Tampa Home Design

All areas require (metal) connectors from roof trusses to exterior wall and from exterior wall to the foundation. Hip roofs are considered less of a risk and more structurally stable than gable end roofs in high winds. Impact resistant (resistant to flying debris) windows and doors are, as expected, quite expensive as compared to the non- impact variety. Building departments in the higher risk areas require, for example, that windows and doors be ’impact resistant’. Coastal areas are, in general, more subject to wind and storm surge damage than interior areas.

Whether tract or custom, Tampa home architects should attend to climate concerns. A larger budget for design and construction usually translates into a custom design/ custom home. Stucco is a very versatile, climate appropriate enclosure material for both tract and custom homes in or near Tampa. Foam surrounds highlight window areas and, as with some custom designs, stucco is the covering of choice. The entry ‘look’ very often is dominated by a raised, sometimes arched entry element and by garage doors.

Floor plans are often more ‘basic’ in tract homes. The ‘Florida style’ is arguably a result of more tract homes. Building completion is usually quicker than in the custom home for many of the same reasons. Since the subcontractor’s job from site to site is repetitive, he/ she can purchase materials in bulk, further saving on budget.