Do You Trust The Villages
 

As the hurricane approaches, I sincerely wish the best to everyone and I hope that the damages, if any are kept to a minimum.

That being said, do you guys really trust the workmanship in your homes that were built by The Villages?

I'm no construction engineer, but it seems to me that many homes here in The Villages were built quickly and I just wonder, what if the "big-one" strikes.

How will the homes hold-up?

Our house was built in 1996 and is still holding up strong. The only damage from Irma a couple of years ago was a lost piece of siding. So far, so good.

Our house dates to 2004 and has weathered some storms well and we are pretty well protected this far inland except for from the tornadoes that sometimes are created by hurricanes as they work their way through.

The homes were built quickly because they are built by teams, carefully choreographed teams. There are different groups of workers for foundations and plumbing and electrical and roofing and dry wall and framing and they know when and where they will be the day you sign for your home to be built. The materials are also carefully ordered and placed when the teams need them. We watched this home being built and were amazed at how smooth the process is. Even to some of the work was done over if the chief builder in charge didn't like how it was done. The roofing crew must have had ten plus men who arrived early and stayed way past six on a day that was in the nineties.

I trust The Villages but not my neighbors who (during Irma) left out many guided missiles I didn't want to find on our bedroom . I had to run around asking them to please bring those ^%^$&$&$ flowerpots. light patio lawn chairs & patio umbrellas inside. House (11yrs old) siding and (4 yrs old) roof survived 100% hopefully this time will be the same. That was my first FL hurricane.

Ok, but your home was built over 20 years ago when workmanship within The Villages "old management team" mattered.

In my humble opinion, the new homes built now and managed by the "new" management team at The Villages place profit over workmanship. Just my opinion.

As part of my due dilligence I walked through 6 homes under construction and observed well built homes using the latest hurricane resistance construction methods.

The fact that they build thousands of the same home results in a highly optimized design and construction process.

I'm not sure what the OPs motive is, but under the circumstances with a severe storm approaching, this thread rates way up there as one of the most pathetic threads I've seen on ToTV.

No, I don’t think this thread is pathetic at all. I feel that when you face your first hurricane you’d like to know how safe you are in your home in TV. For example, do frame houses fare ok, as compared to block ones? How about manufactured homes? What about the different ages of houses as the building codes have changed several times.

Do YOU trust? We could be living in Tornado Allley---would you say the same there? Weather happens ALL over the world. Yes there's a lot of "news" regarding the weather. Sometimes I think it's over-done and if they gave updates just during the regular news, rather than adding between programming and updating on social media we'd be much better off. I think all this plays into people's anxieties. We've lived in FL/The Villages for 10 yrs now and so far we're good with where we are. As someone else said...pull all the stuff on your patio's, side-walks etc. inside. You don't want it blowing across the neighborhood and being responsible for damaging other people's properties. Be prepared for the worse and pray for the best!!! Worrying and lamenting about it won't improve anything.

They say, “Knowledge never kills, but ignorance can.”

Buildings in Florida have to be built to certain construction codes. Whether buildings constructed within or outside the Villages have to withstand established wind velocities for that particular area before they are certified for occupancy. All newly constructed building are inspected by county inspectors, not Villages inspectors, to make certain the structure adheres to these safety standards.

:ohdear: IMHO You know what they say about opinions......:censored:

THANK YOU for understanding my post-

I observed countless of supposedly "well-built" homes in South Miami-Dade County that were completely destroyed after Hurricane Andrew.

So yes, I'm concerned.

So what are you going to do about it?

You could rent a mobile home and hunker down in it, if that would make you feel better.

Good points. We have friends who live in the Historic side that always stay with us during hurricanes, because of worry about the ability of their home to withstand the high winds. We also lived through the tornado that struck the Villages in 2007 when 8 people were killed in the Lady Lake area, and about 1000 homes in the Villages were damaged. I remember the roof of Coconut Cove recreation center was completely blown off. Anyone who takes these storms lightly is a fool. The Villages did a superb job of cleanup - crews were on the streets the next day starting to pick up the storm debris.

