Schill Architecture is please to announce that we’ve recently been featured on a Dumpsters.com blog post titled “Expert Advice to Build Your Lake Erie Dream Home.” With over 30 years of professional experience building lakefront homes (85 to be exact!), Steve prides himself on his ability to guide clients through every step of the lakefront construction process. Steve gives 3 major pieces of advice to keep in mind while building on the lake:
- Choose a team who knows how to work safely while building on the lakefront
- Use materials that can handle Lake Erie’s heavy winds
- Protect your lakefront home from moisture
The most important concept for people to understand when making the decision about whether or not to build on Lake Erie is that the home cannot be constructed the same way as other houses in the community due to the rapidly changing microclimate of the waterfront. Steve will be the first to tell you that “people always think of the lake as sunny skies and sailboats going by, but it gets crazy at a moment’s notice and you have to plan for it.” Schill Architecture frequently utilizes masonry on the exterior of our waterfront homes to stabilize the structure against the forceful winds of the north coast. In addition to the wind, preventing water from penetrating the envelope is another important design consideration. We always recommend closed-cell foam insulation when building on the water, which hardens to create an air and moisture barrier that keeps outdoor elements from entering. As new building technologies are developed, our construction techniques continue to evolve and look forward to being one of the most active lakefront architects in Northeast Ohio for years to come!
