Question on Home construction (elevation) (Tampa / GA) (homes, utility costs)

[AES328]

Originally Posted by PhotoProIP

It's because transplants like Florida more so builders pack homes together at zero lot line. You saw it right.

You didn't read the OP's post. He said it looks like they're "squished DOWN." I don't even know how he came to that conclusion. Either my original reply, or maybe he's perplexed at all the 1-story ramblers. But I'm still not entirely sure what squished down means. Our 1 story houses aren't shorter than 1 story houses in other cities.

[mortpes]

Wow! You have noticed that in Fl you pay more for less. True.

[McFrostyJ]

Originally Posted by North_Pinellas_Guy

One story homes are the preferred style here......for the most part.

What happens when the area floods?

[JasonAnc]

^People complain that their lives are ruined, and expect a massive public bailout to keep subsidizing their irresponsible lifestyle choices for them. Same thing lots of people do everywhere. Was it an act of God and they deserve sympathy, or were they playing chicken with an oncoming train everyone knows comes down the tracks every so often?

[Vannort54]

Also IMO Florida has more single level homes because cooling them is factored in. Electric is expensive here compared to the northern states. And also older people don't want stairs anymore. And you can build them faster.

[PhotoProIP]

Originally Posted by leftee

Packing them together allows for that community spirit in case they start missing where they came from ...

That is such bull statement it's not even funny!

Unless, you meant a "community" contest to see who can close their garage door faster! hahahahahahaha


The single level is irrelevant because they put cathedral ceilings that gather all the heat, so now during the months of colder weather we can never have a good temperature all around no matter what we do, and those of us with two story homes are even worst off because the downstairs remains cold while the upstairs turns into a sauna! So freaking stupid.

Builders here are stupid. They build these homes without thinking of how they'll be used by their owners hence the lack of proper storage, the use of ugly formica, and cheap cabinetry, the lack of pantries, short driveways, tiny streets, and moronic HOA's and CDD that never expire as they should.

In Atlanta they also have basements, so that is the other reason for the elevation. I watch HGTV too so I saw the homes the OP is talking about many times, and have been to Atlanta and saw them first hand. Those homes are also a LOT nicer because most have default wayne's coding in dining rooms and offices, and are brick on the outside which makes them look a lot more elegant than this $itty stucco we have here.

[PhotoProIP]

Originally Posted by McFrostyJ

What happens when the area floods?

The homes that are in flood zones flood! DUH!
hahahahaha Oh well....you can't have homes on stilts on Bayshore blvd! hahahahahaha Now that would be an eye sore!

[AES328]

Originally Posted by PhotoProIP

That is such bull statement it's not even funny!

Unless, you meant a "community" contest to see who can close their garage door faster! hahahahahahaha


The single level is irrelevant because they put cathedral ceilings that gather all the heat, so now during the months of colder weather we can never have a good temperature all around no matter what we do, and those of us with two story homes are even worst off because the downstairs remains cold while the upstairs turns into a sauna! So freaking stupid.

Builders here are stupid. They build these homes without thinking of how they'll be used by their owners hence the lack of proper storage, the use of ugly formica, and cheap cabinetry, the lack of pantries, short driveways, tiny streets, and moronic HOA's and CDD that never expire as they should.

In Atlanta they also have basements, so that is the other reason for the elevation. I watch HGTV too so I saw the homes the OP is talking about many times, and have been to Atlanta and saw them first hand. Those homes are also a LOT nicer because most have default wayne's coding in dining rooms and offices, and are brick on the outside which makes them look a lot more elegant than this $itty stucco we have here.

Our two story house has two separate a/c units, granite, a giant pantry, and nice cabinets. For you to say that all builders use builder grade crap in their materials really means that you've only looked at cheap, builder grade crap houses. Stop using such overly dramatic blanket statements.

It's not like these same builders don't offer lower cost builder grade materials in every other market in which they build.

And it's wainscot, not "wayne's coding."

[Fl1150]

I kind of understand where your coming from but it probably depends on how old and the build quality of the home. We don't have basements but something called sunrooms which are basically basements attached to the house in the back. Atlanta homes tend to be on very hilly roads so comparing them to Tampa is not really apples to apples. Maybe a more elevated location in Florida like Clermont you would see a difference in how the homes are built.

[PhotoProIP]

Originally Posted by AES328

Our two story house has two separate a/c units, granite, a giant pantry, and nice cabinets. For you to say that all builders use builder grade crap in their materials really means that you've only looked at cheap, builder grade crap houses. Stop using such overly dramatic blanket statements.

It's not like these same builders don't offer lower cost builder grade materials in every other market in which they build.

And it's wainscot, not "wayne's coding."

Our two story only has one and no option for a second. Not all two stories have two units! Yours is the exception because most of Pasco is Formica and cheap cabinets...."granite" is not a standard (still). Bigger homes 2800/3000+ homes come with decent storage, smaller ones simply don't. We went house hunting for months....not to mention that in the area one wants to live one has to take whatever they can get...


Sorry, stupid autocorrect "wainscot"...


To compare the screened in porches here with a basement is ridiculous! Those don't add to the square footage of a home, nor they are closed off from the elements.