Hurricane Protection For Older Homes
Just because a home was built before 1992, it is not necessarily more vulnerable to hurricane damage. Still, if you decide to purchase an existing home, it is always a good idea to take stock of the home’s current hurricane safety features and calculate how much you will need to spend on upgrades.
While the age of a home is not necessarily a detriment when it comes to hurricane protection, the year a home was constructed should be a very important factor in your final decision on which home to buy.
In the 50’s and 60’s (especially in the years following hurricane Camille), concrete block construction and storm shutters were very popular options for Florida home buyers. Florida homes constructed in the 1920’s tend to maintain their structural integrity in high winds, but the ever popular Spanish roof tiles used on these homes do not tend to fare as well.
The 1980’s saw the rise of tract home developments and more lenient building codes. Corruption amongst building inspectors allowed unscrupulous contractors to cut corners with virtually no oversight or punishment. These shoddy construction practices came into startling focus after Hurricane Andrew cut a swath through tract home developments in Homestead, and entire neighborhoods were reduced to rubble. Today’s Florida home buyer should be wary of tract homes built during this era.
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