Which is more energy efficient--frame or block/cement constructed new home?

[birdiebill]

We are spending the month of May at The Villages. As we look around for a home style and price range that suits us, there are many factors to consider---location, new or pre-owned, type of construction, size, floor plan, number of bedrooms, etc. When deciding on type of construction, many factors come into play, but which are more energy efficient? The frame construction or the block/cement construction?

[jimbo2012]

frame hands down

[tuccillo]

The framed constructed houses have a higher R rating in the walls than the concrete block houses (nominally R-11 vs. R-5) but it probably doesn't make a significant difference in the HVAC costs. Typically, windows account for most of the heat gain/heat loss in Manual J calculations and those are essentially the same for both types of construction. Attic insulation is the same. You could possibly make the case that the concrete block houses are "tighter" and will save some energy via less outside air exchanges but that would be speculation. I have also noticed that same sized framed and block houses have the same tonnage of AC so the required heat load calculations came out very similar.

We are spending the month of May at The Villages. As we look around for a home style and price range that suits us, there are many factors to consider---location, new or pre-owned, type of construction, size, floor plan, number of bedrooms, etc. When deciding on type of construction, many factors come into play, but which are more energy efficient? The frame construction or the block/cement construction?

[billethkid]

Appears that whether it is a frame or block home should not be the make or break the deal element of the eqaution.

[asianthree]

We have a 1550sf frame and 1950 stucco. There are months that heat or cool is the same. Even given the size difference. Summer the stucco is sometimes less, since we are not here in summer they are both set same temp

[Sable99]

I have a friend whose late husband was a home inspector (to about 2013) in Florida. She is still very involved with Habitat for Humanity. When I was thinking about building a home in TV in 2012, they encouraged me to build a stucco home if I could afford it.

[villagetinker]

We went with a block/stucco home as we were concerned about durability during a potential Florida storm (hurricane or tornado). This was our major concern, energy efficiency was secondary.

[Challenger]

And the answer here is that no one has a definitive answer. Suggest you Google and read the research carefully. My uneducated guess is that in this climate , walls are not the critical factor.

[jimbo2012]

But in a hurricane, the roof and windows are just as vulnerable.

For that reason to have a house with no roof makes little difference.

At that point we've evacuated and called the insurance Co.

The insulation in a concrete walled homes is very thin or minimal like 1".

It was mentioned the HVAC's in both are sized the same, that may be because the price difference is so small between two sized units is minimal and or better discounts buying 100 of one size vs 50 50

.

[RickeyD]

Block is the way to go in Florida. Higher maintenance but well worth for how it looks.

[dbussone]

Block is the way to go in Florida. Higher maintenance but well worth for how it looks.



RickeyD - for my education, I'd be interested in knowing what causes higher maintenance costs for block homes. Thanks.

[tuccillo]

It doesn't work that way. In FL, Manual J calculations are required and systems must be sized accordingly. The next size up is 1/2 ton which would be 15% larger when going from 3 to 3.5 tons. Regardless, I just looked up 2 very similar houses, one framed and one block, in my area and the Manual J heat load was 4% higher in the block home, which had 4% more square footage under air.

But in a hurricane, the roof and windows are just as vulnerable.

For that reason to have a house with no roof makes little difference.

At that point we've evacuated and called the insurance Co.

The insulation in a concrete walled homes is very thin or minimal like 1".

It was mentioned the HVAC's in both are sized the same, that may be because the price difference is so small between two sized units is minimal and or better discounts buying 100 of one size vs 50 50

.

[tuccillo]

They have to be painted. Cracks can form and need to be caulked.

RickeyD - for my education, I'd be interested in knowing what causes higher maintenance costs for block homes. Thanks.

[jimbo2012]

the textured surface catches more dust dirt etc too

[jimbo2012]

It doesn't work that way. In FL, Manual J calculations are required and systems must be sized accordingly. The next size up is 1/2 ton which would be 15% larger when going from 3 to 3.5 tons. Regardless, I just looked up 2 very similar houses, one framed and one block, in my area and the Manual J heat load was 4% higher in the block home, which had 4% more square footage under air.

Interesting

How about trying an IR meter on the walls

[Challenger]

Would like to see some justification to the claim that block and poured are more expensive to maintain.

