Construction Law
Natural Disasters and the Demand for Contractors
When a natural disaster comes ripping through your city, the number of available construction contracts typically increases by a considerable margin. Property owners, whether residential or commercial, want to ensure that their property is safe. Families don’t feel safe sleeping in a home with a leaking or damaged roof, and business can’t proceed as usual if offices have exposed wiring or damaged masonry. As a result, the demand for contractors surges in the wake of natural disasters like wildfires, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Contractors who want to procure these lucrative post-disaster contracts can consult the Orlando construction attorneys at Cotney Attorneys & Consultants to expedite the contract drafting and review process so you can focus on growing your business.
Wildfires
Although wildfires are less common in Florida than drier areas like California, experts believe similarly violent fires could rip through the Sunshine State. Wildfires damage a home’s walls, roof, and foundation. Once a home is engulfed in flames, it can be difficult to save. Even if firefighters manage to put out the fire, the water utilized to extinguish the fire can saturate the walls and floors leading to pervasive mold growth and wood rot if not dealt with quickly.
As a contractor, you will be called upon to perform repairs, renovations, and even original construction as insurance money pours into the affected region. If older homes are damaged, the contractor will follow the latest state building codes and provisions calling for the use of fire-resistant materials including tempered glass, ignition-resistant siding, and gutter guards.
Hurricanes
Our Orlando construction lawyers have witnessed the ferocity of hurricanes firsthand on many occasions. When Hurricanes Irma and Michael made landfall in 2017 and 2018 respectively, Florida was ravaged by a one-two punch of Category 4 destructive power. In the Florida Keys, one quarter of all homes were destroyed by Hurricane Irma according to the BBC. The following year, Hurricane Michael made news as the most powerful hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Entire blocks of homes were leveled to splinters and concrete slabs by Michael’s 155-mph winds.
There’s no limit to the types of damages a hurricane can afflict upon an owner’s residential or commercial property, which means the services of contractors are in extremely high demand following a hurricane. In fact, after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, there weren’t enough licensed contractors to meet the demand for supplies, materials, and work.
Earthquakes
Earthquakes are common throughout the United States and result in billions of dollars lost annually. Depending on the magnitude of an earthquake, the resulting damage can vary from negligible to completely destroyed. Although earthquakes in Florida are rare, the Gulf of Florida is a source of seismic activity that can affect homes. A home that has endured multiple minor earthquakes should be retrofitted with brackets, bolting, and bracing to ensure that the home remains attached to its foundation. Like wildfires and hurricanes, earthquakes call the structural integrity of residential and commercial buildings into question, thus increasing the demand for contractors.
If you would like to speak with our Orlando construction lawyers, please contact us today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.