house construction

[j&b1216]

are the homes in the villages built with Miami-Dade hurricane standards i.e. high impact windows and doors?

[Wiotte]

are the homes in the villages built with Miami-Dade hurricane standards i.e. high impact windows and doors?



No


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[j&b1216]

thanks. Didn't think so but thought we'd check.

[Mrs. Robinson]

are the homes in the villages built with Miami-Dade hurricane standards i.e. high impact windows and doors?

An emphatic NO!
The construction of the homes here is very average and nothing out of the ordinary unless you pay for something special pre-construction.

No impact doors or garage doors. As a matter of fact, the doors don't even open out. The same goes for the windows; nothing special.

Sometimes I think the developers motto should be, "Less is More" (for them).
If you live here you are paying for the lifestyle, not the construction of the homes.

[rjm1cc]

This could very by the county. Check the building codes office at the county seat. There are standards in Marion County don't know of the other counties. The standards would be less that those on the coast.

[Mrs. Robinson]

This could very by the county. Check the building codes office at the county seat. There are standards in Marion County don't know of the other counties. The standards would be less that those on the coast.

Villages houses are built to county code unless something slips by an inspector.

That has nothing to do with a builder improving upon the minimum code requirement.

Go out and take a look at the Green Key development.
That builder has done some amazing things!

[manaboutown]

Although I am sure they meet "code" one needs to understand "code" is a minimum, like "D" is a passing grade. Building above minimum code - The Globe and Mail (https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/life/home-and-garden/building-above-minimum-code/article571882/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com&)

I have heard of no other developer which builds houses faster - for whatever that is worth.

[PaulDenise]

You should go to Fenney and see how the houses are actually built.

My last house was an Allamanda. The walls were actually poured concrete. They put 2 foot long medal straps down in the concrete and then looped them up over the roof trusses.

My garage doors do, indeed, have the deeper ribs that make them more wind resistant.

Rather than asking about some code standard, you should take a look at actually how they are built.

I am impressed by the building. I built 2 houses 'up north' and did none of the things that I see in my house here.

[graciegirl]

The State of Florida revised the building code after Hurricane Andrew and it went into effect in June of 2010.

The new homes here have the windows and roofs that meet the new code.


New Florida Building Codes Take Effect June 30 | ICC (https://www.iccsafe.org/about-icc/periodicals-and-newsroom/new-florida-building-codes-take-effect-june-30/)

[vintageogauge]

The newer homes have roof straps, better windows, solar barriers, on demand water heaters, gas hookups for stove, dryer, and also for a grill if you want it. Some of the homes are poured concrete, some are concrete block and some are still wood framed with vinyl siding. I'm sure there are other improvements that have been made on recent homes but I don't know for sure. We went through Irma with no problems from the wind or driving rain.

[graciegirl]

Here are the members of the Florida Building Commission;

Call and ask their offices if you have questions;
http://www.floridabuilding.org/fbc/commission/Commission_Roster.pdf

[Packer Fan]

An emphatic NO!
The construction of the homes here is very average and nothing out of the ordinary unless you pay for something special pre-construction.

No impact doors or garage doors. As a matter of fact, the doors don't even open out. The same goes for the windows; nothing special.

Sometimes I think the developers motto should be, "Less is More" (for them).
If you live here you are paying for the lifestyle, not the construction of the homes.

We are really still saying this after IRMA? My house came through that with ZERO damage. The houses are built very well and to Florida hurricane standards. They are not substandard in the least, they are very nice homes.

[Wiotte]

We are really still saying this after IRMA? My house came through that with ZERO damage. The houses are built very well and to Florida hurricane standards. They are not substandard in the least, they are very nice homes.



Honestly, my home built shed up north sitting on concrete blocks would have withstood Irma’s (awesome ferocity) that came through TV. Just kidding. Irma didn’t even wake me up, I slept through it. Gee, what happened here ? Weakened palm fronds fell, unsecured roof shingles flew, but a few. Irma’s press was much harder than her reality.


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[Mrs. Robinson]

We are really still saying this after IRMA? My house came through that with ZERO damage. The houses are built very well and to Florida hurricane standards. They are not substandard in the least, they are very nice homes.

Yes, I am still saying this after Irma?
Have you lived in south Florida through Andrew?
Did you live there when Wilma came through?
I'll bet not, but I did!
To compare Irma in central Florida to those other two is a joke.
Yes, the homes are nice but they would never last in south Florida when a "real" hurricane comes blowing through.

And no one said they were substandard, including me, but they are not built to Miami-Dade standards!

[Wiotte]

My house, built in 2017 has it’s front door opened IN. My windows are vinyl, lowest quality. But, I didn’t buy here TWICE because of the great construction. It’s nice and uniform but definitely not South Florida hurricane compliant.


