TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pasco News

Pasco Might Require Better Foundations For New Houses

ADVERTISEMENT

By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: January 27, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - Stricter county codes on foundations for newly built houses could lead to lower homeowner insurance premiums for all residents, Pasco County commissioners were told Tuesday.

County staff is working on amendments to rules for builders, Commissioner Michael Cox said. The changes could help reduce insurance claims over damage related to settling foundations, officials believe.

At the same time, members of the Pasco County legislative delegation would introduce legislation that would dovetail with stricter county foundation rules, Cox said. The proposed state law would require carriers to recalculate and lower homeowner insurance premiums in counties that adopt the higher standards for foundations.

State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, and state Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey, are backing the legislation.

Builders would have to pay about 20 percent more to pour a foundation if Pasco follows through with changes, according to Cynthia M. Jolly, the county's development director.

The firmer foundations, however, probably would add only about 3 percent to the overall cost of a 2,500-square-foot house, Jolly reported. Some builders already install the sturdier foundations the proposed county rule change would mandate, she noted.

Commissioner Ted Schrader would like to see builders return to adding steel reinforcement for home foundations. The practice petered out as higher grades of concrete were developed, he said.
"To me that's when things seemed to go awry," Schrader said.

Cracks rarely are a problem for commercial buildings, Jolly noted. Commercial construction customers apparently insist on more extensive soil testing as a hedge against possible building settling, she said.

Carl Orth can be reached at 727-815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT