Tarpon Coast Builder�s affordable SafeHomes� are a reflection of our commitment to quality engineering, safety and protection for our homeowners, as well as energy conservation and utilization of green building methods and materials.  Our Fortified�for safer living� designation, Energy Star� and BuildSmart� certifications, extensive use of leading edge building technology, and recognition by industry experts evidences this commitment.

The fortified...for safer living� designation is granted by the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), a national nonprofit property protection association funded by the insurance industry. Fortified�for safer living� homes provide more protection for your family.  Fortified designation specifies construction, design and landscaping guidelines to increase a new home's resistance to natural disaster from the ground up.  The program is different because it adds protection to windows and doors, provides better connections between the roof, walls and foundation, and the roof is thicker, stronger, and designed to stay drier.  The fortified�for safer living� program heralds a new way to build homes in disaster-prone areas, as safety-conscious consumers drive the market for hazard-resistant residences.

FPL BuildSmart� homes result in reduced power costs for summer cooling and winter heating.  All new Florida homes are built to comply with the state building code. But codes merely set the minimum requirements for any home.  FPL BuildSmart� offers the higher standard in new home energy efficiency.  By choosing FPL's BuildSmart� standard, you'll save energy and money.

Homes that earn the Energy Star� reduce energy costs and provide a more comfortable and resource friendly home.  Construction of Energy Star� houses must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  Energy Star� qualified homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).

Tarpon Coast Builders is a member of the U. S. Green Building Council.  We are committed to utilizing green building methods and materials in the construction of our homes.

Tarpon Coast Builders is a Florida builder founded in 2001.  Its mission is to utilize innovative technology to bring quality, affordable homes to those consumers who desire safety and security for their family in addition to contemporary styles and floor plans.  When compared to other homes in the marketplace, the Tarpon Coast SafeHouse�  is unequaled in its strength, quality and value.

Tarpon Coast�s new SafeHouse�  was developed to materially exceed the most stringent construction requirements of the Florida building code applicable to the highest wind zones in the State.  The SafeHouse�  is demonstrably more wind and water resistant than traditional construction techniques, thereby providing the homeowner with far greater protection from wind and water penetration into the structure.

The entire wall system in the SafeHouse�  is constructed using 5000-psi poured concrete and has been tested to withstand 235 mph direct large projectile impact from hurricane and storm winds. The wall system is capped with a roof system designed to withstand winds well in excess of 150 mph.

Wall System

The laser-leveled foundation is designed to attach and support a pre-cast engineered concrete wall system.  Each wall system is engineered to demanding specifications to optimize strength.  Walls are fastened to the foundation by wedge anchor bolts and are securely bolted together using brackets cast into the wall structure.  The walls are poured using 5000-psi high-density concrete mix, fiber mesh and engineered steel reinforcing.  Due to the high density of the concrete mix, the walls are impermeable, thereby significantly reducing the opportunity for mold formation within the house.

Roof System

The roof structure is typically one of the weakest elements in the overall resistance to wind of a house.  The new roofing technology employed by Tarpon Coast maximizes the wind resistance of the SafeHouse� while minimizing any opportunity for water or wind penetration into the attic space.  Utilizing optional open or closed cell foam to insulate the attic side of the roof deck (which also increases adhesion of the roof decking to the truss system) enables the soffit area to be sealed, thereby creating a sealed envelope for the entire structure.  This reduces uplift during windstorms and eliminates penetration of water through vented soffits when wind is driving rain horizontally, a typical occurrence during hurricanes.  The roof is decked with 5/8� plywood, glued and ring-shank nailed, and finally covered with an adhesive membrane instead of roofing felt.  It is then covered with Miami-Dade approved shingles.  In the HurricaneHouse�  the shingles are replaced with a metal roof, a safe room is installed and a whole house propane generator added.

Doors and Windows

All entry doors and the garage door are rated to meet or exceed maximum Florida Building Code wind requirements.  Standard windows are double pane, low-e glass, maximizing energy conservation, and are protected by hurricane shutters that exceed building code requirements.  Impact glass windows approved by Miami-Dade code are available as an option.  In most models the entire lanai is protected, allowing outdoor furnishing to remain on the lanai during storms.