THE ULTIMATE LBI BUYER’S GUIDE
Everything You Need to Know About Buying a Home on Long Beach Island
Foundation Systems
When building a new home in the LBI real estate market, choosing the right foundation is essential. Most new construction uses a piling support system with breakaway walls and flood vents, which is preferred by insurance companies and can lower flood insurance premiums. Less commonly, block foundations are used, mainly for commercial buildings or house raising. Flood vents are a key upgrade, as they reduce pressure on the foundation during floods and can impact insurance rates. Whether building from scratch or redeveloping a property, following FEMA guidelines will help minimize risk and save on long-term costs.
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When building a new home in the LBI real estate market, you must start with the foundation! Two foundation systems are commonly used for new construction on Long Beach Island. A piling support system with a breakaway wall foundation and flood vents is the most common by far. Flood insurance companies will typically view this system as less risky and can often result in a discount on the flood insurance premium. Less commonly used are block foundations. Although this was the go-to method for homes built in the early stages of development on LBI, these systems are less widely used for new homes on LBI. The most frequent use of a block foundation on Long Beach Island is in commercial buildings and house raising. Regardless of the type of foundation utilized, flood vents are an essential upgrade that can significantly raise or lower the cost of flood insurance on LBI. Generally, you need 1 square inch of flood vent for every 1 square foot of enclosure. These flood vents provide a first line of defense against flooding by reducing the stress on the building's foundation in a flood event. Regardless of whether you plan to buy a knockdown on LBI or build on an existing property, keeping in mind the guidelines imposed by FEMA will lower your risk and save you money in the long run! Anyone looking to build a new home in the LBI real estate market should discuss the different types of foundations to see what makes the most sense.