
| Taming the Beast: Air Conditioning and Heating Equipment -- the Beast that Represents 50% to 60% of Your Utility Bill In today’s world of comfort, almost all homes are equipped with an air conditioning (A/C) and heating system. Of all the systems in a home, this is the one that uses the largest amount of energy. Installing the correct system for your home is important. |
| Foundation Design and Construction Workshop Course participants will gain a an appreciation of the need for prescriptive foundation design guidance, an understanding of how to use the guidance found in FEMA 550, and the benefits of using this guidance to design and regulate residential construction in the Gulf Coast area. Most suited for engineers and local building officials involved in residential construction. |
| Community Rebuilding and Flood Protection Expo Lakeview, a coming-back community in Orleans parish - west of City Park and east of the 17th Street Canal, is the venue for an afternoon of presentations and real-world demonstrations of sustainable rebuilding and flood damage prevention. Plan to come to Lakeview Sunday, November 16th from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. for formal workshops, information educational seminars around the neighborhood, and visits with professionals involved in rebuilding. |
| Rebuilding Extravaganza The LSU AgCenter, Tulane University City Center and UNO CHART are bringing free workshops for anyone involved in building or rebuilding a house. The workshops will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1. |
| LSU AgCenter Brings Homebuilding Seminars to French Food Festival LSU AgCenter will offer a series of homebuilding seminars at this year’s French Food Festival Oct. 25-26. |
| September Mini Seminars at Rebuilding Information Station Homeowners will get information on how to rebuild their homes to better stand up to hurricanes at a series of mini-seminars scheduled for the Rebuilding Information Station in September. |
| <- Prev | 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 | Next -> |
|
| August Mini-Seminars at Rebuilding Information Station Homeowners will get information on how to rebuild their homes to better stand up to hurricanes at a series of mini-seminars scheduled for the Rebuilding Information Station in August. |
| LSU AgCenter Announces Opening of Rebuilding Information Station The LSU AgCenter, in conjunction with the University of New Orleans’ Center for Hazards Assessment, Response and Technology (UNO_CHART), Tulane City Center and Louisiana Office of Community Development’s Road Home program, is hosting an open house for the Rebuilding Information Station (RIS) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 26. |
| Use Drainage Plane to Deflect Water 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. |
| Lighting with Fewer Watts, Less Heat Lighting can account for 15% of a home’s yearly electric bill. Lights not only use energy to operate, they produce heat that must be removed by the air conditioning system. Energy-efficient lighting saves on electric bills, helps keep the home cooler and lasts longer than traditional incandescent lighting. |
| Water Heaters with Low Life-Cycle Costs Look for ENERGY STAR water heaters and compare EnergyGuide labels to invest in water heaters with low life-cycle costs. In addition to saving money on operating costs, energy-efficient water heaters give off less waste heat than standard models, keeping rooms cooler and lowering air conditioning needs and costs. |
| Radiant Barriers in Roofs and Walls A radiant barrier under the roof decking (foil side down) can block 95% of the roof’s radiant heat. This is most beneficial when attic insulation levels are R-19 or less, or when the air conditioner or ducts are located in the attic. Radient barriers are also useful in walls that take intense sun. |
| Insulation Systems with Additional Advantages Some types of insulation systems offer additional benefits, in addition to their R-value, that can make a real difference in overall energy-efficiency. These properties should be factored into your cost-benefit comparison. |
| Heat Basics Heat moves three ways, so controlling it one way doesn’t necessarily affect the other two. |
| Control of Mold, Dust Mites, Other Biological Pollutants Energy-efficient homes in a humid climate, especially when ductwork is well sealed or within the conditioned space, need little or no cooling during periods of mild temperature, resulting in not enough dehumidification and higher than desired indoor humidity. |
| Renewable Energy and Zero Energy Homes Use of renewable fuels, fuel cells, and photovoltaics can help homeowners achieve energy efficiency. |
| Emergency Procedures for Disinfecting a Flooded Well A description of the procedures for disinfecting a water well after a flood. |
| Punch List Provided is a sample punch list of items that homeowners may want to use as part of developing a project punch list. If you and your contractor disagree about an item on the punch list, a good reference guide to help with your negotiations is National Association of Home Builders’ “Residential Construction Performance Guidelines”. |
| Keep or Throw Away? After a storm, many people ask themselves, “What do I keep and what do I throw away?” These are common questions and the answers are not always easy. |
| Repair or Tear Down? Rebuild Here or Somewhere Else? “Should I repair or should I teardown?” “Should I rebuild here or should I rebuild somewhere else?”There are so many factors that play a part in answering these questions that it must seem overwhelming. |
| Do-it-yourself Hurricane-resistant Home Improvement Seminars The LSU AgCenter offers Hurricane-Resistant Home Improvement seminars across South Louisiana. Find out here how to schedule a presentation for your group. |
