Abaco Construction and Building Codes
By Stephanie Humblestone

Abaco Construction and Building Codes
Construction after Floyd By Stephanie Humblestone

The Bahamas Building Code is generally being adhered to on Abaco despite the fact that there are not enough building inspectors to check every phase of construction. It appears that people building homes are more careful and more questioning about obtaining the correct materials and, according to Crossing Rocks contractor Alexander Bain, "the contractors themselves are less likely to take short cuts." Resident Engineer with the Ministry of Works, Mr. John Schaeffer, who arrived here after Floyd, described contractors as "conscientious." The onus is very much on them to do a good job as Abaco's two inspectors are not able to inspect every house under construction - which number at least 100 since Floyd. If contractors were to wait for every stage to be passed by a visiting inspector, they would be behind schedule.

Of paramount importance in any construction are the foundations. "The bottom plate should be securely anchored to the concrete," said Mr. Schaeffer, explaining that construction is compromised when studs are not strapped on correctly. "The rebar (steel reinforcing bars) must be in the proper place, measuring 12 inches apart and 18 inches down into the foundations," Mr. Bain said, adding the importance of a well secured roof belt. "Roof trusses and rafters should be well strapped to the wall system," said Mr. Schaeffer. Robin Albury, manager of Abaco Hardware, said that extra straps are being used for re-enforcement, and construction in general is in compliance with the Bahamas Building code. "Most people are building with hurricanes in mind and meeting standards set down by Dade County after Andrew," agreed Bobby Higgs, assistant manager of Standard Hardware.

Although fortress style home which a few are building in South Florida have not become popular on Abaco, stronger materials are being used here. Although the size of re-enforcing steel used in columns has not changed, a few houses in Long Bay near Crossing Rocks have steel channels embedded in the columns. Replacing two by fours are two by sixes and two by eights and a termite-proof fibre compressed cement board called Hardiboard is being used instead of exterior plywood siding. "We are selling ten times the amount of Hardiboard," said Mr. Higgs. Mr. Schaeffer observed that plywood is preferred above wood chipped particle board because it is much stronger.

Both Abaco Hardware and Standard Hardware, the two major building suppliers in Marsh Harbour, stated that people are upgrading roof shingles from economy shingles with a warranty of 15 to 20 years to 30 to 40 years. Shingles remain first choice but a few houses in Abaco have galvanised sheeting but generally these are considered to be problematic.

There will always be those who will wait until the eleventh hour to scurry about in search of plywood but the majority of people are thinking ahead, having learnt the harsh lesson dealt by Hurricane Floyd. Some are buying ready-made shutters but many more are having them custom built, most times in wood. Shutter manufacturing improved after Andrew. "Aluminum panels with u-type headers and sill clips are popular," said Mr. Higgs. Both he and Mr. Albury reported that electric shutters are sometimes more trouble than they are worth, Mr. Higgs saying that "they tend to jam," and Mr. Albury commenting that they "are prone to get off track and are hard to fix." However, Mr. Albury continued, "It really depends on your pocket because they are three to four times the price, in the region of $600 as opposed to $160."

Although there have been a few enquiries regarding high impact, shatter proof windows which can resist powerful hurricane winds (the kind installed at Forest Heights Academy in Marsh Harbour), the majority of people settle for those manufactured by companies which exceed Dade County specifications. However, Mr. Bain has installed some of the wind-resistant windows in the Schooner Bay area but other cases on Abaco are few and far between. We are simply being more attentive to regulations stipulated specifically for private homes having seen the impact of a Category 2 to 3 hurricane on them last year.