Home Construction Quality

[John Mayes]

Hi all. My wife and I are seriously considering moving to TV along with a couple of other options. My main question concerns the quality of the homes in TV. We are most interested in a new home that is CMU. Does anyone have any feedback, good or bad, on the construction quality?

[John41]

Hi all. My wife and I are seriously considering moving to TV along with a couple of other options. My main question concerns the quality of the homes in TV. We are most interested in a new home that is CMU. Does anyone have any feedback, good or bad, on the construction quality?

Our concrete courtyard villa was directly hit by the 2007 tornado and other than losing some shingles and broken windows there was no structural damage. Lots of damages to furnishings and rain damage to sheetrock that had to be replaced. These homes meet the Miami/ Dade building code the toughest in the country.

[Stu from NYC]

Cmu?

[Kenswing]

Cmu?

Concrete masonry unit.

[John_W]

...

[Kenswing]

Hi all. My wife and I are seriously considering moving to TV along with a couple of other options. My main question concerns the quality of the homes in TV. We are most interested in a new home that is CMU. Does anyone have any feedback, good or bad, on the construction quality?
Check out Goldwingnut's youtube channel. Gold Wingnut Productions LLC - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO71zHFZfPJpXT2iHgzjS-g)

He provides videos to owners that can't be there to see their homes being built. You can see how things are done.

[John Mayes]

Cmu?

Concrete Masonry Unit.....concrete block with stucco exterior finish.

[retiredguy123]

I understand that they have stopped using poured-in-place concrete for the new houses. They are using concrete block construction (CMU). In my opinion, the construction quality is good, and the quality control is very good as compared to most new construction I have seen over the years. Also, they are excellent when it comes to warranty issues. If you want to move to The Villages, I wouldn't worry about the construction quality. The main thing to look for is a good location and avoiding noise issues, especially traffic noise.

[Goldwingnut]

Having watched, in great detail, several dozen homes being built here in The Villages I can tell you that mistakes are few and the quality of work is very good. The men and women building these homes have honed their skills and know their trades. I've talked to some of the workers in many of the trades and to a person everyone is glad for the success of the development because it means guaranteed work for years to come, something rare in the construction trades. When asked about the quality of work they all say the same thing, their foremen are very tough on them and demand quality, the screwups don't last long and don't get passed from one contractor to another. Too many screwups leads to poor quality work which leads to lost contracts and there are 4 or 5 more companies that will do the same job. They seem to take great pride in their work.

Yes, in some of the spec homes builder's grade fixtures and finishes are used, just like everywhere else, this is adequate for the desires of most, many want to upgrade. I replace all the appliances within the first 2 years because I didn't like the noise, they made or the configuration (side-by-side frig), it was a choice, but not one everyone makes. Looking at the newer spec homes, most come with many upgrades that were previously found in the custom-built homes in response to mark demand.

CYV's used to be built with poured concrete exterior walls, that changed shortly after moving south of SR44 to CMU walls. The CMU give greater ease of flexibility in the design and layout of the homes plus it cut the construction methods from three to two being used.

I've heard some people complain that they take shortcut and that's how they build so fast. This is a false statement. The speed of the building is a testament to the high level of coordination that is going on to build the new communities. You wouldn't call a Mercedes or a BMW poor constructed just because it comes off the assembly line in a few hours, of course not, it's a refined and well organized manufacturing process, the same can be said about homes built here in The Villages.

Yes, there will be some complaints because sometimes there will be errors that were overlooked. I expect to see some of those complaints on this thread over the next few days. Considering this will be only a couple of people out of the 2500-4000 homes they are building every year and the percentage is very small.

[John Mayes]

Having watched, in great detail, several dozen homes being built here in The Villages I can tell you that mistakes are few and the quality of work is very good. The men and women building these homes have honed their skills and know their trades. I've talked to some of the workers in many of the trades and to a person everyone is glad for the success of the development because it means guaranteed work for years to come, something rare in the construction trades. When asked about the quality of work they all say the same thing, their foremen are very tough on them and demand quality, the screwups don't last long and don't get passed from one contractor to another. Too many screwups leads to poor quality work which leads to lost contracts and there are 4 or 5 more companies that will do the same job. They seem to take great pride in their work.