[jimbo2012]

Would like to see some justification to the claim that block and poured are more expensive to maintain.

now this is just a guess, poured is less maintenance, due the fact that it is one piece, I believe it's called monolithic.

So you don't have hundreds of seams like block.

I've been in many homes installing filters and I see block wall with seams/cracking etc. If it's inside I assume it's outside.

When those cracks aren't repaired timely water damage and maybe pathways fro termites to roof????

If I were going concrete I look to poured.

You know in time the stucco will need to be repainted, not sure how many years.

By the way painters charge here I guess 3-5,000 dollars

[Challenger]

now this is just a guess, poured is less maintenance, due the fact that it is one piece, I believe it's called monolithic.

So you don't have hundreds of seams like block.

I've been in many homes installing filters and I see block wall with seams/cracking etc. If it's inside I assume it's outside.

When those cracks aren't repaired timely water damage and maybe pathways fro termites to roof????

If I were going concrete I look to poured.

You know in time the stucco will need to be repainted, not sure how many years.

By the way painters charge here I guess 3-5,000 dollars

I agree with this post. Have lived in poured Villa for 6 years- no maintenance costs (yet).

[tuccillo]

Who cares. It is the total heat gain (and moisture gain via air exchanges) of the structure that matters.

Interesting

How about trying an IR meter on the walls

[justjim]

now this is just a guess, poured is less maintenance, due the fact that it is one piece, I believe it's called monolithic.

So you don't have hundreds of seams like block.

I've been in many homes installing filters and I see block wall with seams/cracking etc. If it's inside I assume it's outside.

When those cracks aren't repaired timely water damage and maybe pathways fro termites to roof????

If I were going concrete I look to poured.

You know in time the stucco will need to be repainted, not sure how many years.

By the way painters charge here I guess 3-5,000 dollars

Our first designer was concrete block and stucco. We now have a frame/vinyl designer home and for the reasons Jimbo has pointed out in this post and others. Its a matter of choice, looks, utility and cost.

[tuccillo]

Siding can last a long time, depending on the quality. I have no idea about the grade of siding used by the Developer. The block/stucco houses are not originally painted with the highest quality of paint plus there may be some issues with how soon they were painted after applying stucco. The Villages, in their new home disclaimer, indicates that you may need to paint in a few years. We will see - ours still looks like new after a couple of years.

Would like to see some justification to the claim that block and poured are more expensive to maintain.

[Carl in Tampa]

1. I don't have an insight on the relative costs of heating and air conditioning houses in TV according to the type of construction, but I suspect that the difference in terms of cost is insignificant.

2. The Villages developer claims that the houses they build, both stucco and frame, will withstand the same level of hurricane force winds. In addition, TV is so far inland that it is likely that a hurricane striking Florida will diminish to the level of a Tropical Storm before arriving here. The winds diminish as they travel over land.

3. My experience, after having homes in five different states, from the snowy east to the deep south, has been that heat exchange through windows can be a major factor in the cost of heating or cooling the home.

This can be mitigated by:

a. Taking into account the exposure to direct sun of windows in the house when shopping for a house.

b. Installing insulated windows if the house does not have them.

c. Installing awnings to protect windows from direct sunlight.

d. Adjusting window blinds, plantation shutters, etc. to prevent direct sunlight from shining on furniture and flooring at various times of the day which adds heat to the interior of the house.

4. I personally prefer the appearance of stucco, but it brings with it the necessity to repaint periodically. Also, as the ground settles over the years, cracks appear occasionally which must be mended and repainted.

In summary: I would not base my home shopping decision on whether the house is constructed of stucco or frame.

[gap2415]

We purchased a block home because termites love wood and thought block would give us more protection.

[Topspinmo]

But in a hurricane, the roof and windows are just as vulnerable.

For that reason to have a house with no roof makes little difference.

At that point we've evacuated and called the insurance Co.

The insulation in a concrete walled homes is very thin or minimal like 1".

It was mentioned the HVAC's in both are sized the same, that may be because the price difference is so small between two sized units is minimal and or better discounts buying 100 of one size vs 50 50

.

