Sheldon wrote:
>
> Well, actually that's a very important difference... makes the house
> three times more able to withstand hurricanes, but also makes for very
> difficult renovations especially when plumbing and electrical
> alterations are required.

Not really a problem for electrical, Sheldon. The exterior walls are 8"
thick CBS blocks and then they use wood strips anchored to the CBS then
insulation between the strips covered with dry wall. The electrical is in
between the CBS and dry wall inside conduit tubing inside all walls. Also
most interior walls are either wood stud (my guess based on the date built)
or metal studs with drywall also. Florida has never allowed aluminum wiring
in house construction so not much of a chance of that being the case. As for
plumbing well that is a different story since most below ground plumbing
will be in a slab of at least 8" thick in most cases. Odds are though it
won't be bad or need replacement since it will out last the building itself.
So if all you want to do is replace a toilet, sink and tub not a problem as
long as you don't want to move them or change the layout. For the most part
every thing is basically cosmetic as far as walls, out lets and such. Again
just my opinion since I haven't built a home since the last one I owned in
South Florida.

The main homes that had problems in S. Florida was the few hundred they
built in the early '90 out of wood like those blown away during Andrew at
Country Walk. Those where poorly built high end homes due to poor work. Most
homes built before 1990 and after Hurricane Andrew are built to a different
standard all together.

--

Joe Cilinceon