[xmarx]

One thing that a lot of people do not realize is when they buy these high volume lower cost homes every corner possible is cut to keep the price as low as possible. The absolute cheapest exterior wall sheathing is used if any is used at all. In some of the cities such as Birmingham and Huntsville you have some of these big companies mass producing cheaply built homes. I have seen some in the Huntsville area that have no exterior sheathing on them at all, the siding is nailed directly to the wall studs. A piece of gravel will go straight through these walls like a bullet and a small tornado will completely destroy the entire home. These companies are the ones that have advertisements on billboards everywhere around town advertising how cheap their homes are per square foot. I cannot believe the way some of these homes are built now. What I am getting at is people living in these types of homes are not safe even in a center room. They should be seeking shelter not staying in the home. Many of them are nothing more than a manufactured type home (like a mobile home) but built on top of a concrete slap instead of a metal frame. I could post the name of one company in particular that is the absolute most unsafe home in the area but my post would probably be deleted. I will say though that if you go house "Hunting" watch where you "Hunt" and be a cautious "Hunter" for Homes. lol

[geos]

The sad part is they will be rebuilding with exactly the same flimsy stick frame houses that got blown to bits. There are better alternatives but sadly most people are creatures of habit and conformity.

Sea, Shipping Container Cabin, Shelter, Home
Monolithic
Cal-Earth - The California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture
Composite Fiberglass Dome Schools, Prefabricated dome housing, Classrooms Building, Memphis TN USA

[geos]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

This is just an idea to share since in the coming weeks/months, so many people are going to have to deal with rebuilding in the area:

I hope folks in all of the areas that have to rebuild take into consideration how their new homes will be built next time around. We've been building square, box-shaped homes in this country for 300+ years. When high winds hit a square home's outer wall, those walls catch that wind almost like a sail and it really doesn't take a whole lot in tornado terms to knock those walls down, especially in two story homes.

We're not keen on change in this country, but I think folks need to start considering newer style homes that have angles/slopes in the outer wall design, or even modern "dome home" styles. These dome homes have been proven via testing to actually be able to easily withstand strong hurricane force sustained winds and are nearly impossible to destroy. Some are even rated as "tornado proof" if done right.

I found a youtube video that shows one of the newer methods of building them strong (and less expensively), but there's a whole row of other videos next to it illustrating a variety of options. I hope folks spread the word about these alternative designs, as while we all hope it will be a long time before an outbreak like this happens again, it could in theory happen at any time. If more folks rebuild with homes like these, the death/injury toll could hopefully be much much lower next time.

Warning - the guy in this video can put you to sleep, but sift around, as there are other examples with good info:


YouTube - Basalt Roving Dome

Feel free to add any suggestions you may know of that can help make someone's existing home possibly more "tornado resistant", as well.

I took the Monolithic course a few years ago. I can tell you they are super strong and very high quality. Construction costs are a little above conventional stick frame but what is a life worth? The whole house is basically a safe room. I think safe rooms in a conventional house provide a false sense of security. What good is a safe room if you're sleeping in an unsafe room while a tornado hits?

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by geos

I took the Monolithic course a few years ago. I can tell you they are super strong and very high quality. Construction costs are a little above conventional stick frame but what is a life worth? The whole house is basically a safe room. I think safe rooms in a conventional house provide a false sense of security. What good is a safe room if you're sleeping in an unsafe room while a tornado hits?

I have actually known a couple of people in the construction industry who studied up on these too, and they said it would take a "F6" tornado (if they existed) to rip these things down -though your windows would still be blown out. They also keep heating/cooling bills WAY down year round, so any extra you spend on building one eventually over time is paid for by utility bill savings.

Originally Posted by ghett61

Basements are not necessarily safe. I know someone who was sucked out of their basement and killed last week.

Traditionally built basements with wood beam supports on top where the 1st floor just rests on it - yes, those pose risks in larger tornadoes. But you can have concrete/rebar/mesh ceilings in them that make them much stronger. Nothing is 100% safe and secure when it comes to nature - nature can tear down anything if the event is strong enough. The thought though, is to make it harder for you to be killed with newer, better, building practices.

[geos]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

I have actually known a couple of people in the construction industry who studied up on these too, and they said it would take a "F6" tornado (if they existed) to rip these things down -though your windows would still be blown out. They also keep heating/cooling bills WAY down year round, so any extra you spend on building one eventually over time is paid for by utility bill savings.

Yes, they are about as energy efficient as you can get. They showed a house with with roll down storm shutters. Industrial looking but very effective. Beach Front Homes: Building for Wind, Water and Corrosion

[Southlander]

Unfortunately those are all really, really ugly houses.
Would you live in it?

[geos]

Originally Posted by Southlander

Unfortunately those are all really, really ugly houses.
Would you live in it?

The flowing lines are beautiful as opposed to the ugly jagged edges of stick frame. What's really ugly is a house torn to pieces & people killed. You'd rather live in a flimsy stick frame susceptible to rodent & insect damage, hurricanes, rot, tornadoes, earthquakes, high maintenance for the sake of fashion?

[Southlander]

So, do you live among "flowing lines?"

[Osito]

I am so sorry for all the people who have lost their homes in the recent storms. My heart goes out to all of them.

[Toomuchcoffee]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

Mobile home parks would REALLY benefit from group shelters.

Agreed! Should be implemented in every one of them!