Building a new home or renovating an existing home in Florida requires a touch more consideration than it might in other states. Florida stands out among the rest thanks to its year-round sunshine and warm temperatures, but every summer the risk of hurricanes brings the state of our homes to the top of our minds 

In the past few years, Southwest Florida has experienced several catastrophic hurricanes. Damaging winds, storm surge and rain have impacted hundreds of thousands of homes in our area, resulting in new roofs and in some cases, complete remodels.

Hurricanes play a major role in the importance of considering the types of material, qualities and special features of your Florida home. A new build allows homeowners to be picky about their hurricane resistant house, plus building codes are much stricter than they were years ago. Thankfully, there are ways to help hurricane proof an existing home too. 

Updating an existing Florida home

One of the more common options for boosting the resilience of your home against strong winds and rain is installing high-impact windows and doors. Designed to withstand flying debris and water intrusion, impact windows and doors reduce the risk of breakage and have strong seals. Alternatively, hurricane shutters have become more modernized and are easier to deploy thanks to electric options customized to fit any window or door.

Roofs tend to fair the worst during a major storm with hurricane-grade winds. Routinely check for loose or damaged shingles or tiles and replace them as quickly as possible. To give your roof even more protection, consider roof straps. Roof straps are metal connectors installed between roof trusses and walls of the home’s foundation, which provides additional resistance to uplifting forces caused by strong winds.

For homeowners who live in a flood zone, raising utilities like air conditioning units can help prevent damage from flooding. Flood vents, which allow water to flow through the foundation of your home, can also be a useful way to prevent structural damage caused by storm surge or flooding, and they can be retrofitted into existing homes.

Building a new Florida home

For those looking to build a new home in Florida, the options are endless in terms of features and materials that might make a house more resistant to hurricanes. The same options available to renovators can be incorporated into a new custom build, but starting from scratch comes with many advantages.

At Frank Jenkins Custom Homes, the first thing we address is whether or not a property falls within a flood zone. From there, we assess how to design the home to meet local requirements, as well as features and safety measures to provide additional protection.

Everything from the type of soil to the shape of the roof plays a role in a storm-resistant build. An elevated foundation and properly graded land that directs water flow away from the foundation helps reduce the risk of flooding. Minimizing roof overhangs decreases the amount of wind uplift. Using durable cement siding for the exterior of your home is a more resistant alternative to vinyl. 

Find someone you can trust

Whether you’ve lived in Florida for years or you’re new to the area, it’s important to be familiar with the options available to protect you and your home. Contact trusted resources and professionals to determine what options are available for you and your budget.