Caribbean Disaster
Mitigation Project |
Easy Guide Checklist for Progressively Retrofitting Modest Homes
Progressive Upgrading for Hurricane Resistant Homes of Lower Income Families of the Eastern Caribbean
When a complete retrofitting project cannot be financed then the priorities come in this order:
- replace any rotten roofing sheets and/or rafters
- adding extra nails with dome heads in corrugated sheeting
- eliminate overhang in excess of 18" (horizontal distance) enclosed or 8" unenclosed.
- insert extra lath/purlins and nail sheeting to the laths
- metal strap roof rafters to wall plate and ridge beam
- place collar ties on every second set of rafters
- embed four or more concrete/wood pillars to strengthen footing
- bolt/strap floor sill to new and old footings/foundations
- metal strap wall studs to floor sill and wall plate
- double studs around doors and windows and cross braces in corners
- add extra studs if currently located wider than 2 feet.
- teach family how to completely close and/or leave open opposite entrances to neutralize air pressure in hurricane force winds.
- construct prefit nail-on shudders
Note: All of the above skills can be taught to any family member that has a working knowledge of hammer, saw, measuring tape and nails. Therefore, a family with severely limited resources can save cost by doing much of the work themselves under the watchful eye of a technical supervisor.
Each of these steps can be done progressively as and when the family has the funds to buy the supplies. A family may choose to repair and strengthen the roof in the first year, then construct a new kitchen (with some hurricane resistance included) in the second year. In subsequent years they can do the footings, the wall strengthening. Each step will make the house stronger and more hurricane resistance. The risk is that a strong hurricane will hit midway in the project and destroy the repairs made before the entire house is fully strengthened.
CDMP home page: http://www.oas.org/en/cdmp/ | Project Contacts | Page Last Updated: 20 April 2001 |