Still can't fathom why the doors on houses in TV open inward--in south Fl, their doors must open outward

Building codes were changed after Andrew. Look at the reinforcements on garage doors we have now. That was not code when Andrew came through and that is just one example.

When doors open outward, the hinges are on the outside so that is a security issue. All it takes is a screw driver and a hammer to remove the door.

Our front door on our home in South Florida swung to the inside.

I don't understand the point of the OP.

If the OP doesn't live in TV, then why come here and post a question like that which will instill possible fear into residents that are new to Florida.

If the OP does live in TV, then why do they live here? Why would a person live in Florida in a home they do not trust in a hurricane?

NOW is not the time for people to be questioning the building quality and safety of their homes, now is the time to try to relax and if that means going to visit friends up north, then do it, if that means getting some extra beers or wine to last through a few days of power outage, then do that. But focusing on quality of your homes building and whether or not it is safe is not a good thing for anyone - especially people new to Florida - to do when a hurricane is approaching. The time for that was before you purchased. I mean seriously folks Florida and hurricanes kind of go together, they always have and they always will. If you don't trust your home so much you have to come online and ask others if your home is safe, then you really need to consider moving someplace safer - like CA on a Clift side so your home can go slip sliding away in a mud slide, or Kansa so you can hum "Up, Up and away" as a tornado relocates your home to Oz, or to LA so you can get you exercise vibrating to the tunes of the next earth quake...

If someone is really concerned about the construction quality of their house, the logical thing to do is to hire a home inspector or structural engineer to inspect the house to verify that it is constructed according to the building codes related to hurricane protection. I think the most significant feature to prevent hurricane damage is for the roof structure to be securely strapped down to the top of the exterior walls to prevent wind from blowing away the roof. And, there are other features that should be looked at, if you don't trust the builder.

Well said....I totally agree.

Where was your concern when you were buying?
BTW how can you compare to South Miami-Dade County factually?

Florida has building codes to make homes as ready as possible for hurricanes. I am comfortable with my home, but agree more concern with what people don't put away during hurricanes.

The 'big one' has already hit. It was called Irma. No need to speculate.

Oh, by the way. De we reallly need to worry our neighbors like this as a storm approaches? People are concerned enough. Asking a question will not change anything, so why do it?

Codes have become more stringent over the years. How old were the homes in the area you cite? They possibly were built when codes were weaker. Short of a WWII Omaha Beach Nazi bunker most homes will suffer damage if the storm is strong enough.

:ohdear: Not wanting to bash someone but do you not read the news, watch the news, talk to realtors or keep up with what is going on in the world. Lived in a far off part of the US after Andrew and read when the laws were updated. Some of the most stringent building codes due to hurricanes were enacted down there. Now are followed by most FL communities.

And remember, while hurricanes are serious, with some common sense they are not that dangerous - ether hunker down or get out of the way. And DON'T listen to the news. They are sensationalizing everything to get clicks.

To the OP, I will not try to change your mind because from your two posts here you seem to have decided. Instead, I will point out a factual way for you and everyone else to see the "new villages team" not cutting corners in the building of the new homes. Go to any one of Don Wiley's youtube videos where he flys over and films the new homes being built. You will see may homes with green roofs, this material is self stick material adhered to the roof decking. It is also a self sealing membrane so each nail that penetrates it in attaching the roof shingles becomes sealed. It is commonly known as a secondary water barrier, meaning the roof shingles can be blown off by high winds but the green membrane remains water tight.

This type of material is an extra cost above the standard underlayment that is stapled to the roof deck. The standard underlayment meets the building code, the green membrane is above and beyond and many insurance companies discount the cost of coverage for homes that have it. This type of roof is far superior in preventing hurricane damage.