It may make different in tornado which usually spins off hurricanes. Concrete vs tooth picks? Even if the roof is gone the wall are there on concrete / block home.

Radio reception for am is near impossible in concrete/ block. But due to less wood termites less likely if you had the roof frame sprayed.

Pros and cons either way IMO if I like one or the other and the price was right I would buy either

[jimbo2012]

We purchased a block home because termites love wood and thought block would give us more protection.

Have you looked in your attic?

all tasty wood, what about your interior walls

wooded furring strips on exterior walls.

I think you're in for a shock if you think your safe, inspect and treat as needed.

Same on frame built

.

[jimbo2012]

It may make different in tornado which usually spins off hurricanes. Concrete vs tooth picks? Even if the roof is gone the wall are there on concrete / block home.

hard to live in home without the roof and everything else sucked out of it.

Also I read that those block walls have cracks after such an event, so they me be standing but compromised.

But due to less wood termites less likely if you had the roof frame sprayed.

show me a house that was sprayed?

even if it was that lasts only 5 years, you can't do it again unless you remove all the insulation........

Bottom line either house is a rebuild for the insurance companies.


.

[debow]

We are spending the month of May at The Villages. As we look around for a home style and price range that suits us, there are many factors to consider---location, new or pre-owned, type of construction, size, floor plan, number of bedrooms, etc. When deciding on type of construction, many factors come into play, but which are more energy efficient? The frame construction or the block/cement construction?

What ever you buy, invest in additional attic insulation. That's where you have the majority of heat gain, cooling lose. I have a stucco, it seems really tight, no air infiltration. Can't speak for framed construction.

[RickeyD]

What ever you buy, invest in additional attic insulation. That's where you have the majority of heat gain, cooling lose. I have a stucco, it seems really tight, no air infiltration. Can't speak for framed construction.

You are correct regarding the attic insulation. May I add that block construction provides a very quiet inside environment from outside noise.

[KEVIN & JOSIE]

As long as either choice lasts the rest of our lives, that's all that really matters.

[Allegiance]

Is a poured cement roof out of the question?

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[Shimpy]

I've lived in 5 different block homes in Fla. since 1953 and am now in a frame house. I notice that this frame house is like a Thermos bottle. Once it gets cold inside it stays that way for many days unless we let the outside warm air in. That tells me that the insulation is very good compared to the block homes in the past.
The siding in this home gets pressure cleaned once a year for $50. The block home needed sealed and painted about every 5 years for a couple thousand.
I don't feel quite as secure if a major hurricane hits though. Don't believe that we are so far inland that a storm would weaken to a tropical storm. We had hurricane Wilma hit us in Boynton Beach Fla. It came ashore on the west coast of Fla. and GAINED strength coming across the widest part of Fla. to the east coast, about 180 miles. It was so large that it hung out over the Gulf and Atlantic and got stronger not weaker. We are in the narrowest part of Fla. and although it would be very rare it could happen.

[JP]

I think block homes would have a lot more mold growing between the insulation and the block since there will be all kinds of temperature variation there. I've seen it up north and would think it would be the same here.

[Carl in Tampa]

We had hurricane Wilma hit us in Boynton Beach Fla. It came ashore on the west coast of Fla. and GAINED strength coming across the widest part of Fla. to the east coast, about 180 miles. It was so large that it hung out over the Gulf and Atlantic and got stronger not weaker. We are in the narrowest part of Fla. and although it would be very rare it could happen.

I have never heard of a hurricane that did not diminish in wind strength after making landfall. That is also true of Wilma.

The official NOAA report on Wilma states that it struck Florida's west coast with maximum sustained winds of 105 knots (Cat 3.) After crossing the state, it emerged on the east coast with maximum sustained winds of 95 knots (Cat 2.)

The actual quote is: "Wilma strengthened over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and its winds reached about 110 kt as it approached Florida. Maximum sustained winds were estimated to be near 105 kt (category 3 intensity) when landfall of the center occurred in southwestern Florida near Cape Romano around 1030 UTC 24 October. Continuing to accelerate and now moving at a forward speed of 20 to 25 kt, the hurricane crossed the southern
Florida peninsula in 4.5 hours, with the center emerging into the Atlantic just southeast of Jupiter around 1500 UTC. Maximum winds had decreased to near 95 kt (category 2) during the crossing of Florida."

