New Construction Homes Southwest Florida

 

Hurricanes are nothing new for Florida. It seems like we’re constantly hearing about the danger of potential damage from high winds and flooding tied to sometimes monstrous storms. This year alone, back-to-back hurricanes caused an estimated tens of billions of dollars in damage for homeowners, many of which live in Florida. That has homeowners looking for new ways to better protect their homes, especially when it comes to new construction homes in Southwest Florida. Sometimes, the methodology doesn’t exactly have to be new at all, but rather it’s been perfected over thousands of years.

 

So why is designing a storm-ready home in Florida so important? The answer is pretty obvious. Hurricane season this year may have started off slow, but it definitely ramped up quickly. While we tend to hear a lot about some of the worst hurricanes in history, it’s not uncommon for category 1 hurricanes or tropical storms to hit Florida either, especially during the late summer and early fall months that are usually categorized as prime hurricane season.

 

In late September of this year, Hurricane Helene took aim at Florida’s Big Bend region, where it made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane. Helene was the strongest storm ever to hit this section of Florida before making its way up through states such as North Carolina and Tennessee, where the same storm system led to catastrophic rainfall and flooding. The winds from Hurricane Helene were estimated to top out at around 140 miles per hour, and the estimated damage from the storm is likely to top tens of billions of dollars when it’s all tallied.

 

By the time Hurricane Milton made landfall in the Siesta Key region of Florida just a couple of weeks later, it was considered a Category 3 hurricane, with estimated winds of 120 miles per hour. Of course, whether we were in the direct path of Milton or not, we know the storm system attached to Milton resulted in multiple tornados and an incredible amount of rainfall across Florida. 

 

Of course, with heavy rainfall we oftentimes see heavy flooding, and this storm system was no different. Some towns and cities saw more than a foot of rain in just 24 hours. In St Petersburg, more than 1.5-feet of rain fell, including more than five inches in just a one-hour time period. In a span of just three hours, around nine inches of rain fell in St Petersburg. While extremely rare, the rainfall alone from this monstrous storm is said to have been so significant, that its now being described as a “1 in 1,000-year-rain event” for the Tampa Bay area. 

 

Some places reportedly received the same amount of rainfall in three hours that they commonly receive over the course of three months. Destruction stretched from the Gulf Coast of Florida to the Atlantic Coast. All that rain led to rising rivers and major flooding situations. The surge of the Hillsborough River alone broke a record not seen since 1960. The storm system also led to power outages and widespread damage. 

 

Milton was Florida’s third hurricane of 2024. But in recent years, Floridians have been left to pick up the pieces from several major hurricanes, including Hurricane Michael in 2018, Hurricane Ian in 2022, and Hurricane Irma in 2017. Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida about 29 miles away from Fort Myers and caused damage that topped $100 billion. Ian was one of the costliest hurricanes in history. Fortunately, with each storm we better learn how to better protect future homes and properties.

 

Because much of Florida is so flat, high water tends to drain slowly. That means swollen rivers and flooding for an extended period of time. Fortunately, more modern building standards are available to help homes better withstand the force of Mother Nature. Florida new construction homes oftentimes have an advantage over older homes, and that’s easily evident to those who live in areas that have had to rebuild over the years. Homes built these days are often built to be stronger, which can help with hurricane-strength winds, but there’s something else that can be done, too.

 

Stilt house building in Florida

 

That’s why stilt house building in Florida is so appealing, especially in coastal areas where the potential for flooding is so prevalent. In Southwest Florida, stilt house construction is used aesthetically, but also functionally. A stilt house is easy to spot, because the home is indeed built up on sturdy stilts.

 

It’s hardly a new idea. Thousands of years ago, some buildings were constructed in a similar manner. When constructing a home so close to the water, there’s often a need to help protect it from the possibility of flooding as much as possible. This type of construction has the added bonus, too, of being eco-friendly, because the landscape isn’t altered, but rather the home is built up in the air, away from the threat of rising waters.

 

 

Stilt home safety

 

So, you may be wondering about the safety of Florida new construction homes that are built as stilt homes. Oftentimes, they are the most obvious choice, because beaches don’t always make the steadiest locations for building. Using stilts or pilings to construct a home sometimes means driving those pilings way down deep into the ground, then reinforcing them so the stability of the home is even stronger.

 

While erosion can be a concern, that’s where reinforcement comes into play. Sometimes a stilt home makes use of hurricane ties, too. This means even more reinforcement and protection from heavy winds tied to hurricanes and tropical storms, without giving up the advantage of also sitting up in the air on stilts, which protects the home in case of flooding. 

 

The different foundation options

 

While you may be sold on the idea of stilt house building and building with pilings in Florida, you may not necessarily know that there are a few different options to consider in terms of a home’s foundation. The actual stilts are just part of the picture, there’s also the foundation. They type you choose could be tied to which of the piling home builders in Florida you choose to use, but it will also likely be tied to where in Florida the home is going to be built, as well as the region’s specific soil and climate.

