NAPLES, Fla. (Dec.17, 2013) – London Bay Homes’ Capriano, a four-bedroom luxury villa model in Mediterra’s Lucarno neighborhood, exemplifies the ultimate in maintenance-free living. Lawn and landscaping services are provided through the homeowners association, and the use of a state-of-the-art moisture barrier system protects the home against future mold issues and structural damage caused by moisture intrusion.
The Capriano was constructed using the BEP Blue Barrier system – a liquid-applied “house wrap” that keeps mold-spawning moisture and humidity out and cooled air inside. London Bay Homes has incorporated the barrier into the construction of all of its luxury homes in Southwest Florida to provide peace of mind to homebuyers, said Stephen Wilson, the company’s CFO.
“London Bay has always been committed to building advancements and incorporating the best materials to improve our homes,” Wilson said. “Florida’s rainy season and high humidity create many challenges for builders. We have specialized materials designed to withstand strong winds and hurricanes but lacked a superior product to protect the building envelope against water and air intrusion and mold growth.”
Nail-applied “house wraps” are better than not using any type of protection on the building envelope, but has flaws in the construction process: They are easily damaged during construction and the “house wraps” are not as effective at seams and at the transitions to windows and doors. The nails used to install the system create many holes where water can penetrate as well.
“Water damage and mold is a big problem especially in the harsh climates of South Florida,” said Jon MacDonough, president of MAC Contractors, based out of Southwest Florida and a longtime London Bay trade partner. “By the time the issue is evident to the homeowner, the damage can be quite expensive and the home may be out of warranty.”
The areas around the perimeter of windows and doors, mechanical penetrations in the structure, along with transitions of roof lines and other exterior details, pose prime opportunities for water intrusion if not properly addressed during the construction process.
MacDonough realized there had to be a better way to protect each home. He worked with London Bay’s construction team to field test and create viable long-term solutions.
MacDonough also enlisted Tampa-based Dominus Innovation, a firm specializing in building and marine coatings, and developed a liquid-applied air and moisture system for buildings using state-of-the-art technology. The liquid-applied material, which can also be sprayed on, enables the applicator to fill all difficult areas that could not be addressed with conventional “house wraps.” The product even contains a fungicide and mold-resistant additive, uses environmentally friendly components with low-volatile organic compounds, and increases a home’s energy efficiency.
The BEP Blue Barrier system addresses major areas of water intrusion: around windows and doors. “The wrap seals the home, prevents moisture issues and keeps cooled air locked in,” said Wilson.
“Keeping water out of the structure long term is critical,” said MacDonough.
“When we started replacing windows and doors after the new hurricane products came on line, we saw a lot of problems with the way older units were installed. Water had worked its way into the interior of the home causing damage to the finishes,” said MacDonough. “We noticed that “house wraps” were not as effective in these areas. We also saw that many of the products used to seal the perimeters of the windows and doors were failing as they were not compatible with our weather and couldn’t withstand our wet, humid environment.”
London Bay’s use of the “blue wrap” was featured in an issue of the trade magazine Waterproofing. In the magazine, MacDonough noted that Florida lacks consistent residential building codes addressing water intrusion and waterproofing and praised London Bay Homes for taking the initiative to protect its homeowners from future problems.
“London Bay was ahead of the market in using the BEP Blue Barrier system as part of its commitment to building trouble-free homes,” MacDonough said. “It was also one of the first luxury residential builders to make the barrier standard in its homes.”
The Capriano is the first home in Mediterra built with the “blue wrap.” The 4,402-square-foot model is currently open for viewing and features interior design by Romanza Interior Design.
The model offers 5,974 total square feet of living space, including a two-car garage and an outdoor living room with a summer kitchen.
The Capriano model is priced at $2,106,000, fully furnished.
London Bay Homes is the exclusive builder in Lucarno, a European village-inspired neighborhood of 71 luxury maintenance-free lakefront villa homes offering 2,500 to more than 4,000 square feet. Home and homesite packages in Lucarno are priced from the $800,000s.
A leader in the Naples luxury home market for more than two decades, London Bay Homes was one of only two companies named America’s Best Builder by Builder Magazine in 2008. Its affiliate, Romanza Interior Design, earned a 2013 Gold Award for best interior design from the National Association of Home Builders.
Mediterra, the 1,700-acre master-planned community, was a 2013 Aurora Award winner for best residential development within the Southeastern U.S. and is an eight-time winner of the Collier Building Industry Association’s Sand Dollar Award for Community of the Year.
Mediterra offers an array of lifestyle amenities, including the member-owned Club at Mediterra with two Tom Fazio-designed championship courses and the private 10,000-square-foot Beach Club on the Gulf of Mexico, featuring an elevated swimming pool, casual dining with a full bar, and valet service for beach chairs, umbrellas and beverage and food menus.
Mediterra’s onsite amenities include themed neighborhood parks; eight miles of walking and jogging trails; a fitness complex with tennis and bocce courts, swimming pool and spa services; and the 33,000-square-foot clubhouse offering formal and casual dining prepared by a staff of award-winning culinary experts.
A recent expansion at The Tavern Bar & Grill at The Club at Mediterra added a summer kitchen and – along with the enhanced space – an expanded menu of gourmet brick-oven pizzas, seasonal salads and open-air grilled entrees.
Mediterra’s Golf Learning Center offers indoor and outdoor hitting stations, video equipment with launch monitor, a 2.5-acre short game practice complex with three greens, and a staff of certified PGA professionals. Membership opportunities at Mediterra are limited to just 225 members per 18 holes.
Planned for fewer than 950 homes, Mediterra’s master plan includes more than 1,000 acres dedicated to open space with golf, parks and nature preserves. All of the community’s amenities are membership-owned.
Since December 2009, London Bay and affiliates have managed all new home sales and marketing for the luxury community. London Bay recently expanded services by adding Mediterra Realty, which lists resale properties throughout Mediterra.
Available home designs in Mediterra include single-family estate homes and single-family maintenance-free villas priced from the $700,000s to more than $7 million.
For more information about Mediterra, visit www.MediterraNaples.com, call toll-free 866-954-8939, or visit Mediterra, located on Livingston Road, two miles north of Immokalee Road and west of I-75. The award-winning Mediterra Sales Gallery is open daily.
