Blog

Introducing Centerline Development’s Brand New Collection of Home Plans: the Ocean Dunes Collection.

See the Home Plans for the New Westwood:

Hear from Jeff Satterwhite about what is required when you’re building on a Floodplain in terms of the various mechanical features for your home.

Renovation Part II – Mechanicals and Floodplain

St. James Plantation, NC – This part of the land (that Jeff is on) is on the floodplain, on the marsh – all mechanicals, electrical wires, switches, compressors – anything that has to do with mechanical or wires, has to be above the freeboard of the floodplain. This area is an AE-11 zone. So, in Brunswick County, you have to have 2 feet above the AE-11, meaning everything has to be above the 13 foot elevation. The ground elevation here is about 6 feet, which means all mechanicals have to be 7-8 feet above the floodplain in order to be compliant with the local and CAMA building codes.

Watch Previous Ceneterline Construction Chat videos to learn more about the Brunswick County, NC Building Process.

If you have any questions or comments about renovating your home, please contact us at (910) 620-8883 or Jeff@gocenterline.com

We’re excited to announce the brand new Ocean Dunes Collection. This will be a collection of 10 new coastal home plan designs and styled for the easy-living lifestyle of eastern North Carolina. The plans will range in size between 2,200 square feet and 3,500 square feet. All the plans will be priced as a complete package with several options so the homeowner can put their personal touch on their new home. The Ocean Dunes Collection will have the custom quality of Centerline custom homes, but priced for today’s economy. Hone plans will maximize open space, large windows, upgraded molding, and numerous other upgrades.

Please visit the website in June to see all the exciting new coastal plans with custom quality at the right price.

The 2012 Parade of Homes is coming up in October! Jeff Satterwhite will have 2 homes in St. James Plantation and one in Ocean Ridge. Be sure to stop by!

The Dates for the 2012 Parade of Homes:

St. James Plantation POA open house: October 6th-7th

Parade of Homes: October 20th-21 and 27th-28th, 12noon – 5pm each day

Click Here for more info on the 2012 Parade of Homes

For questions or to learn more, contact Jeff Satterwhite: (910) 620-8883 or Jeff@gocenterline.com

In this video, Jeff Satterwhite explains Grinder Pumps – what they are, how they work and how to know when yours is not working! See below for the text version.

Grinder Pumps

Grinder Pump Tub – This is 6 feet deep and as wide as the circumference of the lid. It is basically a big fiberglass bucket in the ground, and when you flush your toilet, the gray water from it runs into this bucket, underground. There is a 4-inch line running from your toilet into the tank, falling to the bottom.

There is a big huge grinder pump or a macerator that sits at the bottom of the bucket with a float, when the bucket fills to a certain level, the float flips on the switch and it grinds the material like a blender and pumps it into the street through a 2-inch line.

You need to be careful with your grinder pump, because it is like a blender in that it has a large blade and it can get clogged.

The control box – Is a 220 volt controller that controls the grinder pump and the switches in the tank. If the red light is blinking and there is an alarm going off on the control box, then the grinder pump (macerator) is not working and the alarm float is to its max level since the grinder is not working.

If this happens, you must call the county (Brunswick County) for them to come over and take care of your problem.

For questions or to learn more, contact Jeff Satterwhite: (910) 620-8883 or Jeff@gocenterline.com

To watch other Centerline Construction Chat tutorials, click here
To see other videos from Jeff Satterwhite, click here

With the large ‘range’ of options available, it can be overwhelming to narrow the field to choosing between gas or electric, and furthermore, deciding on a model. Many people have strong opinions and swear by one or the other. In reality, they will both get the job done and each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Before You Shop for your Gas or Electric Range

1. Measure Up!
Check the dimensions of the range you’re interested in to help ensure a proper fit. Look for installation instructions on each range for those dimensions.

2. Are you a Multi-task Cook?
For most people, a cooktop with four burners will work fine. If you love to cook, have a large family or entertain often, you may want the professional appearance and flexibility of five or more burners? Just a thought.

3. It’s Getting Hot in Here.
Think about finding a cooktop with a power burner to quickly bring foods to a boil. Or, try a simmer burner to prepare light sauces using low and even heat. If you use basic pots and pans, a dual-element burner is perfect for controlled simmering with small pans, and then you can use the outer ring for larger pans.

4. Cabinet Space?
Ranges can be freestanding, slide-in or drop-in. Freestanding is best if either side isn’t next to a cabinet, whereas a slide-in is best if it’s between two cabinets.

5. Top Chef or Heat and Eat?
Home chefs should look for high performance and precision features. Many prefer the performance of gas or the precision of induction. For the everyday cook, convenience and flexibility may be more important. Consider a smooth-top radiant cooktop for easy-to-clean functionality.

A Deeper Look

A major consideration for anyone purchasing a new kitchen range is cost. Overall, electric ranges are less expensive to manufacture making them less expensive to purchase. Cost will also be significantly less if your kitchen is pre-wired for an electric range. It can become costly if you have to have a gas line run into an existing property.

Electric Ranges

Pros:

• Less expensive to buy and install.
• Easier to clean burners and surfaces.
• Smooth-top electric ranges are more stable for pots and offer additional counter or storage space when not in use.
• Instantly turns on and off every time with the twist of a knob versus gas ranges that may sputter to catch a flame, emitting un-burned and potentially hazardous gas. No igniter or lighter necessary.
• More functions, such as additional fans and grillers, are available than their gas counterparts.
• More even heat distribution when baking.
• Dry heat for optimal oven roasting conditions.

Cons:

• Slower to cool when a burner is turned down or off.
• Subject to power outages.

Gas Ranges

Pros:

• More even stove top heat for cooking.
• Easy to gauge and precisely adjust the level of heat by altering the flame.
• Gas is inexpensive, abundantly available and clean burning.
• Gas ranges are less expensive to operate than electric ranges.
• The heat from a gas flame heats the sides, as well as the bottom, of pans, cooking food faster.
• Able to change temperature rapidly. You can immediately remove the heat when the flame is turned off, so you can still leave food on the stove to rest without continuing to cook.
• Less ambient heat to the rest of the kitchen.

Cons:

• More expensive to buy and install.
• More dangerous. Increased potential for gas leaks, the leading cause of residential fires. If a gas line is damaged or a pot boils over and quenches the flame, a home can quickly fill with toxic, flammable gas. Children or pets are also at greater risk to be burned or catch fire with an open flame.
• Diminished Baking Results. Oven temps are hotter at the top so baking requires rotation and placement farther from heat source. Gas gives off moisture when cooking, creating a humid heat rather than the dry heat required for effective roasting.

References: www.lowes.com and electric-range-review.toptenreviews.com

For questions contact Jeff Satterwhite: (910) 620-8883 or Jeff@gocenterline.com