Chattanooga Times Free Press

Preparing your home for the next natural disaster

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We all want our homes to be safe, comforting spaces that offer refuge and protection from the outside world. The global pandemic has taught us this, as well as the importance of preparatio­n – not just for illness — but also for natural disasters like fires, floods, earthquake­s, and tornados.

Making sure your house is a secure and resilient structure is critical no matter where you live, as global warming has altered the climates and weather events of many regions. Fortunatel­y, thanks to advances in design and innovative materials, building a stronger, disaster-proof home is possible.

An alternativ­e to traditiona­l wood-framing, Nudura insulated concrete forms are an excellent option many engineers and designers are turning to. The steel-reinforced solid concrete cores range from four to 12 inches, providing far superior strength and safety compared to wood. Meanwhile the non-toxic, fire-retardant expanded polystyren­e foam provides a fire protection rating of up to four hours.

Homes built with these ICFs are proven to survive natural disasters — Michael houses in that Florida faced and Hurricane Hurricane

Katrina in New Orleans are still standing. ICFs even offer wind resistance of up to 250 mph (402 kph), equivalent to an F4 tornado. Homes that use ICF constructi­on have other added benefits, including enhanced insulation for lower energy bills, a reduced carbon footprint, and improved ventilatio­n for better indoor air quality and lower susceptibi­lity to mold.

Concrete forms also require less maintenanc­e over time, saving you the expense and effort of continuous upkeep and providing additional peace of mind.

Find more informatio­n at nudura.com.

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