7 ms·

I wonder if they will ever build in European style with proper bricks and not wood

avidphantasm 4y ago
Brick construction has terrible shear strength, exactly what you don’t want in wind-resistant construction. Also, the insides of the house aren’t brick and will still be destroyed by flood waters.
yardie 4y ago
Homes in South Florida are built using concrete blocks. This makes the homes sturdier but also a lote more expensive.
rsfern 4y ago
Florida actually has pretty high building code standards for new construction. I think a lot of the issue is from older housing stock, especially from before like Hurricane Andrew in the early 90s https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Building_Code https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Building_Code
- chasd00 4y ago
  This is the post I was waiting for. All rebuilt homes will be subject to the post Andrew codes and will be a lot different and more expensive. The new homes compared to the homes that were destroyed is an apples to oranges comparison.
cpursley 4y ago
Insulated concrete form (ICF) would be an even better solution. Stronger than brick, energy efficient and fire resistant.
KoftaBob 4y ago
Most homes in Florida (in the last couple decades at least) are built with "Concrete block construction" to adhere to Florida's hurricane codes. Concrete block also combats things like termites/mold/mildew, which are a bigger problem in that area. Source: https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/FLRC2020P1 https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/FLRC2020P1
qikInNdOutReply 4y ago
Actually, the netherland style of house boats would make most sense there..
- AlgorithmicTime 4y ago
- andsoitis 4y ago
  A house boat in a hurricane?
lotsofpulp 4y ago
Someone needs to make a website informing people who do not know anything about construction that “European style with proper bricks” is not ideal in all scenarios, and that wood is an appropriate building material in many circumstances.
- dsfyu404ed 4y ago
  If I were dictator everyone who generalizes about Europe would be forced to hitchhike throughout ALL of Europe, Iceland to the Urals. Additionally, people who hand wring about "America doesn't regulate" some thing that 48+ states regulate but isn't federally regulated would be put in the stocks and the townsfolk be provided with quick reference guides for various niche subsets of state law to throw at them.
mattbrewsbytes 4y ago
When you see aerial footage of the aftermath of a hurricane you will see houses that look nearly untouched, some roof damage, next to houses completely demolished. Building codes have evolved so the age of the structure matters a lot in its survivability in a storm.

Brick construction has terrible shear strength, exactly what you don’t want in wind-resistant construction. Also, the insides of the house aren’t brick and will still be destroyed by flood waters.

yardie 4y ago

Homes in South Florida are built using concrete blocks. This makes the homes sturdier but also a lote more expensive.

rsfern 4y ago

Florida actually has pretty high building code standards for new construction. I think a lot of the issue is from older housing stock, especially from before like Hurricane Andrew in the early 90s https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Building_Code https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Building_Code

chasd00 4y ago
This is the post I was waiting for. All rebuilt homes will be subject to the post Andrew codes and will be a lot different and more expensive. The new homes compared to the homes that were destroyed is an apples to oranges comparison.

cpursley 4y ago

Insulated concrete form (ICF) would be an even better solution. Stronger than brick, energy efficient and fire resistant.

KoftaBob 4y ago

Most homes in Florida (in the last couple decades at least) are built with "Concrete block construction" to adhere to Florida's hurricane codes. Concrete block also combats things like termites/mold/mildew, which are a bigger problem in that area. Source: https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/FLRC2020P1 https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/FLRC2020P1

qikInNdOutReply 4y ago

Actually, the netherland style of house boats would make most sense there..

AlgorithmicTime 4y ago
andsoitis 4y ago
A house boat in a hurricane?

lotsofpulp 4y ago

Someone needs to make a website informing people who do not know anything about construction that “European style with proper bricks” is not ideal in all scenarios, and that wood is an appropriate building material in many circumstances.

dsfyu404ed 4y ago
If I were dictator everyone who generalizes about Europe would be forced to hitchhike throughout ALL of Europe, Iceland to the Urals. Additionally, people who hand wring about "America doesn't regulate" some thing that 48+ states regulate but isn't federally regulated would be put in the stocks and the townsfolk be provided with quick reference guides for various niche subsets of state law to throw at them.

mattbrewsbytes 4y ago

When you see aerial footage of the aftermath of a hurricane you will see houses that look nearly untouched, some roof damage, next to houses completely demolished. Building codes have evolved so the age of the structure matters a lot in its survivability in a storm.