A cinderblock Hurricane-Proof Home under construction

Living on the coast, you know the possibility of hurricanes is real every year. There are multiple options when you want a coastal hurricane-proof home that will withstand Category 5 hurricane weather. 

As you search for or plan to build the best hurricane-proof home, let us present some innovative ideas that could withstand a Category 5 hurricane.

While a traditional stick-built home does not usually fare well in strong hurricane winds and heavy rainfall, keep reading to see how these hurricane-proof home designs will weather the storm. 

What Type of Home Is Best In Hurricanes?

The best type of home to withstand a Category 5 hurricane has a concrete or steel composition with circular exterior shapes and a multi-slope roof. Many homes that withstand extreme weather are also eco-friendly and use sustainable building practices. 

Now let’s take a more in-depth look at these hurricane-proof home design and construction considerations.

Designing a Category 5 Hurricane-Proof Home: Best Materials, Shape, and More

All hurricanes bring risks of significant danger and damage, but a Category 5 hurricane is the most devastating. The materials and shape of your coastal home will play an essential role in how much destruction it sustains. So let’s look at some of the best hurricane-proof home options to withstand strong winds and water. 

The Best Materials for a Category 5 Hurricane-Proof Home

Traditional home-building materials are not considered ideal for withstanding a tropical hurricane’s heavy rains and high winds. Instead, it would be best if you looked to some out-of-the-norm materials that offer durable, wind-resistant surfaces and unique shapes for a hurricane-proof home that can stand up to impending harsh weather.

Recycled Plastic Bottles

Overhead shot looking down at a group of ecobricks

A Canadian company took plastic bottles that had been rejected for recycling, melted them down, and built a three-bedroom home. Then, using plastic waste, it created a composite material that could withstand whatever Mother Nature dishes out—including Category 5 hurricanes. 

The company breaks down these bottles into small pellets, then melts them down using a unique process that turns them into a foam-like substance. When cooled, this foam stays durable even in the wettest conditions, such as a hurricane.

After this process, it uses special chemicals to turn the material into usable walls that it covers with fiberglass and UV-resistant paint. These walls can withstand hurricane winds and are more wind-resistant than concrete.

Concrete Homes 

Another proven option for coastal homes that will inevitably face hurricane winds and water is concrete. A concrete home is built to withstand Category 5 hurricane-force weather and remain standing. 

Here are some concrete home details for you to consider: 

  • Concrete homes can be poured or composed of concrete unit blocks.
  • You can install blocks with rigid steel reinforcing bars to maintain stability in harsh category five conditions.
  • Houses built of reinforced concrete have a much greater ability to withstand high winds and storm surges.
  • Home shape also factors into the sustainability of these structures. 

One company, Deltec Homes, designs and builds all its homes to withstand extreme weather. They are customizable and hurricane-proof homes. Unlike many concrete houses, these don’t have that bunker-style look that many people dislike. 

a circular-shaped two story home with solar panels on the roof
Courtesy of Deltec Homes

A few things about these homes that make them unique include:

  • Its building-block style homes come in a single-story ranch or a three-story beach-style home.
  • Along with the building blocks, the shape of each house is round—a round home has 30% less wind pressure than a traditional home, giving this shape another advantage in extreme Category 5 weather.
  • Deltec also ensures the joints that connect the concrete blocks are secure since they are the most likely components to fail in strong winds.
  • Another significant feature is proprietary pilings that anchor the homes and protect them from washing away in heavy rainfall. 

Prefabricated Homes

A prefabricated or modular home is made in parts, transported on a semi-truck, and assembled in place on your lot. Most prefab homes cost up to 25% less than a stick-built home, so it’s a great option if you’re on a budget. 

You will find an array of prefab hurricane-proof homes with designs that withstand hurricane-force winds and earthquakes.

A few factors that make prefab homes able to withstand hurricane-force winds include:

  • An elevated foundation
  • Strong walls, doors, and windows that don’t let in air or water
  • The roof is reinforced

Tiny Homes

Tiny prefab houses are sustainable and hurricane-proof. Their materials will remain strong in hurricane-force winds. The exterior high-performance structural insulated panels (SIPs) are a standard part of residential and commercial buildings for extreme weather locations. 

An off-grid, tiny home setup in the mountains

Here are a few things to consider:

  • SIPs are foam cores with structural facings on each side. Most homes built with SIPs utilize almost 50% less energy than a traditional home.
  • They are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and durable.
  • They are compliant with net-zero building standards
  • Tiny prefab homes come in many styles to suit your taste and needs. 

Eco-Friendly Prefab Houses

These homes have a modern aesthetic focused on ecology and economy. They are hurricane-resistant and tend to have fewer windows than other eco-friendly prefab homes.

Other hurricane-resistant features include:

  • The shed-style roof drains water better in extreme weather-prone locations. 
  • They have proven resistance to Category 5-level hurricane winds. 
  • Most eco-friendly homes are entirely customizable.
  • The smart design delivers energy efficiency along with hurricane protection. 
  • They arrive with all the components ready to assemble for a fast build on your chosen site.

Shipping Container Homes

Shipping container abodes might be the fastest-growing sustainable housing option. They can withstand hurricane-force winds and are increasingly used in areas with the potential for extreme weather. 

A few advantages of shipping container houses include: 

  • They are made of corten steel, a high-level weathering steel. They also combine steel alloys with no need for exterior paint, and the steel is rust-resistant and weldable. 
  • Most container structures don’t need a foundation because the container bottom is made of cross-joists. 
  • Since they are cargo-safe and stackable, the containers will withstand hurricane-force winds without collapse.  
  • Shipping containers can be connected to one another and customized on the inside.
Exterior view of a luxury shipping container home at night

Ecosteel Prefabricated Houses 

You can choose an all-steel prefabricated home that withstands Category 5 hurricane winds. 

The exterior utilizes non-traditional building materials to deliver a hurricane-proof house, including:

  • Ecosteel homes use impact-resistant glass
  • The prefab shell is all steel
  • The raised floor can withstand storm surges and hurricane-strength winds

Characteristics of a Category 5 Hurricane-Proof Home

There are some characteristics of a home that can withstand hurricane-force weather best. From the material selection to the house shape, choosing certain designs and construction methods will increase the likelihood that your house will withstand damage in a hurricane. 

A few considerations for the best Category 5 hurricane-proof homes include:

  • The most structurally sound hurricane-proof materials for home building are steel, concrete, reinforced glass with impact resistance, and fiberglass. 
  • Circular houses withstand hurricane-force winds best due to the wind transfer and reinforced loads. 
  • Multiple-sloped roofs stand up to hurricane winds better than gable roofs. 
  • Short roof overhangs are less likely to catch high winds and blow off. 
  • Most hurricane-proof homes use sustainable building practices and components inside and outside. 
  • Their deep in-ground anchors protect the house from flying away in a hurricane. 
  • It is easier to direct the wind away from a one-story home than any other house configuration, making this house design one of the most favorable in hurricane conditions.  
  • Hurricane shutters are manufactured for hurricane-rated protection and impact resistance and can protect the vulnerable parts of your house, like windows. 
Closeup an a metallic hurricane shutter

Final Thoughts

When you decide to invest in a home where hurricanes are a constant threat in the late summer months, choosing materials and specific structural techniques to protect your home makes sense. 

Many people think building a hurricane-proof home is more expensive than traditional home construction, but that is not necessarily the case. 

Once you have invested in hurricane-proof materials and maximized the home design, you should have a sustainable home that stands tall in extreme hurricane conditions. 

Sources 

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