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PATH Case Study Achieving Strength and Affordability with Top-of-the-Line Technology --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Continued from Page 1
A SAFE RETREAT Beall's Storm Safe Homes project isn't just about storm-resistance; it's also about preparedness. Details like the safe room and back-up power offer buyers peace of mind. Doubling as a master bedroom closet, the safe room is made from 8-inch concrete block, poured solid with a 4-inch cap of concrete on the ceiling. This is reinforced with #5 rebar running every 8 inches in each direction.
"A lot of the damage we've seen in storms has been the result of trees falling through roofs. A poured concrete slab that is reinforced with rebar will be safe from a falling tree." A pre-wired six-circuit breaker box plugs into a generator that runs to outlets in the safe room, the master bedroom, the refrigerator, and one set of lights in the living room. "It won't be a totally functional home, but it gives you enough power to run a fan, cook, and live for a few weeks," says Beall. Generators also allow fans and dryers to dry out the home if the power goes out after a hurricane. Page 1 | Page 2 | Printable Version [.pdf, 230 KB] Content updated on 9/27/2006 |
To complement the strength of the shingles, Beall used a hip roof design, which is less vulnerable than a gable roof in a storm. The roof includes a ridge vent made from a heavier gauge metal that has a lip to prevent water from entering the structure. Beall says ridge vents are stronger than soffit vents and less likely to blow off in a storm. The home also features 5/8-inch roof decking, a tighter nailing pattern than required by code, a peel-and-stick water barrier on all seams of the roof deck, and 30-pound felt. Hurricane straps tie the roof trusses to the body of the house.
