Jonas Yoder Custom Homes is showcasing an all-concrete construction approach relatively unseen before in Sarasota, Fla. The builder’s newest home in the city embraces complementary materials and techniques to make a stronger, more resilient structure than typical approaches. The all-concrete home uses Structural Concrete Insulated Panels (SCIP) from Gulf Concrete Technology of Long Beach, Miss. They meet and exceed the standards of the fortified program by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home and Safety (IBHS).
“We’ve always been interested in construction methods that create more value for the customer. After Covid, when our subcontractors were put on masonry and ready mixed concrete supply limits, we kept saying, ‘There’s got to be another way,’” says Jonas Yoder. “SCIP construction offers an alternative to the more traditional methods with greater value to the customer because of the strength and energy efficiency.”
“We constantly hear from our customers who are building their last home,” he continues. “They don’t want to evacuate for health reasons, or because of pets. And they want to stay at home and feel safe,” he says. “If they do evacuate, they want a home to come back to.”
“The home is a monolithic concrete structure. This includes walls and roof making it durable against 200 mph winds and natural disasters including fire, tornados, or hurricanes,” adds Marlin Yoder (no relation) of Robbins Residential Real Estate, listing agent for the Sarasota home. “The panels’ thermal insulation properties help regulate both hot and cold temperatures. This creates a more energy-efficient home and helps reduce insurance and other costs.”
While SCIP is not yet widely used in Sarasota, there are homes in Miami, Ft. Myers and Central Florida built with the product. Jonas Yoder Custom Homes is now building its second SCIP home in Sarasota. “Is this the new normal? No, not for a while. We are a 45-year-old company building conventional custom homes and we will continue to do that,” observes Jonas Yoder who, along with sons Travis and Shane nevertheless seek out new and advanced construction techniques. “We believe that eventually, SCIP will be widely adopted in regions susceptible to hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, and tornadoes.”