Garret

In the state of Florida, there are some building codes that are laid down to ensure the safety of all the homes built in the state during the hurricane season.

All the home builders in the state of Florida are required to comply with these building codes before they get the home approved for occupancy. This ensures that all the homes built in the state of Florida meet certain building requirements.

Upon the completion of the home, the Florida state officials inspect each home to check for code compliance.

After Hurricane Andrew devastated Homestead in 1992, there was a major overhaul in Florida building code. Since then, in most of the Florida counties, the home builders are only allowed to build homes that can withstand a Category 2 hurricane. Category 2 hurricanes are those with winds less than 120 mph.

The Florida counties who adopted the code which stated that all homes be built to withstand a Category 4 storm constitute the minority. Hurricane Katrina is an example of Category 4 storm.

Now-a-days, additional hurricane protection is being offered to the Florida home buyers. Some home builders in the Florida state take the initiative to go above and beyond in the type of hurricane protection they provide to their home buyers. This kind of protection is referred to as the "Above-Code protection.

In above-code construction, homes are steel reinforced and have solid concrete walls and foundations, additional roof trusses, and impact resistant windows. Such Above-code homes are able to withstand winds of at least 140 mph, that is, winds of the Category 4 storm strength.

The solid concrete construction is to ensure protection against leaks and flood damage.

Home builders offering these kind of above-code homes can be found by searching online, local real estate listings or by obtaining referrals from a Florida realtor.

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