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lol ... This post reads like a page straight out of a Steven King script.
True, termites eat wood, not brick. Nevertheless if you follow the 5-year regime with a reputable company and with a decent bond there is no reason not to sleep at night in a well-built wood-framed stucco house (unless of course you are addicted to horror movies). I do find it difficult to believe that in a community of 30 houses 25 were devoured by termites even in a place like Florida that is known for termite invasions. (Although it sounds like an idea for a Halloween movie).
Although the hurricane factor is not in question with CBS construction, it is arguable that a well-built steelwrapped frame/stucco house is every bit as strong as a brick house (or perhaps even stronger) and with constraints in terms of limited square footage when building a brick house you do end up with smaller rooms. Plain physics.
So all in all I would dial back on the hysteria a bit.
If there's no problem - why do you need a bond (and they start to get pretty expensive after your house is a few years old)? And getting a full termite trench treatment every 5 years isn't inexpensive (or practical IMO either).
I can't say that the houses are our block were "devoured" by termites. They just needed work (windows and walls/parts of walls torn out and replaced).
Even a block house needs termite treatment every once in a blue moon (after decades - and it's usually done by tenting).
It's true that if your house has to be 90' x 50' feet - you will wind up with slightly smaller rooms (perhaps 1-2" on each side) if you build with block instead of frame (we found this out the hard way because our dumb architect didn't know anything about block construction - luckily - we designed all our rooms pretty large to start with).
As for hurricane resistance - the walls are only one part of the equation. And I'm sure that a poorly designed/built CBS house will do worse than a well designed/built frame house (although a well designed/well built CBS house will do best). The things we got the largest "hurricane" discounts on from our insurance company were: a total hip roof; impact windows/doors/garage doors; and CBS construction (in that order).
BTW - have you ever seen a spring termite swarm? My father's girlfriend had one this year (in a senior community rental). It was revolting. Robyn
Can someone enlighten me as to what a "termite bond" is? Is is anything like a termite contract? I've had my home treated for termites and I pay an annual fee that guarantees that the company will re-treat at no charge if the termites come back. This contract is transferable to the buyer when I sell. Is that what you mean by a termite bond?
I guess it's similar to a termite contract, but there's a maximum dollar amount (I've had $50k and $250k) which means if there's any termite damage, they'll repair the termite damage up to that dollar amount.
Obviously a concrete block house has much less wood than a frame house, but a concrete block house can still get termites, because usually all of the interior walls and roof trusses are wood and one of the ways that termites get in are where the drain and water pipes go through the slab (usually in the bathrooms and kitchens) which are very close to your wood interior stud walls.
If there's no problem - why do you need a bond (and they start to get pretty expensive after your house is a few years old)? And getting a full termite trench treatment every 5 years isn't inexpensive (or practical IMO either).
I can't say that the houses are our block were "devoured" by termites. They just needed work (windows and walls/parts of walls torn out and replaced).
Even a block house needs termite treatment every once in a blue moon (after decades - and it's usually done by tenting).
It's true that if your house has to be 90' x 50' feet - you will wind up with slightly smaller rooms (perhaps 1-2" on each side) if you build with block instead of frame (we found this out the hard way because our dumb architect didn't know anything about block construction - luckily - we designed all our rooms pretty large to start with).
As for hurricane resistance - the walls are only one part of the equation. And I'm sure that a poorly designed/built CBS house will do worse than a well designed/built frame house (although a well designed/well built CBS house will do best). The things we got the largest "hurricane" discounts on from our insurance company were: a total hip roof; impact windows/doors/garage doors; and CBS construction (in that order).
BTW - have you ever seen a spring termite swarm? My father's girlfriend had one this year (in a senior community rental). It was revolting. Robyn
I don't disagree with much of what you say, although your previous post was a bit more melodramatic (as is usually the case) than this one.
The reality is that NEFL is frame/stucco country, like it or not, and if you are stuck on CBS you are limited to only a few speciality builders in very few developments in the case of new, or in the case of old, block houses that were built before certain stringent codes went into effect and in a day when insulation was not a big deal. (Someone suggested buying a brick house from the 60s and that would IMO be a mistake). A more recently built brick house would be best if you are lucky to find it in a development of your choice, but still not 100% guarantee against termites.
Most practical buyers will look first for a part of town that they like, then for a development they like, then for a good builder with a design/cost that they like, CBS or not. And then factor in the cost of a termite bond the same way they factor in hurricane and flood insurance, all of which is the price for living in a part of the country that some people still call paradise.
I live in Coastal Oaks at Nocatee and there is currently a home being sold by Toll (already built) that is all brick. It is a large home, close to 5,000 square feet and has a pool. Hope that might help.
I live in Coastal Oaks at Nocatee and there is currently a home being sold by Toll (already built) that is all brick. It is a large home, close to 5,000 square feet and has a pool. Hope that might help.
A "brick" home here is usually brick over stick. Good chance that is what the Toll Brothers house is.
