September 16, 2021 7:05 pm

Why Homes are on Stilts

If you plan to buy a home near the coast, you might find quite a lot of choices with elevated floor plans. These homes might be built on raised platforms, supported by stilts. The structures are supported much the same as any home’s raised porch or balcony. However, they support the whole home. What are their purposes?

These structures are important when it comes to reducing the risks of a flood damaging your house. Given that living near the shore increases your risk of a home flood, consider an elevated design if you want to build a home. You’ll likely benefit from the added protection.

Raised Home Designs

When you build a raised home, you won’t sit the home directly on a traditional foundation set into the ground. Instead, you’ll raise the home’s floor levels anywhere from a few feet to several meters off the ground. By doping so, you’ll create space under the home. A variety of walls, structures or posts will help support the home. The space might serve conveniently as a parking area or storage space. However, it helps protect the home as well.

With a fully- or partially-raised dwelling, you’ll first keep the home on an even keel. The home won’t become lopsided or begin to sag, as long as you maintain the supports. However, by constructing a fully-raised dwelling, you’ll also create space under which certain hazardous pests or materials, notably water, can pass.

The Benefit of Raised Homes for Flood Risks

A raised home design is essential to home security in areas of high flood risks. As water rises, it can wash around and under the home, rather than into it. Therefore, the risks of a house itself flooding will decrease. That is a significant benefit given the extreme damage a flood might cause. Rather than simply face the possibility that the home might flood, you can instead decrease the risk of one occurring.

In many cases, homeowners even face a requirement to elevate their homes, by law. Community regulations could require all new construction to include certain flood wash zones to exist under or around the house.

Nevertheless, you still might face a requirement to get flood insurance. That is because even with an elevated home, you cannot guarantee that the home won’t flood. Sometimes, the rising water levels brought by storm surge or other floods exceed even expert measurements. Therefore, you’ll want (and might have to carry) coverage even if you raise the home. It will still apply to the structural or property damage you might experience on the property.

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