Florida Real Estate Blog

Why Are Steel Exterior Doors A Better Choice For Your Palm Coast Home?

Steel exterior doors are made from a combination of various materials. The stiles and rails which make up the interior structural component pieces are usually wood, the outer skin consists of galvanized steel while the inner core is filled with insulation foam. What gives steel exterior doors strength and stability is their interior wood structure. Good insulation is provided by the foam core. Steel skins of steel exterior doors are warp- and rot-resistant, require minimal maintenance and extremely durable.

The Benefits Of Steel Exterior Doors

People’s renovation-spending has risen dramatically in recent years. Now more than ever, emphasis is placed on homecare and maintenance. Consumers are continually on the lookout for new and better-quality materials that would enhance their homes’ livability and appearance. Many are forever searching for attractive remodeling projects.

Owing to the many benefits that come with using steel exterior doors and frames, more and more people are recognizing them as the best choice for both new as well as existing homes. The beauty of using steel exterior doors is that they’re resistant to most of the problems associated with wood doors like sagging, rotting, shrinking and warping.

There are a lot of upsides to using insulated steel exterior doors. They offer homeowners:

* Energy efficiency. Steel exterior doors are almost four times more efficient than their wood counterparts. The reason for this is that the steel exterior doors’ material properties coupled with their technologically advanced insulation systems make for minimal energy loss and air infiltration between the doors’ interiors and the exterior or outer surfaces.
* Long-term wear-and-tear. Steel exterior doors have a solid track record when it comes to durability. Most manufacturers of steel exterior doors provide polyurethane insulation which bonds chemically to steel exterior doors’ skins. This enhances steel exterior doors reliability and rigidity. Plus, steel exterior doors are practically maintenance-free while affording the same aesthetic features as wood doors.
* Security and safety. Steel exterior doors afford homeowners around 10 times more of intruder protection compared to wood doors. In addition, since steel exterior doors are fireproof, they can protect homes against the further spread of fires.

With steel exterior doors people get more than just attractive home entrances. They also receive added protection, security and sturdiness. People can paint steel exterior doors any number and variety of colors. Most steel exterior doors come in an array of pre-finished PVC coatings, simulating wood-grain finishes. The choices of designs and models for steel exterior doors are quite numerous. People won’t have a hard time finding one that suits their individual home steel exterior doors requirements.

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This information is very important to know when buying a home that was built before March 1, 2002. Why? The cost replace a roof will climb to the highest level ever in the history of Florida because of the new hurricane mitigation requirements for existing single family homes. Home Buyer beware…

1. BACKGROUND

The Building Officials Association of Florida has undertaken to establish these guidelines for fair and reasonable implementation of the Hurricane Damage Mitigation provisions of HB 7057 adopted by the Florida Legislature for inclusion in Section 553.844, F.S., and effective October 1, 2007.

Deliberations included input from Building Officials of various jurisdictions within the State, representatives of the roofing contractors, manufacturers, homebuilders, and other affected industries. Consideration was given to several facts;

(1) No clear responsibility was assigned to building departments in the bill,

(2) The bill is not part of any commonly acknowledged construction code,

(3) Practical construction and installation applications of certain provisions in the bill were not addressed and,

(4) Reasonable thought and common practice should apply as to its implementation date.

2. PURPOSE

These guidelines were developed for distribution and consideration for use by building departments in Florida which do not currently enforce equivalent, or more stringent, hurricane mitigation requirements for existing single family homes. These guidelines do not constitute a directive or legal opinion. They should only be used after careful consideration and in conjunction with all information provided in the entire document, including notes and commentary

3. GOAL

It is the intent of the Building Officials Association of Florida, Through development and distribution of these guidelines, to encourage and facilitate reasonable, consistent implementation statewide of certain provisions of the bill. These guidelines represent a “best effort” to interpret the vague and ambiguous statutory language of the bill and provide support for its stated intent of integrating cost-effective techniques of proven methods of the Florida Building Code into certain buildings constructed prior to the Code’s implementation March 1, 2002.

