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Designing to Withstand Natural Disasters in Dominica

It is not economically viable to design an earthquake, hurricane or flood proof building which is guaranteed to resist all possible scenarios.  However, it is possible during your design and construction process to select the appropriate materials (to be discussed in next week’s article) and to incorporate a number of disaster resistant features by applying engineering techniques, which would increase enormously the chances of survival of both buildings and their occupants.

 

Let us start with the geometry (shape of configuration) of a building as it is of equal importance as the maintenance of the integrity of the building envelope which we will discuss a little later in this article.  The geometry of a building is a crucial issue that should be addressed at the conceptual stages of a building project since it affects how well the building can resist natural disasters. Of particular concern are hurricanes and earthquakes; earthquakes to a lesser extent.

 

We therefore make the following recommendations for light weight structures of two stories or less:

 

  • A symmetrical building shape and arrangement of openings would result in a more balanced distribution of forces in the structure.

 

  • To withstand higher wind forces lightweight roofs should be gently sloping, no less than 20 degrees steep, a hipped shape (sloping in four directions) rather than a gable (sloping in two directions) or a single pitch shape.

 

  • Further improvements in wind resistance to lightweight roofs can be achieved with reduced overhangs at the eaves. The total elimination of overhangs to introduce a parapet wall would improve the roofs performance.

 

  • Shading of doors and windows from the elements may be achieved by the use of canopies separate from the main roof.

 

  • Where existing buildings are of unfavorable shape, making them invulnerable to hurricanes would include protecting windows and external doors. Significant attention should also be given to strengthen the building envelope as a result of the higher wind forces generated by the unfavorable building geometry.

 

When planning renovation projects, designers should consider opportunities to upgrade both the roof structure and its covering to at least the minimum building regulation standard for safe buildings.

 

As mentioned above, maintaining the integrity of the building’s envelope, including roofs and windows is very important and can be regarded as the key strategy to protecting a building from high winds caused by hurricanes.  It is imperative that we design structures to withstand the expected lateral and uplift forces. For example,

 

  • Roof trusses and gables must be braced;

 

  • Hurricane straps must be used to strengthen the connection between the roof and walls;

 

  • Doors and windows must be protected by covering and/or bracing.

 

Further, building designs can be influenced by the level of seismic resistance desired.  This ranges from the prevention of non-structural damage in frequent minor ground shaking to the prevention of structural damage and even avoidance of collapse or serious damage in rare major ground shaking.  These performance objectives can be accomplished through the introduction of structural components such as shear walls, braced frames, movement resisting frames, diaphragms, base isolation and bracing of non-structural components.

 

Though these suggestions seem to imply limiting creative architectural expressions, advances in technique, equipment and material do permit straying from them safely. This does require the conscious involvement of architects and engineers to achieve beautiful and safe construction which is essential in Dominica.

 

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Building on Sloped Land

Are you currently searching for a piece of property to build a home for you and your family? We receive many inquiries from individuals searching for flat land because the fact is that flat land is a bit easier and less costly to build on (depending on the location and design of the home to be built). However, on a mountainous island such as Dominica perfectly flat land is not easy to come by and when they do go on the market they do not usually remain there for very long. And while flat land may be what most individual’s desire, hillside properties are usually excellent real estate for homes for a number of reasons. In this article we are going to look at both the advantages and disadvantages of building on sloped land.

 

Here are four (4) advantages of building on sloped land:

  • Building on sloped land along the side of the hill can enhance the natural ventilation that your home receives. This natural ventilation, while a source of fresh air, also aids in decreasing the energy bills of your home by becoming less reliant on artificial cooling.
  • When compared to homes built on flat land surrounded by several other buildings homes constructed on hillsides are relatively more energy efficient. This is because of the natural ventilation (as mentioned above) and because they have better access to natural light.
  • Hillside properties often boast magnificent views. Being at a higher elevation allows panoramic views of your environment, whether it’s of the majestic mountains or the tranquil ocean. Having an amazing view from the comfort of your home is something that money cannot buy.
  • Building on sloped land forces the addition additional floor levels to maximize space and extend vertically rather than horizontally. Because horizontal extension would require huge excavation or reinforcement costs. Once the additional floor levels are added they can character to the home and variety to the space distribution.

