Treasure Island Construction

Roatan, Honduras

design build

Custom Home Building Tips

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casa bella

You have officially made the decision. It’s time to move to Roatan and upgrade your living space! While there are plenty of options to choose from, you have decided to build a luxurious customized home – offering you the freedom and flexibility to create a space that fits all your wants and needs. Treasure Island Construction is there to support you throughout this process. Which is why we have created a list of our top custom home building tips to help you along the way!

Select The Ideal Location

You’ve heard it before and you will certainly hear it again: location, location, location. While you certainly can’t go wrong with any of the beautiful places in Roatan, there are certain areas that boast more amenities and conveniences than others. We recommend spending some time on the island before committing to a certain area. Once you’ve decided on a lot, we also recommend taking the time to see which areas get more wind, sun exposure, shade, etc. After all, you will want to make sure your home plays to the strengths of the land.

Choose an Experienced Team

It goes without saying, but selecting the appropriate team of experienced architects and builders is vital to achieving your dream luxury custom home. You know your ideal design better than anyone else, so you should have individuals on your team who can bring it to life. Ask plenty of questions and research portfolios of previous work to gain a sense of the work your architect and builder have done before.

Be Involved in the Floor Plan Process

Though your team of custom home building experts is a trustworthy crew, you’ll still want to be a part of the blueprint design process so you can achieve your desired floor plan. Your architect and builder will be able to provide wonderful insight into the layout of your home based on the space you have, but you ultimately have the final say in any decision. This is your opportunity to create the elegant beach home of your dreams, so being involved in the planning process is key to ensuring you get everything you want. But also remember to heed their advice – after all, this is their area of expertise!

Tropical Solar Shading Strategies

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Tropical Solar Shading Strategies

Attention to detail, innovative techniques, and stellar communication are essential when it comes to constructing your tropical home. One important detail to consider and discuss with your Contractor, especially on Roatan, is how to keep the interior of your home at a comfortable ambient temperature without straining your AC unit. Incorporating these solar strategies into your floor plan will not only reduce your utility costs, but will also improve the interior living space for all. 

What Is Solar Shading?

Solar shading strategies include elements, devices, and systems that are designed to reduce heat from the sun entering a building. Today’s homes often include wide and high windows, encouraging as much natural light to enter the room as possible. And we love that! However, the heat from the sun can easily pass through the glass, and has a hard time getting back out. This heat remains in the room, often being absorbed by other elements such as concrete walls, before being radiated back into the room. Talk about turning up the heat! This increase in temperature not only creates an uncomfortable space, but also increases the load on your air conditioning unit. This is why an effective solar shading strategy is so important!

Solar Shading Strategies

Some solar shading strategies we recommend are:

  • Overhangs, Verandas, or Covered Patios: Large roof overhangs, verandas, or covered patios can all serve to protect walls and window openings from direct sunlight. This is effective on the north and south-facing walls because of the sun’s angle.
  • Horizontal Window Shading: Horizontal window shading devices can take many forms, and are often found in commercial applications. In traditional tropical homes, bell-shaped hoods were often used as a form of rain protection and solar shading. Today, a deeply recessed window or raised bands could be a more contemporary and aesthetically pleasing method.
  • Shutters And Screens: Shutters and screens are excellent for allowing natural ventilation as well as flexibility. For modern homes, slatted and louvred sliding or bi-fold options are used. These shutters can be open completely when the sun is not intruding into your interior, or can be closed when the sun has made its debut without sacrificing air flow.
  • Trees And Vegetation: Trees, vines and other vegetation are a great way to protect your home from solar heat gain. They reduce the glare from entering your home and provide cooler areas outside. All this while permitting natural breezes to flow through!