Yes, in some of the spec homes builder's grade fixtures and finishes are used, just like everywhere else, this is adequate for the desires of most, many want to upgrade. I replace all the appliances within the first 2 years because I didn't like the noise, they made or the configuration (side-by-side frig), it was a choice, but not one everyone makes. Looking at the newer spec homes, most come with many upgrades that were previously found in the custom-built homes in response to mark demand.

CYV's used to be built with poured concrete exterior walls, that changed shortly after moving south of SR44 to CMU walls. The CMU give greater ease of flexibility in the design and layout of the homes plus it cut the construction methods from three to two being used.

I've heard some people complain that they take shortcut and that's how they build so fast. This is a false statement. The speed of the building is a testament to the high level of coordination that is going on to build the new communities. You wouldn't call a Mercedes or a BMW poor constructed just because it comes off the assembly line in a few hours, of course not, it's a refined and well organized manufacturing process, the same can be said about homes built here in The Villages.

Yes, there will be some complaints because sometimes there will be errors that were overlooked. I expect to see some of those complaints on this thread over the next few days. Considering this will be only a couple of people out of the 2500-4000 homes they are building every year and the percentage is very small.

Thank you so much! Great info.

[John Mayes]

Thank you. Great info.

[richardc1947]

I was an engineer and a building contractor before I retired. The home we purchased was constructed in 2005, and I must say it seems to be well constructed as compared to homes in many areas of the country. The developer has developed specifications and has engaged a stable of home builders that can mass produce these homes and ensure quality construction. I cannot speak for older homes built in the 80's and 90's.

[Ashley from UK]

Check out Goldwingnut's youtube channel. Gold Wingnut Productions LLC - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO71zHFZfPJpXT2iHgzjS-g)

He provides videos to owners that can't be there to see their homes being built. You can see how things are done.

If you do opt for a designer I would STRONGLY recommend Gold WingNut. We completed our designs exactly one year ago, flew back to the UK and the borders closed due to Covid. We are as yet to return to the US to see our home despite it having been completed last June. Don was there for us throughout the whole build process, sent me regular updates and when we noted a slight deviation with the location of a wall socket for the TV, Don's help with resolving was without a doubt exceptional.

In the end with no signs of the US\UK borders re-opening we decided to rent our dream home and Don was once more there to help by sending photo's that we could use to advertise. Not only that he even helped sort out the purchase and delivery of our white goods for our new tenants.

When our tenants moved in they noted a small tear in the lania screen. We contacted the Villages Maintenance department and the next day a guy was out to repair it, no questions asked.

So whilst I have yet to see my home, as I said I every confidence in the quality. Watch Don's video's as he goes through in detail the construction process, each home build reveals a little more information.

Good luck with your purchase.

[DIver0258]

Hi all. My wife and I are seriously considering moving to TV along with a couple of other options. My main question concerns the quality of the homes in TV. We are most interested in a new home that is CMU. Does anyone have any feedback, good or bad, on the construction quality?

This is our second home in The Villages. The first was a block and stucco villa built in 2007. Our current home is a block and stucco Lily built in 2020. The villa came through unscathed during Irma, A friend stayed in our villa, the area his home was in had a mandatory evacuation. Villa never lost power or cable/internet. Very energy efficient home.

Our current home only had a few minor issues we found after we moved in. All minor and cosmetic, pocket door ends were a tad rough, one sidelight on the front door was upside down, and a cap broken on a sewer clean out. We have only lost power once in 9 months at this home, an issue with a substation. All issues were quickly resolved by the warranty department without question. This home is extremely energy efficient.

Crews building here have the construction of these homes down to a science. If you examine the home plans may series have the same interior layout for the kitchen, dining room, and living room. The changes between model are in the bedrooms and garage. In my opinion, this makes construction almost assembly line efficient.

We are. extremely satisfied with our current home's build quality and overall construction. As with all things man made I know there are some issues with some homes, but the warranty department seems to go above and beyond to correct the issues.

[Bridget Staunton]

Don’t expect the quality to be the same as up north like Chicago. No conduit, no copper pipe, crappy windows that fail every few years etc. one nice thing is the concrete block although we had brick up north. Weather is beautiful especially in the winter

[retiredguy123]

Don’t expect the quality to be the same as up north like Chicago. No conduit, no copper pipe, crappy windows that fail every few years etc. one nice thing is the concrete block although we had brick up north. Weather is beautiful especially in the winter
I don't agree that there is a higher level of construction quality "up north". Most builders everywhere use inexpensive windows in new construction, and copper piping is rarely used for interior plumbing anymore. I don't know what conduit you are referring to. Also, concrete block is a structural material, but brick is not. Brick is used as a cosmetic facade. The structural part of a brick wall is usually wood studs.

