“Tongue & Groove is a builder of high-end homes on coastal properties in Wilmington, N.C., where the topography makes that city a bit of a bull’s-eye for high-wind storms, says owner Mark Batson.”
“His company complies with FEMA building requirements that Batson says are “pretty robust” and include driving piles 30 feet below grade, installing impact-resistant windows, sealing the house up to the third floor, and adding a concrete deck.”
He knows that water is a homes worst enemy and favors measures to prevent intrusion, such as not exposing big walls with doors that can leak and installing high-quality millwork products.