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL252005_Wilma.pdf

Highest sustained wind speed in nearby Orlando for Wilma was 35 knots.

Wilma did strengthen again after it got out over open water.

Note that I am not saying that a hurricane could never penetrate to The Villages, but that hurricanes lose strength when they move over land.

[Barefoot]

When deciding on type of construction, many factors come into play, but which are more energy efficient? The frame construction or the block/cement construction?
We previously owned a block home in TV, and we currently have a frame home. Our current home seems to be more energy efficient.

[Challenger]

I've lived in 5 different block homes in Fla. since 1953 and am now in a frame house. I notice that this frame house is like a Thermos bottle. Once it gets cold inside it stays that way for many days unless we let the outside warm air in. That tells me that the insulation is very good compared to the block homes in the past.
The siding in this home gets pressure cleaned once a year for $50. The block home needed sealed and painted about every 5 years for a couple thousand.
I don't feel quite as secure if a major hurricane hits though. Don't believe that we are so far inland that a storm would weaken to a tropical storm. We had hurricane Wilma hit us in Boynton Beach Fla. It came ashore on the west coast of Fla. and GAINED strength coming across the widest part of Fla. to the east coast, about 180 miles. It was so large that it hung out over the Gulf and Atlantic and got stronger not weaker. We are in the narrowest part of Fla. and although it would be very rare it could happen.


We have a poured concrete Villa. Now approaching 6yrs. Sealed and touched up a few very small, almost minute cracks after first year. Check around the outside walls every two or three mo. Only two new occurrences to date.
Have pressure cleaned spouting and driveway etch but not walls. The walls don't appear dirty and my thinking is that pressure cleaning them might cause more problems than necessary (chipping. And water infiltration).
Am quite pleased with condition of the outside walls to date .

[dotti105]

My husband and I owned a Construction Company and did home development for 20 years here in Florida before moving west to Utah. (too bad we didn't know about CDDs, I guess we weren't as smart as the Morse family!) We built both block and frame. But when we built our own homes, in whihc we were to live, we always built frame. The reasons mentioned thus far are correct. They can and do put more insulation into the frame homes. They vinyl siding used here has basically a lifetime finish.

Stucco is beautiful, but in the Florida sun it fades something fierce. It will need to be repainted, it is only a matter of how long you choose to wait to paint. The cracks are a fact of life with concrete. It will crack, and it will need to be patched.

After Hurricane Andrew ( I think it was Andrew) the building codes for the state were changed to provide for greater structural strength in the roof and the way in which the roof is attached to the structure.

Both block and frame are rated the same with regard to withstanding hurricane force winds. In some ways the frame is actually better in that it will have some flexibility and can sway instead of collapsing.

No one should really worry about the construction here in The Villages. It is actually done to very high standards.

The differences in Block vs Frame are relatively minor and should be made based on personal preference.

We chose frame, again, of course. I am happy to know that we will never have to repaint. Edgar comes every 6 months and does the exterior wash and it looks like new again. I am all about minimal maintenance in the home in which we plan to live for the rest of our lives.

[GaryW]

Is a poured cement roof out of the question?

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

HIGHLY OUT OF THE QUESTION :MOJE_whot:

The weight would be your issue,, weighing in roughly at 2 tons per yard. structurally there would be issues,,, A lightweight mix would have to be used to pump such a thing,,, then there would be issues forming it on the house. Cost would be very high also.

If I where building another house, it would be formwall all the way. Or as known in The Villages poured wall. The walls are pumped solid all the way around. The only way to go. Or out of the villages a Poly Wall.

But window upgrades and insulation upgrades will save you money.

But I think the OP has gotten alittle off hand. :spoken:

[tuccillo]

My previous home was built with ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms). The forms are made with several inches of foam on each side and it serves as the insulation. The core is poured concrete with rebarb. The entire wall structure is poured in one day. Drywall is directly attached to the foam insulation. I have seen one commercial building in The Villages being constructed with ICF.

HIGHLY OUT OF THE QUESTION :MOJE_whot:

The weight would be your issue,, weighing in roughly at 2 tons per yard. structurally there would be issues,,, A lightweight mix would have to be used to pump such a thing,,, then there would be issues forming it on the house. Cost would be very high also.