[Tmarkwald]

I don't agree that there is a higher level of construction quality "up north". Most builders everywhere use inexpensive windows in new construction, and copper piping is rarely used for interior plumbing anymore. I don't know what conduit you are referring to. Also, concrete block is a structural material, but brick is not. Brick is used as a cosmetic facade. The structural part of a brick wall is usually wood studs.

Took the words out of my mouth!

[golfgal44]

Wow! If ever I buy a cover, I want to buy yours!

[golfgal44]

Sorry. Spellcheck error. That should read CYV.

[Catalina36]

When I purchased a home in TV, I was told the Stucco homes required pressure washing, and painting every so many years. Also the walls can develop cracks from settling. With the vinyl siding homes and there are many, you just have to wash the siding every couple of years. Note, It is easier to wash siding then stucco. Another I read where a HIP roof is stronger against high winds then a Gable roof. A house with a Gable roof can sustain damage to siding and trim where as the HIP roof directs the wind upward??

[IUFAN]

Hi all. My wife and I are seriously considering moving to TV along with a couple of other options. My main question concerns the quality of the homes in TV. We are most interested in a new home that is CMU. Does anyone have any feedback, good or bad, on the construction quality?

Try Del Webbl

[Catalina36]

When discussing home construction and storms some homeowners mention hurricanes that came across TV. I mean really what speed of wind are you talking maybe 50 or at the most 60 mph??? By the time a hurricane enters TV it is most likely down sized to Gale Winds. Up north on the coastal areas like Long Island we have had over 100 mph winds from hurricanes and most likely 98% of the vinyl sided homes sustained NO DAMAGE.

[retiredguy123]

When I purchased a home in TV, I was told the Stucco homes required pressure washing, and painting every so many years. Also the walls can develop cracks from settling. With the vinyl siding homes and there are many, you just have to wash the siding every couple of years. Note, It is easier to wash siding then stucco. Another I read where a HIP roof is stronger against high winds then a Gable roof. A house with a Gable roof can sustain damage to siding and trim where as the HIP roof directs the wind upward??
There are maintenance requirements with any type of house, but most Villagers prefer the stucco houses over vinyl siding. You can have any house pressure washed for less than 100 dollars. Also, there is not a significant difference between the structural integrity of a hip roof vs a gable roof. The roof pitch for houses in The Villages is relatively low and there are strict standards for roof construction to minimize wind damage. I wouldn't be concerned about a gable roof.

[spike36]

Not up to the standards that we have in the northern states. Try Top of the World in Ocala

[willbush]

You won't find better quality homes; my father-in-law a retired carpenter who built 3 of his own homes visited while they were building our home and said "these are well built homes" We also walked through 22 other homes being built on our street (we purchased one of the 1st lots to build on street) daily and was impressed by workmanship

[Tmarkwald]

When I purchased a home in TV, I was told the Stucco homes required pressure washing, and painting every so many years. Also the walls can develop cracks from settling. With the vinyl siding homes and there are many, you just have to wash the siding every couple of years. Note, It is easier to wash siding then stucco. Another I read where a HIP roof is stronger against high winds then a Gable roof. A house with a Gable roof can sustain damage to siding and trim where as the HIP roof directs the wind upward??

We got a decent discount from insurance company because of the hip roof. And, yeah, siding is easy to clean. Also, siding homes with the identical floor plan as stucco are a few inches larger - a total of about 35 square feet larger @ 2000 sq ft, because the walls are not as thick.

So, it is really personal preference. You can paint external stucco. Siding, not so much!

[Altavia]

A few things I can add is the work sites are kept very clean and organized.

Most of the workers I meet on site had 20+ years experience, were humble and respectful of their customers and employer.

They work closely with the Building inspectors to correct any issues they identify.

Construction supervisors regularly tour each other's homes as a second set of eyes and discuss best practices.

[richs631]

Hi all. My wife and I are seriously considering moving to TV along with a couple of other options. My main question concerns the quality of the homes in TV. We are most interested in a new home that is CMU. Does anyone have any feedback, good or bad, on the construction quality?

I have had 3 home built from scratch from 3 different builders and beyond a doubt our home in the villages was built the best. The quality of the build, the finish and materials used were better all around. Don’t take for granted that the villages keeps everything on file and I mean everything. This does come in handy down the road. I would say with confidence that anyone who disagrees is just a hater. And no, I didn’t drink the kool aide, just telling the truth.

