Hurricane Protection for Eyebrow Dormers?

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I went with some friends last week to look at an old cottage that's on the market now. I don't think they'll buy it, but I have been wondering about one thing they mentioned when we were talking it over.

Requirements to get hurricane insurance are very strict in FL these days, and this house had these adorable little eyebrow dormers. I'm not at all sure how you could protect those in storms, but I'm sure you'd be required to have something.

I know lot of folks would just say, "It's lasted nearly a hundred years already, so it should be okay," but then that's what a lot of people said about the old houses in Homestead before Hurricane Andrew and they were sadly wrong.

So what would you do?

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Comments (4)

User
10 years ago
Make sure you have rafter tie-downs installed, and some way to get up there and cover the opening with a plywood shield.
writersblock (9b/10a) thanked User
writersblock (9b/10a)
Original Author
10 years ago
Yes, the tie-downs are an excellent idea. Not sure how easily one can get up there to do plywood, though, and since it's 100-year old Dade County pine you'd probably have to use a diamond drill to make the attachment holes.
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cpartist
10 years ago
I know when we started designing our build we were told if we wanted to put in a gable roof, that the insurance would probably be almost 2x the price of a hipped roof. Obviously while I would have preferred a gable roof, we did a hipped roof. Sigh.

As for what the insurance company would say regarding a 100 year old home? The best answer is probably to ask the company.
writersblock (9b/10a) thanked cpartist
writersblock (9b/10a)
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Thanks, cpartist, but you know how it goes in coastal FL. You have to wait till you buy to see who is going to deign to cover you at all. This house is two blocks from the Intracoastal.

I've looked through all the pics I can find from the 1928 storm, which came ashore right in this area, but can't find any photos of this house. I guess that means it didn't fare too badly back then, at least. The garage/casita still has the original 1920 tin roof on it.