If I where building another house, it would be formwall all the way. Or as known in The Villages poured wall. The walls are pumped solid all the way around. The only way to go. Or out of the villages a Poly Wall.

But window upgrades and insulation upgrades will save you money.

But I think the OP has gotten alittle off hand. :spoken:

[GaryW]

My previous home was built with ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms). The forms are made with several inches of foam on each side and it serves as the insulation. The core is poured concrete with rebarb. The entire wall structure is poured in one day. Drywall is directly attached to the foam insulation. I have seen one commercial building in The Villages being constructed with ICF.


That is the way to go. Most of the commercial building here are block or Tilt Panels. That is basically the same as poured wall.
Just the walls are poured on a massive leveled out bed of concrete, then lifted into place as one unit.

[dewilson58]

What's good enough for The 3 Little Pigs, is good enough for me.

[mulligan]

They are currently using straight up formed and poured concrete for some homes in most size categories in TV.

[Chatbrat]

Don't understand why they are allowed to do exterior wall framing with 2x4, In NJ the builders who had to meet insulation requirements used 2x6 for their framing

Another cost factor is painting stucco-was told if you et 7 years with builder line paint you're doing good

[tuccillo]

A lot of homes in the warmer states are framed with 2x4. This allows for nominally R-11 insulation, which is apparently within code in FL. I assume NJ requires R-19, which requires 2x6 framing for enough space. You generally need to custom build a home if you want something beyond the building codes and lowest cost. For example, open or closed cell spray foam insulation.

Yes, block homes will need to be repainted at some point. Choose a top of the line paint and it should last a long time.

Don't understand why they are allowed to do exterior wall framing with 2x4, In NJ the builders who had to meet insulation requirements used 2x6 for their framing

Another cost factor is painting stucco-was told if you et 7 years with builder line paint you're doing good

[HoosierPa]

One of the first things we plan to do when we move in our TV home full time later this year is have our windows tinted on the side of the home where the sun hits it all day long. It makes a huge difference with interior comfort (and fading of furniture)

[ldj1938]

If we have a hurricane your plastic home will become a kit! We went through Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and what used to be wooden frame homes became slabs for new homes. It's worth it to buy a cinder block home!

[cmj1210]

The framed constructed houses have a higher R rating in the walls than the concrete block houses (nominally R-11 vs. R-5) but it probably doesn't make a significant difference in the HVAC costs. Typically, windows account for most of the heat gain/heat loss in Manual J calculations and those are essentially the same for both types of construction. Attic insulation is the same. You could possibly make the case that the concrete block houses are "tighter" and will save some energy via less outside air exchanges but that would be speculation. I have also noticed that same sized framed and block houses have the same tonnage of AC so the required heat load calculations came out very similar.



Wouldn't the block also be considered some sort of insulation? You mention the walls but nothing about the block itself.

[GaryW]

Wouldn't the block also be considered some sort of insulation? You mention the walls but nothing about the block itself.

Block is not solid. The lintels when pumped are not solid. You will have air exchange in the block.

Now if you have or are buying a poured wall house, then different deal. That house is poured solid with a cage of rebar it it. The concrete has steel fiber mixed in the concrete.
Here is link to a artice from Terry Yoder owner of T&D


T&D Concrete - Terry Yoder | Helix Steel (http://www.helixfiber.com/testimonials/td-concrete-terry-yoder)

[gap2415]

We've built many homes and purchased block here. We added more insulation to the attic when we enclosed the lanai. Our electricity bill for heat and air is very low. We often turn off the ac on hot days and it holds the interior temperature well. We have also insulated our garage door and plan to tint west-facing Windows.

I'm sure some people who buy frame or block will afterwards justify their purchase and there are features of both to consider. We prefer block...and if the paint the builder used is not up to snuff, there is a 20-year coating out there.

[tuccillo]

The block homes have an R-5 board of insulation attached on the inside. The cavities in the block will hold air that also may act as insulation. I believe they fill the cavities of every 5th column of block with rebarb and concrete (or something like that).

The framed homes have the 3.5" space between the 2x4 studs filled with fiberglass insulation that is nominally rated at R-11.

