"Joe Cilinceon" > wrote in message
...
> 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
>
>
>

The exterior walls are not CBS, I mis-spoke, it was poured concrete wall. I
am not so worried about wirings, as everything seems to be housed in rigid
conduits so I can pull new wires easily.

The walls, well that is another story. They are not drywalls, they are
plastered walls. I don't know if they have asbetoes.