Hi Colleen, I have aligned myself (somewhat lol) with two builders here in Northeast Ohio who are a franchise of sorts for Homes of Steel.  In Ohio the idea is a new concept. It's about $110/sq. ft for the steel framed home....and interestingly enough you get much more living space flexibility (and more living space) because the steel girders are so strong you don't need as 'cross' structural supports to hinder a floor plan. I was fascinated enough to start recommending them when I get clients looking for new spec homes. Good post and very good info for buyers to consider, regarding wood framing!

I saw one the other day that was made with no nails. it was built in the 1820s with brick and cypress. It has lasted many hurricanes. I live in a brick and stick home and feel very safe. If you flood it doesnt matter what type you have,its a diaster.

GOOD JOB!  Living in a wood frame home myself the trend in Central Florida has now gone to CB homes, your point about termites is one I have been saying for years...when they ate through my house in WIndermere which WAS block!  Gimme good ole Cedar any day of the week.  Thankls for the great STATS!  Again..job well done!

Colleen - great presentation!   Enjoy the next 12 days.  I will be in touch!

Asa  Floridian myself, this was very interesting.  Because my husband is the guy who developed the softwrae that engineers steel frame buildings we got a small (wink)  discount on the building materials for our new office, but we are looking for a new home and have looked at a number of wood frames.  I was nervous about them until I read your article- thanks!

Colleen what a tough subject! Most people prefer newer and concrete/CBS homes but their has been some major builders in Lee County/FT Myers area who are building only Frame home. I htink that it deoends where the home sis located but if there is a concrete foundation and some colums in concrete ( in Florida in certain flood zone or islands we have to build with a minimum of required height ..that is 12 feet or more ) then its agreat mixture to have both.The newer so called "key West "homes has structures and roof withstanding wind forces of over 125 miles and hour which is pretty good compare to CBS homes. you are right the insulation is better in a wood frame but you may ahve more problems with termites.AS you know it depends in the type of wood I would recomend treated wood for the frame.

The wood frame homes here are certainly attarctive and seem to keep a good appreciation.In the old days ( before my time !) wood was aged for a much longer time and certain type like the florida yellow pine was very dense and heavy and strong...but you are right termites can go through concrete also! It all depends on your foundation and your overhangs for starters.I like the fact that you show that wood frame actually do much better then people think. In some areas better then concrete.There isi the matter of cost also.My home survived Charley in Fort Myers Beach with not one dent.Around me 2 homes had major problems with their roofs and more..of course I did added some hurricane strapping( which would be great for snow also ) on the rafters. Your blog is very interesting thanks.

LLoyd

Very interesting read.  Thanks for sharing.

Great Post.

I'm a Texas Builder & Distributor for a Steel & Foam Wall Panel System. For now our Distribution company handles Florida & we are just getting into the Florida market. We are hoping to be an alternative to the Wood Framing as well. However, the homes that we do build with wood we try to use Bluwood, which is based in Florida, so you guys probably know more about it than I do, since we are new to it. 

In Texas our big concern isn't Hurricanes except on the Gulf. We worry about Termites, Mold, Mildew & sometimes an even BIGGER reason we are going away from wood in Austin is for the whole "environmentally" safe approach. There are many people out here that just don't want to use wood for environment reasons, but engineers are resistant to using Concrete Block because of our shifty soil. That one I still haven't got a grasp of, but I'm no Engineer.