| Caring for Large Electrical Appliances Made Wet During a Disaster Appliances made wet by floodwaters or by rainwater after roofs were damaged will need extreme care before they can be reused. |
| Rebuilding Homes Provides Opportunities for Termite Protection Homeowners in South Louisiana and elsewhere in the Gulf South who are building homes should add termite protection in the process. Combining termite protection with proper strapping for wind resistance and anchoring to prevent floatation present some challenges for maintaining the integrity of the barrier.. |
| Debris Disposal Cleanup after a disaster can be a major problem. Debris from trees, shrubs and buildings may be everywhere. Even though extra resources may be provided, it may be some time before collection is possible. Debris removal will reduce the potential for nesting by rodents, snakes and insects, or it will, at least, keep those infestations in a concentrated area away from the home. |
| New Trends in Landscaping Technology and the age of communication are definitely changing the way we live, work and garden. Gardeners will, with greater ease and frequency than ever before, exchange ideas and be exposed to new concepts about how and why we garden. How will the new trends affect the plants we use and how we design with them and care for them? |
| Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a 1-5 rating based on the hurricane's present intensity. This is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast from a hurricane landfall. Wind speed is the determining factor in the scale, as storm surge values are highly dependent on the slope of the continental shelf and the shape of the coastline, in the landfall region. Note that all winds are using the U.S. 1-minute average. |
| <- Prev | 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 | Next -> |
|
| Lead and Mold Safe Work Practices (New Orleans Area) Many homes built before 1978 contain lead-based paint. It is important that renovation, remodeling and repair activities use methods that reduce and control dust and debris created during work. Even a small amount of dust can pose a serious health risk to children, families and the workers themselves. You can help prevent childhood lead poisoning by learning to work lead safe. Attendees will learn skills to safely renovate older housing and prevent childhood lead poisoning. Participants |
| Building Green This article details the story of Susan Neely'sexperience with Katrina and its aftermath. It describes her return home, subsequent healing, and decision to build her house. As an architect, Susan designed and built her house and assumed the role of general contractor. The article informs the reader about the choices she made and techniques she used to build her sustainable house. |
| Professional Roles: Home Inspectors A home inspector inspects the visible exterior and interior systems and components of a residential structure for condition, safety issues, and evidence of potential problems. It is important to note that a home inspection is different from an appraisal that determines market value, from a code-compliance inspection, and from a warranty evaluation. |
| Replacing Important Papers After a disaster such as a hurricane, flood, or fire, important papers may be destroyed, lost or damaged. There are many agencies, web sites and procedures that can help you replace your documents. |
| Mold: Important Questions, Objective Answers Conflicting information and media coverage about hazards of mold and how to handle mold problems have left many people confused, concerned and sometimes frightened. If you have or suspect a mold problem in your home, this fact sheet will help you make well-informed decisions about how to fix the problem and prevent its return. |
| Mold Hazards Are Preventable In the right conditions, molds multiply and can release enough spores in the air to cause health problems. |
| Gentilly Home: Raising an Existing House This article tells the story of one Gentilly family's experience in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, including the process of elevating their existing-but-damaged home. Along the way the neighbors of the family help each other, and a strong community bond develops. |
| The History of the Raised-floor House in Louisiana This article traces the origins of raised floor home construction back to its vernacular form and questions why we do not build this way anymore. It shows the architectural diffusion of this building style and then introduces the ranch, or slab on grade, house. The article explains why a shift in building practices was made in Louisiana, the pit-falls of having made such a change, and gives recommendations for the future. |
| Do High Natural Gas Prices Give You a Chill? When home heating costs get uncomfortable, there is a lot you can do to control how much energy you need to use to stay warm. |
| LaHouse leads the way for sustainable housing in Louisiana The LSU AgCenter's "LaHouse" is designed to stand up to hurricane-force winds, swarming insects and harmful humidity. This family-type home is designed to showcase innovations in home construction for Louisiana’s sub-tropical climate. |
| Seguridad en Gruas Muertes y lesiones serias pueden ocurrir si las grúas no son inspeccionadas y utilizadas correctamente. Muchas muertes pueden ocurrir cuando el aguilón de la grúa, el cable de carga o la carga contacta las líneas de energía eléctrica y descarga la electricidad hacia la tierra. Otros incidentes ocurren cuando los trabajadores son golpeados por la carga, son atrapados dentro del radio de movimiento de la grúa o fallan en montar/desmontar la grúa correctamente. Fuente: OSHA |
| HVAC - Efficient Cooling and Heating 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. |