Typically the largest heat gain is from windows. The windows the builders use are not the most energy efficient windows you can buy ( look at the U-factor and SHGC ). I believe the new homes they are building now use better windows.

Wouldn't the block also be considered some sort of insulation? You mention the walls but nothing about the block itself.

[Shimpy]

The official NOAA report on Wilma states that it struck Florida's west coast with maximum sustained winds of 105 knots (Cat 3.) After crossing the state, it emerged on the east coast with maximum sustained winds of 95 knots (Cat 2.)

The actual quote is: "Wilma strengthened over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and its winds reached about 110 kt as it approached Florida. Maximum sustained winds were estimated to be near 105 kt (category 3 intensity) when landfall of the center occurred in southwestern Florida near Cape Romano around 1030 UTC 24 October. Continuing to accelerate and now moving at a forward speed of 20 to 25 kt, the hurricane crossed the southern
Florida peninsula in 4.5 hours, with the center emerging into the Atlantic just southeast of Jupiter around 1500 UTC. Maximum winds had decreased to near 95 kt (category 2) during the crossing of Florida."
[/U]


Carl.....I was going by radio reports while this was happening. It only lost 10 kts from coast to coast around the center, and that was estimated but you have to realize the forward speed of the storm has to be added to the wind speed on one side and subtracted on the other side that is moving away for a true wind speed. As this storm picked up forward speed so did the wind damage on the southern side of a counter-clockwise storm moving easterly.
This was always reminded to us during hurricane broadcasts by meteorologists.
You are right that storms lose intensity when the eye moves over land but this is a much narrower part of Florida where we live. Wilma was very large with feeder bands extending out over a lot of water after the eye came ashore.
Our best bet, if we had to have one, would be a strike from the south where the storm has to travel over much land. Our worst bet would be if it came in from the Gulf.

[RickeyD]

If these wood framed houses were sided with hardi plank instead of vinyl I would consider a purchase. Vinyl, not so much. The heat gain through the sidewalls is minimal, windows are more important in the calculation. Most heat gain and loss is through the attic. Energy savings are minimal with a wood framed house. Driving through a neighborhood of vinyl sided houses is a very different aesthetic feeling compared to a block constructed neighborhood.

[Carl in Tampa]

Carl.....I was going by radio reports while this was happening. It only lost 10 kts from coast to coast around the center, and that was estimated but you have to realize the forward speed of the storm has to be added to the wind speed on one side and subtracted on the other side that is moving away for a true wind speed. As this storm picked up forward speed so did the wind damage on the southern side of a counter-clockwise storm moving easterly.
This was always reminded to us during hurricane broadcasts by meteorologists.
You are right that storms lose intensity when the eye moves over land but this is a much narrower part of Florida where we live. Wilma was very large with feeder bands extending out over a lot of water after the eye came ashore.
Our best bet, if we had to have one, would be a strike from the south where the storm has to travel over much land. Our worst bet would be if it came in from the Gulf.

I wouldn't want to give anyone a false sense of security, but having reviewed the NOAA interactive map of all hurricanes to have struck Florida in the past 170 years, I find only three weather events that struck Lady Lakes/The Villages. They were:

1910 - An unnamed Tropical Storm that passed East of Lady Lake.
1944 - An unnamed Category 1 Hurricane that struck The Villages area.
1968 - An unnamed Tropical Depression that struck Wildwood and passed to the Northwest of The Villages.

All of these came onshore from the Gulf of Mexico in the general area of Tampa, which has not sustained a direct hurricane strike in over 100 years.

This is not to say that severe weather associated with a hurricane would not disrupt normal activities in The Villages, particularly if electric power were to be lost for a while. During hurricane season it is prudent to have adequate stocks of water, food, flashlights and other items which we are cautioned to obtain every time a hurricane threatens.

Now, the point of this is that the thread wandered away from a discussion of energy use differences between stucco and frame houses. I repeat what I have been told before, The Villages developer claims that all of their houses, of both types of construction are built to the standards to resist a Category 2 hurricane.

Hurricanes are fairly predictable in the short term. If The Villages was to be threatened there would be plenty of warning to evacuate, with I-75 quite close, and I-95 a reasonable distance away.