 

Now that we have looked at the advantages, here are two (2) disadvantages of building on sloped land:
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REFRESH YOUR WALLS – Wall cleaning tips

Many times paint is not a must for sprucing up an unsightly wall. If you’re otherwise happy with the color and condition of your walls, you don’t have to paint them. Washing walls is by far the cheaper alternative, and with helpful tips, it’s really very easy.

Use a sponge or a white rag. Many rags are dyed and are not color safe which usually results in discoloration of the paint.

To prevent water from running down your arms use a terry cloth wristband or fasten rolled washcloths around your wrist with either a pin or rubber band.

To avoid having to constantly change the water because of excess dirt, use two separate containers for the cleaning solution and another for plain water.

Do not use any strong or concentrated bleach based solution which may damage the paint. Some dish soap/liquid in some warm water or baking soda applied to the sponge/cloth is sufficient. Be sure to rinse out the wall since most cleaning solutions have chemicals that may streak the paint.

Begin at the top and go down since dirty water from above runs down the wall as you clean.

Place old rags or towels along the base of the wall to avoid the floor getting too wet.

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Get the Best Cost, Quality, Time and Scope for your Construction Project

The traditional approach by home owners to building a home is to develop an idea or plan of what they want their home to look like, then hire a contractor to execute the plan.

 

Building a home calls for a lot more than just that.  A significant amount of time, financial and material resources go into a construction project.  Considering the scarcity of these resources, their proper management is crucial.

 

The effective management of resources when constructing a home can be a full time, demanding and stressful job, especially with the hectic schedule that governs the lives of homeowners.

 

A common component of building a home is selecting the right contractors.  Some contractors will provide excellent service and will need little or no supervision while others will need constant supervision and guidance.  How do you know which contractor you can entrust with your project, with minimal stress and little hassle?  Are you familiar with construction terms, documents, processes and materials necessary to   successfully complete a construction project?

 

The Project/Construction Manager offers a homeowner considerable relief from the stress and hassle of managing their home construction.  Project/Construction Managers, as well as many homeowners today, understand that building a home isn’t just a huge financial investment, it’s also a great investment emotionally and because of that the practice of project management has become very important and indispensible.

 

The key responsibility of a Project/ Construction Manager is to accomplish the objectives of the project.  He/she understands that no two customer’s expectations are the same but their common concerns are Cost, Time, Quality and Scope.

 

Project Cost – Expenses incurred for labour, material, equipment, services, utilities etc.

 

Project Time –The time frame analyzed and developed for the completion of a project or deliverable.

 

Project Quality – The totality of features and characteristics of the project at completion that satisfies stated or implied client need and is fit for the purpose for which the project was implemented.

 

Project Scope – What the project is supposed to accomplish and the budget of both time and money that has been created to achieve these objectives.

 

As a representative of the owner’s interest Project Managers bear ultimate responsibility for ensuring that key components of the project are efficiently handled.

 

Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from early development to completion.  Although many construction managers work from a main office, they spend a lot of time on the field at the construction site where they monitor the project and make daily decisions about construction activities.

 

They work in support of the homeowner to reduce total cost and ensure the best quality of work.  If nothing else, they can provide the homeowner with much needed peace of mind.

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The Built Environment

The built environment refers to the human-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity ranging in scale from personal shelters to neighborhoods to the large-scale civic surroundings.  Most of where we live is man-made – from the homes and apartments we live in, to the commercial buildings we work in, to the roads and bridges we traverse on daily.

 

People place a great amount of financial, physical and emotional investments in the maintenance of their heritage and improvement of infrastructure upon which they depend on for a civilized existence.  In order for us to protect and preserve our heritage and investments we must first pride in our local areas and environment.  We should focus on methods which embrace reduction in cost through efficient use of resources (energy, waste, water). We should provide environments that contribute to our physical and mental health and enhance creativity and productivity.  Our built environment also needs to be flexible and adaptable to future uses, and be resilient to cope with local effects of climate change.

 

Because of mounting economic pressures and changing environmental conditions over the years, practices within the built environment have evolved.  Now, great emphasis is placed on creating a sustainable built environment, through design, construction and management, which will enable all people to live well, within environmental limits.