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[Ooper]

My house, built in 2017 has it’s front door opened IN.

Normally, residential doors open IN, unlike public or commercial doors open outward to allow crowds of people to exit quickly incase of an emergency. There are many advantages of residential doors opening inward. If there are steps, you would knock the visitor off of them to open the door; in the north, if snow piled up you wouldn't be able to open the door; there is more security with an in-swing door because the hinge pins are on the inside, not on the outside where they could be removed; in-swing doors allow you to put up a storm door; doors on the inside are more protected from the weather. Just because doors swing in doesn't mean the house is shabbily built. All the houses in The Villages are built according to the latest building codes.

[Wiotte]

Normally, residential doors open IN, unlike public or commercial doors open outward to allow crowds of people to exit quickly incase of an emergency. There are many advantages of residential doors opening inward. If there are steps, you would knock the visitor off of them to open the door; in the north, if snow piled up you wouldn't be able to open the door; there is more security with an in-swing door because the hinge pins are on the inside, not on the outside where they could be removed; in-swing doors allow you to put up a storm door; doors on the inside are more protected from the weather. Just because doors swing in doesn't mean the house is shabbily built. All the houses in The Villages are built according to the latest building codes.



The OP wanted to know if TV house’s met South Florida hurricane standards. Those standards among others specify entry doors to open OUT. That was my point.



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[graciegirl]

I wonder sometimes what would make some people happy.

I think a lot of people envy the success of the ordinary people who figured this place out and did it without grants and Federal funding, risking their own money each time they took the HUGE risk of expanding. These kind of people are my heros. I am very glad they are financially successful, because they deserve it. I love the free market and I love capitalism and I am glad when a venture as large as this succeeds. It is unprecedented, I think for a city to be run privately and well. I have observed this place and how it is run for almost ten years. I have been carefully watching and my summary is that the Morse Family are decent, ethical people. And they are people with feelings and they must read these posts occasionally. After a certain level of financial success, the things people can buy have been bought. I would think that they must be proud of this beautiful place. I hope they know that some of us are proud of them.

The bitterness, and hate, and constant harping against this place and it's builders are uncalled for IMHO.

[manaboutown]

IMHO people buy in The Villages primarily for the lifestyle, certainly not for the construction quality or lack thereof. Other than residual high winds from hurricanes which typically impact the coasts much harder, an occasional tornado and being in the lightning belt the weather is not severe. No worry about snow loads and ice on roofs, freezing plumbing, all that. The homes are attractive, livable and comfortable tract homes - a little close to one another for privacy, but with little yard to maintain. The community is designed for and targeted to suit 55 and over active adults. That is why houses sell so well. It pretty much boils down to location, location, location...as does most real estate.

[Wiotte]

IMHO people buy in The Villages primarily for the lifestyle, certainly not for the construction quality or lack thereof. Other than residual high winds from hurricanes which typically impact the coasts much harder, an occasional tornado and being in the lightning belt the weather is not severe. No worry about snow loads and ice on roofs, freezing plumbing, all that. The homes are attractive, livable and comfortable tract homes - a little close to one another for privacy, but with little yard to maintain. The community is designed for and targeted to suit 55 and over active adults. That is why houses sell so well. It pretty much boils down to location, location, location...as does most real estate.



Yep


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[Ooper]

The OP wanted to know if TV house’s met South Florida hurricane standards. Those standards among others specify entry doors to open OUT. That was my point.



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The OP's question was answered early on. The answer is NO. South Florida homes have to be built to as much as a 150 mph wind load while here in the tri-county area the requirements drop 100 mph. There are NO specifications that require residential doors to open out. If there were, most homes inThe Villages would be in violation. My point was to insure readers of this forum that all the houses in The Villages are built to strict Florida building code requirements as previous posts may be suggesting otherwise.

[manaboutown]

How "strict" are Florida building codes? Hurricane Irma could test Florida's Hurricane Andrew-inspired building code (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/08/10/hurricane-andrew-florida-building-codes-weakened/490364001/)

[graciegirl]

How "strict" are Florida building codes? Hurricane Irma could test Florida's Hurricane Andrew-inspired building code (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/08/10/hurricane-andrew-florida-building-codes-weakened/490364001/)

The State's building codes were changed in June of 2010. I posted the link on this thread earlier. I will find it and link you again.. Here it is; New Florida Building Codes Take Effect June 30 | ICC (https://www.iccsafe.org/about-icc/periodicals-and-newsroom/new-florida-building-codes-take-effect-june-30/)


It has been described in detail on this thread how the homes are built here. We watched the home we live in now being built. Visited it every day. I do not sell real estate. I have NEVER sold real estate. I don't know the developers. I just get so tired of the harping against them. For no good reason.