Hey All
Does anyone out there need help from someone who is much to familiar with building in hurricane zones? I was wondering if there is a position to help builders build better in hurricane prone areas. Here in the Virgin Islands we have had more than our share of storms…Our codes are stricter than Dade Co.
Anyhow we went to Kauai HA and I couldn’t believe how they build there, even after gettin blasted by Iniki….No wonder there was so much damage…
I may persue this as employment, any feedback?
Replies
Hi nuvue,
I agree as some of Florida has seen the adoption of stronger codes to deal with hurricanes and related storms.
If you come up with any ideas or decide to pursue something further, please let me know as I would be interested as I'm a contractor in Florida looking to turn in another direction as far as a line of work is concerned.
Imagine, a partnership born right here on the FHB forum?
Mike
All you hurricane zone dwellers and consultants--be sure to see how we are approaching the problem on the Gulf Coast--
Our 'hurricane-proof.. 'we hope' .. concrete house'..
http://www.ScrapbookScrapbook.com/DAC-ART
Very impressive...I dare not ask about cost huh?
Mike
Asking is fine. Build with DAC-ART for about the same price as a nice brick home. At the risk of being repetitive from another post in these forums, I will tell you that the cost is coming down because new molds are underway since we ordered our blocks.
We paid $44 per block for insulated ones, $40 uninsulated for under the porches.
It is difficult to compare the cost of a DAC-ART house in terms of cost per sq ft of heated/cooled floor since people using DAC-ART tend to build nice high ceilings in the classic European tradition--as we are not limited to so called standard length building materials, like studs, sheetrock,etc. Our ceilings are 13 1/2 ft. I love it. Very spacious feel in a very small place. Our doors are 10ft. Standard height for Weathershield brand.
Anyway--I think currently you can build the DAC-ART walls for around $17.50 per sq ft. Keeping in mind that this is interior, exterior, insulation, all that strength and no maintanence ever. That figure compares favorably with older systems that require many levels of subs (think headache and frustration here) and various layers of materials--siding,wrap,studs, insulation,sheetrock,paint, & on-going maintanence forever. So it is best to use this figure to compare costs, as it takes into consideration the ceiling heights.
Our budget was 100 grand. I think we were pretty close. But bought top of line appliances and splurged on the chandelier. Did a bunch of the work ourselves--like floor finishes--easy, and grouting, easy but alot to do, interior painting, mosaics. Speaking of which, I could have stuck a fiberglas shower instert in there for about $200 but spent about $1500 instead on mosaics materials.(just a guess) We spent more on windows and doors for the seacoast upgrade hardware and true divided light. Our shutters are poly with an interior aluminum frame and a sheet of lexan running thru each panel. Suppose to stop a hurricane force piling shot from a cannon.!! They were not cheap--We ordered them from J&L in Memphis.
DAC-ART is economical in my mind--and what a look !Print Your Own Scrapbook Supplies
http://www.ScrapbookScrapbook.com
Mosaics for Architecture & Fun
http://www.Mosaic-Tile-Design
Style Small Vacation Concrete Home
http://www.ScrapbookScrapbook.com/DAC-ART
Hi LW
That floor is very nice...I have tried a few stained conc. floors and they never came out that nice. Here in the VI we still seem to pour solid conc. walls. Shipping any blocks or foam form stuff kills the savings...Solid pour is the way to go here, cost and labor wise....I worry about earthquakes in the future more than Hurricanes. How is DAC -art with earthquakes?
Thank you for the response
Nelson, Nuvue Inc.
Earthquakes are pretty rare in the Southern US....so I don't know. But since the DAC-ART blocks are open end to end and top to bottom and get a concrete & rebar backfill running both directions, I should think we'd fare prety well.Print Your Own Scrapbook Supplies
http://www.ScrapbookScrapbook.com
Mosaics for Architecture & Fun
http://www.Mosaic-Tile-Design
Style Small Vacation Concrete Home
http://www.ScrapbookScrapbook.com/DAC-ART