Nestled in the town of Westerly, R.I., is a small beachfront community called Weekapaug. A lesser-known New England gem, Weekapaug, which is a Native American word meaning “end of pond,” has many private roads running through it, large saltwater ponds and is open to the Atlantic Ocean. For more than 100 years, summer cottages have decorated the areas landscape and today the area boasts some of the most beautiful residences in New England.

One such home, the Kelly residence, is located directly on the waterfront. Designed by George Penniman Architects, LLC and constructed by Evergreen Building Systems LLC, the 4,500-square-foot home is clad in white cedar shingles and features Azek trim. Designed and built to LEED standards, Evergreen was challenged to create an environmentally responsible home that would prevent moisture from infiltrating the walls and windows due to the property’s significant ocean exposure.

As a full service construction management and design/build firm, Evergreen works with its clients throughout the building process to construct some of New England’s finest, most energy efficient and environmentally friendly homes. The company has deployed effective construction technologies and project management systems to streamline and simplify the home building process.

“The housewrap will protect the framing and provides an effective drainage plan,” says Michael O’Neill, principal of Evergreen Building Systems. “[The product] is also robust enough that it can withstand the high winds of a waterfront location before it is covered.”

Complete Moisture Management

Introduced in 2012, Benjamin Obdyke’s HydroGap Drainable Housewrap eliminates excess moisture, thereby preventing the damaging effects of mold and rot. Its patent-pending one millimeter spacers create a drainage plane between the sheathing and cladding allowing 100 times more bulk water to drain from a wall versus standard housewraps.

As a LEED registered and Energy Star certified builder, Evergreen is leading the region in the transformation to sustainable green construction. In addition to having a tight building envelope with proven moisture management, the house has a super-insulated shell, geothermal heat and cooling system, durable material on the outside surface, and healthy systems on the inside.

The house, which was completed in the fall of 2012, has achieved a five star Energy Star rating and is currently in the review process for LEED. The homeowners were very intrigued by the housewrap product and its overall contribution to protecting their home from moisture intrusion.