Stephen Ingram Custom Building, LLC

Living on the Gulf Coast of Florida is a lifestyle most people envy.  The beauty of the ocean, the mild year round weather and the unique charm of the area are just a few of the reasons thousands of families move to the area annually.

However, there are unique weather related issues associated with living in "paradise."  As a home builder on the Gulf Coast, the possibility of a hurricane and the high winds associated with them, pose unique problems that influence building techniques near the coast. 

Working in conjunction with Florida universities, Florida structural engineers, Florida insurance companies and Florida state governmental guidelines, newly instituted state-of-the-art building standards and codes have been implemented.  These new standards have greatly reduced and minimized the effects of possible wind bourn, storm surge and flood related issues.  

We at Stephen Ingram Custom Building, LLC take a proactive approach to all our projects as it relates to hurricane preparedness.  We incorporate all of the latest research and technologically advanced building materials and methods to protect your home from possible hurricane related issues.

The answer to each of these questions should be "Yes."

1. Is my home built with a Continuous Load Path?
   Yes. Your home should be tied together from the roof to the foundation.
2. Is my roof secured properly?
   Yes. The roof decking should be securely nailed to the roof framing (rafters or trusses).
3. Is my roof connected to the top story/floor of my house?
   Yes. Roof framing (rafters or trusses) should be securely fastened to the top of the wall with metal connectors, such as hurricane ties, based on your local building code requirements.
4. Are the walls on each story/floor of my house properly connected to each other? Are there enough shearwalls on each story/floor?
   Yes. The studs that run along each wall should be properly connected to the top plate and the bottom plate with metal connectors. If you live in a two-story house, the walls on the top story should be connected to the walls on the lower story with connectors or strap ties. Shearwalls with holdowns should also be installed at various locations within a home to resist racking and overturning forces.
5. Is the bottom story/floor of my house properly bolted to the foundation?
   Yes. The mudsill should be attached to the foundation with mudsill anchors or anchor bolts.