I've said this before. When hurricanes threaten, people along the coastline are told that they might want to consider evacuating to inland locations, such as ours.

[GaryW]

Seems to me, I would be more worried about Tornado threat more than hurricane. Especially since we took a direct hit in 2007.

[rubicon]

I purchased a stucco home here in 2006. The interior temperature stays pretty consistent. To date I have not discovered any creaks appear
ing on the exterior walls. I did not need the home painted but painted it in 2014. The reason, I had a painter do some interior painting for me. He was really exceptionally and so I asked if he would return in the fall of that year to paint the exterior.

My neighborhood told me she watched him paint and was very impressed as to how meticulous he was in application and clean up. I assure you it didn't cost me what some have previously quoted as the going rate. The painter used expensive rubber based paint which the manufacturer claimed had a lifetime guarantee. The painter laughed and said noting is for a lifetime and you will probably get 15 year utility from this paint .

I had a stucco/brick house up north and the problem in that state had to do with moisture intrusion. there was one home all stone built for $5 million that experience heavy water damage so price didn't make a difference.

Ergo my concern was water intrusion, especially around the windows. Well so far I haven't found any sign of a problem and trust me I inspect often because my home north was one of those experiencing this problem. In my situation it was the interior seal in the window that separated the interior wood potion of the window from the aluminum

I suspect a variable in all this is your builder. It appears the builder of this home took great pride in his product .....Hope I haven't spoken too soon:D

I have the home washed once/twice a year depending

[msfooter]

I purchased a stucco home here in 2006. The interior temperature stays pretty consistent. To date I have not discovered any creaks appear
ing on the exterior walls. I did not need the home painted but painted it in 2014. The reason, I had a painter do some interior painting for me. He was really exceptionally and so I asked if he would return in the fall of that year to paint the exterior.

My neighborhood told me she watched him paint and was very impressed as to how meticulous he was in application and clean up. I assure you it didn't cost me what some have previously quoted as the going rate. The painter used expensive rubber based paint which the manufacturer claimed had a lifetime guarantee. The painter laughed and said noting is for a lifetime and you will probably get 15 year utility from this paint .

I had a stucco/brick house up north and the problem in that state had to do with moisture intrusion. there was one home all stone built for $5 million that experience heavy water damage so price didn't make a difference.

Ergo my concern was water intrusion, especially around the windows. Well so far I haven't found any sign of a problem and trust me I inspect often because my home north was one of those experiencing this problem. In my situation it was the interior seal in the window that separated the interior wood potion of the window from the aluminum

I suspect a variable in all this is your builder. It appears the builder of this home took great pride in his product .....Hope I haven't spoken too soon:D

I have the home washed once/twice a year depending


Please provide the name and number of your exceptional painter and the exterior paint used.
Thx, Jimmie

[gap2415]

We lived through Hurricane Charlie. Never having been through a hurricane before (hubby had one go over his house in Miami decades earlier), I laughed and said he didn't need to bring in the heavy BBQ. The next day the newspaper said the fire truck had lifted inches off the ground. All the block homes on the street had their screen rooms gone, decks gone and everything including sheds out of sight. Frame and mobile homes were often missing and just a slab left. On Main Street, weak buildings were destroyed ...the wind blew out the windows and took off the roof. Our friends left their block home in Port Charlotte and fled to Orlando but the hurricane went that way. They escaped safely and found their home intact. You never know. What people there did was buy hurricane shutters for their windows. It had been decades since a major hurricane came way in the harbor. I worked at SMH and on our hurricane map there was hardly a spot in Florida where a major storm has not hit. It doesn't matter where in the world you live there is always something if you are prone to fixate on it. We just do what we can and then let it go. By the way, our block home was fine minus a birdcage. We had no shutters.

[Chatbrat]

Back in 1995, I was involved in a major restoration of a house that was on the national registry in Summit,NJ

The master bedroom which was rather large and directly above the dining room was totally out of level.

The correction was made by pouring ultra light concrete on the bedroom floor, on end was 4" higher than the other.

No structural reinforcement was need.

