Hurricane Irma

[/pine]

Anyone else stunned at build quality or, lack of, in the homes in Florida. Saw a home that looked like spray insulation was sprayed directly over wafer boards and painted. That's it! Not a wonder they got ripped apart in a hurricane.

FL and southern standard building codes are very strictly enforced...especially in coastal wind load zones...

Andrew brought on an onslaught of new wind load regulations...lots more clips and strapping etc...no more staples in roofing...more truss to lintel hardware etc.,etc....strict windows and overhead door rating restrictions etc...these new regs have been saving property and lives ever since....
All gulf coastal states adapted their building codes at the same time (after the Andrew investigations) I'm sure there will be more following both Harvey and Irma...!

 

[houstonscott]

FL and southern standard building codes are very strictly enforced...especially in coastal wind load zones... Andrew brought on an onslaught of new wind load regulations...lots more clips and strapping etc...no more staples in roofing...more truss to lintel hardware etc.,etc....strict windows and overhead door rating restrictions etc...these new regs have been saving property and lives ever since.... All gulf coastal states adapted their building codes at the same time (after the Andrew investigations) I'm sure there will be more following both Harvey and Irma...!

How about 6" reenforced concrete walls!

 

[rbstern]

FL and southern standard building codes are very strictly enforced...especially in coastal wind load zones...

Andrew brought on an onslaught of new wind load regulations...lots more clips and strapping etc...no more staples in roofing...more truss to lintel hardware etc.,etc....strict windows and overhead door rating restrictions etc...these new regs have been saving property and lives ever since....
All gulf coastal states adapted their building codes at the same time (after the Andrew investigations) I'm sure there will be more following both Harvey and Irma...!

I agree: My mothers's house in central Florida, circa mid-1990s, has done admirably well thru Charlie and Irma, both direct hits at Cat 1 strength. In fact, her entire 55-and-over-community, with hundreds of homes, have withstood those hits with very little evidence of structural damage. These are not palaces, either. Typical prices are $175 to $250K. Neighborhood also has a very good network of retention ponds, connected to a lake. Can handle large amounts of rainfall and keeps the water safely away from the homes.

 

[/pine]

How about 6" reenforced concrete walls!

Like I said...where (most places in FL) building codes are enforced they are very strict and compelling to wind loads...it's hard to get insurance on structures that do not meet current regulations and building codes...you can't get permits for structures that do not meet the requirements...

For a while there was a cottage industry that did nothing but go in and reinforce the way trusses (especially gable end trusses) are secured...along with adding structural grade bracing to interior truss systems...

After Andrew roof deck nailing went to 4" OC on any member within 4' of an edge...

 

[sandman2234]

I have spent every available minute helping a friend remove items from his house in preparation of it being torn down. A five bedroom, 4 bath house that was built like a tank. It was damaged in Mathew, but not bad, and the day before Irma hit, it made the newspaper due to not being "hurricane ready" because the permitting process is so slow. Irma spawned tornado's and one took the roof partially off, and a couple of the main timbers on that side were torn loose, causing that end of the house to sink. The weight of the collapsed upper structure caused a huge amount of damage, which caused the house to be condemned.
I am hoping to be able to get some of the timbers and floor joists to build a shed for my tractors. (8x8 timbers and 2x16 floor joists, 2x6 and 2x8 roof trusses are what are there.)
Irma packed a punch around here, no doubt!
David from jax