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Durable Building Practices
Durable Building
Durable
Long before the devastating hurricanes of recent memory, durability was a major
concern of builder and home owner alike. The builder who does not adhere to
construction techniques that ensure quality, lasting, low maintenance homes is certain
to face expensive warranty issues and numerous callbacks. As his profits decline so
will his consumer confidence.
The recent hurricanes have underscored that fact that many were not up to date in
following best practises for building durable homes. In August 1992 hurricane Andrew
caused the entire building industry rethink the issue of durability. Out of this came a
new building code with special revisions for building in hurricane prone zones.
For the builder looking for the latest innovations in durable construction practises and
proven methods of building homes and buildings that last, the NAHB Research Center
has provided one of the best resources available through its' free on-line Tech Sets
educational series. Whatever the method of construction the resource provides
excellent techniques for designing structures that will last.
Naturally a durable home is also a low maintenance home and environmentally
friendly. Homes built to lesser standards over time eat up valuable resources and fill
our landfills with discarded building components. But beyond the matter of protecting
the environment the green builder understands that the first priority in building a
durable home is to protect its' inhabitants. In a recent newspaper article a new model
home introduced by Magnum Development of Port Charlotte, Florida was described
as, "Built like a bank vault." This is the level of durability that personifies green
building.
concern of builder and home owner alike. The builder who does not adhere to
construction techniques that ensure quality, lasting, low maintenance homes is certain
to face expensive warranty issues and numerous callbacks. As his profits decline so
will his consumer confidence.
The recent hurricanes have underscored that fact that many were not up to date in
following best practises for building durable homes. In August 1992 hurricane Andrew
caused the entire building industry rethink the issue of durability. Out of this came a
new building code with special revisions for building in hurricane prone zones.
For the builder looking for the latest innovations in durable construction practises and
proven methods of building homes and buildings that last, the NAHB Research Center
has provided one of the best resources available through its' free on-line Tech Sets
educational series. Whatever the method of construction the resource provides
excellent techniques for designing structures that will last.
Naturally a durable home is also a low maintenance home and environmentally
friendly. Homes built to lesser standards over time eat up valuable resources and fill
our landfills with discarded building components. But beyond the matter of protecting
the environment the green builder understands that the first priority in building a
durable home is to protect its' inhabitants. In a recent newspaper article a new model
home introduced by Magnum Development of Port Charlotte, Florida was described
as, "Built like a bank vault." This is the level of durability that personifies green
building.
In 2007 I visited the
area of central Florida
that had been rocked by
tornadoes. In examining
the damaged buildings it
became apparent that
the structures that were
frame constructed faired
much better if the
trusses were lined up
directly over the exterior
wall studs and strapped
to both the top plate
and wall stud, than the
structures where the
trusses were offset from
the wall studs and
strapped only to the top
plate.
area of central Florida
that had been rocked by
tornadoes. In examining
the damaged buildings it
became apparent that
the structures that were
frame constructed faired
much better if the
trusses were lined up
directly over the exterior
wall studs and strapped
to both the top plate
and wall stud, than the
structures where the
trusses were offset from
the wall studs and
strapped only to the top
plate.
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