This was done by James Downs of the Downs Group

Go to Downs Group and take a look @ some of the projects he & I did

[graciegirl]

[QUOTE=Chatbrat;1212881]Back in 1995, I was involved in a major restoration of a house that was on the national registry in Summit,NJ

The master bedroom which was rather large and directly above the dining room was totally out of level.

The correction was made by pouring ultra light concrete on the bedroom floor, on end was 4" higher than the other.

No structural reinforcement was need.

This was done by James Downs of the Downs Group

Go to Downs Group and take a look @ some of the projects he & I did[



WOW. These homes are impressive.

The Downs Group - Trump Bedminster- Bedminster - club front.jpg (http://thedownsgroup.org/trump-bedminster-bedminster/)


I am nosy. What model did you choose here in The Villages?

[Topspinmo]

hard to live in home without the roof and everything else sucked out of it.

Also I read that those block walls have cracks after such an event, so they me be standing but compromised.



show me a house that was sprayed?

even if it was that lasts only 5 years, you can't do it again unless you remove all the insulation........

Bottom line either house is a rebuild for the insurance companies.


.


Alive vs dead? Tornados in Florida are usually on the small side f1 or f2s. If if come over either house good change you will die ( small or not) But, IMO changes are greater you might live in concrete/ block structure. Hence safe room built out of concrete/cinder blocks.


Agreed, Who cares about the roof., house going to be total loss anyway. At least you have walls for some protection. Slab built frame houses are gone, nothing left except slab. When direct hit by strong tornado.

According to Massey sprayed attic come with life time guarantee.:thumbup:

I personally like frame home better. Easier to make changes or modifications with wood structure. Concrete you have to have masonry bit to just hang or mount something on the exterior walls.

[eddie888]

I was here for the tornado in 2007. Block or concrete the only way to go.

[patfla06]

I've lived in block/stucco in all 3 houses in Florida,
and am very happy with that type of home.

[Chatbrat]

All I can say we sleep with the temp @ 69, I raise to 74 for during the day @6AM when I, usually wake, it takes 1 hr to get to 74, our house is block

[TNLAKEPANDA]

Frame no way.... Termites and vinyl siding. Both are bad. Block will also hold up better in hurricane winds. Vinyl siding will be gone with the wind!

[rubicon]

As to energy efficiency in addition to Carl's reference to windows other factors that may apply include the HVAC unit and how the house is positioned My home in Minneapolis area faced east and since our kitchen was on the west side we got a of of sun at supper time and was unbearable

Our stucco home here faces south. The thermostat stays a constant whether we are running the air or heat. While there was still no need to my wife and I decided to repaint the house using a rubberized paint that is suppose to provide a lifetime warranty but with a laugh my painter said if we got 15 years out of it consider that good. there were not any cracks and both the painter and I looked for cracks including micro cracks. Perhaps they will eventually show themselves?

One poster wrote in another thread that snakes were getting in between the vinyl siding and the exterior walls on his house.... that would be enough for me to go to stucco:eek:

[kcrazorbackfan]

It may make different in tornado which usually spins off hurricanes. Concrete vs tooth picks? Even if the roof is gone the wall are there on concrete / block home.

Radio reception for am is near impossible in concrete/ block. But due to less wood termites less likely if you had the roof frame sprayed.

Pros and cons either way IMO if I like one or the other and the price was right I would buy either

....and the Moore, OK tornado in 2013 collapsed the concrete walls of an elementary school that killed 7 students.

[photo1902]

....and the Moore, OK tornado in 2013 collapsed the concrete walls of an elementary school that killed 7 students.

And what would've been the outcome if it was built of two by's? Any better?

[Chellybean]

Wouldn't the block also be considered some sort of insulation? You mention the walls but nothing about the block itself.

Finally some words of common sense.
As my husband said which he has done calculations of heat gains (manual J) for 40 years, everything is considered in heat gain calc's and air gaps are also part of thermo dynamics. as insulation packed in walls do not work either, it is the air between the insulation fibers is what gives you your insulation factor's,
God i sound like my husband now. L.O.L

[Topspinmo]

And what would've been the outcome if it was built of two by's? Any better?


No it would of probably Been a lot worse. Schools not good place to hide from OK tornados Unless they have safe rooms, which are built out of concrete. IMO in OK the only safe place is under ground when tornado in the area.