Different environments require different housing. A stilt house is one of the most popular housing options in Southwest Florida for both aesthetic and functional reasons. In this article, we’ll share everything you need to know about stilt housing. As a result, you’ll be better able to determine if this is the right choice for your family.
The Ultimate Guide to Stilt Building in Southwest Florida
What is a Stilt House?
A stilt house is, quite literally, a house constructed on a raised platform that is supported by sturdy stilts. As these structures date back thousands of years, they have stood the test of time. In 2019, the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) released a report on new possibilities for stilt building. Their report touched on the history of the building method.
The use of stilts in construction has been found in ruins throughout the world. They’ve been found in Europe and across Eastern Asia, with some sites dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Experts believe that, even thousands of years ago, people were able to see the advantages and safety of stilt buildings.
Early civilizations were often built near water for drinking, fishing, and hunting resources. These civilizations leveraged stilt buildings to protect themselves from the hazards that came with being so close to the water. The space under the home also offered an additional level of protection for livestock.
Stilt houses are still used for similar reasons. They can be built in a variety of locations, but they’re most commonly found in tropical climates. Homeowners usually go with stilt homes for protection from flooding. This housing option is also considered eco-friendly, as stilt building can easily be done With minimal impact on the landscape.
What are the Foundation Options for a Stilt House?
Most homeowners likely don’t think too much about their foundations. But when you own a house on stilts, that’s a non-negotiable topic of conversation. You need to make sure you select a good load-bearing structure to support your home.
Your options will vary based on things such as geographical location, climate, soil, and moisture conditions. It’s important to keep in mind that there will be a variety of pros and cons that come with whichever foundation you select. Here are some common options to choose from:
Pier or “Stilt” Foundation
This option is commonly found in coastal regions, beachfront, and mountainous or hilly site. That’s because it is difficult to install conventional foundations in those locations. Pier or stilt foundations are usually raised about 2-10 feet from the ground.
The foundation itself consists of brick, stone, wood, or concrete piers and wood or steel beams that support the weight of the home. The space below is open, except for the vertical pillars secured to beams to support the structure above. This open space creates natural ventilation below the house.
Pier and beam foundations provide easier access to plumbing, wiring, ductwork, and other electrical details. It’s easier and cheaper to repair than other foundations. However, this foundation is more prone to pest infestation and water damage than other options.
Pile Foundation
This refers to a series of columns or long cylinders made up of a strong material that is dug into the ground/soil. A pile foundation acts as a support for the house built on top of it. This foundation can take higher loads than spread footings.
Pile foundations transfer loads from structures to hard strata, rocks, or soil. The structure is supported by remaining solidly placed in the soil. A pile foundation is a great choice in areas with unstable upper soils.
Pile foundations are neat, clean, and suitable for all property sizes. But keep in mind that they’re prone to damage when driven through stones and boulders. Vibrations are also common with this kind of foundation.
Screw Pile Foundation
In the 1800s, screw pile foundations were typically used for lighthouses, bridges, and piers. This foundation option is a steel screw-in piling and ground anchoring system used for building deep foundations.
Screw pile foundations go deep into the ground so they can solidly support the house. These foundations are most commonly used for tiny houses, vacation homes, decks, and small backyard structures.
Screw pile foundations are versatile, easy to use, and offer a reduced carbon footprint. But if you go with this option, keep in mind that there will be manufacturing lead time required, along with potential additional expenses related to difficult-to-predict soil conditions.
Stem Wall Foundation
This option is commonly found in California, Texas, the Northwest, the South, and any locations prone to earthquakes and flooding. It’s a supporting structure that connects the foundation of a building to the vertical walls constructed on top.
A stem wall foundation is short, roughly the height of a crawlspace. It also transmits the load of the structure to the footing to distribute the weight over a wider area. A stem wall foundation is often built with cinder blocks, but can also be made with preservative-treated wood.
Stem wall foundations are suitable for most soil conditions and require a raised foundation that offers an additional level of protection from flooding and hurricanes. But this style does require greater construction efforts, higher expenses, and additional visits from inspectors.
Are Houses on Stilts Safe?
If you’re new to Southwest Florida, the idea of putting your house on stilts might seem unsafe, however when it comes to landscapes with unsteady ground, such as beaches, they are often the safest choice. The rigidity of the stilts or pilings helps to increase the stability of the structure since they are driven deep down in the ground. These structures are reinforced and drilled deep into the ground to offer security to the structure above.
As with any structure, proper maintenance and inspection is important — especially after a major storm. Even the highest quality materials are susceptible to damage or erosion overtime. If you are concerned with any area of your support system, be sure to consult an inspector and have the structure reinforced as needed. Your contractor may also recommend that the house be outfitted with hurricane ties to better secure the house to the stilts and protect them from the force of heavy winds.
The Benefits of Building Your House on Stilts
In an area like Southwest Florida, there are a number of logical benefits to building your house on stilts. Here are some you can expect:
Great Beach Views – A house on stilts will give you an elevated vantage point. Depending on your specific area, that might even put you higher than certain trees. That height will give you a breathtaking view of Southwest Florida’s greenery and water.
Privacy – If your house is higher than other homes in the area, you’ll be out of sight of neighbors and passersby. This level of privacy may not be achievable if the home were to be on the ground level.
Better Stability – If the ground beneath your house is unstable, stilts will provide a more stable foundation. This allows you to build a sturdy home over sand or water, which also provides you with a unique location.
Better Ventilation – It goes without saying that Florida gets incredibly hot in the summer, however when your house is on stilts, cool air will be able to circulate underneath it. This can help keep your home cooler, which will, in turn, keep your family more comfortable and lower your energy bill.
Protection from Flooding & Ocean Waves – The most important benefit of putting your house on stilts is protection from flooding. Southwest Summers in Southwest Florida can bring severe weather events, but stilt style homes can help mitigate the risk of significant damage from flooding since they are innately further from the natural water level.
In 2017, Hurricane Irma hit the Florida Keys with winds in excess of 130 mph with an accompanying storm surge of 3.3 feet. This flooding left a vast number of homes with significant water damage, but many stilt-built homes were spared from such water damage.
Why Should You Put Your House on Stilts?
Many people only associate stilt houses with flooding protection. While that is an incredibly valid reason for raising up your home in Southwest Florida, it’s not the only one. Here are some other reasons to consider a stilt house.
- To build on an unstable foundation — While they are beautiful, the sandy beaches of Florida are unstable, and therefore not suitable for most foundation styles. Pilings are driven deep into the ground beneath the sand and then anchored to the house to ensure maximum stability.
- To build on uneven ground — A sloping landscape is beautiful and often secluded, which is appealing to many homeowners. However, it can be quite challenging to build a house on uneven ground. Building on stilts will help to alleviate this problem.
- To build over water — Waterside lots are popular in Southwest Florida. Many homeowners want to take advantage of that and incorporate the water views in their home design. Stilt building allows homeowners to expand their homes over the water. It makes for a unique living space while minimizing effects on the waterside environment. Enhance sustainable design — Stilt houses are considered to be an environmentally friendly building technique. A well-designed home composed of different shapes sitting on different levels will create different areas of shade and sun. A raised house will also help to improve ventilation underneath the structure. This will both naturally warm and cool the house, helping to drive down your energy bill.
- To protect the land — Building on stilts can help to minimize the disruption of natural coast dynamics, as well as the visual and aesthetic impact of the environment. This can create a more natural, undisturbed landscape for you and neighbors.
The Future of Stilt Building
Building houses on stilts is a trusted practice that is tried and true. The RIT report on new possibilities for stilt building touches on “The Pilotis” method, which regained vitality in the 20th century with Le Corbusier. This is when pillars are used to empty the first floor, so the main floor is off the ground.
While it wasn’t relevant in Corbusier’s time, RIT believes his method can be used to solve the environmental, economic, and social problems caused by the expansion of high-density cities and their surrounding areas.
Traditionally-built skyscrapers take away green space in a city. But raising the first floor of the building off the ground helps salvage that greenery. Plus, that extra ventilation can help bring down energy usage in that city.
Stilt buildings can also help with the rise of suburban sprawl. RIT refers to this as “the irresistible outward development of urban populations that encroach on rural areas outside of cities, and the formation of low-density, single-function communities that usually rely on cars for transportation.” Suburban sprawl destroys wild habitats, covers land with asphalt, increases the use of energy-consuming cars, and more.
Scientists have been vocal about the dangers of suburban sprawl, but there’s no stopping it. The only way to change things is to make suburban expansion more ethical and environmentally friendly. Putting suburban houses on stilts transforms the bottom of the house into an open space with shelter.
Instead of taking up more space with common household elements like a garage or outdoor gathering space, those could be moved into that open space underneath the home.
TL;DR – A Stilt House is a Safe and Functional Option for Homeowners in Southwest Florida
There are many reasons stilt houses are so popular in this area: they offer great views, privacy, better ventilation in your home, and more. When constructed appropriately, they can minimize risks of extreme weather, and help preserve the natural landscape.
If you’re interested in building a stilt home in Southwest Florida, turn to the trusted team at Beattie Development. We offer homes on stilts in 2 and 3 story designs that range from 1,500 to 4,000 square feet. Stop dreaming… Start living; contact us today!