[rjcataniajr]

Concrete masonry unit.

FYI-Designer homes are also stick-built, not all are cement block

[Donegalkid]

Thank you John. Very thorough and helpful. What brand of plantation blinds did you choose for your home? It seems like you research things and pick good options. Thanks.

[vintageogauge]

Don’t expect the quality to be the same as up north like Chicago. No conduit, no copper pipe, crappy windows that fail every few years etc. one nice thing is the concrete block although we had brick up north. Weather is beautiful especially in the winter

The newer homes south of 44 have upgraded windows that I can attest to having no problems. Our homes is 4 years old and none of the windows have failed nor do they rattle. I don't see a problem not having copper piping and conduit is only used where required by code. There are the occasional problems but percentage wise I would have to say they are very minimal.

[MSchad]

Try Del Webbl
Very “helpful.” Elaborate on why this is your opinion?

[bobm3]

I think the quality is excellent. Very well insulated (which also blocks a lot of the exterior sound) and a very efficient heat pump.

Any new home has some issues. Contractors respond very quickly, usually the next day. Any place else I’ve lived, getting contractors to fix problems is slow, difficult and stressful.

Most people hire a home inspector toward the end of the 1-year warranty period, and they will usually find some things the owner never noticed. Inspectors send their reports directly to The Villages Warranty Department (as well as the owner, of course) and the issues are promptly addressed.

[rmd2]

I bought a vinyl home and have had no problems with it except for a new roof after hurricane Irma 4 years ago. However, if I were buying again I would get a block and stucco home because of the energy use and the noise factor with a vinyl.

[sallyg]

We have lived in old and new constructed houses here. ( I don't like a lot of disruption in my house after having been thru a total remodel, once was enough). I would purchase a newer, previously owned home, in which the owner had already replaced or upgraded many of the features. Lots of newer homes have remodeled kitchens and baths, replaced flooring and fixtures, etc. Looking is fun. Best of luck.

[Nick B]

Simply the best there is no better as reflected by price. It's TV everything is the greatest.

[merrymini]

Contractor built houses do not have the same interior quality unless you are choosing upgrades. That would be true here and up north because I have a house here and in NJ. I also built a very high quality custom home and no contractor can measure up to that. We have been In our house here for over six years and, although I would have put in better quality cabinets and appliances, I can live with what came with the house until they need to be replaced. Stucco seems to be tighter than a vinyl sided so we decided that stucco was for us. My house is not cracked and may need to be painted at some point but every house needs maintenance. If you do not want that there is always the lofts where you get the honor of renting a detached garage for an additional $250 a month.

[Kathryn Putt]

We checked out 4 retirement communities and by far everything in TV topped all of them. And my husband is a retired contractor for residential & hotels.

[daveac83]

If you get a Designer series block home, you get to pick many of the interior appointments, appliances, countertops, etc. They are building a new "Street of Dreams" facility in Brownwood where you can pick all this stuff. I believe in every other series of homes, the builder picks.

[CFrance]

Having watched, in great detail, several dozen homes being built here in The Villages I can tell you that mistakes are few and the quality of work is very good. The men and women building these homes have honed their skills and know their trades. I've talked to some of the workers in many of the trades and to a person everyone is glad for the success of the development because it means guaranteed work for years to come, something rare in the construction trades. When asked about the quality of work they all say the same thing, their foremen are very tough on them and demand quality, the screwups don't last long and don't get passed from one contractor to another. Too many screwups leads to poor quality work which leads to lost contracts and there are 4 or 5 more companies that will do the same job. They seem to take great pride in their work.

Yes, in some of the spec homes builder's grade fixtures and finishes are used, just like everywhere else, this is adequate for the desires of most, many want to upgrade. I replace all the appliances within the first 2 years because I didn't like the noise, they made or the configuration (side-by-side frig), it was a choice, but not one everyone makes. Looking at the newer spec homes, most come with many upgrades that were previously found in the custom-built homes in response to mark demand.

CYV's used to be built with poured concrete exterior walls, that changed shortly after moving south of SR44 to CMU walls. The CMU give greater ease of flexibility in the design and layout of the homes plus it cut the construction methods from three to two being used.

