Bob reviews the progress in the apartment renovation and discusses changes to the final project with the contractor and architect.

Bob is joined by Wayne Sallade, the emergency manager for Charlotte County, Florida. They stand before a residential property that has been condemned since the strike by hurricane Charley. Sallade explains that buildings built in the 60s, 70s, or early 80s -- prior to the Florida Unified Building Code -- were destined to fail in those winds. Roof failure with gable roofs that catch wind like a sail, lap siding that was ripped from the sides of homes, and failure of stick-frame construction to hold together through wind and wind uplift caused these buildings to fail. With another hurricane season looming, it is critical to remove these damaged buildings before they become wind-borne missiles threatening other structures. Sallade explains that demolition takes time and skilled, certified contractors. With so much devasatation in areas of Florida, there are not enough demolition contractors to complete all the work. He adds that a 50/50 rule specifies that any building damaged beyond 50 percent must be torn down and rebuilt. With zoning changes, it is often difficult for owners to rebuild in accordance with required materials and practices. Sallade then looks with Bob at older homes that survived unscathed, largely because they had hip roofs to deflect the wind, wind protection for doors and windows, and traditional Florida construction.

Bob talks with Bill York and Rob Davis of FLASH (Federal Alliance for Safe Homes) about the construction of a storm-resistant roof system built with roof trusses. Bob reviews specifications for how to secure a wooden rootruss system to a steel structure. With the addition of steel fasteners, the building's roof will have an uplift resistance of about 850 pounds, making it capable of withstanding wind speeds of up to 140 mph. To secure the wooden structure to the steel shipping container, a steel piece or angle iron is welded to the top of the box and a threaded bolt is welded on to it. The bolt sticks through the wood, where it is secured by a nut and washer, transferring the load back to the steel box. In high winds the ends of the roof experience much greater force, so the first six feet of each end of the roof is secured by steel straps, giving the ends 1200 pounds of uplift resistance. Plywood sheathing that is 5/8-inch thick or 1 1/2 times thicker than sheathing specified by the Florida Building Code. Construction adhesives are also used to secure the sheathing, again going beyond code to make a stronger roof. Building codes require the use of eight-penny nails (2 1/2 inch nails) to secure the plywood to the roof framing, but FLASH's Blueprint for Safety specifies ten-penny nails to give 50 percent greater uplift resistance. With the use of ten-pennny nails and adhesive to secure the roof, the roof probably has twice as much uplift resistance as a roof built to code.

Bob is joined by Florida's Lieutenant Governor, Toni Jennings, and Secretary of the Department of Community Affairs Thaddeus Cohen to discuss the aftermath of the four hurricanes in 2004 and Florida's efforts to build back better. Lt. Governor Jennings briefs Bob on the destruction since Charley hit on August 13, 2004, followed by Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne. In Florida, more than 700,000 homes were damaged, 9.4 million residents were evacuated, and the state sustained 42 billion dollars in property damage. As Jennings points out, hurricane season is again upon the state and they have yet to repair from last year's storms. Still, she adds, it is evident that improved building codes -- in place after hurricane Andrew hit in 1992 -- have dramatically increased the storm-resistance of Florida's built environment. Bob asks about Florida's commitment to preparedness for upcoming storms. Secretary Thaddeus Cohen, himself a practicing architect, talks about the determination to use the $100 million in block grants to build back better, to put federal dollars to work to improve housing, and to build sustainable communities throughout Florida.

Bob and Chris Vila meet with David and Jed Walentas from Two Trees Development, the developers of the waterfront warehouse rehab, on the top of a nearby building to get some ideas for the project building's roof deck. In this example, the roof below the deck is a double-ply rubber membrane. Portions of the deck are made with pressure treated timbers and a renewable hardwood decking called ipe, although the majority of the surface area is concrete pavers. New York City building codes will be a major consideration in the construction of the Pepper Factory's roof configuration. Jed Walentas highlights some of the major factors, including the height of the safety railing and the percentage of combustible materials that can be used in rooftop construction.

Bob and Leslie Chapman Henderson from FLASH, the Federal Alliance for Safe Housing, look at two homes on the same street. One was built as the community's model home in 1961. In 2004 it was completely destroyed by hurricane Charley. The other was completed in 2003 and benefited from improved building codes and enhanced building practices. The house stands unscathed because updated building codes require that building connections be strengthened and because the homeowners chose to go beyond code to protect their home. According to Chapman Henderson, their house remains virtually undamaged because they chose to protect their windows, doors, and back of the home from wind and pressure.

Bob is at PGT Industries in Venice, Florida, for a visit with Dave Olmstead, the code compliance officer for PGT Industries, makers of impact resistant windows. Olmstead explains how windows are a fundamental element in storm-ready buildings because they keep the envelope closed to damaging wind entry. If wind enters a home during a high wind event, it increases the pressure inside like air in a balloon. The air has to find a way out and typically pops off the roof, causing catastropic building failure. Olmstead then shows Bob the impact resistance test that is performed on windows to determine the level of protection they offer and whether they perform up to code. The first window is made of regular annealed glass. It is not tempered, heated, or coated in any way. The second window is made of tempered safety glass. The third is of impact-resistant, laminated glass. Olmstead runs the cannon test, where a two by four is fired from a pneumatic cannon at 50 feet per second or 34 miles per hour, simulating the force of 110 mile per hour winds. The annealed glass breaks and falls from the frame. The tempered glass shatters within the frame but leaves a hole where the board entered, allowing wind to penetrate the structure. The laminated glass shatters but is held in place. It does not perforate so the home is protected from wind entry. Impact-resistant window glass is safety laminated on site at PGT. They cut glass to the appropriate size, cutting two panes, then cut buticite to fit between them. The glass sandwich is then baked with the laminate between in a heat and pressure oven for four hours. Once it is cooled, it is ready to be assembled into a window.

Bob helps Ryley install the roof insulation and the "jet blocks" of false rafter tails. Bob discusses the advantages of this type of this rigid insulation and it's R value. Ryley builds several jet blocks for the roof trim.

Structural engineer Rene Mugnier explains how to fix the kitchen ceiling and two floors above, which are found to be dangerously unsupported, with the addition of a new load bearing structural beam.

Bob meets with Tom Florence to install the Flo-Well Polyvinylehelene septic system. The tank is much lighter than concrete systems, costs about 20% less, and will also last much longer.