Codes are the bare minimum, really good builders will exceed it if the customer is willing to pay--prime example is roofing, quality of the underlayment & how the underlayment is attached

If I may I disagree I’ve had the pleasure of doing an extensive remodeling and the sub par quality finish work on the interior was ridiculous on my courtyard Villa. And it was built in 1994.
So whoever was responsible for the finish inspection and signed off on the paperwork was not doing his job.
Anyone buying a new home here will get a warranty for a year I recommend you hire a inspector to go completely through your house before that year is up.

I took the liberty of looking at ALL the thread posts the OP started and apparently he/she has many questions re: living here (I'm assuming they already have moved in) over the past year. Those types of questions were ones we asked our agent and others before we signed on the dotted line to purchase. As for the impending storm--you must either have A LOT of anxiety as there were two very similar threads started within a relatively short period of time re: it. I'm currently listening to Jerry on WVLG this morning. He grew up in Miami btw. He's giving lots of info. that we can take in advisement. He tells us not to speculate! That would be the correct thing to do. IF you're anxious and fearful---maybe you should pack up and evacuate instead of stirring a pot on social media!

Basically - if you live in the "historical section" where there are mostly manufactured homes, you won't be safe if the storm hits *right there* in that spot. Even if you live in one of the newer site-built homes in Silver Lake, it'll get damaged by all the manufactured homes flying all over the place. But again, that is only IF the storm hits in that spot.

It isn't likely to get a direct hit in that spot; the worst in Silver Lake and Orange Blossom is more likely to be flooding and power outages.

A tornado came through the Villages and caused a lot of damage to one area - mostly several homes on a single street. A friend lives a block away from where the worst damage was, and was living there at the time (she's one of the reasons we decided, back in 2008, to move to the Villages when it was time to retire). Her home had very minor damage so this was really a very isolated incident.

Lady Lake, including the old section of the Villages, has a lot of trailer parks, so they fare a lot worse in tornadoes and hurricanes.

In general, homes in the Villages are built stronger than homes further north along the coast in other states.

Our lead builder has been with The Villages since he came with Gary Morse from Michigan. There are many builders and their crews. The State of Florida has hurricane requirements and standards for building, recently updated about twelve years ago. BUT

Nothing can withstand certain Hurricane conditions. They say hide from wind and run from water. Water is the biggest challenge. Last time with Irma, The Villages was able to divert a lot of the flooding and inundated their own golf courses to save the homes.

Then people complained they couldn't play golf for quite some time.

Be sure your car is gassed. Have cages ready for your pets. And know we are all worried.

Gracie you are always positive and up beat BUT!
The speed the homes are built in, is a concern and the inspectors can't keep up with construction and have to trust the contractors to do it right. For the most part it gets done correctly, at least the structure does.
The reality is that if a projectile hits the window and the house gets pressurized game over , the roof is likely to come off.
The Roof schedule is better than 20 to 30 pages for all the specs to be done correctly, even the nail pattern. The overhangs are at a minimum due to the lift they can create. Bottom-line is; hope we don't take a direct hit. Being inland is important for the hurricane to lose its strength..
Stay Safe everyone!!!!

I’m wondering what you base that on. Not likely at all.

Believe what you WANT!
If you haven't been in the industry for forty years you would have no clue. have a nice day!

When some are uncomfortable and worried they get angry.

When some can't find solutions to problems they look to blame and sometimes there is reason to blame.

We all have different reactions to frustration and danger

Most of the houses are fine and built well. We have owned two new homes here and have seen eleven homes built in our life time, not counting two of our children's home being built.

We watched this home be built every day, EVERY day. It is cementblock, our pick for winds. .

It only requires one chink or one alteration in a garage door to let in a little wind then whooooosh.

Everyone is worried. Everyone in Florida.

But if you're born to hang, you won't drown,...….. is what my grandfather told me. ;)

And maybe you should be a good neighbor and not bash a poster for being fearful about a hurricane.

I did not see anything Bashing. I saw honest observation and good advice. if you are having anxiety about your home in the face of an oncoming hurricane the correct thing to do is to get away while you can.