 

Many institutions have been established to give the opportunity to not only construct feasible structures but also create surroundings that will preserve our environment and our way of life.  These organizations provide consulting services which is often free to the built environment market. They also assist in the design and implementation of programs, policies, and strategies to improve building and infrastructure performance for a broad range of clients including individuals, agencies, local governments, and corporate and institutional owners of real estate. They also help individuals and businesses deal with the risks inherent in the built environment activities.

 

We spend all of our lives within the built environment and some of us make no provisions for our generations to come.  Preserving the built environment started with persons before us and should continue with us.

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The Attic

In our previous articles: Basement Conversion Ideas Part 1 and 2 we took a look at some uses for basement space that are uncommon in Dominica. Today we look at the benefits of a space that is not found in the average Dominican home, the attic.

 

The attic is the space found directly below the pitched roof of a home or building and just like the basement or any other room they offer a number of uses and benefits:

 

1. Attics help control the temperature in the home by providing a large mass of slowly moving air. When the hot air rises from the lower levels of the home it is often retained in the attic which is why generally attics are not primarily used for living space. However, ensuring that the space is well insulated will rectify this problem.

 

2. Attics are generally used for the purpose of storage. Rather than having all your family’s belongings scattered in various rooms all over the house causing the home to feel cluttered you can simply place the less needed items in the attic for safe keeping. The attic can be used to store items from seasonal decorations to unused pieces of furniture.

 

3. Homes with attics, especially completed attics that are well insulated, are of greater value than homes that do not have attic space. If you ever decide to put your home up for sale in the future you will not regret having an attic included in your home design. 
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Advantages of a Multi-Storey Home

Deciding between building a one, two or three storey home can be a difficult choice. In a previous article “7 Advantages of a Single Storey Home” we discussed a few benefits that building a single storey home can offer homeowners. Today, we look at the advantages of building with additional floors.

Size:
One of the greatest benefits of building a multi-storey home is that the living space is almost doubled, even tripled (depending on the number of floors) when compared to a single storey home built on the same plot of land. In addition, with the decision to build upwards you can maximize on your yard space by not having to build a wider home to get a decent amount of living space.

Maximized Living Area:
Multi-storey homes offer a better division of living space. For one, in most cases there is a separation between sleeping areas and other living areas as most bedroom tend to be upstairs while areas such as the kitchen, dining room, and living room remain downstairs. Therefore you are less likely to be disturbed when you’re sleeping. Also, multi-storey homes often provide more options in terms of layout and design.

Taking Advantage of Views:
If your property has the potential to offer spectacular ocean and mountain views, you would more than likely want to build higher to maximize on those views. As a matter of fact, the traditional layout is being flipped around with more people deciding to have their living spaces (kitchen, dining room, living room) on the upper floors.

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7 Advantages of a Single Storey Home

Torn between constructing a single storey and multi-storey home? Today we offer you with seven (7) advantages of remaining at ground level rather than moving up.

1. It is cheaper to build flat. Fewer materials are used when building a single storey home compared to one with additional floors. Labor costs and professional fees are also cheaper when building a single storey home.

2. Single storey homes are more efficient in regards to space and time. Stairs take up valuable space from the total area of the home. In addition a shorter timeframe is taken when constructing a single storey home compared to a multi-storey home, because less work has to be put into the project.

3. If you plan on expanding your home later on in life the best decision to make is to build flat (if you have adequate land). It is also cheaper to expand at ground level rather than adding an additional floor. When expanding upwards be sure to get engineering input to ensure its safe and built to code.

4. Maintenance is easier accomplished with a single storey home. Plumbing pipes, electrical installation and the entire building on a whole is easier to maintain. Pipes can be removed at ease or replaced if needed, unlike a multi-storey home where they may be embedded into the concrete.

5. Single storey homes are more accommodating towards children, the elderly and persons with disabilities. Stairs poses safety concerns for individuals who may have difficulty moving up and down as they can easily trip and fall. Disabled persons, especially those wheelchair bound will need constant maneuvering to be taken around the home.

6. In case of emergencies such as fires, earthquakes, etc. a single storey home is more beneficial in that it allows for evacuations to occur at ease, seeing that you are already on the ground floor. In a single storey home you are closer to the main entrance/exit of the home and you can easily jump through a window.