Cricketfan - I think there is another option - which is building a house (many closer-in areas don't have a lot of vacant land - but they do have a lot of crummy old houses that are ready for a bulldozer IMO). In some places where land prices are high - houses that were built 30-40 years are being torn down to make way for larger newer houses. Of course - many areas that aren't close in have tons of vacant land. Even in historically correct areas like Riverside - you can get permission to tear down a house with no architecturally redeeming features (one of the places on the RAP tour this year - I think it's a small office building - is like that).
I have only built one house - and you need a very solid marriage to get through all the hassles. But it only takes about a year. And then you forget about the hassles. And - with the real estate market these days - I don't think anyone who isn't planning to live here for a minimum of 5 years should buy anything (because the real estate market isn't going to recover fast IMO). This is very unlike the pre-crash market - where you could unload your "dog" quickly if you wanted to. I will note that I have remodeled/finished condo and office space before - and it's much easier starting from scratch than working with an existing structure.
I do agree with you about older houses in general unless you're talking about less expensive houses - and are pretty handy (like the fellow who does handyman chores for us). And - of course - there's always the rental option (and - in some cases - the "housesitter until the house sells" option). Which is not a bad option for people who can't say for sure that they will be here for at least 5 years (unless their employer is picking up all the costs of a move - including any losses they may sustain if they sell their house). Or people who might wind up in trouble if the homeowners' insurance market here goes from bad to worse. Robyn (note that I am very conservative financially)
Cricketfan - Another area where we might disagree (although perhaps not a lot). I can understand picking an area to live on the basis of schools (I tihnk education is very important). But when it comes to neighborhoods - well I don't think many neighbors here are best buddies. People associate with people on the basis of common interests - which can range from a church to playing golf. And there are gems throughout the metro area when it comes to these interests. My personal favorite is the family golf membership at the TPC Sawgrass. $2400/year for a family membership. You play the Valley Course for cart fees only ($20 for 9 holes - $30 for 18 holes). And kids can walk for free in the afternoon. Beats the crowds at Mickler's any day of the week IMO. And is an amazing deal for adults who play - and/or would like to get their kids interested in golf. I'm sure other people here have their own personal favorite gems.
My husband goes to the Winston Y in Palm Valley - and that is an excellent facility as well. But if he were 50 years younger - and an aspiring competitive swimmer - he'd probably go to UNF and use the pool there (he used to take classes at UNF and swim there - and very much enjoyed both the classes and the pool). And - little known fact - when you are over a certain age - think it's 60 - you can take regular courses at UNF (on a non-credit basis) for free. Got a kid with a good voice who loves to sing - there's the Jacksonville Children's Chorus. Etc. There are tons of things like that here. You just have to poke around - and find what you're looking for.
FWIW - this is one reason that I suggest that newcomers to the area rent here for a while before deciding where to live/what to do. There's a lot here - and sometimes it takes a while to find out what and where those things are. Robyn
P.S. I think the water park at Nocatee is a white elephant - a folly. And that when the people in Nocatee start paying for it themselves - I doubt they'll think the cost will be worth the benefit.
We're thinking of moving from south Florida to north Florida, possibly St. Johns County or Ponte Vedra. Most of the homes I've viewed online are wood frame/stucco. Are there any developments or areas up there where concrete block construction is used or is that impossible to find?
Call River City Homes & Development....they do a lot of block homes and are very good.
For the record though, Florida is a hot humid climate, and there are issues with block homes since masonry products absorb moisture. It bears noting that I am not a fan of stucco in Florida at all either. As popular as it is, it's mostly because it's very cheap to put up these days.
Call River City Homes & Development....they do a lot of block homes and are very good.
For the record though, Florida is a hot humid climate, and there are issues with block homes since masonry products absorb moisture. It bears noting that I am not a fan of stucco in Florida at all either. As popular as it is, it's mostly because it's very cheap to put up these days.
I like humidity - so perhaps I don't mind the moisture (although I have zero technical expertise about the issue). What don't you like about stucco? One nice thing about ours is the color was integrated into the stucco. Our house is 15 years old now - and has never needed painting. I think our roof has about 5 years to go before it needs to be replaced. And then we'll probably do the roof - and then the painting. And what would you put over block if not stucco? We put up some Hardie board over the block in certain areas. But that was basically to achieve a certain "look" (as opposed to any structural considerations). FWIW - the Hardie board has done very well over the years. Robyn
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(although I have zero technical expertise about the issue). What don't you like about stucco? One nice thing about ours is the color was integrated into the stucco. Our house is 15 years old now - and has never needed painting. I think our roof has about 5 years to go before it needs to be replaced. And then we'll probably do the roof - and then the painting. And what would you put over block if not stucco? We put up some Hardie board over the block in certain areas. But that was basically to achieve a certain "look" (as opposed to any structural considerations). FWIW - the Hardie board has done very well over the years. Robyn
