Florida house build

[Kenny D]

You can see in this picture that they vent the bottom level should we ever have a surge.That platform is for the air condition units.

Ive been watching some of the rebuilds on the east coast where the houses are sitting on TALL piers and the first floor walls are framed/built to blow right out in the event of a surge like NJ / NY was hit with...

I keep looking at LOW LOW LOW areas like Seal Beach/LB/Naples/Belmot shores and wonder what happens when the big surge happens... :(

Nice project there sir...

[314joey]

When you get her done and get a boat, come on up North a few miles and we'll meet you guys for lunch at the Fish House.

From last Friday.

[Kenny D]

Sounds good....is that cape coral area.

When you get her done and get a boat, come on up North a few miles and we'll meet you guys for lunch at the Fish House.

From last Friday.

[314joey]

Sounds good....is that cape coral area.

We live in SW Cape over by Cape Harbour/Rummrunners, but the Fish House is on Estero Blvd about 6 mile South of Ft. Myers beach.

[Taboma]

Not to be intruding, but being a life long boater of the Big Blue and AZ river area, I've always had a real desire to live in Florida with a dock just out my back door. Back in the late 60's I had a great buddy I grew up with move from the OC to Del Ray Beach. His family bought a home just off the ICW, my buddy worked at a local marina and commuted using his 17' Boston Whaler. When I'd visit we'd always take his ole man's motorsailer with the whaler in tow and head for Bimini or Grand Bahama Isl.

Moving towards my question, after Kenny D's post and numerous posts and pics from 314 Joey, you guys are killing me here !!! I checked out Isle of Capri using google aerials, also all the way up and down the gulf coast at least up towards Sanibel Island where my wife and I spent a week with a rental boat back in the early 90's.
So where should I be looking, keeping in mind I'm retired, my wife, although a bit younger won't need to work but may want to, she enjoys it, so I'm not looking for million dollar mansions. But more of a 1,500 sf or so 2 bdrm home on a canal let's say. I did notice some canal homes up the Cape Coral area that appear as if it might require all day to reach deep open water, strange.

Which areas should I be focusing on ?

Gulf side versus Atlantic ? I loved the Bahamas, but we really enjoyed scooting around the ICW on the gulf side, lots to explore there.
Kenny D, if I might ask, why Isle of Capri over let's say Marcos Island ? --- I'm just looking for general info, not trying to be snoopy, but obviously you wouldn't be investing this much into such an awesome home without doing so serious homework.

Can a person ENJOY Florida living year round ? We've only vacationed there Nov through Jan, staying on both coasts, Panama City and Key West, so we've traveled around it, just never lived there.

Is summer Floriday more like summer Havasu during the monsoons ?

I promise not to turn this into any kind of debate, hopefully others won't either, just seeking some insight only a local can provide

Kenny D -- seems your awesome new home is about the only one in the area built up to afford surge protection, preference or code ? Love your place and thanks to you now I'm losing what's left of my mind ---- at least my wife thinks so

[Kenny D]

Taboma......Joey has much more experience than myself in Florida.Marco Island vs Capri....Marco is more expensive......Marco is busier,Capri is a small laid back area,but We can be on Marco in 10 mins or in Naples 20 mins.Naples has every store and business you would find in So Cal......East coast vs Southwest Florida, East coast is bigger city Southwest less Congested.....Sanibel is a great Island more expensive,but a cool place.Capri is direct access...which means no bridges or locks to go thru or under,bridges affects the size of boat you can have.I am a Calif. guy,but I was looking for something different....living year round I don,t know yet I have been in Florida every month except July and Aug.My worries are..... BUGS and Heat/humidity in those two months every other month has been GREAT!!!....some people say it is great... some people say not so great.I have spent many a summer in Havasu at 118 to 125 it can be tough.Capri has a large variety of homes.... the new codes in Florida it made sense, to us to build a three story house with a great garage.We love Havasu and will keep our trailer there.My wife and I were just ready for an adventure.I hope I answer some of your questions.

Not to be intruding, but being a life long boater of the Big Blue and AZ river area, I've always had a real desire to live in Florida with a dock just out my back door. Back in the late 60's I had a great buddy I grew up with move from the OC to Del Ray Beach. His family bought a home just off the ICW, my buddy worked at a local marina and commuted using his 17' Boston Whaler. When I'd visit we'd always take his ole man's motorsailer with the whaler in tow and head for Bimini or Grand Bahama Isl.

Moving towards my question, after Kenny D's post and numerous posts and pics from 314 Joey, you guys are killing me here !!! I checked out Isle of Capri using google aerials, also all the way up and down the gulf coast at least up towards Sanibel Island where my wife and I spent a week with a rental boat back in the early 90's.
So where should I be looking, keeping in mind I'm retired, my wife, although a bit younger won't need to work but may want to, she enjoys it, so I'm not looking for million dollar mansions. But more of a 1,500 sf or so 2 bdrm home on a canal let's say. I did notice some canal homes up the Cape Coral area that appear as if it might require all day to reach deep open water, strange.

Which areas should I be focusing on ?

Gulf side versus Atlantic ? I loved the Bahamas, but we really enjoyed scooting around the ICW on the gulf side, lots to explore there.
Kenny D, if I might ask, why Isle of Capri over let's say Marcos Island ? --- I'm just looking for general info, not trying to be snoopy, but obviously you wouldn't be investing this much into such an awesome home without doing so serious homework.

Can a person ENJOY Florida living year round ? We've only vacationed there Nov through Jan, staying on both coasts, Panama City and Key West, so we've traveled around it, just never lived there.

Is summer Floriday more like summer Havasu during the monsoons ?

I promise not to turn this into any kind of debate, hopefully others won't either, just seeking some insight only a local can provide

Kenny D -- seems your awesome new home is about the only one in the area built up to afford surge protection, preference or code ? Love your place and thanks to you now I'm losing what's left of my mind ---- at least my wife thinks so

[Taboma]

Appreciate the response and your observations Kenny,
What you've revealed matches my basic conclusions --- well more like thoughts really, after spending a good amount of time checking the google aerial imaging and various listings in the area. I also liked the more remote setting of Capri versus Marcos.
Many years ago we both enjoyed and endured the Havasu summers, now we tend to use our place later Sept. thru early June. Let the youngsters play in the summer heat.
I'm 100% onboard with the "Adventure" aspect, that and a love for boating I believe is what's motivating me to try something / someplace different.
Hopefully Joey will chime in, plus I'll be looking forward to any updates on your adventure.
Good for you and yours

[Kenny D]

we put in two sets of 10 ft x 12ft stacking pocket doors in the great room on second level.Also a set of 8ft x 12ft pocket doors in the bedroom on level three.

[Kenny D]

The pool is on the second level.Last picture is what the spa looks like from the garage.

[314joey]

Nice looking set-up Kenny, are you guys doing anything about shutters or are you waiting for a later date, I don't want to hi-jack your build thread with any of my stuff, there's a new house going up a few doors down and it's cool to see how they pour the concrete around re-bar in the concrete blocks, I'll start something new about what we did when we moved down here with the house re-model and new dock and stuff, your new place coming along nicely.

Are you guys coming fulltime or parttime, we're staying here 8-9 months and back at LOTO for the Summers.