I've heard some people complain that they take shortcut and that's how they build so fast. This is a false statement. The speed of the building is a testament to the high level of coordination that is going on to build the new communities. You wouldn't call a Mercedes or a BMW poor constructed just because it comes off the assembly line in a few hours, of course not, it's a refined and well organized manufacturing process, the same can be said about homes built here in The Villages.

Yes, there will be some complaints because sometimes there will be errors that were overlooked. I expect to see some of those complaints on this thread over the next few days. Considering this will be only a couple of people out of the 2500-4000 homes they are building every year and the percentage is very small.
The only question I have regarding the time to build a house is the concrete issue. I am no expert, but isn't it supposed to cure for 30 days before being built upon? Or is that old news.

We had cracks in our lanai in our designer, and when we ripped up the carpet in the living and dining room, we found serious cracks in the slab that had to be addressed. You could tell the house had shifted by looking at the door from the laundry room into the garage, which used to be shut tighter than a drum, but eventually you could see through to the garage at one point. And I watched a tile in the entrance to the master bedroom slowly crack right to left.

I think they're decent houses, but expect some issues. In our CYV, when you flip the light switch to the lanai, the television goes off briefly! But I'm a happy camper.

[Altavia]

The only question I have regarding the time to build a house is the concrete issue. I am no expert, but isn't it supposed to cure for 30 days before being built upon? Or is that old news.



I had the same concern when observing concrete block stacked on the slab a day later. I was told they use granite aggregate to provide high strength early.

[Altavia]

Hi all. My wife and I are seriously considering moving to TV along with a couple of other options. My main question concerns the quality of the homes in TV. We are most interested in a new home that is CMU. Does anyone have any feedback, good or bad, on the construction quality?

One universal complaint is the time it takes to get hot water to points furtheset from the hot water heater. Upgrading to a recirculating hotwater heater if doing a custom build would be something to consider.

[coolJD]

plumbing is not insulated in the concrete.. with recirculating hot water will higher cost because you are heating the concrete or sand around the hot water pipe. I put a small water heater under the sink. Don't waste water waiting for the hot to get there. The concrete slab the house is built on is not insulated.. When cold outside , you can feel the cold tile in the house.. These homes are not like up north.

[Vernon Hud]

Just responding to person that says you can't build on it for 30 days. Concrete takes 28 days to fully cure, the thicker the concrete the longer it takes. You can actually build on it the next day, but high rise builders usually wait 2 days, if you had to wait 30 days, you would have a heck of a time building a rise. I was a bricklayer for 45 yrs in Minnesota, and we would start building on it the next day. If it is properly reinforced, it will be ok. As far as using granite in concrete here in Florida, that is BS. They use mostly a limestone aggregate. I don't believe there is any granite in Florida, besides the hardness of concrete is not determined by the aggregate, it is determined by the amount of Portland cement added to the mixture.

[escudel@bellsouth.net]

Don,
What kind of noises did the appliances make? We have GE Profile and the icebox (yes, I still call it an icebox) has 5 fans and at least one of them seems to be running constantly. So there is always a noise that has become annoying.

[escudel@bellsouth.net]

Having watched, in great detail, several dozen homes being built here in The Villages I can tell you that mistakes are few and the quality of work is very good. The men and women building these homes have honed their skills and know their trades. I've talked to some of the workers in many of the trades and to a person everyone is glad for the success of the development because it means guaranteed work for years to come, something rare in the construction trades. When asked about the quality of work they all say the same thing, their foremen are very tough on them and demand quality, the screwups don't last long and don't get passed from one contractor to another. Too many screwups leads to poor quality work which leads to lost contracts and there are 4 or 5 more companies that will do the same job. They seem to take great pride in their work.

Yes, in some of the spec homes builder's grade fixtures and finishes are used, just like everywhere else, this is adequate for the desires of most, many want to upgrade. I replace all the appliances within the first 2 years because I didn't like the noise, they made or the configuration (side-by-side frig), it was a choice, but not one everyone makes. Looking at the newer spec homes, most come with many upgrades that were previously found in the custom-built homes in response to mark demand.

CYV's used to be built with poured concrete exterior walls, that changed shortly after moving south of SR44 to CMU walls. The CMU give greater ease of flexibility in the design and layout of the homes plus it cut the construction methods from three to two being used.

I've heard some people complain that they take shortcut and that's how they build so fast. This is a false statement. The speed of the building is a testament to the high level of coordination that is going on to build the new communities. You wouldn't call a Mercedes or a BMW poor constructed just because it comes off the assembly line in a few hours, of course not, it's a refined and well organized manufacturing process, the same can be said about homes built here in The Villages.

