I wouldn't buy a frame house anywhere in the country if concrete was available and I could afford it, but because of hurricanes? 80 miles from the ocean? Puuleeeze!

My 20-year-old frame Texas home, 80 miles from the ocean and built to no windstorm standard whatsoever, withstood three level-five hurricanes, without so much as losing a shingle. In one case, the eye passed directly over my house. How is that possible? Because a level 5 is barely a level 1 by the time it crosses 80 miles of land.

My Oklahoma home was at far greater risk from windstorms than my Texas home, and I actually did lose half my roof to a tornado one time. Nothing withstands a level-5 tornado, not even concrete. The level-one remnants of one of those passed over my house one time, too, after leaving an 80 mile path of destruction all the way from OKC to Tulsa. And yet, for some strange reason, my Oklahoma insurance was a quarter of my Florida insurance, even adjusted for inflation.

You ought to get a 75% discount for insuring a concrete house built to hurricane standards 80 miles from the ocean in the Villages. The fact that you don't tells you everything you need to know about the Florida insurance industry.

The appearance? Frame houses are so much nicer looking than block, your comment surprises me.

The block houses in older villages look much older than the vinyl ones.

Many people will not buy a house with vinyl siding because of the appearance. As far as I know, none of the premier houses or high end designer houses have vinyl siding. Note that it would be easy to build a house with vinyl siding that was better insulated for heat transfer and noise reduction than the typical block house, but some people would not buy it because of the appearance. But, it is a personal preference.

What does the model of home have to do with it? When I drive around, the vinyl homes still look clean and neat years after built date. The stucco/block homes, whether high end designer or premier, look years older than they are.

Premier homes are built from block/stucco because you can create a more stately and grand appearance. But, after built, a month or so later, they begin to look old. The home one chooses is a personal preference. Be happy!

Block for me. Stronger, quieter and looks better but what sold me was the report of a lady who had snakes living behind her house siding.

Thanks for the link to the wood vs block. Interesting read

Since this has become a matter of opinion I prefer block over vinyl siding. Block needs to get painted every 10 or so years, but what do you do with worn out looking vinyl?

....and after 6 months they start to crumble, and within the year there is just a pile of rubble left.
Can't understand anyone buying a block built home!:icon_wink:

It sounds like you are agreeing with me. Yes, a premier house has a stately and grand appearance partly because it doesn't have vinyl siding. But, I totally disagree that a block house starts to look old after a "month or so". By the way, most of the concrete and block houses in The Villages do not have stucco. The concrete surface is covered with a trowelled cement finish that is very durable. Usually, It doesn't require any maintenance except painting every 10 years or so.

Remember the 3 little pigs? The only house still standing was made of bricks. I have a block home, no regrets.

Actually, wood frame home are 6 times stronger than block. It takes 6 times the wind strength to break a 2X4 as per a cinder block. But the siding they put on the frame homes will rip off. Cedar siding on a frame home is the best.

Former president of BESTBUILT HOME, INC.

Remember big bad Katrina, Andrew, or Ian? Or the tornado here in the village of Mallory? They huffed and puffed and blew It all down! Fairy tales are make believe.

I love this reply.

There's no question in my opinion, that wood frame is by far, the best construction technique for single-family, residential construction.

In the future, please remember this is The Villages and trying to confuse folks with facts, isn't very well tolerated.

I'm sure you think that big giant "Welcome to The Villages" sign on the bridge is a simple "welcome"? It is not. When folks pass under that sign, the force field immediately endows them with superpowers ... wisdom, intelligence and unparalleled knowledge of all subjects.

In my opinion, you are better off with a block or poured wall construction in Florida because of the heat, hurricanes and possible tornados. In 2007, there was a tornado that touched down in The Villages, where Mallory Country Club and surrounding streets exit.. All or most of the "Stick" construction house were demolished or nothing left of them. The block homes had minimal damage. Something to consider!

Huh? How are you defining wind strength? If frame houses were 6 times stronger than block houses, they would easily survive a tornado, but they obviously don't.

Here in Florida I would only buy a block home. Fram can have issues with termites and the vinyl siding is early damage and in my opinion looks cheap. I hate seeing vinyl mixed in with stucco block homes.

Would you care to explain? If you bought a block in 2021 and have maintenence issues then there is a problem.

My observation from living in both is that the new pre-cast concrete homes are quieter and cooler than the frame home we just purchased in De Luna. I believe that they would also do better in a hurricane, though that’s just a guess. I don’t know if the energy savings would be the same in the colder months.

