Traditional Florida homes were built for the Florida climate. Floors were above the ground to minimize pests and insure against flooding; wide overhangs and porch roofs shaded the windows to reduce the heat from the sun; the roofs were steep, to shed Florida's sometime torrential rains; and, to allow nature's natural cooling, they were designed with windows to allow cross ventilation.

The Florida Wood Council's New Florida Home is designed to replicate these well thought out homes of the past. To take what has traditionally worked in the Florida climate and improve upon it with modern building products and techniques.

The New Florida Home is built abovegrade away from water and pests. The floor utilizes traditional sawn lumber, wood floor trusses and engineered LVL joists all treated to protect them from termites and decay. The walls are framed with 2x6 borate treated studs and sheathed with full length OSB panels reducing the number of connectors needed and treated to reduce mold and mildew. The roof is framed with borate treated roof trusses and sheathed with heat reflective panels.

The New Florida Home improves on the traditional Florida home by including:

* Copper Azole and Borate treated framing and sheathing to resist fungal decay, termites and pests.

* Wall sheathing panels that resist wind by providing a continuous load path from the roof to the floor framing members; and galvanized steel connectors and straps.

* Engineered wood products including LVL beams and wood and floor trusses.

* Decking, roofing, and wall sheathing panels that prevent mold, rot, fungus and termite damage.

* Energy savings products such as heat reflecting foil laminated roof sheathing, high E windows and instant on hot water.

* The latest in door and bathroom hardware