Worried about hurricanes? At Affordable Florida Homes, safety and high quality construction are our top priorities.
The appeal of living in Florida extends throughout the year; from mild winters (no shoveling snow here!) to beautiful, sun and fun-filled summers (boating, fishing or golf, anyone?), Florida has it all. Unfortunately, Florida is also vulnerable to Atlantic hurricanes, and hurricane preparedness is something that all Floridians must take seriously. At Affordable Florida Homes Inc, our homes are built above Florida hurricane code standards because the safety of our buyers and their families is our top priority.
The benefits and drawbacks of the summer months in Florida
Summers in Florida can be the best times of the year. These are the months of beach days and Bar-B-Q, sailing and fishing, golf and tennis, Memorial Day picnics and Fourth of July fireworks displays. Sunshine and leisure time abound; the days are long and languid. Yet there is an element to summer that all Floridians must be aware of and prepared for: summer season is also hurricane season.
The Atlantic hurricane season stretches from June through November. In recent years, many coastal states, Florida included, have experiences some of the most active hurricane seasons on record. All Florida residents, not just those in coastal and low-lying areas, need to be aware of the dangers hurricanes present, and take all steps necessary to prepare for these dangerous storms.
What can you do to protect yourself from hurricanes?
Preparing for hurricane season often includes stocking up on food, batteries and other hurricane supplies, investing in hurricane shutters and/or a generator, and having an evacuation plan in place. But if you are among those who are considering a new home purchase in Florida, the buying decisions you make now can make all the difference in how you, your family and your home are affected by the hurricane season.
All Affordable Florida Homes are constructed with the highest quality materials, and to the most stringent of building standards. Each and every home we offer is built above hurricane code. Our buyers can rest assured that their home is built to withstand winds in excess of those seen at landfall of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.
What do we mean when we say our homes are built “above code”?
The state of Florida has specific building guidelines that all home builders must follow. These building codes include certain hurricane safety measures that all builders must comply with. Before a newly constructed home can be occupied, it must be inspected by state officials who enforce these codes. If a home is not built to meet these building code standards, it can not be occupied.
Hurricane building codes underwent a major overhaul after Hurricane Andrew devastated Homestead in 1992. Because of this highly publicized overhaul, many consumers believe that homes constructed under the new building codes will withstand a major hurricane. In most areas of Florida, this is not true.
Today very few Florida Counties have adopted the Dade County hurricane code requiring that homes be built to withstand a major Category 4 hurricane (like Katrina and Rita); most newly constructed homes are built to withstand only a Category 2 hurricane. However, a few home builders, AFHI included, have taken the initiative to build their homes with safety measures that go above and beyond the strictest of building code standards.
“Above code construction” is a term used by home builders who include extra safety measures in the construction of their homes that are not required by Florida Building Code. These measures, which are standard on all of our homes, include steel-reinforced, solid concrete walls and foundations, additional roof trusses, and impact resistant windows. Our homes will withstand winds of at least 140 mph (Category 4 strength), and the solid concrete construction helps to prevent leaks and flood damage.
All homes are not created equal
When you purchase one of our high quality custom homes instead of an existing home, you are making one of the best decisions you can make when considering hurricane protection for you and your family. Many existing homes in Florida were built before the building code overhauls of the early nineties, and don’t even offer the protection of the houses built to today’s lowest allowable safety standards. It is a risk to purchase an older home in Florida; by purchasing an Affordable Florida Home, you are eliminating 99.9% of that risk.
We realize that our homes may be more expensive than some of the existing homes now flooding the market. But the added quality and protection you get with an Affordable Florida Home is well worth the extra cost.
No matter where you live, you can’t put a price tag on safety or peace of mind, but that rule is especially applicable to those who want to make Florida their home. By making the right home buying choices now, hurricanes won’t stop you from enjoying the active, sunshine-filled lifestyle and enjoyment of the outdoors that can be found during Florida’s summer months.