We’ve lived in our frame home for almost 18 years and it’s very well insulated against noise. Also, a hurricane or tornado doesn’t care if the home is frame or block. Your roof is the first thing to go and if it goes, your home is done. Also, the 2007 tornado destroyed both frame and block houses in our area. I think block houses are prettier, but Mother Nature doesn’t care. Just buy what you like.

Tornado Village of Mallory 2007

There is a big difference in tornado damages vs hurricane or fire damages.
Tornados are very narrow and short lived. Hurricanes are hundreds of miles wide, travel hundreds if not thousands of miles, can be 150mph, usually involves storm surge, flooding, wind, and tornados. Damage usually involves boats, businesses, roads, homes, and lives. Fires also have a long/wide path and are long in duration.

Either withstands hurricane winds here in Central Florida the same. I've been here 20+ years and have seen block homes torn apart just like stick built. Stick built is built with steel framing inside and outside walls. We upgraded at build to R36 insulation and our heat and ac bills are much lower than neighbors with block homes. Noise? We live on a championship golfcourse and inside hear nothing. We also opted for double pained insulated glass windows and sliders. Siding still looks great, no repainting costs. We came from an area with mostly brick stucco homes, so love the look of our stick built home. Go by what look appeals to you. It's your home. Buy what you want to look at for the rest of your retirement.

I have had both in AZ. Believe it or not I had bad termites with the block home that were visiable inside the home and the frame one only had them on the foundation. The cement blocks over time do disintergrate and start to crumble and flake and you do need to paint quite often as the paint will peel.......both on a wall and on the home here in AZ....at least with siding you dont have the need to paint every few years and that should be done at least every 5 or less being it rains much more there than here in AZ......we just get the heat.........Also stucco will still crack as will the cement precast ones....with the precast homes you are not able to say add a electrical outlet or move a wall from what I understand.......I bought in TV and wanted a block but I ended up with the frame and stucco. The renter that I had in there was a builder in Indiana and said that the house was made very well from what he could see and tell me

When did this all happen?

my area I never saw anything wrong with the siding nor is my home like what you described and it is already 4 year old area!!!!!!

The source of at least one of the posted photos, was the *************.

Most of the damage was around the Cane Garden CC, Sunset Pointe, Sabal & Mallory.

https://www.**************.com/2017/...h-devastation/

https://www.**************.com/2019/...and-lady-lake/

I was in the midst of the 2/2/07 tornado, here are two homes, next door neighbors, block vs frame, I'll take the block.

You Forgot . . .
 

As far as hurricanes go, the roof is the weak spot, not the walls. So, whatever the walls, the roof needs to be held down by straps or some other mechanism.

I had a blockhouse near Tampa that always felt cold in the winter. My wood house here in the Villages seems warmer. When I touched the walls, I could feel the difference in the winter. I suppose a good test would be to wait for a day in Dec or Jan and then put your hand on an inside wall and see if there is any difference between the 2 types of construction. I guess you could take a thermometer to several open houses. Also, the concrete-block house might have more insulation than the wood.

Conditions are changing as the water around Florida has been warming up for the last 10 years as the CO2 effect has reflected earth's heat. Likely, hurricanes will be bigger and more frequent than in the past.

Less likely to have problems with termites in a block home. Block home is definitely better in a bad storm/hurricane. Very little frame construction in hurricane prone areas.

Personally, for $20,000, I could tolerate a lot of snakes. I guess "Snakes on an Airplane" is NOT a favorite movie. MAYBE a screen on the toilet bowl would be in order?

You might be able to put on wax if it bothered you that much.

We live in a Patio Villa and dont have noise problems or high AC bills.

We were here on 2/2/2007 a Tornado hit The Villages.
 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We were here on 2/2/2007 a EF-3 Tornado(155 to 165 mph wind) hit The Villages and destroyed about 1300 houses . Our mind was clearly made up BLOCK Construction next house. BTW The Villages did an outstanding job stopping everything they were doing to help the people and The Villages recovered years before other areas.

For us block construction is preferrable. This is our 3rd block house in Florida.

.You forgot to mention the windows. Once a home is compromised, you may have water damage depending on how long and heavy the rain. If your walls withstood the tornado or hurricane, the inside can be completely destroyed. Even a small hole can lead into a bigger problem. With water, you have the potential for mold. It is silly to believe you are safe or better off in any home. Take care of yourself and loved ones, and know that you will have to rebuild. That is all any of us can do.