7. A single storey home is also easier to move in. It is easy to just place furniture, appliances and décor in their designated room when they carried inside without having to worry about how you are going to get them up the stairs.

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5 Design Tips For Your Home Office

Including a home office in your home provides both personal and professional advantages. For starters, having a home office could greatly increase the value of your property. If you have a small business working from home will save you money that would essentially go towards renting an office space and additional utilities. And it also saves you money on travel. If you conduct your business affairs from home or you find yourself working from home frequently and are thinking of including an office space in your home, here are a few tips you should consider:

 

  • A home office can take any shape or form, and can come in various sizes. But what you firstly need to take into consideration is the location. In order to work efficiently in your home office you will need to consider the ideal location based on the type of work you do, the layout of the home, the space available, as well as your personal preference. Whether it is a quiet corner in the bedroom or living room, or a separate room altogether, ensure that the area has ample space for all what you need and that you can comfortably work in the chosen area. If you will be meeting with clients on a regular basis having a private space large enough to comfortably accommodate additional seats is best.
  • Available storage can greatly affect your level of productivity in your home office yet it is often overlooked. No matter where your office is located it is essential that you include some form of storage for books and important documents. Include enough shelving and or cupboards as needed in your office space. If the area is not large enough, or does not have ample wall space to take the necessary amount of shelves or cupboards needed, a filing cabinet can also be included. Having storage space in the home office helps you make efficient use of your office space and keeps your desk and surroundings well organized.
  • When it comes to lighting in your home office, maximize the use of natural light. A room that is well lit will keep you feeling awake, productive and creative. While thinking of where your office will be located consider an area in the home near a window, and if possible have your chair positioned facing the window. If you are in a windowless space try having your chair face the door. Having mirrors in your office space will brighten up the room when enough natural light cannot come in.
  • Different colors are thought to affect us in different ways and can alter our mood. For example the color blue is considered to be a very soothing color which aids in concentration. While colors like orange and yellow help foster creativity. When choosing a color for your home office space think light and bright. Darker colors, though they may be stylish, are more inclined to make you feel tired and less productive.
  • The best part about having a home office is that you get to decide what it looks and feels like. The opportunity is yours to add furniture and décor that not only highlights your business but shows who you are as an individual. If you want the overall office space to be traditional, contemporary or modern the decision is yours.

 

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Ideas to Consider When Remodeling Your Bathroom

If you are considering updating your bathroom the first thing you need to do is look around and make note of the things that you love and want to keep, the things you hate and the things that definitely need to either go or be updated. Make a list of the features you want to include in your new bathroom design and highlight what you need the most and what will be more practical given your budget and the size of your bathroom space.

When it comes to any major home remodeling or renovation project hiring a professional may seem costly when considering upfront costs but investing in a designer or architect to oversee your renovation project is always worth the expense in the long run. Setting up a plan with a designer or an architect will help keep your project within budget and will provide the assurance that the project will be completed within an expected timeline. Be sure to use the assistance of professionals for your plumbing and electrical works as well.

If you simply plan on doing a minor update to your bathroom then we suggest you do the following:

  • Update the toilet: if your toilet is still functional and is not outdated consider simply replacing the toilet lid and seat rather than throwing out the entire toilet and purchasing a new one. By just replacing these two components you will give the toilet a new look while saving time and money.
  • Use alternatives to tiles: instead of having tiles throughout the entire bathroom consider including other wall and flooring alternatives. While wood requires more maintenance than tiles, laminated or engineered wood panels or bead boards can provide a truly elegant look and a comfortable feel to your bathroom.
  • Use mirrors effectively: bathroom mirrors serve a greater purpose than providing a reflection. Having a mirror in the bathroom will aid in visually expanding the size of the room without undergoing an extension project, as well as brightening up the room. If your bathroom space is much smaller than you desire but you cannot afford to make the room physically bigger, consider purchasing a large wall-to-wall mirror which will make the room feel twice as big.
  • Storage: an elegant way to store and organize items in the bathroom while keeping them out of sight is by including an armoire with shelving. Installing hooks to hang towels is one of the easiest ways to add surface area when you have limited space. If you want to ensure that items are well organized inside of your drawers, drawer dividers are one way to help.

 

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