Orlando Sentinel - 01/22/05
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-edped221012205jan22,1,218431.story
EDITORIAL
Don't wait
Our position: It's important for Central Florida to strengthen building codes now.
January 22, 2005
Eighteen months is too long to wait for tougher state construction rules to prevent wind-driven rain from penetrating the walls of new homes.
The urgency of this issue is clear. Local officials were deluged with thousands of complaints from owners of new homes that leaked after Central Florida was hit by a trio of hurricanes last year.
Tougher construction codes are needed now to protect prospective new-home owners from potentially expensive property damage. The stakes are high. New-home construction in Central Florida this year may well top last year's record of 29,000 new houses. Yet it's clear that the existing building code is too weak.
Problems with new-home construction in Central Florida are not new. Two years ago, a Sentinel investigation found many new homes suffering from a number of flaws ranging from leaks to poor workmanship.
A perfect opportunity to fix the state building code was squandered in December when the Florida Building Commission refused to embrace practical improvements proposed by some local-government building officials. Commission members said they didn't want to act until the Florida Home Builders Association finished its study of the leaking houses.
Now that construction-industry study is done. It confirmed the obvious: The state building code needs work. Now the Florida Building Commission says it could take 1? years before the code is changed.
Local governments shouldn't wait while the building commission drags its feet. City councils and county commissions have the power to impose their own local amendments to toughen rules in the state building code. Winter Garden set a good example when that city toughened its rules late last year.
Building officials throughout Central Florida already are working on proposed code changes that are expected to be ready for approval in June by city councils and county commissions. The proposals they are considering include some ideas from the home-builders' study, such as design changes to drain rain away from a house and improvements to windows and doors.
Other critical points that belong in the code include:
Standards for paint used on the exterior walls. Quality paint properly applied can help keep rain from seeping into a house.
Requiring builders to comply with manufacturers' instructions for supplies used in housing construction. Officials complain that some builders don't allow enough time for foundations and other concrete work to "cure" before painting or other construction.
By working together to attack this problem, local governments in Central Florida can help ensure that all homes are built properly.
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