Yes, there will be some complaints because sometimes there will be errors that were overlooked. I expect to see some of those complaints on this thread over the next few days. Considering this will be only a couple of people out of the 2500-4000 homes they are building every year and the percentage is very small.
Don Wiley aka GoldWingNut,
I think I messed my response up by incorrectly posting. What kind of noises did your appliances make? We have GE Profile and the icebox has 5 fans. At least one of them seems to be running all the time to the point it is annoying. GE repair has not been able to correct it. Says it’s pretty much normal. Our home is still under warranty <1yr old.

[Carlsondm]

Our appliances are all Samsung, but I am guessing that no matter what brand, the contractors use the cheapest/lower models. We had so many problems with the microwave, dishwasher, etc. that we had frequent visits and chatted with the repairman. He confirmed that we had low end models that were prone to problems and noisier. We have an open concept large Iris, so the noise is continuous, but we are getting used to it. We will update to the top-of-the-line when the time comes.

I would build a designer to get what I want next time or buy from a first owner with good taste who upgraded.

Also, don't expect square corners or straight walls. While construction is relatively good, techniques and objectives are different in TV. Gramps was a Master Carpenter and much of the family worked in construction. Maybe we expect more precision... like in our home up north. BTW, we have a hip roof stucco to better handle high wind storms ..and I R an engineer! We are happy with our new home south of 44, but will do a bit more upgrading and correction than we thought.

[Bilyclub]

I don't agree that there is a higher level of construction quality "up north". Most builders everywhere use inexpensive windows in new construction, and copper piping is rarely used for interior plumbing anymore. I don't know what conduit you are referring to. Also, concrete block is a structural material, but brick is not. Brick is used as a cosmetic facade. The structural part of a brick wall is usually wood studs.

In Chicago all electrical work must run thru metal pipe, no romex. Metal is also required for all inside water service so copper it is, except they are allowing plastic for inside sewer pipe. The majority of older houses are Chicago Common brick/cinder block load bearing walls.

[John_W]

....

[vintageogauge]

When I purchased a home in TV, I was told the Stucco homes required pressure washing, and painting every so many years. Also the walls can develop cracks from settling. With the vinyl siding homes and there are many, you just have to wash the siding every couple of years. Note, It is easier to wash siding then stucco. Another I read where a HIP roof is stronger against high winds then a Gable roof. A house with a Gable roof can sustain damage to siding and trim where as the HIP roof directs the wind upward??

We have one of each, they recommend power washing the stucco every year and the vinyl twice a years. We have had no cracks in our stucco to date, it's 4 years old.

[John_W]

....

[vintageogauge]

When discussing home construction and storms some homeowners mention hurricanes that came across TV. I mean really what speed of wind are you talking maybe 50 or at the most 60 mph??? By the time a hurricane enters TV it is most likely down sized to Gale Winds. Up north on the coastal areas like Long Island we have had over 100 mph winds from hurricanes and most likely 98% of the vinyl sided homes sustained NO DAMAGE.

February 2, 2007, the villages tornado.

[vintageogauge]

The only question I have regarding the time to build a house is the concrete issue. I am no expert, but isn't it supposed to cure for 30 days before being built upon? Or is that old news.

We had cracks in our lanai in our designer, and when we ripped up the carpet in the living and dining room, we found serious cracks in the slab that had to be addressed. You could tell the house had shifted by looking at the door from the laundry room into the garage, which used to be shut tighter than a drum, but eventually you could see through to the garage at one point. And I watched a tile in the entrance to the master bedroom slowly crack right to left.

I think they're decent houses, but expect some issues. In our CYV, when you flip the light switch to the lanai, the television goes off briefly! But I'm a happy camper.

I owned a steel warehouse and the city had to cut through our driveway when they put in storm sewers. They filled over with concrete that allowed 70,000 lb. trucks to drive on the same day, never had a problem, driveway is still there 10 years later.

[John_W]

....

[vintageogauge]

Hurricane Irma eye wall came directly over TV in 2017 with winds of 85 - 95 mph and with 12-15 inches of rain.