| Determining Structural Damage and Preparing for Repairs After a Storm When calm returns after the storm, it’s time to assess the damage and begin repairs. A number of factors should be considered, and the following information may be helpful. |
| Get Involved - Louisiana House Home & Landscape Resource Center Consider how you will benefit from LaHouse and explore the advantages of being recognized as a: Key Contributor, Key Partner, Key Ally, or Brick Donor. |
| Dedicate a Room in Louisiana House Charter Diamond, Platinum and Gold Key Contributors to LaHouse capital campaign may select and permanently dedicate a room or feature as an exclusive recognition opportunity (while available). |
| Forms of Recognition and Benefits of Getting Involved The widespread educational outreach of LaHouse will create ongoing, high exposure and promote related interests -- throughout Louisiana and the southern region. |
| The Sustainable Louisiana House Use this checklist to explore and select components of a "high performance" home in the southern region -- one that provides the benefits of durability, energy efficiency, healthy indoor air, comfort, convenience and more. |
| Become a LaHouse Volunteer Volunteers are needed to assist with a variety of tasks. |
| Mold Removal Guildelines for Your Home This fact sheet provides basic steps for homeowners and volunteers to use in safely cleaning up mold in their homes and preventing its regrowth. It is focused on mold resulting from flooding but is applicable to other causes as well. |
| Elevation Protects House When Craig Lee began planning the construction of his Vermilion Parish home, he learned he would be required to elevate his new house more than 8 feet above grade in order to receive a building permit. He did not understand the parish’s requirement to elevate because his brother’s house was on-grade, on the same piece of land, and in 25 years had never flooded. In September 2005, Hurricane Rita provided the unfortunate answer to his question. |
| <- Prev | 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 | Next -> |
|
| Dehydration The combination of heat, humidity and hard work can spell trouble for people cleaning up after a disaster, especially if they don't usually work outdoors. |
| General Decontamination Floodwaters may be contaminated with sewage and decaying animal and human remains. Disinfection of hands, clothing, tools/equipment and surfaces in work areas is critical in disease prevention. (Source: OSHA) |
| Construction Hazards The top four causes of construction fatalities are: Falls, Struck-By, Caught-In/Between and Electrocutions. (Source: OSHA) |
| For Folks Who Got Water But Shouldn’t Have Of course no one “should” flood. But in this case “shouldn’t have” means you built outside the flood hazard area or above predicted levels and still got water in your house. Understanding why can help you avoid future damage. |
| Photo Gallery - Louisiana House - Home & Landscape Resource Center Browse this photo gallery to see progress from the current stage of construction to groundbreaking, highlighting special features, products and techniques used. |
| Avoid and Repair "Storm Spots" in the Lawn One sure vestige of a hurricane or bad blow is a large, dead area of the lawn. It usually is located near curbside, or anwhere yard debris is piled up for many days. Some spots can be avoided by careful debris management; others are inevitable and will require restoration. |
| Plomo en la Construccion El plomo es un elemento peligroso encontrado en muchos lugares de construcción. La exposición a plomo proviene de inhalar humos y polvo, y el plomo puede ser ingerido cuando las manos están contaminadas con polvo de plomo. Los trabajadores pueden llevarse el plomo a sus casas en las ropas, piel, cabello, herramientas y vehículos. La exposición a plomo puede ocurrir en actividades de demolición, rescate, remoción, encapsulación renovación y limpieza. (Fuente: OSHA) |
| Common Reactions to Crisis by Ages Most children can put into perspective tragic or sad events that don't impact them personally. However, some children may be at risk of more extreme reactions because of personal circumstances. Adults should contact a professional if children exhibit the following over an extended period of time. |
| Consejos para Protección de Caidas Esta tarjeta contiene la información relativa a la protección de usted cae mientras está en el puesto de trabajo. Fuente: OSHA. |
| Limpieza despues de Inundaciones Las inundaciones pueden causar la interrupcion de los sistemas de purificacion de agua y eliminacion de aguas negras, el desbordamiento de depositos de desechos toxicos y el desprendimiento de productos quimicos previamente almacenados sobre tierra. Fuente: OSHA |
| Los Cuatros Riegos Principales de la Construccion Las cuatro causas más comunes de fatalidades en la construcción son: caídas, golpes, quedar atrapado/ pillado y electrocución. Fuente: OSHA. |
| Descontaminacion General Las aguas de inundacion pueden estar contaminadas con efluentes de alcantarillado y restos de animales y humanos descompuestos. La desinfeccion de manos, ropa, herramientas/equipos y superficies en areas de trabajo, es critica en la prvencion de enfermedades. Fuente: OSHA |
| Equipo de Proteccion Personal en la Construccion Use el equipo de protección personal que figuran aquí para protegerse en el trabajo. Fuente: OSHA |
| Andamio de Soporte Consejos para una Inspeccion Inspeccione los andamios y las partes del andamio diariamente, antes de comenzar cada turno de trabajo y despúes de cualquier evento que pueda haber causado daño al andamio. |
| Simple Retrofit Prevents Structural Damage Flood vents are specifically designed to open during flooding to allow the free flow of water through the structure. |
