Is the reason concrete is preferred in fl...
 

because of hurricanes, tornadoes or is it cooler in the summer? In MO we have basements for safety in case of tornadoes, plus it adds double the space.

Are the blocks/stucco able to stand up to high wind speeds much better than "stick built" or is it just the style you prefer?

I am a chicken about tornadoes, so I know the basement is the ONLY thing I will miss.

I share your feeling
 

Tornados in this area are not as prevalent as the midwest but they do happen. The Cement houses are probably better but the roofs are always the thing that goes in a tornado so I am not sure they are that much safer. Probably somewhat.
I think its more of a preference than anything else.
I was surprised when I moved here that there are no Tornado or hurricane shelters. You are on your own. Of course with Tornados there is usually not time to move to a shelter but with hurricanes you often have a day or more notice.
Our only plan for a tornado is to move into a bathroom that has no outside walls or windows. For hurricanes, depending on predicted strength either that inside bathroom or get out of town. That's what we did last time. We had an RV and we just closed up the house and left town. As long as you don't wait until the last minute you can get a long way from here in a day.

Thank You Lincoln,

I was just curious because I read a thread with people who really wanted block and stucco or concrete.

When our situation was a little different and I thought we were going to live in Panama City for my husband's job, I actually found a house that had a walk out basement. It was on enough of a hill that it worked out perfectly, but I am sure those are next to impossible to find. At that time we hadn't even considered a retirement commnity.

We went on vacation and just wanted to see how "real" people lived and we stumbled into some retirement commnities in Ft. Meyers. I loved the idea. Then I heard about TV and got the DVD. Now we have our flight scheduled, and I need to call there and make reservations for April.

Anyway, getting back to the subject, I like both styles, just depends on the house.

Termites ?
 

My husband thinks we will be safer from insects and termites. :yuck: I don't know if he is right. The boarding school I attended in the area has replaced all their buildings one by one with block, they said because maintience and termites made it more feasable and insurance was less. Is insurance less.

The best advice I can give you is to read about it yourself and draw your own conclusions. Ed Frederick recently released a book called “Ten Seconds Inside a Tornado” and for the $20 it’s a good read to understand what it was like to be here in TV when the F3 (160mph) tornado struck The Villages in February of 2007. These are true stories from Villagers about the experience. Here’s a link to his site if you care to order it: http://amworldeditions.com/AWE4author.html

But here’s my conclusion/opinion. All things being equal, yes a block or cement home is certainly stronger structurally.

But although there were no fatalities in TV from the tornado of 07, the many injuries (some quite serious) were caused by debris flying through windows, and some of it was like shrapnel from sheet metal shrouds around air conditioners that were torn apart.

So the weakest point during the storm was usually the many windows and lanai sliders that got shattered from the force of the wind and debris flying through it, and that was true for stick built as well as block/cement homes.

Best advice is to always have a weather alert radio tuned and a plan to go to a safe area inside your home when necessary.

Just an aside:

I don't think hurricanes are a huge concern in TV. Being 60/80 miles from the coasts you don't have a huge impact like you do at landfall. I'm sure many people here on TOTV can remember the 2004 four hurricane season and can relay what happened. I don't think you need to evacuate TV for a hurricane.

not so safe
 

I lived in Humble, TX (north of Houston, which is itself not on the coast). I think we were 50-60 miles from the coast, when Hurricane Alicia struck the coast in I think 1981 - probably Galveston first, since that is the barrier island. This was only a Category 1 hurricane (the mildest rating). It was awful. Cannot imagine how bad Hurricane Andrew was in Miami/Homestead (I think that was a Category 5, the worst).

Even though there is plenty of warning with a hurricane, we did not leave. Should have. Tall pine trees snapped halfway up - 1 neighbor across the street had a pine tree crash between 2 twin beds in an unoccupied guest room. Huge live oak in another neighbor across the street uprooted, fortunately into the street and not into their house. We had 1 pine snap about 8 feet up from the ground, again fortunately into the street. Also had wood shingles blow off and 1 or 2 sections of a 6 foot wood fence blow off - watched that go board by board. Ex-husband decided to drive to his manufacturing plant (he was manager) about 20-30 miles away and got blown around on the freeway 180 or 360 degrees .

So, if a hurricane is coming the way of The Villages, get out of town.

Yes a tall tree could snap onto your house - Saw that happen in a Cat 2 in RI 20 years ago and killed a woman. But barring a tall tree over your house you're relatively safe that far inland. I don't think evacuations are ever ordered that much inland. But, of course, you should do what you think is best for you as things can happen. TV was crisscrossed with 4 hurricanes in 2004. I think there was a lot of roof damage (i.e. asphalt shingles torn off) but no real structural damage from any of them as far as I know. Anyone who lived here in 2004 remember?

But I think we've strayed from the original question.

for reference here is a path map of 2004 storms: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:20...season_map.png

Bock or siding
 

Block in ten or so years will have to be painted, and the siding shape and textures will change in the years to come causing the house to look dated.

Being from the Cleveland area, most homes here have vinal siding and I relate this to a "northern" appearance. Aside from the structural integrity of the walls, I've always felt the stucco homes had more of a "Floridian" look to them.

I agree
 

And even worse either those ugly stair step cracks or cracks in general will eventually show up. They really cannot be repeired only covered over and repainted. I think in the end the stuco houses are higher maintanence. Having said that I think they do have that Florida look, which in my opinion is good. Just know you will have some troubling repairs in the future including repainting.

Russ,
I live on the east coast of S fla and hurricane Wilma hit the west coast, traveled 160 miles across the state and intensified before it hit us hard. Fla is at the most 160 miles across, more narrow where TV is, and hurricanes can have both sides well over water where they pick up their energy. That part of the state has been lucky for a long time. I'd preferr block walls. How the roof is attached depends on the codes for that area. All homes down here must have steel straps that anchor the roof to the poured concrete cap along the top of the walls. I plan to move to TV soon and may only be able to afford a frame home if I have to keep lowering the price of my home to sell it. If I do buy a wood frame house, I will probably get in the car and take a vacations in the mountains till the storm passes and power is restored.

Thanks for the info Shimpy but that's why I was asking if any TOTV members lived here in 2004 when 2 storms went directly over TV. I remember some roof damage of torn off shingles mostly. As mentioned, unless you have a tree over your house, I was wondering if there was any real need to vacate. I'm not saying there isn't a need but I'd like to hear from the voices of experience who lived here during 2004.

wood vs block
 

I was working in the construction industry, post Andrew, when the entire state of florida adopted the southern building code conference results. The frame homes are engineered to stand up to the same wind strength as block homes, as are the windows, sliders, etc. That, coupled with the inland location of TV, means a relatively minor risk of catastrophic hurricane damage. The important issue, IMHO, is getting the streets cleared soon enough to make happy hour.

Russ, don't underestimate hurricanes and how far you are from the coast! Presently where we are in Alabama is 400 miles from the coast, and Opal, Ivan, and Katrenia wher STILL CAT 1 hurricanes when they hit us. Matter of fact Opal in 95, was still a CAT 1 when it reached Chattanooga, TN!!!!

Army Guy