4. CONCLUSIONS

The Building Officials Association of Florida concludes that implementation and application of the following guidelines will reasonably meet the implied intent of Section 553.844, F.S. and Rule 9B-3.0475, FAC and the Hurricane Mitigation Manual referenced therein. (The Hurricane Mitigation Manual is available at;

http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fbc/Hurricane_Mitigation/Reference%20Document%20version-%20combined-%20draft%20v2.doc

http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fbc/Hurricane_Mitigation/Reference%20Document%20version-%20combined-%20draft%20v2.doc

BOAF Guidelines for Hurricane Mitigation Retrofits for Existing Site Built Single Family Residential Structures Effective Date October 1, 2007 (applicable to permits applied for on or after this date) Applies to site built single family residential structures build before the implementation of the Florida Building Code 3/1/02 Based on HB 7057, s. 553.844, Florida Statutes and Rule 9B-3.0475,Florida Administrative Code and the “Hurricane Mitigation Manual” referenced therein For the purposes of this guideline the code sections specified will be from the Hurricane Mitigation Retrofit Manual.

I. Supplemental Fasteners and Secondary Water Barrier

A. Trigger: When a roof on an existing site-built, single family

Residential structure is replaced. [According to the 2004 Florida Building Code (Section 1502 Definitions): ROOF REPLACEMENT: The process of removing the existing roof covering, repairing any damaged substrate and installing a new roof covering.]

B. Requirements:

1. Roof deck attachment and fasteners shall be strengthened and corrected as required by section 201.1.

2. A secondary water barrier shall be provided as required by section 201.2. Self-adhering polymer modified bitumen tape or sheets (peel and stick products) must comply with ASTM D1970

C. Guidelines

Q. Is there a required inspection (or affidavit certification) for the supplemental fasteners?

A. Yes

Q. Who can perform this inspection (or affidavit certification)?

A. Florida Professional Engineer, Registered Architect, Licensed General Contractor, Building Contractor, Residential Contractor, Roofing

Contractor or persons certified in the structural discipline under FS 468.

Q. Can existing sheathing fasteners be used to satisfy the supplemental requirement in Table 201.1 where wind speed is greater than 110 mph?

A. Only if the existing fasteners are 8d clipped head, round head, or Ring shank and spaced at 6″ or less on center.

Q. What type of fasteners must be installed to satisfy the supplemental requirement in Table 201.1?

A. Supplemental fasteners shall be 8d ring shank nails with round heads and the minimum dimensions as specified in 201.1.

Q. Are the enhanced fastener requirements and secondary water barrier required on new construction?

A. No.

Q. Is there a required inspection (or affidavit certification) for the secondary water barrier?

A. Yes

Q. Who can perform this inspection (or affidavit certification)?

A. Florida Professional Engineer, Registered Architect, Licensed General Contractor, Building Contractor, Residential Contractor, Roofing

Contractor or persons certified in the structural discipline under FS 468.

Q. Can self-adhering polymer modified bitumen (peel & stick) be applied directly to the roof sheathing in the HVHZ as well?

A. Yes for the purposes of complying with these secondary waterproofing requirements only. (Subject to local approval)

Q. What is the minimum thickness of self-adhering polymer modified Bitumen that can be installed?

A. A minimum of 40 mil is required, Per ASTM D 1970. II. Roof to Wall Connections (Wind Bourne Debris Region only)

A. Trigger: When a roof on an existing site-built, single family

Residential structure within the wind borne debris region and having an insured value or just valuation for purposes of advalorem taxation for the structure of $300,000 or more is replaced.

B. Requirements

1. Sufficient eave sheathing shall be removed to expose a minimum of 6 Feet of framing members (Clarification: 6 feet from the corner on a

Horizontal plane along the edge of the roof to expose 3 roof trusses, rafters etc. The width from the edge or eve of the roof only has to be the minimum required to view the connectors which could be 12 inches, 16 inches, 24 inches etc. depending on the width of the overhang.)