| What to do When Your Air Conditioner Goes Out 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. |
| Coastal Building Successes and Failures This fact sheet discusses how coastal construction requirements are different from those for inland construction. (Source: FEMA 499: Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction, Fact Sheet 1.) |
| Cameron Parish Houses Stand Up to Hurricane Ike On September 13, 2008 Hurricane Ike hit the Louisiana/Texas coast as a Category 2 storm. The storm surge brought devastation to lower Cameron Parish. Although the surge wasn’t nearly as powerful as it was with Hurricane Rita in 2005, which almost completely devastated Cameron Parish, Ike caused the water level to rise slowly and damage surrounding homes, businesses, pastures, and such.But some homeowners were ready when the latest storm hit. |
| Cameron Parish Houses Built to Withstand Hurricanes Photos of Byron "Goose" and Carla Richard, and Margaret Jones's houses after Hurricane Ike. |
| Coastal Building Materials Fact Sheet This fact sheet provides guidance on the selection of building materials used for coastal construction. (Source: FEMA 499: Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction, Fact Sheet 8.) |
| <- Prev | 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 | Next -> |
|
| Foundations in Coastal Areas this fact sheet describes foundation types suitable for coastal environments. (Source: FEMA 499: Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction, Fact Sheet 11) |
| Foundation Walls This fact sheet discusses the use of foundation walls in coastal buildings. (Source: FEMA 499: Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction, Fact Sheet 15) |
| Siding Installation and Connectors This fact sheet provides basic installation tips for various types of siding. (Source: FEMA 499: Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction, Fact Sheet 25.) |
| Housewrap Fact Sheet This fact sheet explains the function of housewrap, examines its attributes, and addresses common problems associated with the use of housewrap. Source: FEMA Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction Fact Sheet No. 23. |
| Window and Door Installation Fact Sheet Water intrusion around window and door openings can cause dry rot and fastener corrosion that weaken the window or door frame or the wall itself, and lead to water damage to interior finishes, mold growth, and preventable building damage during coastal storms. (Source: FEMA 499: Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction, Fact Sheet 22) |
| Pile Installation Fact Sheet This fact sheet provides information about pile design and installation. (Source: FEMA 499: Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction, Fact Sheet 12) |
| Building Code Protects Louisiana Town Stringent building regulations that promote proper flood mitigation may have helped save Mandeville resident’s homes during Hurricane Katrina. |
| Improve Your Home and Profit; Make It Stronger, Safer, Smarter Floods, hurricanes and soaring energy prices happen, but they don’t have to bust your budget, damage your home, rob your time or deny your comfort. You can make your home stronger, safer and smarter byincluding both energy-saving and hazard-resistant mprovements whenyou remodel or restore it. |
| Building Your High-Performance Home - Gulf Region Homeowners Guide This 88-page, spiral-bound book includes a user-friendly overview of key design and building principles for a hot, humid climate and Gulf Region conditions, a planning checklist of recommended features and their benefits, a reference guide explaining each item on the checklist and a list of many other sustainable home information resources. TO PLACE YOUR ORDER using a credit card, click on the "order publication" link below. To purchase with a check, please use the order form. |
| Water-Managed Foundation A great deal of moisture can move from the ground into and through a foundation and floor system, which can lead to decay, mold under flooring and high indoor humidity. To prevent these problems, keep rainwater away from the foundation with a 5% slope (6 inches/10 feet) of the grade around the house, prevent materials from absorbing water, drain groundwater with underground drainage before it gets to the foundation and allow the moisture in a foundation to escape. |
| The Plumber This article describes what a plumber does and why you might need one; how a plumber gets licensed; and how the homeowner can verify the license. |
| Flood Insurance and Credit for Disaster Victims If you have purchased coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program, you will be protected against property damage caused by flooding. You may also be partially reimbursed for steps you take to prevent flood damage, even if the flood never reaches your building. |
| Timely Tidbits: For Folks who Almost Got Water What to do after a flood whether you have flood insurance or not. |
| Access Remedies for Your Home A majority of home-buying and building decisions are made people are in the prime of life and health. Often, primary considerations are safety for children, budget, color, floor plan, neighborhood and school districts. In a society where people live longer and where many medical conditions are treatable, planning for future lifestyles and physical limitations can be very important. This article gives some suggestions on how to design for future accessibility. |
| Web Links To Useful Information This site contains Web links to information useful for helping you when you build or rebuild in Louisiana. |
| New Cameron Parish House Built Flood-Proof Hurricane Rita leveled Thompson “Thomp” and Karen McCall’s Cameron Parish home. So, when they built their new home, they built it safer, stronger and smarter. |
