Costs of Building New versus Remodeling

Is there ever a time when it makes more sense to build a new home instead of buying one and then remodeling or renovating it? The short answer is yes, particularly when you weigh in the complicated and time-consuming process of retrofitting an older home to withstand hurricanes.

Well-Designed & Properly Built Homes Survive Storms

Some defects older homes have are not visible to the naked eye:

• Roofs with shingles that are not high-wind rated.
• Large windows that are not pressure and impact rated.
• Gable end walls in homes with cathedral ceilings that have not been designed to resist high winds.
• Garages and garage doors are not correctly attached to the structural frame of the house.
• An inadequate or non-existent foundation connection.
• Improperly connected walls in multiple-story homes.

And the list goes on.

Starting in the mid-1970s, construction standards for many mass-produced homes in Florida became less rigorous. The State building standards were improved after Hurricane Andrew in 1992, and in 2002, the new Florida Building Code, with stricter hurricane requirements, was put in place.
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Keep in mind that just because a house was built after a particular year, it does not necessarily mean it meets all current code requirements.  In addition to withstanding the wind and rains of hurricanes, potential flooding from rising water is also a concern.  The building code does not allow substantial renovation to homes that do not conform with current FEMA guidelines for minimum floor elevation.
 
There are substantial financial and non-financial resources required to inspect and retrofit an existing home during a remodel. When added up, the advantages of building new become more apparent. You can often design and build a new custom home that, on a cost-per-square-foot basis, is less expensive (and time-consuming) than a remodel with retrofitting. Another consideration is because every home has its peculiarities in design, construction, and location, it is impossible to use a standard template for retrofitting.

A New Start with Hurricane Protection

Florida's stringent standards and other complex variables that come with older homes in the state can make it far more manageable, more efficient, and, in some cases, less costly to build a new home instead of remodeling and retrofitting an existing one. While some structures with inherent quality and craftsmanship in their original construction are worth the time and financial investment of retrofitting, many homes are not.
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A home designed and solidly built to resist a hurricane's damage  respects the forces of nature to protect against them. It also offers you and your family a greater protection level and greater peace of mind when the next storm hits. An experienced design-build firm brings smart, resilient designs, materials, and processes to the table and ensures your new Florida home is not only aesthetically pleasing but built to withstand whatever Mother Nature throws at it.