Snowy Morning

This morning our office is covered in snow. It's the first (and possibly only) snow of the year for us.  That's just the way it is in southeastern North Carolina.

Changing Technology

As technology has come and gone, we've all had to make changes to accomodate the latest hardware and software.  What do you do to store your older computer files?  You use the latest technology to save them and then remove the files from your computer.  That's what we've done at our office, too.

Unfortunately, all the changing technology has made it so our electronic file storage from years ago is almost extinct, and one day it will be inaccessible.  One of the means of our electronic file storage is 3 1/2" floppy disks.  Yes, the little, hard disks from two decades ago.  Today Stacey has been taking AutoCad files off of some of these disks so we can keep the files for the future.  It's possible you are astonished we still have a drive to read these files, but it's true.  We have one computer with a 3 1/2" drive, which we've needed because of our old file storage.

One interesting fact about these 3 1/2" floppies is their storage capacity:  1.44 MB.  That was pretty impressive back in the day.  However, the picture above was taken at 1.91 MB.  That wouldn't have even fit on one of those disks.

All of the files on the floppy disks are being saved to our office network.  It has a 4 terabyte capacity.  A disk, a picture and a network aren't exactly the same thing, but it goes to prove the point about the changes associated with technology through the years.

Technology is an interesting thing.

A Summer Home

Peaks Cottage from the street.

If you're looking for a summer home on a lake or the beach, the Peaks Cottage is the house for you! The livingroom, diningroom and kitchen are arranged for maximum views to the waterfront. In addition to the spacious deck & covered porch, there is an upstairs deck that overlooks the water. The Peaks Cottage also includes 5 bedrooms & 4 bathrooms so everyone has their own private space. All of the Southern Cottages House Plans are designed by an architect to give you style with a comprehensive design at a price you can afford.

Peaks Cottage from the beach.

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

The Roof Over Your Head

The roof of your home is an important consideration.  But once in place, the roof is little thought about.  Your roof is important for keeping your home dry, it blocks the sun's rays at the eave overhang, it covers your porch, the color and material bring a cohesive look to your home, and different pitches will give you drastically different results.  All of these things show that the roof can have a dramatic impact on the look of your home.

In this article, we will be focusing on roofing materials.  We specify three kinds of roofing materials for our Southern Cottages House Plans: fiberglass shingles, standing seam aluminum panels and standing seam copper roofing.  We leave it up to our clients to decide which material will crown their home.  Each one each will give you a different look and each has a different price tag to consider.

Fiberglass shingles

2117 sf Shelter Cottage

Fiberglass shingles is the type of roofing that most commonly covers the homes of America. There are different shingle styles and various colors to fit any budget and personality.  There are also different warranties available, so pay attention to the warranty length if you live in a high wind zone.  The fiberglass shingle companies we specify are GAF and CertainTeed. 


If you are interested in something other than shingles, take a look at the following metal roofing options.

Standing Seam Aluminum Panels

2058 sf Island Cottage on Pilings

Standing seam aluminum panels are getting more and more common.  They provide clean lines and a completely different look than shingles.  Aluminum panels also cost more than fiberglass shingles.  However, the maintenance of an aluminum panel roof is very low.  The aluminum panel system we specify is the 300 Series by IMETCO.

Standing Seam Copper Roofing

Copper over a bay window.

Standing seam copper roofing is frequently used to highlight a portion of a roof, like over a turret, cupola or window, or as flashing in your roof valley.  It is also possible to cover your entire roof with copper.  Over time the shiny copper will dull and patina, giving an entirely different look to your home.  This is something to keep in mind as you consider copper roofing.  The price tag of a copper roof is higher than an aluminum one, which is why it is commonly used as an accent over the cupola or as an awning over the front door.  The copper companies we specify are Revere Copper Products, Inc. and Hussey Copper, Ltd.


Whether planning for your new home or reroofing your existing one, knowing your roofing options is important.  The selection you make will set the tone of the visual "feel" of your home and give it a distinctive look. 

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

The Classic Look of "Home"

The Country Cottage is a roomy house with the classic look of "home".  It takes off where the Hip Cottage ends, giving you additional space on the second floor. Inside it features 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, open living/dining space, wrap around porch, 2 car garage, and more. The additional space in this house is great for visiting guests or your expanding family. All of the Southern Cottages House Plans are designed by an architect to give you style with a comprehensive design at a price you can afford.

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.