2. Wherever a strap is missing or an existing strap has fewer than 4 fasteners on each end the intersection of roof framing with the wall below shall be strengthened by adding

a. Metal connectors, clips, straps and fasteners such that the performance level equals or exceeds the uplift capacity as specified in Table 201.3 OR

b. Approved strap ties or right angle gusset brackets with a minimum uplift capacity of 500 lbs shall be installed to the top plate or masonry wall below.

c. Refer to sections 201.3.1 to 201.3.4 for prescriptive requirements

C. Guidelines

Q. Can a Roofing Contractor pull the permit for the re-roofing and the Roof to wall retrofit?

A. Yes, as long as the investigation, reporting, and retrofitting of the roof to wall connections is sub-contracted to a Licensed General Contractor, Building Contractor, or Residential Contractor.

Q. What additional paperwork must be submitted by the Roofing Contractor prior to the issuance of a re-roof permit?

A. Proof of insured value or a copy of the ad-valorem tax value. A valid permit application for the re-roof, and the required mitigation retrofit work, the contract value of which equals or exceeds 15% of the cost of re-roofing, subcontracted to a Licensed; General Contractor, Building Contractor, or Residential Contractor..

Q. Does the 15% of the cost of the re-roof include the cost of the investigation, subsequent report and the proposed roof to wall connections?

A. Yes

Q. Who can prepare a report to be submitted with the re-roof permit application addressing existing and proposed metal connectors, clips, straps, fasteners and additional structural elements when using the prescriptive methods specified in sections 201.3.1 to 201.3.4?

A. Florida Professional Engineer, Registered Architect, Licensed General Contractor, Building Contractor, or Residential Contractor.

Q. Is a separate permit required to install metal connectors, clips, straps, fasteners and additional structural elements?

A. No, this work can be subcontracted to a Licensed General Contractor, Building Contractor, or Residential Contractor.

Q. Is there a required inspection (or affidavit certification) for the installation of metal connectors, clips, straps, fasteners and additional structural elements?

A. Yes.

Q. Who can perform this inspection (or affidavit certification)?

A. Florida Professional Engineer, Registered Architect, Licensed General Contractor, Building Contractor, Residential Contractor or persons certified in the structural discipline under FS 468.

Q. Can a Roofing Contractor install metal connectors, clips, straps, fasteners and additional structural elements?

A. No.

Q. Which side of the wall can the retrofit connectors be installed on?

A. Either side, the manual states “Wherever access makes it possible (Without damage of the wall or soffit finishes)”.

Q. If there is an existing strap with less than 4 fasteners, can Fasteners be added?

A. Yes, that option appears for hip roofs on wood frame or masonry construction and for gable roofs on wood frame and may be determined acceptable by the local governing authority under alternate materials and methods provisions of the Florida Building Code.

Q. Does an existing 1/8″ strap with 3 - 16d nails satisfy the 500 lb

uplift requirement?

A. No, per the manual.

III. Opening Protection (Wind Bourne Debris Region only)

A. Trigger: When any activity requiring a building permit that is Applied for on or after July 1, 2008 for which an estimated cost is $50,000 or more for a single family residential building that is located in the wind borne debris region and having an insured value or just valuation for purposes of ad-valorem taxation for the structure of $750,000 or more.

B. Requirements

1. Opening protection as required within the Florida Building Code, Building or Florida Building Code, Residential for new construction shall be provided.