 

 

Stilt foundation

 

A stilt foundation is the type that probably first springs to mind. You’ll likely find these homes in coastal areas or along the beachfront. They are usually about two to 10 feet off the ground and are built in these areas because it’s usually difficult to use a conventional foundation in this type of environment. The foundation is made up of concrete, wood, stone or brick piers, then steel or wood beams help support all the weight of the actual home. 

 

Underneath, you’ll only find the vertical pillars and open space. There’s ventilation below the home, which makes it easier for electricians and plumbers, because this type of construction better helps gain access to your electrical system, your home’s ductwork, wiring, and plumbing if there are ever any problems in the future. When you do need repairs, this type of foundation usually has cheaper repairs, but water damage and pest infestation are sometimes concerns, too.

 

Pile foundation

 

With a pile foundation, extremely strong, long cylinders or columns are driven into the ground, which helps support the house. It’s a good choice if you’re building in an area that has unstable soil closer to the surface. While not completely without drawbacks, pile foundations can easily be used for different property sizes.

 

Screw pile foundation

 

Sometimes, a screw pile foundation is used, but this is commonly in the case of a deck, a small structure in the backyard, a tiny house, or sometimes even a vacation home. A screw pile foundation is easy to use and versatile, but it often takes longer to have one manufactured, and there’s the potential for added expenses. Still, they’ve been used throughout history for piers, bridges, and even for lighthouses, because the methodology uses a ground anchoring system and steel screw-in piling. 

 

 

Stem wall foundation

 

In areas with flooding concerns, there’s also the option for a stem wall foundation. Sometimes a stem wall foundation uses cinder blocks, but at other times wood is used. When there’s a risk of flooding or hurricanes, a stem wall foundation uses a raised foundation as an extra layer of protection.

 

Only about as tall as a crawlspace, a stem wall foundation helps distribute the weight of a home over a wide area. This type of foundation oftentimes means a higher cost over some of the other available methods.  

 

Stilt house benefits

 

So, now that you have a brief understanding about the types of foundations and the construction of a stilt home, what about all the benefits? When it comes to new construction homes of Southwest Florida, a stilt house means better protection and stability.

 

Flooding

 

As we’ve said, the threat from storm surge and subsequent extensive flooding tied to a hurricane is not only real, but we’ve experienced it several times in recent years. In Southwest Florida, a stilt home can help better mitigate the problems associated with flooding, because the home will likely sit above the water, even when it floods inland. Water damage to a home can not only destroy a home itself, but also destroy your personal belongings and possessions that oftentimes can’t be salvaged. 

 

 

Stability

 

Even though a home is built on stilts, that doesn’t mean it lacks stability. Oftentimes, stilts do just the opposite, by making the home’s foundation even more stable. This is especially true when the ground underneath is itself unstable. 

 

Sandy beaches in Florida are not always the most stable locations, and they don’t always work with other, more traditional foundation styles. Extra stability is further enforced when pilings are forced deep into the sand, then anchored to the home they are supporting. Sometimes a home can be expanded over the water in this way, too, and still remain stable.

 

Ventilation/environmental impact 

 

Being up on stilts also means better ventilation. While Florida is known for its sunshine and summer heat, having some air circulation under a home can potentially keep your home a bit cooler, and potentially help lower your monthly energy and utility bills along the way.  A home such as this is also more sustainable and environmentally friendly in design. The landscape is less disturbed, and you minimize disruption to the region’s natural coast.

 

Views

 

There are also the aesthetic reasons to consider. If you want great views, having a stilt home means an elevated home with elevated views. 

 

Privacy

 

It may also help with privacy, because when a home sits up higher in the air, it’s more difficult for those below to see inside the home when passing by.

 

 

Florida new construction homes

 

Not only are these types of homes better designed to stand up to hurricanes and flooding, but they also come with some of the most beautiful and modern features and finishes. When it comes to Florida new construction homes, the advantages are certainly worth considering when it comes to stilt house building and building with pilings in Florida. As the recent back-to-back hurricanes have shown us, it never hurts to have another advantage with a home that is better built to withstand the potential damage from hurricanes and tropical storms. A strong, well-built home is designed in a way that helps protect it from strong winds, but there’s also the advantage that comes with a home that sits high above the ground, especially homes that are built in areas already more prone to flooding. 

 

Piling home builders in Florida

 

There are so many good reasons to utilize stilt house building in Florida, especially when considering new construction homes Southwest Florida. Piling home builders in Florida are already constructing homes such as these, in some of the state’s most popular and coveted locations. If you’re one of the many potential home buyers out there interested in a stable home that can help withstand the threat of flooding, but also want to take advantage of the heightened views and privacy of a stilt home, it’s time to consider using piling home builders in Florida. To schedule a preview of our New Construction Piling, Stilt and Poured Concrete homes, call Scott 239.220.1157