ABC7 Ft. Myers did a story on the competion of this project.
Watch the video by clicking here.
Webcam:Bob Vila has installed a webcam on the completed storm-ready home.
Click here to see live images of the house in Punta Gorda, Florida.
Hurricane-Resistant Home Features
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Cast-in-place concrete walls - Provide superior wind resistance and impact-resistance from windborne debris.
- Impact-resistant windows and sliding glass doors Keep the windows and window glass in place. No need for additional shuttering.
- Superior roof system with enhanced metal connectors, thicker decking than required by the building code (plywood not OSB) and installation of a secondary water barrier- To keep the roof on the house and water out.
- Enhanced attachment methods for the roof coverings (barrel tiles) - We used two stainless steel screws on the tiles instead or one (or none - most older homes only have mortar). Widespread roofing failure often follows problems with attachment methods. Roofing tiles can also become windborne-debris.
- Solid wood blocking behind the soffits - to avoid failure and resulting water intrusion into the home's interior.
- Permanent Generator - for power outage with a special switching panel to protect against electrocution. Sufficient to power AC and other crucial systems to keep things dry and prevent damage in the event of any water intrusion.
- Whole house surge protection - to guard the house and appliances against lightning strike and power surges.
- Impact-resistant garage door - A home's garage door is particularly vulnerable to failure under high wind pressure. This impact-resistant garage door passes more stringent tests than a wind pressure-only rated door and does not require additional shuttering.
- Outward opening entry doors - to reduce wind-driven rain leakage into the house and reduce the possibility of wind pressure blowing doors in.
- Reinforced, impact-resistant wind abatement screening across the lanai - Allows light in and keeps debris and most water out.
- Elevated entire foundation - with three-foot stem wall below slab to mitigate for flood damage and help owners qualify for insurance credits/discounts.
- Mold resistant drywall with non-organic glass mats instead of paper discourages mold growth in the event of any water intrusion.
- Flexible exterior paint membrane forms an extremely durable and flexible film which increases resistance to wind-driven rain
- Sustainable, low-maintenance native trees and landscape materials with proven ability to stand their ground in high winds and resist erosion better than exotics.
Hurricane-Resistant Home
Product/Services Contributors
Alcoa*
Ambassador Kitchens
Armor Screen*
ASI Building Products
Baby Barrier
Bacon's Furniture
Bellawood/Lumber Liquidators
Blue Haven Pools
Bob Vila*
Cardell Cabinets
Chantal
Chicago Metallic
Color Wheel Paints & Coatings
Commercial Residential Construction
Consolidated Construction
Davidson Insulation
D&D Doors*
D. Peck Roofing
Electric Controls, Inc.
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes FLASH¨*
Federal Emergency Management Agency*
Florida Yards & Neighborhoods*
Frontgate*
Gardens Alive!
Georgia Pacific*
Great Southern Windows and Doors*
Hanson Roof Tile*
Hayward
Hurricane Master/ DAB Doors*
Ironwood Gourmet
Joyce Chen
Kohler Power*
Lawn Logic
Lodge Manufacturing
Mercedes Homes*
Midland Radio*
Moen
Moorad Painting & Decorating
Oh, Cecile
OXO International
Parksite/ DuPont*
PGT Windows*
Porcelanosa
Ray Smith Excavating
Royal Baths
Seagull Lighting
Simpson Strongtie*
Smith + Noble
Solid Wall Systems*
Space Coast Truss
Square D
Steve Winter Associates
Sunstate Landscaping
Sunstate Pavers
Toro
Toto
Tranquility Plumbing
Trent Culleny Landscaping
Weather Control
Westcoast Drywall*
Whirlpool
*Disaster-resistant Products and Services
