Talk of The Villages Florida - Lightning Season is here again

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Velvet (Post 2436503)

Just wondering, if it was so critical, why would the developer not have installed it in the first place? It’s not like they don’t know the weather in TV…

The Villages invests in LPS on all critical infrastructure. Many of the buildings in the squares, pump stations, fire houses, etc.

So maybe it depends on if you consider the place you sleep is a critical infrastructure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Velvet (Post 2436503)

Just wondering, if it was so critical, why would the developer not have installed it in the first place? It’s not like they don’t know the weather in TV…

Because somehow the law did not include one- and two-family dwellings.

https://www.floridabuilding.org/fbc/...affcomment.htm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altavia (Post 2436543)

To be fair, the decision is a little easier when you're spending other people's money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFrance (Post 2436555)

Because somehow the law did not include one- and two-family dwellings.

https://www.floridabuilding.org/fbc/...affcomment.htm

Is that in the law at all? That appears as though it might be a June 2017 document giving options on how to add section 2703 to the code. The third option is to not add it at all.

I cannot find a link to the Florida Building Code that includes a section 2703.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2434847)

That's a rather hard sell.

Every home in the US would benefit from a LPS if that home happened to be struck by lightning, but what are the real odds of that? Those five pictures looked pretty bad, were they all from this year? All from the last 12 months? If you zoomed out a few times in google maps would you even be able to find those five rooftops?

I think of an LPS like a seatbelt, motorcycle helmet, travel insurance, or extended warranty: I have never benefited from any of these but I would kick myself if I needed one and didn't have it.

The odds are that a particular home will never be hit by lightning
The odds of a home being hit by lightning in Florida are a bit higher than most of the rest of the country
Lightning *does* hit homes and mine could be the next to be hit
My insurance will/should cover the loss
My insurance has a deductible which might be higher than the cost of an LPS
While the loss will/should be covered, there is a cost for the aggravation and inconvenience of fixing and replacing
I don't have an LPS now but am strongly considering one after I have my roof replaced

The LPS gamble:

odds of being hit are tiny,
cost to install one time is mostly small relative to the current value of the house,
cost to replace house which was hit, very high, due to the monopsony of contractors able to rebuild the house, and the home insurance market in FL.

remember, the future is always uncertain, and at times, very uncertain.

If you have extra money, or are not planning a vacation, or have a significant gain to spend, the one time investment might be worth it. . the problem is, you may never know if it was a good investment or not. . just like flood insurance.

choose wisely Indiana

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altavia (Post 2436543)

Does the Developer? I am not arguing with the benefit of LPS, I am just wondering why aren’t the homes built with it, especially knowing that most people come from places that are not “lightning capitals” so would not be thinking about this at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Velvet (Post 2436608)

The developer never suggested or offered one as an addon for our custom build. I think that is a miss with the sales opportunity. . not sure it has changed, but the developers pace of keeping up with technology / comprehensiveness is a bit slow, and well behind others . . . they are a big proponent of its ain't broke, don't fix it until it is broke. . which often takes longer and can cost more than if one keeps up with advancements.

YMMV, and just another anon smelly opinion. .