Building the shell: brick on brick – it will be a house
The long-awaited bricklaying of the outer walls begins. So far, everything has been just a prelude. But when the bricklaying work begins, the structure takes on the appearance of a house for the first time. Here we go! The walls are built directly on the previously poured plinth of 40 x 20 cm hollow bricks in a bond. They must be placed on the reinforcement bars , if any are available.
Finally: the shell work begins and with it an important stage in the construction phase. A great feeling, even if completion is still unimaginable at the moment.
The fact that the walls are perforated in the lower area has nothing to do with Swiss cheese. Rather, it must be demonstrated to the inspector during the acceptance of this work that all reinforcing bars have been placed.
After acceptance and before the tie beam (ring beam) is poured, the holes are shuttered again. Then enough concrete is poured into the hollow blocks from above so that the base, wall and tie beam form a single unit.
So no more “save your wooden house” when the hurricane comes. Nowadays, new buildings can easily withstand the stresses and strains up to level 3. Only from level 4 onwards should you make sure you book a hotel room out of reach.
Construction methods and materials for hurricane safety
In Florida, the use of concrete blocks for building shells is widespread. This construction method offers high stability and is particularly resistant to climatic conditions, especially hurricanes. The concrete blocks are often reinforced with steel reinforcements and poured with concrete to ensure structural integrity.
Due to the risk of hurricanes in Florida, there are strict building regulations when constructing houses to ensure that buildings are resistant to strong winds and storm surges. These include, among others:
- Reinforced roof constructions: Roofs must be designed to withstand high wind speeds.
- Storm-proof windows and doors: The installation of storm-proof windows and doors is mandatory to prevent the ingress of wind and water.
- Elevated construction: In certain areas, it is necessary for the floor slab to be above the known flood level to minimize damage from flooding.
Favorable shell construction prices in Florida
A shell construction – also known as “shell construction” – costs on average between 70,000 and 120,000 US dollars in Florida for a typical detached house with around 150 to 180 m² of living space. This price includes the floor slab (concrete slab), load-bearing exterior walls made of concrete blocks, the roof construction and preparatory work for electrical and water pipes. Window and door openings are prepared, but not yet glazed or completed.
In comparison, the costs for the shell of a comparable house in Germany are significantly higher – usually between 130,000 and 200,000 euros, i.e. around 800 to 1,200 euros per square meter. The main reason for this is the higher cost of materials and labor as well as stricter building regulations, for example on energy efficiency, sound insulation and statics. While simple concrete block construction with hurricane anchors is usually used in Florida, brick, aerated concrete or sand-lime brick is often used in Germany – more complex, but also more expensive.
In addition, the structural requirements differ greatly: in Florida, hurricane protection regulations dominate – such as reinforced roof connections or raised foundation positions – while in Germany the focus is on energy saving, insulation and soundproofing .
Despite the initially cheaper shell construction costs in Florida, builders should bear in mind that additional expenses for hurricane-proof windows and doors, air conditioning systems, insulation measures, permits and inspections can be added. The entire construction process is cheaper, but also structured differently than in Germany.