Irma continues to weaken after passing through Central Florida (https://www.clickorlando.com/weather/2017/09/11/irma-continues-to-weaken-after-passing-through-central-florida/)

https://www.weather.gov/images/mfl/Hurricane%20Irma/SatAnimation.gif

Turtle Mound Golf Course at Buena Vista & 466A

https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/155467843_1878931515604705_1075492135217858659_n.j pg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=3&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=Ivh9iOOGuxoAX-x59Sw&_nc_oc=AQm0D7DssLWOld1Sl1t95FDM9b7GImMHOUfKdWWJMEu C2wApI35QeVK__q7AuH6EcwI&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=973fca6e218508fb30688c5ce3279fef&oe=606433C7

The historic side of TV

https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/155835560_1878932155604641_17401409237883419_n.jpg ?_nc_cat=100&ccb=3&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=zj2cXxG3l8YAX_lNkdm&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=80a156f4515859d213c244035871a6a7&oe=60677C2A

Golf Cart Tunnel at Havana CC under Morse

https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/154995703_1878930922271431_4220083280358648603_n.j pg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=3&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=p1I7MgOmrO8AX_b0BdZ&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=2923bb0462e491a45a251ec7a5066e66&oe=60659316

That was our first Hurricane, was not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be, I slept through most of it. I was in a few tornados including the one down here in 2007 and those are much worse.

[jimhurtt@twc.com]

What does CMU stand for?

[retiredguy123]

What does CMU stand for?
Concrete masonry unit.

Also known as concrete block.

[Sherry8bal]

Hi all. My wife and I are seriously considering moving to TV along with a couple of other options. My main question concerns the quality of the homes in TV. We are most interested in a new home that is CMU. Does anyone have any feedback, good or bad, on the construction quality?

The home construction quality here is hit and miss. The builders are given "x" amount of time to do each section or job and if something breaks in the meantime, they are told to leave it and go on. If the homeowner finds it, they will fix the problem but if they do not, that's money saved for them.

That's a sad way to do business, but that's the way Developer here operates. In our first year, we have over 100 things wrong with the house that we found that had to be fixed. It really was shameful!!

[vintageogauge]

The home construction quality here is hit and miss. The builders are given "x" amount of time to do each section or job and if something breaks in the meantime, they are told to leave it and go on. If the homeowner finds it, they will fix the problem but if they do not, that's money saved for them.

That's a sad way to do business, but that's the way Developer here operates. In our first year, we have over 100 things wrong with the house that we found that had to be fixed. It really was shameful!!

We have been here 4 years and had to have one floor tile re-glued and that is it. We have owned a lot of homes both new and re-sales the quality of this home is above all of the others we have owned. You must have bought the legendary lemon house that everyone has heard about LOL.

[John Mayes]

Thank you all so much for the feedback and comments. Most of the comments were favorable of the build quality. I fully expect some issues with a new construction but I feel better about the overall quality and responsiveness through the warranty process if there are issues. Thanks again!!!

[kathyspear]

These are the 2-1/2" wide louvers, they also make 4" wide louvers. My neighbor has them, I'm not a fan, on a big window they might look good.

We just had plantation shutters installed in our whole house by Shutter Professionals. All 4" louvers. (2 huge windows, one set of sliders, lots of smaller windows.) They look great! Just my opinion. :)

kathy

[Bridget Staunton]

We built our own home with with quality material. We choose conduit for our electric so wires were protected , it’s also code in suburban Chicago. We choose copper for water instead of cpvc for taste. That been said Florida weather is different that up north Thank God and rust is a problem down south therefore materials are different. No criticism just facts

[Goldwingnut]

Don,
What kind of noises did the appliances make? We have GE Profile and the icebox (yes, I still call it an icebox) has 5 fans and at least one of them seems to be running constantly. So there is always a noise that has become annoying.

I don't remember the brand that was originally installed but the icemaker in the refrigerator was very noisy on the filling and drop cycles and we didn't like the side-by-side doors. The dishwasher was the worst, when they pulled it out to put the new one in there was no insulation on the old unit, just a hard plastic shell that echoed inside the kichen cabinets. It was not unexpected; we had the same issue with the supplied dishwasher in our last house (outside TV) and replaced it also after a year or so. The stove, my wife didn't like it, I replaced it, no questions asked, I've been well trained over the last 40 years.

The Samsung appliances we replaced the originals with have proven themselves less than stellar. We had the icemaker issue that has plagued Samsung. The dishwasher's internal computer needed frequent resetting (cycle the breaker). The stove and microwave however work great. My son did us a favor on Monday, he stumbled in the kitchen and fell on the open dishwasher door and bent it beyond repair and economical replacement. He's fine but the dishwasher was a total loss. So far so good with the new Maytag I installed on Monday afternoon; and the old Samsung is now at the county landfill.

