words of wisdom
Last Post 05 Aug 2022 09:29 PM by kenmce. 3 Replies.
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wranch22User is Offline
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17 Jul 2022 09:04 PM
Hi all, I'm looking to build a hurricane resistant house in central Florida. The house will be one story about 2000 sqft in size. It also would have PV panels on the roof and the attic would be a conditioned space. Using ICF for the outside walls seems to be the way to go. Given this is termite country, the plan is to use steel studs for the interior walls. That would put any wood in the house at least 8' above the ground. Closed cell foam will be sprayed on the inside of the roof sheathing for insulation. That is the plan, but I don't know if it is a good one or not. I heard that steel studs are flimsy and if you want to hang something on a wall, the fastener will pull out of the wall because the steel stud is so thin. Since termites are an issue, would it be advisable to go with steel trusses ? Then the only wood would be the roof sheathing. If I want to get rid of all wood, I read about litedeck. But I wonder if that will make mounting the PV panels more difficult since there is nothing to screw them to. Not to mention drilling holes in concrete for the PV wires would not be a lot of fun. Does anyone have any suggestions or warnings on any of these ideas ? Thanks for the help.
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18 Jul 2022 11:49 AM
Wranch22, Please use the email address shown in my signature line below for free assistance. I do not sell any product nor have financial ties with companies that do.
Residential Designer &
Construction Technology Consultant -- E-mail: Alton at Auburn dot Edu Use email format with @ and period .
334 826-3979
cmkavalaUser is Offline
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19 Jul 2022 11:48 PM
Might want to consider using Permatherm Steel SIPs , also termite resistant and less money than ICF. Homes currently being built with Permatherm in Orlando, Fort Meyers, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Sarasota, Placida, Bradenton and Carrabelle
Chris Kavala<br>[email protected]<br>1-877-321-SIPS<br />
kenmceUser is Offline
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05 Aug 2022 09:29 PM

> I'm looking to build a hurricane resistant house in central Florida.

What will you do for the windows?

>Using ICF for the outside walls seems to be the way to go.

The core of the walls should survive anything up to having a pickup truck dropped on them.  What will you use for the finished surface on the outside?

>Given this is termite country, the plan is to use steel studs for the interior walls.

BuildBlock and Logix have foam blocks that have an anti-termite agent mixed into them. Article on termites and ICF: https://www.icfmag.com/2017/09/termites-and-icfs/

>I heard that steel studs are flimsy and if you want to hang something on a wall, the fastener will pull out of the wall because the steel stud is so thin.

Studs come in different gauges.  The load bearing ones have the heaviest gauges.  He may also be thinking of the aluminum ones, which look a lot like the steel.

>drilling holes in concrete for the PV wires would not be a lot of fun.

It's not that bad with a screw gun and a new masonry bit.  Also, drilling into cement should give you a pretty serious grip onto the roof.
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