Concrete block or precast only.

5 Years ago, block was 5K higher than frame in the mid priced homes. Defintely worth the extra money then. Block(CBS) is stronger and less likelihood of having termite problems and can be easily be re painted. Siding painting does require an additive to the paint and siding does fade. Pre cast is better than both(more uniform) and should be considered. Lived in Palm Beach County before moving to TV and best wind protected homes were pre cast. Pre cast can have a lifetime finish also. Need to ask if TV's pre cast walls are lifetime finished.

When we have high winds you will regret buying that plastic siding house. Additionally, no matter what anyone tells you to the contrary, plastic houses do not look executive. They look cheap.

Bullet Proof
 

I do like ur comment about vinyl homes not being bullet proof! If that's the major drawback, I'll raise a glass. Having lived in a stucco home in NM, you can have it....expe sive to paint, at least every 5-8 years and tendency to crack & blister. No Thanks!!!

Concrete homes need to be washed tool
 

And painted at a big expense with dull colors.

I always wondered if a concrete block house was COLDER than a wood frame house - due to less insulation in walls?

Had both four times, like them all. No issues except had to paint stucco. Part of the territory that goes with it.

No. Both wall systems have a total insulation R-value of about R-13 according to the building code. Ceilings have R-30.

Thank you.

I’m not an expert on construction but a few years ago I lived next door to a retired engineer I would consider as a well qualified individual in this field. I will call him George. What surprised me about George is the house he had built was a vinyl siding constructed home. My house was concrete block. They were almost exactly the same in size. One day I ask him why he decided to build a vinyl sided home. Following is the essence of what he had to say.

Well, laughing he said, if my house was concrete block it would have less square feet in it than yours. Second, I will not ever have to paint it. Third, our roofs are the same and the first thing that goes in a strong wind is the roof. I already knew it had nothing to do with money because he could, as they say, buy and sell me. He said some others things like insulation etc. but the point was he deliberately built what he wanted and that was a vinyl stick built home. Regardless, my wife liked “the looks” of our concrete block house way better than George’s and at the end of the day that is all that really matters.

I’m sure they all meet building code standards. If you go to first sections built in the 90’s, both vynal and stucco houses both look good and have withstood all the weather and hurricanes for last three decades. Look for location and floor plan you like.

Frame Seabreeze @1534sf or block Lily @1934. Both at same temp for year cycle. Heating or cooling cost on block either the same or less some months.

My preference is precast because it is very strong and fast to erect. Both precast and block walls can withstand any hurricane so long as the roof trusses are properly attached to the walls with code-required hurricane ties, the roof sheathing is nailed down properly, and their are good quality shingles properly nailed. “Stick built” housing, made with 2x4s, 2x6s, and steel studs, with sheathing under that vinyl and again properly built roofs, are nearly as good and can withstand with easy any hurricane that reaches here. They might even withstand a tornado.

Don’t believe garbage on here about shoddy construction. There are building codes, and they are followed. That’s not the same as whether or not you are satisfied with the quality of the paint or the finish carpentry or something like that, or the quality of the light fixtures. They are perfectly safe.

The houses that are less safe in The Villages are some of the original single and double wide prefab houses with carports on the Historic Side. But even so, they are much safer than mobile homes on concrete blocks found outside of The Villages here and there.

I prefer stucco to vinyl, but vinyl is fine. It’s what I have on my house.

I noticed several homes going up in the newest village of Richmond are made of concrete block, so they are still using this method. I wasn't back down here for a lot of the construction this summer so don't know if there are any pre-cast in there or not.

When the tornado came through TV and down our street in 07 the stick & vinyl homes were destroyed in comparison to block and stucco homes on either side of it only having roof and window damage. I would not own a vinyl home down here after seeing that and consider myself very fortunate to have been sleeping in a block home when it hit our street.