[FG111]

Since a majority of us have no idea about home construction and as a consumer we rely on the county inspector to ensure code compliance, I honestly wonder if the county inspector are just "checking-off" and not verifying the builders quality of build.

Point of concern. My Lanai was glassed-in by a supposedly local reliable contractor. The county inspector responded and after a total of 45 seconds of his time, the county inspector checked-off my Lanai as passing code. My Lanai has been an ongoing concern. After many months of contention, my Lanai was finally repair by the original contractor.

Just saying, with so many homes being built so quickly, I really wonder if the county inspectors are doing their due diligence to protect us as consumers.

[Dgodin]

I was impressed with the build quality as far as fit and finish. I found good attention to detail, tight corner miters, no nail pops in the drywall, caulking done well. The contractor, like most, does skimp on interior products. The wall paint seems quite thin. I figure it was sprayed on.
We had looked at homes in south Carolina and the build quality there was less than desirable.

[nick demis]

Simple answer, better than average but not as good as a true custom built home.

[doecats]

POOR CONSTRUCTION, not a square corner in the house, half the electrical outlets dont have boxes(bathroom light over sink) microwave vent not connected.

[Garywt]

Concrete masonry unit.

I was thinking the same thing. I just say brick or wood when talking about the 2 choices.

We have brick and is is great.

[retiredguy123]

I was thinking the same thing. I just say brick or wood when talking about the 2 choices.

We have brick and is is great.
Brick is usually just a cosmetic facade attached to a wood framing system. The wood framing is the load bearing part of the wall, not the brick. However, the concrete block houses in The Villages, use the block as the load bearing part of the walls, so load bearing wood framing is not needed. Other houses use a load bearing wood framing system with vinyl siding.

[joelfmi]

[That is very important to do before you move in amongst all the other thing you have been told to do. Sink holes are very bad for any structure's.

[Packer Fan]

Don’t expect the quality to be the same as up north like Chicago. No conduit, no copper pipe, crappy windows that fail every few years etc. one nice thing is the concrete block although we had brick up north. Weather is beautiful especially in the winter

Yes, it is way better than in Chicago. I live up here, my house is down there is better built than my 2007 build condo up here, or for that matter, any house I have had in the Midwest.

[retiredguy123]

Yes, it is way better than in Chicago. I live up here, my house is down there is better built than my 2007 build condo up here, or for that matter, any house I have had in the Midwest.
I am not familiar with the apparent unique building codes in Chicago. But, I would much prefer to have plastic water pipes instead of copper pipes in my house. Also, I would not want to have my electrical wires installed in metal conduits. The Romex wiring system seems to be plenty adequate and more flexible for making changes than metal conduits.

[Stu from NYC]

[That is very important to do before you move in amongst all the other thing you have been told to do. Sink holes are very bad for any structure's.

As I understand it sink holes pop up as they pop up.

Will agree it would not be a good thing to wake up in a new home 50 ft below ground.

[Tbrazie]

My business partner and I flew down here to look at homes before I bought. He was a home builder for the last 2 decades. He insisted on going to see the homes under construction as well as those fully built. He was impressed with the quality and said it was way above average in the US.

[Shoolie]

plumbing is not insulated in the concrete.. with recirculating hot water will higher cost because you are heating the concrete or sand around the hot water pipe. I put a small water heater under the sink. Don't waste water waiting for the hot to get there. The concrete slab the house is built on is not insulated.. When cold outside , you can feel the cold tile in the house.. These homes are not like up north.
No, you are not "up north". All Florida homes settle after first year, usually resulting in cracks in tile. Most Floridians know this & do not add tile until two years after. As for copper pipes, not good down here. Too much lightning, copper pipes are not pure & so as storms approach & electricity is in the air & ground, copper alloys pop out & leaks occur. That is why most older homes in Florida are repiped, with PVC. This is usually done thru the attic or crawlspace as you cannot dig up the slab. All slabs will crack, problems occur if slab cracks completely thru, usually it is only superficial. We usually use a waterproof agent or paint to seal the slab before adding new flooring. I didn't do this to our new home in TV, home is well built & I can only hope that I do not get cracked tile, so far after 4 years, things are good.