C. Guidelines

Q. Does an accumulated value of permits within a 12 month period which exceeds $50,000 trigger this requirement?

A. No.

Q. Is a permit required to install the opening protection?

A. Yes.

Q. Who can perform this inspection?

A. The local Building Department.

IV. Gable End Bracing

A. Trigger: There is no trigger to require supplemental gable end bracing. These requirements are voluntary.

B. Requirements

1. If an owner voluntarily chooses to retrofit gable end walls, the prescriptive methods of section A104 may be used.

C. Guidelines

Q. Is a building permit required to retrofit gable end walls?

A. Yes

Q. Is there an inspection required to retrofit gable end walls?

A. Yes.

R. Who can perform this inspection?

A. The local Building Department.

5. COMMENTARY

The Building Officials Association of Florida, after having received

and reviewed knowledgeable input from building officials, roofing contractors, roofing manufacturers, and other interested parties believes these guidelines to be reasonable, practical and consistent with the intent of the HB 7057. These guidelines are not an official interpretation of the law. For complete text of the applicable requirements, refer to s. 553.844, Florida Statutes and Rule 9B-3.0475, Florida Administrative Code and the Hurricane Mitigation Manual referenced therein. Palm Coast Real Estate

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Nestled along the east coast in Central Florida, Palm Coast is a growing city with a small-town feel.  With access to a wide variety of amenities and outdoor activities, a moderate climate, and a position amid some of Florida’s best natural scenery, Palm Coast truly captures the Florida lifestyle at its best. And this lifestyle is now more attainable than ever.

For buyers considering a new home in Palm Coast, the outlook is bright indeed.  After years of a seller’s market with home prices climbing out of reach for many families, the tide has turned.  Interest rates remain low, there is a large inventory of homes on the market, and prices are at their lowest point in years.  For the Palm Coast homebuyer, this translates into more square footage, more amenities, and newer homes than they could previously afford.

Motivated builders are offering unprecedented buyer incentives

Homebuilders in the Palm Coast area are now offering potential buyers more incentives to buy than ever before.  Because the overall rate of construction in Florida has slowed, builders have been forced to come up with more creative ways of drawing in new buyers.  Builder financing, major custom upgrades, and rock-bottom prices are just a few of the methods builders are using to woo prospective buyers.

Buyers interested in a brand-new custom home are in a particularly strong position.  Traditionally, newly constructed custom homes are among the most expensive on the market.  But with current market conditions motivating both builders and custom craftsmen to offer their services at a reduced cost, these fantastic homes are no longer out of the average homebuyer’s reach.

Custom homebuilders offer peace of mind.

In addition, there is a small segment of the Palm Coast housing market that is particularly appealing to the Florida homebuyer: solid concrete, hurricane-resistant, custom homes.  Solid concrete custom homes are built to withstand a Category 4 hurricane. Katrina, Charlie, and Andrew were all Category 4 hurricanes that inflicted catastrophic damage upon the average Florida home.

Solid concrete homes are also more energy efficient and resistant to the numerous hazards presented by Florida’s tropical climate, such as mildew, insect damage, and flood damage.  These homes are currently available at prices that were previously unheard of, but buyers may need to hurry if they want to take advantage of this incredible opportunity.  Should a hurricane make landfall in Florida, the price of these homes could skyrocket once more, so interested buyers should move quickly.

Don’t miss this window of opportunity!

Whether you are looking for an existing home or a high-quality custom home, your ideal home awaits you in Palm Coast.  Low prices, high inventory, and low interest rates have put homebuyers in position to get a lot more for home for their money.  To take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity, visit a Palm Coast homebuilder or realtor today.  Palm Coast Real Estate and Florida Homes Builders

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The 2008 Atlantic hurricane season is just around the corner, and for the Florida home buyer, there has never been a better time to think about hurricane protection for your home and family. If you are considering a new home purchase in Florida and have not yet chosen your new home, taking a bit of extra time to find out about available hurricane protection costs you nothing, and could pay dividends in the long run.

Florida building codes: What level of protection is required?

In the state of Florida, all newly constructed homes must meet certain hurricane safety standards. Florida’s building codes underwent a major overhaul after Hurricane Andrew devastated Dade County in 1992. Current building codes in Dade County require that all homes be built to withstand a Category 4 hurricane, yet building codes throughout the rest of the state are not so strict.

