Technology Assessment Division

Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction Technical Fact Sheet Series

(FEMA 499)

FEMA produced this series of 31 fact sheets to provide technical guidance and recommendations concerning the construction of coastal residential buildings. The fact sheets present information aimed at improving the performance of buildings subject to flood and wind forces in coastal environments. Photographs and drawings illustrate National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulatory requirements, the proper siting of coastal buildings, and recommended design and construction practices for building components, including structural connections, the building envelope, and utilities. Many of the fact sheets also include lists of FEMA and other resources that provide more information about the topics discussed. Where appropriate, resources are accompanied by active web links.

The fact sheets are available as Adobe® Portable Document Format (PDF) files and plain text (.txt) files. You must have Acrobat Reader® to view the PDF files. The latest version of the reader is recommended. Download the free Reader from www.adobe.com.

To download PDF or plain text files for the entire document or individual sections, click on the links shown below.

  • Fact Sheet Cover (PDF 369KB, TXT 1KB)
  • Fact Sheet Guide, Coastal Construction Fact Sheet Series (PDF 1.7MB, TXT 11KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 1, Coastal Building Successes and Failures (PDF 332KB, TXT 9KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 2, Summary of Coastal Construction Requirements and Recommendations (PDF 3.5MB, TXT 27KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 3, Using a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) (PDF 403KB, TXT 7KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 4, Lowest Floor Elevation (PDF 913KB, TXT 6KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 5, V-Zone Design and Construction Certification (PDF 477KB, TXT 4KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 6, How Do Siting and Design Decisions Affect the Owner’s Costs? (PDF 624KB, TXT 4KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 7, Selecting a Lot and Siting the Building (PDF 281KB, TXT 6KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 8, Coastal Building Materials (PDF 758KB, TXT 12KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 9, Moisture Barrier Systems (PDF 2MB, TXT 5KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 10, Load Paths (PDF 677KB, TXT 4KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 11, Foundations in Coastal Areas (PDF 628KB, TXT 9KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 12, Pile Installation (PDF 446KB, TXT 6KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 13, Wood-Pile-to-Beam Connections (PDF 1.2MKB, TXT 3KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 14, Reinforced Masonry Pier Construction (PDF 756KB, TXT 4KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 15, Foundation Walls (PDF 491KB, TXT 7KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 16, Masonry Details (PDF 943KB, TXT 3KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 17, Use of Connectors and Brackets (PDF 1.8MB, TXT 6KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 18, Roof Sheathing Installation (PDF 1.3MB, TXT 5KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 19, Roof Underlayment for Asphalt Shingle Roofs (PDF 502KB, TXT 5KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 20, Asphalt Shingle Roofing for High-Wind Regions (PDF 809KB, TXT 5KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 21, Tile Roofing for High-Wind Areas (PDF 290KB, TXT 9KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 22, Window and Door Installation (PDF 429KB, TXT 6KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 23, Housewrap (PDF 354KB, TXT 7KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 24, Roof-to-Wall and Deck-to-Wall Flashing (PDF 605KB, TXT 2KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 25, Siding Installation and Connectors (PDF 494KB, TXT 4KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 26, Shutter Alternatives (PDF 1.3MB, TXT 7KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 27, Enclosures and Breakaway Walls (PDF 384KB, TXT 9KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 28, Decks, Pools, and Accessory Structures (PDF 414KB, TXT 10KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 29, Protecting Utilities (PDF 413KB, TXT 5KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 30, Repairs, Remodeling, Additions, and Retrofitting (PDF 91KB, TXT 18KB)
  • Fact Sheet No. 31, References (PDF 175KB, TXT 5KB)