Replies

1. 
   CapnMac | May 27, 2004 07:53pm | #1

   Covering block?  Easiest is likely a stucco coat parged over the block.  You will want to cut control joints in to keep any changes in the block from telegraphing through to the stucco (wouldn't want a cracked bit of stucco to get airborne in a full gale).

   For a fancier look you could apply cultured stone over the block.  It's even less likely to telegraph foundation movements (any cracks are more likely in the grout lines).  A bit more work and cost--but you get the appearance of a fancier foundation.

   An epoxy paint rated for saltwater exposure would work.  It will look like paint on block, but there's lots of places that have just that finish (Walmart, McDonald's, J-i-Box, etc.)  There's some upkeep that will be needed, increased by being on the shore.  But that's there for all of the exterior paint on the house.

   Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
1. 
   jb4 | May 29, 2004 12:04am | #6

   Thanks to you and everyone else for your replies. I think I may go the stucco route, not too expensive and it will improve the look. I'm not ready to go nuts with fake windows! Maybe some tall shrubs will help too. We have checked code, requirement for rehabbing existing construction is only three foot six above grade. We'd rather beat that and go five or six feet and be safer. The house is on the Chesapeake Bay, and it rarely gets bad storms, its just one last summer flooded my friend and all his neighbors. The neighbors are all taking the opportunity to tear down their houses and build three story beach houses with parking underneath, but my friend wants to hang on to the original. We are extending a wrap around porch, and in the drawings it doesn't look too bad. I just wanted to soften the shock of getting a lot of block or concrete at eye level where there used to be house. Thanks for all the suggestions.

2. 
   WayneL5 | May 28, 2004 01:21am | #2

   My first thought is to side the whole thing and make it look like a two story house.  The trick is to have windows, trim, etc. so it doesn't look like some freak tree house.  The windows can even be fake, just recessed into the pour with solid concrete behind them.   Fiber cement siding would be really good because a periodic flooding won't hurt it.

   You could also make forms from rough cut lumber so the concrete takes on the rough texture and looks like vertical boards.

   I generally like colored concrete, but in this case I don't think it would accomplish much.

   What have others in the neighborhood done?

3. 
   SRDC | May 28, 2004 03:59am | #3

   If you have not already started your work, you might want to check into local code requirements about height of your 1st floor. You absolutely have the right idea about raising the house, but in some parts of the country FEMA standards dictate the height of the living space when dealing with water front property that is in a hurricane flood zone. I worked in Florida for a long time and ran into this situation numerous times. I can't tell you the standard off the top of my head, but FEMA takes a certain distance from the waterfront and requires that the living space be at a certain height. The further away from the water you get the less restrictive the height requirements.

   With a house right on the beach in Florida FEMA now requires that your living space be elevated 12'-0" above sea level. In that 12'-0" clearance they require the bottom of an elevated concrete floor or floor joists to be above that height. You absolutely cannot leaglly build a living space below that level, not even a bathroom. And if you build a garage in some places the local inspectors are strict enough to require that even garage lighting and conduit be above the 12'-0" mark.

   Another issue to think about is that if you are raising the house to avoid floods that is one thing, but if the house is in a surge zone you have to build in break away panels (baffles) to allow water to flow through the lower floor space.

   Anyway good luck with the build and I agree with using stone, its gonna look tall no matter what you do.

1. 
   SFFramer | May 28, 2004 04:34am | #4

   Why not just move the house out of the way and drive proper pressure-treated piles into the sand like they do for new construction on the beach in FL now.  I'm sure it wouldn't be cheap but it will hold up.  You'd better check and see what the current codes are because if you alter a part of the house, i.e. the foundation, you'll be required to bring it into compliance with the current code.   You can't stick-frame a roof in FL without an engineer's stamp on the plans so I'm pretty sure you'll need to same to rehab a foundation.

   The shade under a raised house in FL is a very useful thing

1. 
   SRDC | Jun 02, 2004 02:35am | #7

   I haven't lived in Florida for three years now, but notived before I left that the non-palatial beach homes were steering towards PT piers especially in the northern part of the state.

   Your right about stamped drawing though, you almost can't shovel dirt down there without an engineers approval. :-)

4. 
   m2akita | May 28, 2004 06:18pm | #5

   What about adding a wrap around deck or porch to the house.  I think this could widen/smooth out the house profile so it wouldnt be so vertical looking.  I think you would want something like this anyways with a beach front house anyways. This doesnt directly answer your question and does add a good bit of money to the job.

   m2akita