4th of July Celebration on the Tchefuncte River in Madisonville!
4th of July Weekend Celebration
The Anchor
407 St Tammany Street
Madisonville, LA 70447
July 4, 2023
11:00am – 8:30pm
Live Music From 5PM – 8PM by Redline
Town of Madisonville Fireworks Display Beginning Around 8:45PM
Click Here for More Information.
Tchefuncte River in Madisonville 4th of July Celebration!
4th of July Weekend Celebration
The Anchor
407 St Tammany Street
Madisonville, LA 70447
July 3, 2023
11:00am – 8:30pm
Live Music From 5PM – 8PM by Kim Carson & The Real Deal
Click Here for More Information.
Come Out to the Home Pro Expo in Slidell at The Harbor Center!
Home Pro Expo
The Harbor Center
100 Harbor Center Boulevard
Slidell, LA 70461
August 26, 2023
10:00am – 6:00pm
The Harbor Center Hosts the Home Pro Expo!
Home Pro Expo
The Harbor Center
100 Harbor Center Boulevard
Slidell, LA 70461
August 27, 2023
10:00am – 6:00pm
Take a Tour with the Junior League of Covington!
Kokomo Stroll Junior League Recruiting
Downtown Covington
Columbia Street
Covington, LA 70433
July 15, 2023
5:00pm
This Popular Music Festival at the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint!
Presented by the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF), the Satchmo Summerfest will take place at the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint.
Vapor barriers are an important part when it comes to building a home. Here is some science behind the reason why. 
There are six sides of a new construction home which are in three categories, the walls, the roof and the foundation. All of these sides need to be protected from both liquid water and vapor water.
The side of every new construction home consists of a building envelope. This is where we want to keep moving such as liquid water, air, water vapor and thermal energy. There are several ways that water can sneak into your home. By liquid progress (wind-driven rain hitting up against walls), water vapor diffusion (movement of water vapor and its concentration level), and airflow (movement of air and its pressure levels).
A vapor barrier does not only need to block these areas but needs to also control the movement through them. This is done by using an air barrier (the material layer that will prevent the flow of air between air-conditioned air to unconditioned air), water-resistive barrier WRB (this material layer prevents liquid water from seeping into the house), waterproofing (this is a system that helps prevent and manage build liquid water infiltration), vapor retarder (a material layer that stops water vapor movement by diffusing it), insulation (the material layer that is used to help with the loss or gain of thermal energy).
So basically the goal is to keep your building’s envelope dry, efficient, comfortable and healthy. Remember there are different ways to control water, air, vapor and heat. Here are the reasons why, they all can move in or out of a home in both directions, they can move at different rates and degrees, and they can affect each other.
A new age-restricted community was approved called Sucette Harbor which will house 201-unit apartments, an events venue, restaurant, marina and an 82-room boutique hotel all along Mandeville’s lakefront. The Mandeville Planning and Zoning Commission approved the plans so now it will be up to the Mandeville City Council to say yes to the 55 and older development.
The land is being leased by Woodward Interests, who is the developer, from LSU Health Foundation. Al Copeland’s family dedicated the land to the LSU Health Foundation. The proceeds from the leased property will be split up with 60% going to cancer research and 40% going to scholarships.
Although the development will help with a good cause, residents in Mandeville have some questions and concerns. There is a concern out there that the development would attract enough older residents to the area that qualify to live in the age-restricted apartments. Another big concern is the traffic it will bring to the community and the removal of old southern oaks.
Many commission members are also concerned about the project. Claire Durio suggested reducing the size of the hotel but this was shot down. Mike Pierce also agrees that the project might be too big for the community calling Sucette Harbor an anomaly that doesn’t fit with the older surrounding neighborhoods and fails on compatibility.
Other commission members say the development will be an asset to the community. Nixon Adams feels that it is a better option than just leaving the land vacant. He says that the area needs a hotel because there is not one in the area. He also suggested the city bring a walking and biking path to the lakefront which will open up the lakefront.
It is a great adventure to take when it comes to building a new home. There are many exciting decisions to make on building materials, floorplans, etc. The home’s foundation is not one of the components that most homeowners want to think about. The foundation is what your home is literally built on and is the most critical part of the home-building process. Since you only get one chance to do it right, the professionals in the industry suggest asking your building these five questions. 
1. What type of foundation will I have for my home?
There are three foundation types to choose from, slab-on-grade, crawl space or basement. Some homes found around the country can have a combination of the types of foundations. The foundation of your home will be based on where you live, the climate, and the local soil and moisture conditions. If you live in a colder climate, then the frost line will be important to factor into your decision-making.
When determining the foundation type, your builder can use a geotechnical report to help with the decision on what foundation is best. A geotechnical report will provide the builder with soil data to ensure that the appropriate design is used. In all three options, moisture management is the key.
2. How will my home be protected from liquid water?
As mentioned before, moisture management is the key. The goal is to keep liquid water out of your home. Moisture seeping through into your home, can hurt the foundation, dampen your comfort level and cause a potential health problem. Water doesn’t just come from mother nature, in some climates bulk water pressure from a water table going up and down can cause problems as well as landscaping irrigation.
There are many ways your builder can design your foundation area and products they can use to help repel liquid moisture. There are different building codes in specific areas around the country. Your builder will be familiar with your areas’ minimum building code requirements. You will want to always make sure you have the proper grading around your home so that water never becomes a hindrance.
3. How will my home be protected from soil vapor?
Soil vapor can seep into any type of foundation in any location into a home’s envelope. The natural flow of water vapor is to move from greater concentration to lesser concentration called diffusion. Your foundation needs to be checked to make sure this is not happening. If it goes unchecked, it can lead to issues with floor coverings, coating failures, mold growth and overall poor indoor quality. It can also cause your HVAC system to not run properly.
Water vapor can be just as menacing as liquid water but protecting your home from water vapor is different from protecting your home from liquid water. Remember to ask your home builder what steps they will take to make sure there is no diffusion of water vapor under your home. Builders can use a water vapor barrier under a slab foundation or overexposed earth in a crawl space.
4. What about comfort and efficiency?
A home needs to be both comfortable to live in and energy efficient. Homeowners turn to solar panels, air conditioning and insulation to make a home more energy efficient. The comfort level in your home actually starts below the living space. If you live in a colder climate, then the home’s foundation will need to be insulated. Even if you live in a milder climate, having your foundation insulated can help maintain comfortable temperatures and keep utility bills down.
5. What products do you use?
Choosing the right products can make a huge impact. Choosing the correct foundation is a big deal because it is hard to replace a foundation once it is installed. If you do have to replace a foundation, it is very costly and can affect other systems throughout your home.
Builders know all the ends and outs of the foundation systems they use in their area. They can explain to you how they work and if they have a warranty or if your home buyer warranty package includes the foundation.
Remember the construction of the foundation of your home is very important. Talk with your builder and get familiar with the choices. Understanding what goes on with the foundation helps to give you peace of mind to know that everything is working as it should.
