The New American Home: Hurricane-Proof

The 'New American Home' was built in accordance with the 2001 Florida Building Code, and withstood the recent Florida hurricanes.

1 minute read

November 17, 2004, 11:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


The absence of damage to the 2005 New American Home is in direct relation to the successful development of the 2001 Florida Building Code, which was adapted as a result of Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

A few of the items that make the code work are as follows: the tile roof is a composite system consisting of a foam adhesive process which requires no nails or wires penetrating the tile, Icynene insulation applied directly to the roof sheathing eliminates the positive and negative pressure on the roof, windows are fastened to 2x wood bucks which are set with tap cons directly to the solid core masonry jambs, all structural columns are formed and poured concrete and the beams are all double solid filled lentils, structural dowels are located at 4'-0" o.c. and at each side of all openings.

"Perhaps one of the most important items is having a conscientious builder responsible for seeing that the code is followed in its entirety and subcontractors that are focused on doing the job right."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Monday, November 15, 2004 in National Association of Home Builders

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

June 19, 2025 - Outdoor Life

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1 - Honolulu Civil Beat

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1 - KQED

Tents inhabited by unhoused people lined up on sidewalk in Los Angeles, California in front of industrial building.

California Homeless Arrests, Citations Spike After Ruling

An investigation reveals that anti-homeless actions increased up to 500% after Grants Pass v. Johnson — even in cities claiming no policy change.

July 1 - Times of San Diego

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.