| Hurricane Evacuation and Salvage Guidelines Alice Weiss, whose Slidell home was hit by Hurricane Katrina, has compiled of items needed for cleanup the next time a storm hits. She made this list based on her own experiences. Weiss advises folks to get these items before they leave the area, or before they return, as the items may not be available when they return. Weiss's complete list is available here. |
| Announcing the Entergy Hurricane Relief Fund Entergy has established a fund at the Foundation for the Mid South to help nonprofit [501(c) 3] organizations and intermediary organizations serving communities affected by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The Entergy Hurricane Relief Fund will be used to help communities in the Entergy service territory to recover and rebuild in the aftermath of the storms. Entergy Corporation launched the fund with a corporate contribution of $700,000. |
| Ready for Rain: Making an Informed Decision Segment of the LSU AgCenter Ready for Rain video including the factors to be considered in making a decision to invest in protecting a home from future flood damage. |
| Ready for Rain: Wet Floodproofing Wet floodproofing segment of the LSU AgCenter "Ready for Rain" video describing techniques for reducing damage to the home without attempting to keep water out of the building. |
| <- Prev | 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 | Next -> |
|
| Ready for Rain: Back-flow Prevention and Pumps Segment from the LSU AgCenter "Ready for Rain" video showing details for preventing sewer backflow and using pumps in flood protection. |
| Ready for Rain: Panel Closures Segment of the LSU AgCenter "Ready for Rain" video describing construction of panels that can be used to block openings in barrier systems and to protect windows and doors in dry-floodproofed buildings. |
| Ready for Rain: Sandbags and Water Inflatables Segment of the LSU AgCenter "Ready for Rain" video describing proper filling and use of sandbags and a variety of water-inflated barriers that can be used as temporary flood barriers. |
| Ready for Rain: Floodwalls and Levees Segment of the LSU AgCenter Ready for Rain video describing benefits and construction of privates levees and floodwalls. |
| Ready for Rain: Dry Floodproofing Dry floodproofing segment of the LSU AgCenter Ready for Rain video, showing tips and techniques for sealing the building so water will not pass through the walls, doors and windows. |
| What's In My Back Yard? The Road Home's "What's In My Back Yard?" (WIMBY) Tools provide information about facilities and services available in areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This information is intended to serve as a resource for homeowners as they decide how to use their Road Home funds. |
| ¿Pueden salvarse estos árboles? Una tormenta o cualquier otro desastre puede dejar árboles destruidos. Pueden quebrarse o dañarse las ramas principales, cortarse o ajarse el follaje o arrancarse o perforarse la corteza. Sin embargo, lo que a primera vista pueden parecer lesiones mortales no necesariamente resulta letal paraun árbol. Los árboles tienen una capacidad increíble para recuperarse de los daños ocasionados por tormentas. (Fuente: Texas Cooperative Extension Service) |
| Remoción de escombros en terrenos Usted es responsable de la remoción de escombros de su propiedad. Para ello, se necesita un plan que trate las prioridades, técnicas de remoción y cuestiones de seguridad. (Fuente: Texas Cooperative Extension Service) |
| Timely Tidbits: For Folks who Got Water Move quickly to clean and disinfect. This is important from a health standpoint as well as from an insurance standpoint. Document damage and file insurance claims. Protect your termiticide while cleaning exterior walls. Don’t be in a hurry to get “back to normal.” Does your flood insurance cover personal belongings? Coverage for raising your home. |
| Storm Spot Images A collage of storm spot images from hurricane debris. |
| Benefits of Green Building Green building has multiple direct environmental and economic benefits to consumers and to society as a whole. |
| Alliance with the LSU Hurricane Center The Louisiana House Learning Center and LSU Hurricane Center are cooperating to make sure the Louisiana House incorporates hazard-resistant features based on the best local research data available. |
| Adding Space As you restore your home, you may want to take the opportunity to add space - either with an addition on the back or side of the home, or by adding a second story. |
| Seguridad de Generadores Portatiles Generadores portátiles son usados con un motor de combustion interna para generar electricidad y están comunmente usados durante respuesta a desastres. Generadores portátiles pueden ser peligrosos si se usan incorrectamente. Fuente: La Occupational Safety and Health Administration de Estados Unidos (OSHA). |
| Cameron Parish House Built High To Escape Flood Waters Byron “Goose” and Carla Richard have lived in Cameron Parish all of their lives. After Hurricane Rita struck in September 2005, the Richards never questioned if they would return. They just had to figure out how. |
| Evaluacion del Dano y Restauraction de los Arboles Despues de un Huracan Despues de un huracan, las comunidades tienen la oportunidad de planear y reconstruir el bosque urbano de tal manera que las futuras tormentas sean menos devastadoras. (Fuente: University of Florida Extension) |
| Home Exhibits Energy-Saving Techniques 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) |
| Seguridad Eléctrica Los riesgos eléctricos pueden causar quemaduras,choques eléctricos y electrocución (muerte). Fuente: La Occupational Safety and Health Administration de Estados Unidos (OSHA). |
