The Florida Building Code’s enforcement of a “continuous load path” from the ground to the roof of a home has improved the storm resistance of both types of construction. But concrete block homes have a long-standing reputation as a better home in a hurricane, even if it is no longer accurate. Perceived as less hurricane-resistant than concrete block - Both wood frame and concrete block homes have to meet the same building code standards for storm resistance, and wood frame homes have been required for about the past 40 years to use extensive metal connectors at top and bottom of the wall, along with “shear wall” reinforcement at corners, to make the walls stronger.Easier to remodel - it is simpler and less expensive to add a window or door to a wood frame wall.Running plumbing and electrical through the wall is also easier. Faster and less expensive - Wood frame walls go up faster and, while only slightly less expensive for a simple rectangular home, they are much cheaper for homes with complicated exterior wall and window configurations.Better wall insulation - The cavity between wood studs in the wall provides plenty of room for insulation.We both grew up in concrete block homes in South Florida, so that probably skews our opinion a bit, but here’s our list of the pros and cons of each construction type: If you buy a newer two-story home anywhere in Florida you will likely get the equivalent of a chocolate-vanilla swirl cone: concrete block first floor and wood frame second floor. Concrete block has more boosters in South Florida, while wood frame is ahead in Central and North Florida. Florida homeowners tend to have a definite opinion about what is the best wall construction material, and it is often the same type as the home they grew up in.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |