Rebuilding Sonoma County: Slow rebuild, change afoot in Fountaingrove
The hillside area in northeast
After a sluggish start, the number of building applications and homes under construction is on the rise as the summer construction season gets into full swing.
The total number of permit applications in July more than doubled from the previous month, increasing from 106 to 245, a 131 percent jump. But that represents just 29 percent of the total rebuilds in the city.
The number of permits issued is up sharply, too, increasing 49 percent to 106. But that's just 20 percent of the homes permits issued for rebuilds in the city.
The number of homes actually under construction is up by 64 percent, but it's on a small base. Just 72 homes are under construction in the area, 18 percent of the total rebuilds in the city, and 5 percent of the homes lost in the area.
None have been completed.
Building with hazards in mind
Some of those who are choosing to rebuild in Fountaingrove are doing so with fire-resistant building techniques and materials.
Shah grew up in
The wastewater engineer said he was drawn also to the energy efficiency offered by concrete construction.
The walls of Shah's new 3,000-square-foot home will be built with what is known as insulated concrete forms. ICF blocks are like large hollow Legos filled with concrete while it cures.
But unlike traditional wooden forms, which are typically removed once the concrete hardens, IFC forms remain in place afterward to provide insulation and protection for the concrete. Siding or stucco can then be applied directly to the walls.
In Shah's case, his home will be covered with a fire-resistant stucco to which fire-resistant paint will be applied. He's been told the house is designed to survive for nine hours in a fire.
City planning officials, who don't have a lot of experience with approving plans for such homes, had a long list of questions for Shah and his architect, he said.
"It took quite a bit of effort to get those 70 questions answered," Shah said.
But city staff eventually approved Shah's building permit, and his homeowners association approved the design as well, he said.
Before deciding on the building technique, Shah said he checked out a number of other examples of homes under construction and was pleased with what he saw.
"There are enough examples of local ICF permitted structures and that kind of gave us the confidence to move forward with this technology," he said.
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