According to current building codes adopted by most Florida counties, a home must be built to withstand a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of approximately 90-114 mph with gusts of no more than 120 mph. This may sound like adequate protection, but homes built within these guidelines would not have survived a Category 4 hurricane such as Andrew, Opal, Charlie, or more recently, Katrina.

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.

Newly constructed homes and above code construction

A newly constructed home may seem like the best bet when it comes to hurricane protection, yet not all homes are created equally. Yes, all newly constructed homes must conform to current building codes and thus be built to withstand a Category 2 storm. This is not, however, the highest level of protection available to Florida home buyers.

At this time, Florida home buyers throughout the state can obtain homes with the same level of hurricane protection that is required in Dade County. A select group of home builders currently offer above code homes in several Florida communities. The term “above code” refers to newly constructed homes which are built with hurricane safety features that are not required by code.

Above code home features

There are several ways in which a home builder can construct a home that will maintain structural integrity in high winds. For example, homes built to withstand wind speeds in excess of 140 mph are often constructed of steel reinforced, poured concrete. Builders may also use additional roof truss straps and impact resistant windows.

While an above code home can offer a great deal of protection in the event of a severe storm, all Florida residents should thoroughly prepare for the season by stocking up on supplies and preparing to evacuate should the order come to do so. After all, the best way to protect your family from a major hurricane is to get out of the way.

What an above code home does offer is peace of mind that your home will be there when you return after the storm. An above code home may cost more initially, but to Florida residents who are concerned about protecting their home and family from hurricanes, that extra peace of mind is worth every penny.  Palm Coast Real Estate or Florida Home Builders

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Nestled along Florida’s East coast, Palm Coast is a beautiful city for the Florida home buyer to explore. If you are considering a new home purchase in Florida and would like to live in a community loaded with amenities, community spirit, and Old Florida charm, Palm Coast may be the place for you. Palm Coast is located north of Daytona Beach and south of St. Augustine, within easy driving distance of the bustling cities of Jacksonville and Orlando. Palm Coast residents with a taste for the outdoors have easy access to natural wetlands, parks, canals, and hiking trails.

For the fishing enthusiast, there are numerous opportunities for both salt and fresh water fishing in and around Palm Coast. If fishing isn’t for you, beautiful weather allows for year-round golfing, tennis, boating, visits to pristine area beaches and so much more.

With any new home purchase, you should carefully explore your city and neighborhood of choice, and do as much research as possible to find out exactly what that community has to offer. Amenities, proximity to work, schools, medical centers, shopping, parks and recreational activities should be taken into consideration when evaluating your target neighborhood.

When you visit Palm Coast, the Chamber of Commerce will be able to provide you with a wealth of valuable information, as will the local newspapers. As you would in any other city, it pays to do plenty of research before you buy your new Palm Coast home.

Finding a home within your target neighborhood

If you decide Palm Coast is the right community for you, it is time to decide whether you will purchase an existing home or a newly constructed home. For either type of home, it is a good idea to explore different neighborhoods and make note of any homes for sale which catch your interest. Explore new home developments and visit the sales offices to get a feel for the area builders.

A Realtor can be an enormous help when searching for a new home, and can either negotiate an existing home sale, or help you purchase a newly constructed home for a builder. When searching for a Realtor, be sure to find someone you are comfortable with and who only shows you the types of homes you are looking for. If a Realtor ignores your wishes from the beginning and immediately takes you to see homes of the wrong size or price range, you should continue your search elsewhere.

For the existing home buyer

When purchasing an existing home in Palm Coast, there are a few key things that you will want to keep in mind. Existing homes may come with problems that aren’t visible on the surface. Unless it has been extensively renovated, an older home will have a lot more wear and tear than a new home.

So what do you look for? First, if the home was built before lead paint restrictions were put into place, an old-style furnace which will need to be removed, or if it has outdated plumbing and electrical systems, additional money will need to be spent on renovations in these areas. A home inspection will give you a much better idea of how much you will need to spend on repairs, so don’t skip this crucial step in the home buying process.