| Portable Generator Safety Portable generators are internal combustion engines used to generate electricity and are commonly used during disaster response. Portable generators can be dangerous if used incorrectly. Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). |
| Electrical Safety Electrical hazards can cause burns, shocks and electrocution (death). Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). |
| <- Prev | 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 | Next -> |
|
| Cameron Parish Residents and LSU AgCenter Agents Share Construction Knowledge Construction techniques used by Cameron Parish residents rebuilding their homes will be featured during a tour of homes on September 23, 2007, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Hire Licensed Professional Arborists to Remove Storm-Damaged Trees If the recent hurricanes have landed trees on your property, Dr. Hallie Dozier of the LSU AgCenter cautions you to hire only Louisiana-licensed professional arborists remove the trees. |
| Professional Roles: Land Surveyors Land surveyors determine legal property boundaries. They also establish subsurface mineral boundaries to determine the distribution of mineral rights. |
| Financial Assistance for Recovering from Disaster Following a Presidential Declaration, disaster assistance is made available to help residents and local governments in the declared parishes recover from the effects of the disaster. |
| Best Management Practices - Planting and Mulching Best Management Practices in regard to proper planting techniques and mulch use in the home landscape. |
| Louisiana Lawns Fact Sheet: Turfgrass for Louisiana Lawns A lawn can be as functional as it is beautiful if planned properly. Recommended varieties, degree of shade, planting and establishment and other site considerations are included. |
| Build Safer, Stronger, Smarter: Add Strength and Water Resistance When Repairing Your Roof 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. |
| Build Safer, Stronger, Smarter: Add Strength and Water Resistance When Repairing Your Walls 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. |
| Disaster Recovery Information Hurricane Disaster Recovery information link |
| Build Safer, Stronger, Smarter: Add Strength and Water Resistance When Reparing Your Walls 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. |
| Build Safer Stronger Smarter: Elevating an Existing Home If you live in Louisiana, your primary objective in raising a home is likely to be flood avoidance, even if you’re not in an identified flood hazard area. Elevation is the most effective on-site method of reducing future flood damage. |
| Soil types, Strength and Practical Methods for Measuring Soil Strength and Bearing Capacity For an average person soil might just be nothing but dirt which you walk on and never pay attention. But for engineers it is a complex material that must be studied. |
| Decay and Termite Damage 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. |
| Contracting for Permanent Repairs As you attempt to restore your life and home after a storm, the availability of local companies and individuals to perform the necessary services will be limited. It often may be advisable to do temporary repairs and wait for local contractors who will be there to guarantee their work long after the storm is over. |
| New Gulf Region Healthy Homes Training Center LaHouse Resource Center is now a new Gulf Region Healthy Homes Training Center partner of the National Healthy Homes Training Center and Network. Lessons taught at the Center promote practical and cost-effective methods for making homes healthier. |
| Universal Design - Building for Accessibility Universal design means creating spaces that meet the needs of all people, young and old, abled and disabled. From the arrangement of the rooms to the choice of colors, many details go into the creation of accessible spaces. Some general guidelines are listed here. |
| Repairing Storm-Damaged Roofs Damage to roofs is the most common damage resulting from wind storms, and we can take actions to minimize future damage. |
| September Mini-Seminars at Rebuilding Information Station A series of mini-seminars has been scheduled for September at the Rebuilding Information Station (RIS) in New Orleans. |
| House and Landscape Designers Selected On Novermber 10, 2000, Remson-Haley Architects (RHA) has been selected to design the Louisiana House and produce a master plan for development of the six-acre site. |
| Follow Four Essential Steps When Starting A Lawn There are four distinct components of establishing turfgrass: clearing and grading to provide the desired contours and good surface drainage, soil preparation, planting, and watering and maintenance. |
| <- Prev | 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 | Next -> |
|
| Professional Roles: Interior Designers An interior designer works on the interior and is specially trained in this area. Interior designers follow much of the same design steps and procedures as architects do, only the work of interior designers is specific to the interior. |
| Global Green's Holy Cross Project in the Lower 9th After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Global Green USA made a dedicated commitment to sustainable building in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. As part of that commitment, Global Green, in partnership with Brad Pitt, sponsored an international design competition during the summer of 2006. The result is a zero energy affordable housing development in the Holy Cross Neighborhood of the Lower 9th Ward. |
| The Safer, Stronger, Smarter Louisiana House - Hurricane Edition This "Hurricane Edition" is a guide to flood, wind and water resistance features you can see at the Louisiana House Home and Landscape Resource Center (LaHouse). It was developed during the summer of 2007 for use in mid-construction open houses. Pages will be updated when features become less visible as the house is completed. |
