Blog | Doug Coe Architect

Cork wall insulation now available in USA

August 9th, 2012

For quiet comfortable floors, one of the most appealing choices out there is cork flooring. It is also a very renewable and natural resource.

Cork has also been used in Europe for years for a very different purpose—insulation.
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Guard an older home against electrical fires

July 2nd, 2012

Last week I asked some people on the sidewalk why they were looking at the old house across the street. They informed me there had been a fire in the night that gutted the house and sent three people to the hospital.

The cause of the fire: overheated electrical wiring.
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Cooking indoors is unhealthy

June 8th, 2012

Strangely, putting an exhaust hood over your stove is not required by the building code in California. But everyone does it anyway. Who wants cooking smells to linger for days?

It turns out there is an even more compelling reason for those range hoods—to safeguard your health.
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The true reason for city building inspections

May 21st, 2012

If you haven’t done a home remodel before you might not be familiar with city building inspections. Are they like the inspection you get when you buy a house? Whose benefit are they done for?
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When do I need a building permit?

April 27th, 2012

When do I need a building permit?

This is a question I often hear when meeting with homeowners. The building code in California says: almost always. Of course, there’s a bit more to it than that.

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