Scott Buescher resides in Melbourne, Florida, and oversees operations at Mercedes Homes and Vintage Estate Homes as the COO of the home construction company. The co-founder of the award-winning organization, Scott Buescher has grown the company to become the 15th largest homebuilder in America. While serving with the organization, Mr. Buescher led innovation initiatives in partnership with the University of Florida to develop hurricane-resistant building technology. Using specific building materials and construction methods can help to spare communities from the destruction caused by hurricanes. New roof attachment techniques designed to resist wind can strengthen the roofs of homes, as can using spray foam adhesives on the inside of roofs. Metal connectors also help to make homes more stable and can be used to connect all framing components of the home from the foundation up to the roof. To manage the flooding often caused by hurricanes, hydrostatic vents can be placed into homes to permit water to escape through the vent and prevent floodwaters from accumulating and causing degradation to the foundation and walls. Bendable glass is also being considered by researchers at McGill University for hurricane-proofing homes, since it offers the benefit of bending without shattering due to engraved micro-fissures in its surface. This type of glass prevents fractures from spreading and is 200 times stronger than regular glass.
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12/14/2019 0 Comments Building Hurricane-Resistant HomesAccomplished builder and certified general contractor Scott Buescher is based in Melbourne, Florida, where he serves as chief operating officer of Mercedes Homes, LLC. After co-founding the Florida company in 1983, Scott Buescher took Mercedes from its humble beginnings to become the second-largest private builder in the United States.
Building in Florida means hurricanes will always be a concern. Hurricane-proof homes must be able to stand extremely high winds, since the storms often boast wind speeds between 70 and 160 mph. Since experts note that any wind above 50 mph has the potential to cause some kind of structural damage, it’s no surprise that a hurricane is almost guaranteed to damage the structure. Certain materials stand up better than others. Some of the most stable homes are built from concrete or steel. Roof design also can help prevent hurricane damage. Sloped hip roofs and ridge vents help immensely with directing wind away from the home, and a foam sealant beneath the roof also can protect from high winds. Some builders make homes that redirect winds rather than attempting to resist them. Certain shapes and roof structures help deflect the wind away, reducing its impact on the home. The co-founder, owner, and chief operating officer of Mercedes Homes in Melbourne, Florida, Scott Buescher led the company to be ranked among the top 15 homebuilders in the United States. In addition to his current leadership position at Mercedes Homes, Scott Buescher has worked with the University of Florida and other entities to develop quality homebuilding techniques and hurricane-resistant technology.
In Florida, hurricanes have caused sometimes catastrophic damage over the years, but thanks to ever-improving technologies, new buildings are safer and more resistant to such storms. New hurricane codes, for example, dictate that homes built where wind speeds exceed 120 miles per hour must be outfitted with exterior features such as hurricane shutters, reinforced doors, and impact-resistant windows. Hurricane storm panels made of flexible, clear polycarbonate provide an extra layer of protection between the storm and glass windows, reducing insurance costs while still letting light in. To protect against water intrusion, homebuilders can install a shade system that locks into place inside a window, so that even if a window is shattered, the home is protected from wind, water, and airborne debris. |
AuthorCo-Founder and Former COO of Mercedes Homes Scott Buescher. ArchivesCategories |