Ideas for Building and Living Well
Covewood Column
Thoughtful reporting on homebuilding, design, distinctive places, housing markets, and the ideas shaping how we live.
Wilmington’s coastal appeal draws buyers, but salt, wind, flood rules and ongoing maintenance change the long‑term cost and work of ownership. This column lays out the on‑site assessments, resilience features, material choices and conversations with builders and authorities you’ll need before signing on the dotted line.
A recent $69 million CDBG‑DR award for 10 projects in Western North Carolina will create hundreds of new rental homes. That’s welcome development — and a near‑term strain on crews, schedules, and neighborhood dynamics. Practical steps for small builders, subcontractors, and homeowners who want to protect timelines, quality, and local character.
If mold, peeling paint, or persistent dampness persist despite a running fan, the problem is often configuration, not the fixture. This guide walks you through how to measure performance, inspect the ducting and termination, and choose fixes from a new timer to re‑routing to an inline fan — and when to bring in an expert for hygrothermal analysis.
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