Michael Reeves Architect PLLC

One the simplest things to do is set your main floor slab a minimum of 18" above the crown of the road in front of the house.

10 Low-Cost Strategies for Building Resilient Housing - Fine Homebuilding Find affordable ways to build or retrofit resilient homes that can withstand extreme weather, from landscaping to water management and more.

I received notification from our national architectural licensing group, NCARB of an architect's competency standard. We certainly could use that around here, too many examples of poor design and construction observation leading to code deficient projects. Most of the problems stem form lack of professional experience and focus on other unrelated pursuits rather than proper design and administration. Also doesn't help when the building officials do not enforce code or drafting services create crap because an owner is too cheap to do architectural design the proper way. Also, the state allows any engineer to stamp an architectural project for permitting as if they were an architect. Clearly a statewide failure that does not protect the public. One day this will become a problem you cannot ignore, especially with coastal construction.
You may find this guide at

www.ncarb.org

Years ago after Katrina I designed an ICF replacement home for then Congressman Taylor. Unfortunately, the Taylor house didn't get built, but it was a fun project (as were the several renovations I completed for his Beach Blvd. house). This construction process is a challenge when it needs to be in a flood velocity zone, but it has ways to be done. Something comforting living in a well insulated, reinforced concrete home.

Tornadoes, Tariffs and ICFs At the intersection of the climate crisis and lumber inflation, ICF homes have never looked better.