| Changing Space Restoration of a home may afford a good opportunity to change the way you use existing space in the home. |
| Protect Your Children from Lead Lead poisoning is not just a problem in crumbling housing in inner cities. It's a common tragic result of remodeling older homes and other sources. Small exposures, once thought harmless, can cause serious, permanent damage to the brain. |
| Sample Contract View this sample contract to get an idea of the language your contract may include. Source: LouisianaRebuilds (http://www.louisianarebuilds.info/contractor) |
| Maintenance and Inspection Guidelines to Protect Your Home from Termites Treatments for termites must be integrated with proper maintenance. Eliminate as many conditions conducive to termite infestations as possible by following the five general categories of rules. |
| Foundations of Elevated Buildings After hurricanes Katrina and Rita, some homeowners are rebuilding to a higher elevation, either by choice, or because they are required to elevate. Elevating or rebuilding above base flood level will minimize the flood risk, but foundations that aren’t designed and built properly may result in other problems. |
| Use of Connectors and Brackets In high-wind areas, special hardware is used for most framing connections. Proper use of connection hardware is important for insuring your home can withstand high winds. SOURCE: Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction Technical Fact Sheet Series: Fact Sheet 17. |
| Using Sandbags for Flood Protection Sandbags can be used to fill gaps in a permanent protection system, to raise an existing levee or to build a complete emergency levee. |
| Walls that Work in the South and Why In hot, humid climates, walls should be built to keep moisture out. |
| Plan to Future-Proof Your Home Consider advanced wiring and designing adaptable spaces.... |
| Tips for a Family-friendly and Functional Floor Plan Follow design guidelines to make your home functional for life... |
| Rodents after the Storm or Flood Structures damaged by the storm are particularly attractive and provide easy access for rodents. The unwelcome pests can damage property and, in extreme cases, pose a potential health problem. |
| Making Preliminary Repairs Preliminary repairs are meant to keep damage from getting worse. Any temporary structural repairs that can be made will require some creativity since there’s likely to be a shortage of materials. |
| Snakes after a Storm or Flood Many snakes, like other residents in the path of a major storm, have been displaced and left homeless. As a result, it is commonplace to find these animals seeking shelter and food in areas close to people. |
| Building Systems -- High-performance Options Building systems that integrate the five criteria for Gulf Region Conditions. |
| Moisture Basics - Clues to Moisture Problem Mysteries Find the water vapor balance... |
| Air Basics- The Invisible Transporter Air equalizes between higher and lower pressure areas- whether you want it to or not... |
| Heat Basics- Why Insulation Isn't Enough Heat moves three ways... |
| <- Prev | 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 | Next -> |
|
| Lighting with Fewer Watts, Less Heat Lighting can account for 15% of a home's yearly electric bill... |
| Efficient Cooling and Heating in a Hot, Humid Climate ENERGYSTAR labels are more efficient and cost effective... |
| Insulation Systems with Good "Whole Wall" R-Values The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating ability... |
| Tight Construction for a Continuous Air Barrier Homes should create a continuous air barrier system that surrounds all conditioned space... |
| High Performance Windows for the South In a warm climate, reducing solar heat gain (and air leakage) through a window is even more important than a high insulating value. |
| Design for the Climate In the Gulf Region, this means reducing summer heat gain.... |
| Your Energy Efficient Home Checklist Use this checklist to explore components and features of your sustainable Louisiana house. |
| Using Suitable Green Materials Choose environmentally-friendly products to avoid pollution and the depletion of natural resources. |
| Sierra de Cadena Consejos de Seguridad El funcionamiento de una sierra de cadena es peligroso. Fuente: La Occupational Safety and Health Administration de Estados Unidos (OSHA). |
| Jirafas Consejos de Seguridad Las elevaciones aéreas incluyen plataformas aéreas auge-apoyadas, tales como recogedores de la cereza o carros del cubo. Las causas principales de fatalidades son caídas, electrocutions, y derrumbamientos u overs de la extremidad. Fuente: La Occupational Safety and Health Administration de Estados Unidos (OSHA). |
| Consejos de Seguridad para Demolicion El trabajo de la demolición implica muchos de los mismos peligros que se presentan durante otras actividades de la construcción. Sin embargo, la demolición también implica los peligros adicionales debido a una variedad de otros factores. Algunos de éstos incluyen: pintura conducir-basada, objetos agudos o que resaltan y material el asbesto-contener. Fuente: La Occupational Safety and Health Administration de Estados Unidos (OSHA). |
| Chain Saw Safety Tips Operating a chain saw is dangerous. The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed this "Quick Card" as a reference guide for workers. |
| Demolition Safety Tips Demolition work involves many of the same hazards that arise during other construction activities. However, demolition also involves additional hazards due to a variety of other factors. Some of these include: lead-based paint, sharp or protruding objects and asbestos-containing material. Source: The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration. |
