Not only misleading but wrong. I owned a stick built home built in 2004 on a barrier island, not the “coast” which is a general location, could be 10 miles inland. Other than high rise condos most living space of homes on the island was stick built. The building code is designed for major hurricanes but the island is routinely evacuated for hurricanes because of storm surge. Houses are built on anchored concrete pillars 12 ft high. I believe that requirement is now 14 ft. Ground level walls are breakaway and the space is only used for parking.

Just the facts
 

They aren't spreading doom & gloom, just the facts of what happens and how most major home failures occur. Also facts on how the insurance companies in FL are running the show.

You're 100% right. I've built stick frame in velocity zones along the coast. The thinking that block/concrete/block is inherently "sturdier" than wood frame, in nonsense. But this is The Villages, everyone is an expert here, regardless of from whence they came.

No trees. all homes facing within degrees of same north on compass read. 8 ceilings in PV, cottage & designer vault in living/kitchen.
All three home the same ugly beige. Most don’t keep stats on three homes monthly for a year.

True
 

It certainly depends. If you were in an earthquake you certainly would want to be in a stick home. You certainly would not want to be in a tilt wall constructed house.

I got the opposite impression. He seemed to know what he was speaking about. It made a lot of sense that if the roof goes, then there are the same amount of problems even if the walls are still there. It seems to me that Florida would be a great candidate for DOME houses. Since I am NOT an expert, there must be good reasons WHY Dome houses are not POPULAR here.

All Methods Must Meet Current Hurricane Wind Criteria & Structural Integrity
 

[QUOTE=MandoMan;2299963]They are all good and will withstand a hurricane so long as the roof trusses are properly attached and the roof sheathing is properly nailed down and the shingles are properly attached.


Hurricane Andrew happened in 1992. Many studies were done to find the causes of failure and how to eliminate those causes. The result was the major building code rewrite that issued in 2002. Mandoman's sentence is a good explanation of what the key consideration is.
So today, All construction methods have the same design criteria and are "equal" in principle.

Obviously 1992 houses were designed to a lower criteria with less effective structural integrity. Consequently any opening led to more damage and often to complete destruction. Anecdotally, block construction had some inherent advantages that reduced total destruction During Hurricane Andrew and 2007 Tornado.

The comments regarding high velocity zones and construction methods are interesting but are not pertinent to building in The Villages. High velocity zones are basically coastal areas subject to potential waves from large bodies of water such as the Gulf or Atlantic. Basically NO construction method can withstand the force of high velocity waves. As pointed out in #41 by Greatlawn, The building Code now requires buildings in high velocity zones to be built on anchored concrete pillars 14 ft high (above high tide?). Stick built is the normal building method for private residences.

In a significant earthquake, you don't want to be anywhere near it.

That said, I'd much rather be in a stick built home, than any other kind, if the event of an earthquake. When a precast wall falls on you, it smarts. Dry wall? No big deal.

If you hear that roaring sound, too late…….sit tight.

Domes have their own complications, not the least of which, is structural cost and it's a linear world. If you just bought a new 65" Flat Screen ... what would you do with it? Mounting in on a wall of a "dome house", would used up tons of space ... takes the fun out of a "flat screen".

Depending on the model, you may not have an option. Our floorplan was PC only (block option was discontinued).

The 2007 tornado spawned 2 smaller tornadoes. Homes struck by the large tornado saw the most damage. (Framed Homes) Those that were struck by the smaller tornados suffered minimal damage. Again, it is NOT the type of construction. It is the intensity and size of the storm along with the amount and duration of rainfall. Everyone seems to understand homes hit along the coast during a hurricane will suffer the most damage. Frame or concrete, large or small, ALL crumble. The hurricane loses intensity as it makes its way through Florida. Homes inland suffer minimal damage. The same is true of tornadoes. A large intensive storm leaves behind more damage than smaller storms. The type of construction has very little to do with that equation.

Thinking about your response.. and with energy costs what they are, are the newer home attic's insulated sufficiently to retain cooling & stop the suns heat from heating the home ? We watch about every YouTube TV video we can find & someone mentioned the extra insulation in the garage to keep the garage cooler.. Just got me thinking if that practice is common to TV home construction. Is it a non issue or is that an upgrade people should do. Thanks. Will

I think most of the houses, not just newer, are sufficiently insulated. The garage gets hot, even if it faces north, & lanais can get hot. Both can have mitigations added.

Bolck verse wood
 

That is not true, CBS construction is far superior. Look at the wind load calculations.

:bowdown: Totally correct, lived in Texas for 30 years and when a tornado hit a wood home or a brick home the result was the same, bye-bye. Trailers were a different story.

So what you are saying is you cannot put up a flat surface in a dome home? Looked at them extensively and there are great homes that are domes and they have flat walls. Cost is higher up front but long term cost the dome wins. If you are going to an area with weather or fire issues it makes huge sense. Not so much in the interior of FL.

Don't let the facts get in your way.


2024 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE (IBC) | ICC DIGITAL CODES

Two homes built to current hurricane standards.
 

The one with a hip style roof system will give you significant insurance savings over a gable one...

Absolutely
 

Yes, homeowners is only about a thousand a year on our designer. Just paid the bill in fact.

From what I am being told today(2/26/24) - if you are building new, you don't have a choice on designer homes (without the 10' ceilings) - they are pre-cast. Premier homes are still block. I was told the reason for that is they don't have the forms yet for the 10 foot walls and they also don't have the trailers to transport them(those green trailers you see everywhere in the Eastport area). I plan on building a premier in Eastport and it looks like it will be block. I just wish the developers would allow you to forego the worthless made in China GE appliances. You can buy a brand new set of kitchen appliances at Best Buy for what they charge for an uplift to the Cafe line. At least offer some made in America appliances if you are going to force people to buy your offers. I'm sure they buy container loads of the appliances from China at pennies on the dollar compared to what they charge for them. My disclaimer - the above is only what I've been told when I inquired and does not necessarily mean it is fact. I'm merely repeating what I've been told by a realtor I am working with. The appliance info was passed on to me by a relative of mine who just completed the design process(2/23/24) on their new build so that is as factual as it comes. Now, open to all the "experts" to chime in.......

Block home and hip roof vs gable
 

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