question about concrete houses (stucco, recommendation, insurance, more expensive)

[bltdf20]

I want to move to Central Florida (Orlando/Tampa area) but with the hurracaines I want to explore a total concrete home, including the roof. Any thoughts on this? Experience with this? recommendations?

[willdufauve]

In the Caribbean islands I've lived on, nobody wants a board house. They want concrete block/stucco. Roofs are zinc though, not concrete.

[palmcoasting]

A concrete roof? Are you talking about a tiled roof? These days the building codes on the more recently built homes are very strict, so IMO, it really won't matter if you get a cbs home or a stick built home. Your stick built homes are generally stucco covered making them stronger also. And I don't care what kind of roof you have. If you're in a cat 4-5 hurricane any roof is subject to damage. Your insurance costs will be less in a cbs vs stick home though.

[seeriously]

We have a concrete block home with steel rebar passed through the holes and more concrete poured into the same holes. Our roof is tile and it's trussed. The downside to a concrete house is the cellphone service stinks. We go outside, along with our neighbors, to make calls on our cellphones.

[bltdf20]

I am talking specifically about a concrete roof as well, no tiles. I am used to this type of house in Puerto Rico that has weathered various hurricanes. But I am concerned that builders in the states don't have the same experience with this type of house and that for whatever reasons it will costs way too much.

[bltdf20]

Does anyone know about houses he has built in the florida area|? Any problems with them? Are they more expensive than other concrete structures? Is he a reliable builder? Is there a site where I can verify a license and see if there have been any complaints? He seems very nice on the phone but I still have to get information on a license.

[Mike1306]

There are builders here that have experience with the type of home you are speaking of.
They will generally be a bit more expensive but you insurance costs will be less.
I have never heard of James Sands but that doesn't mean anything oneway or the other.

[bltdf20]

Thanks for such a quick response. is there a way to check past performance and licenses?

[Mike1306]

I would ask them for the addresses of some homes they have done in the area.

You can then pull up the permits in public records to see if they have an over abundance of red tags. All builders will have some red tags, some will get alot.

Then you can use the addresses to do drive bys to see how the houses look and you could also write a letter to the owner asking if they would refer the builder.

If you just ask the builder for references you will only get the customers that were happy.

Licenses can be checked on myflorida.com

[bltdf20]

Excellent. Thanks.