Buying a newly constructed Palm Coast home

Some home buyers shy away from having a new home built because they worry that it will be too expensive. Admittedly, having a custom home built may come with a larger sticker price at first, but in the long run, a brand-new home can be the most cost effective option.

Buying a brand new home immediately alleviates several new home buying worries. There is no need to worry about expensive repairs, termites, wood rot, leaks, or flood damage. As an added bonus, custom home builders allow buyers to choose both the interior and exterior color and decor.

Smart buyers are successful buyers

Regardless of where you choose to live and what type of home you decide to buy, do your homework, develop a plan of action, and shop smart. The more you prepare for and plan your home buying experience, the more successful you will be.

Palm Coast Real Estate 

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There are many ways to avoid foreclosure if only you know what steps you should take and how to correctly execute these steps. Don’t despair just because you received a foreclosure notice. Rather, explore your options, and take the most effective and logical course of action.

Avoid Foreclosure – Nip Problems in the Bud by Knowing These Information

Here’s a rundown on some of the basics to avoid foreclosure. With this information, you will at least have an idea where to start and how to handle the foreclosure.

* You have around ten to twenty options in order to avoid foreclosure if you start taking steps right from the first late payment. However, the number of options available will continue to decrease as you delay.

* Never give up. The only time you lose is when you give up. You still have an option even after the foreclosure and eviction. You have as much right as everyone else to buy your house back. It can be assumed, though, that if you were not able to buy the house back before the eviction then chances are you’ll never be able to buy the house back at a good deal. This is because you probably hired the best lawyer to get you a good deal for the house before your eviction, so you should have bought the house then.

* There is no single best option to avoid foreclosure. The option that’s best for you will depend on factors like your income, assets, expenses and liabilities, as well as the reason for the foreclosure. The best option for you will also depend on your type of mortgage and the stage of the foreclosure process you’re in when you decided to save your house.

* For advice on how to avoid foreclosure, go to law firms that specialize in home foreclosures from the debtor’s side. They would know of all the possible options for you. These firms not only deal with bankruptcies but have a reputation for reinstating mortgages for clients. They can also refinance clients through mortgage companies.

Lastly, did you know that REFINANCING is the option taken by 40% of people facing foreclosure, 35% file for bankruptcy, 20% reinstate the current mortgage, while 5% take other options or fail to avoid foreclosure altogether.

Don’t deny that you may have a mortgage problem. The earlier you act upon it, the better your chances of avoiding foreclosure altogether. palm coast homes for sale

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Are you going to be selling your home by owner? Do you think that you can save on agent fees and other costs by doing this? If so, you may very well be right. More people today than ever before have come to the conclusion that selling their home by owner is the way to go. This allows them to have full control over the process, and at the same time make sure that they get exactly what they want out of the deal. But with that being said, selling any home by owner is not easy. After all, you will not have the assistance of a real estate agent so everything will rest on your shoulders. 

One of the biggest issues that for sale by owner sellers have is pricing their property. They have an idea of what they want to get for their home, but when it comes to specifics they have no idea. For this reason, a good real estate appraisal is very important. With a real estate appraisal, anybody selling their own home can get a good idea of what to list their home at. While you should not take a real estate appraisal word for word in some cases, it is a good idea for getting a starting point.

To get a real estate appraisal you will need to hire a professional appraiser who is used to working in your area. This way they will have a good idea as to what other homes sold for as well as what the market can handle. Although this will only be part of their evaluation, it is quite important. Of course, the main part of a real estate appraisal is when the appraiser walks through your home to look everything over. This is when they will take all the details into consideration. 

If you are interested in a real estate appraisal it is important that the person you hire is reliable and has a good reputation. This is very important because the information they give you will help you to price your home. If they are not accurate, you will find it hard to sell your home or worse yet you may end up losing too much money on the sale. 

Selling your home by owner can be a fun and rewarding process. But in order to get the most out of it, a real estate appraisal is almost necessary. Palm Coast Real Estate

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