| Aerial Lifts Safety Tips Aerial lifts include boom-supported aerial platforms, such as cherry pickers or bucket trucks. The major causes of fatalities are falls, electrocutions, and collapses or tip overs. Source: The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). |
| Chain Saw Safety Tips - OSHA Quick Card Operating a chain saw is inherently hazardous. Potential injuries can be minimized by using proper personal protective equipment and safe operating procedures. |
| Reducing Waste Reducing the amount of waste produced when building and living in homes can make a big difference in the number, longevity and cost of needed landfills. |
| Dry Foundations A great deal of moisture can move from the ground into and through a foundation and floor system... |
| Sewage Backflow Valves Prevent sewerage from backing up into your home... |
| Capital Region Builders - Model Homes and Training As many Louisiana residents struggle to rebuild their homes and their lives in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, homeowners, builders and code officials need help building safer, stronger homes that will resist hurricane damage. They also need help understanding and implementing the newly adopted residential building code. The Capital Region Builders Association (CRBA) has been at the forefront of educational efforts, offering a series of code workshops and model homes. |
| Finding a Counselor This discussion of different methods of counseling and different factors to use in finding a counselor can help the consumer make good choices in selecting a mental health professional service. |
| <- Prev | 24 - 25 - 26 | Next -> |
|
| Gutting a House It’s been almost two years since Hurricane Katrina hit the southern coast of Louisiana and Mississippi. Some of the flooded homes have been rebuilt, or are in the process of being rebuilt. The important question is “How good are we rebuilding?” |
| Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council The Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council has developed a Web site filled with valuable information concerning the Louisiana Uniform Construction Code. |
| What's a Wind Load? Imagine turning your house upside down and shaking it.... |
| Homeowner's Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to Protect Your House From Flooding 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. |
| Protecting Native Trees and the Ecosystem Create a sustainable environments by preserving the natural state of your site. |
| Site Choices that Make a Difference Go beyond just building green..... |
| Your Home's Energy Rating - Assurance By the Number Does your home measure up? |
| Comfort Comfort is more than merely air temperature... |
| Important Building Material Insights When conditions change, so do building materials... |
| Resulting Rules to Remember in the South The most important messeges to take from this guide... |
| Building Codes - Minimum Requirements Before making building plans, be aware of the building code requirements for your location. |
| Useful Web links Moving to a new home in a new area? Here are some Web links to help you get set up. |
| Prepare su Vivienda Antes del Inicio de la Temporada de Tormentas Al prepararse para la temporada de huracanes que se avecina, los funcionarios federales exhortan a los residentes a que también preparen sus viviendas. |
| Lowest Floor Elevation In inland areas, experience has shown that floods damage areas of buildings not elevated above the flood level and destroy contents of those areas. In coastal areas, wave action causes even more damage, often destroying enclosed building areas below the flood level (and any building areas above the flood level that depend on the lower area for structural support). Source: Home Builder's Guide to Coastal Construction Technical Fact Sheet Series: Fact Sheet 4. |
| LaHouse - Building Systems LaHouse showcases four types of construction: Standard 2 x 4 Framing, Advanced 2 x 6 Framing, Structural Insulated Panel Systems (SIPS) and Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF). |
| LaHouse - Special Hurricane Resistance Features LaHouse has several features for flood and wind and water resistance that are not captured in the building component descriptions. These include a Safe Room, Dry Floodproofing, anchoring of the flat roof of the breezeway, porct protection and closets, ground sloping away from the foundation, back-flow protection and elevated utility systems. |
| LaHouse - Windows and Doors Windows and doors at LaHouse are selected and sized to meet the cojde-specified design pressure rating for a 130 mph wind zone. Where windows and doors are not impact rated units, they are protected by shutter, panels or screens. Windows and doors are flashed so water drains to the outside, not into the wall cavity. |
| LaHouse - Walls Walls at LaHouse are wind and water resistant. Sheathing and hardware contribute to shear, lateral and uplift resistance. Layering and taping of housewraps and flashings provide resistance to water and moisture penetration. Drainage planes exclude water that penerates exterior finishes. |
| LaHouse - Roof The roofs at LaHouse are predominantly hip-style for greatest wind resistance. Both metal and simulated clay tile are demonstrated with high-wind installation. |
| LaHouse Foundation - Flood, Wind and Water Resistance LaHouse has a flood protection level 3 feet above Base Flood Elevation, using three elevated foundations on the house and dry-floodproofingon the non-residential building (garage/classroom). Wind and moisture protection are also addressed. |
| <- Prev | 25 - 26 | Next -> |
|
|
|
|