Waterfront and coastal home construction planning.

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  A geotechnical report, prepared by a licensed engineer, examines the ground beneath your property. The engineer drills small test holes, collects soil samples, and conducts laboratory tests. Why it matters: This report tells us exactly what type of foundation your home will need, whether that is a monolithic slab, pilings, or piers, ensuring long term stability and safety. You can't build a waterfront home without a geotechnical report.

 FEMA flood maps identify your property’s designated flood zone—such as AE, VE, or Coastal A—and play a crucial role in determining the foundation type and structural design of your home. These classifications establish the required Base Flood Elevation (BFE), which defines how high your finished floor must be built above sea level. 

Depending on your site’s flood zone and elevation requirements, Templar Homes works with licensed engineers to design the appropriate foundation system.

 Creating a drainage plan with a civil engineer sets the proper ground floor elevation for positive drainage away from the home. The engineer evaluates existing grades, soil conditions, and nearby elevations to guide water flow. Structural fill dirt is added as needed to build the pad and prevent pooling. The plan ensures proper runoff while meeting local stormwater requirements. 

  For waterfront homes, the structural engineer designs the foundation system that supports the home and ensures its long-term stability. They carefully review the geotechnical report, which provides soil conditions, water table data, and bearing capacities, to determine whether a shallow or deep foundation is required. Using this information, the engineer designs reinforced foundations, piles, and structural systems suited for coastal environments, ensuring the home meets FEMA and Florida Building Code requirements while withstanding water, wind, and soil movement. 

 For waterfront homes, a shallow foundation is a structural system designed to transfer the home’s load close to the surface of the ground rather than deep below. It’s commonly used when stable soil conditions are found near the surface. The geotechnical report prepared by a licensed engineer specifies whether a shallow foundation is appropriate based on soil tests, water table levels, and bearing capacity. This report ensures the foundation design provides proper support, stability, and longevity for your coastal home. 

 For waterfront homes, a deep foundation is used when the surface soils are too weak or unstable to support the structure. In these cases, the load of the home is transferred through long piles or piers driven deep into the ground until they reach solid bearing material, such as dense sand or bedrock. The geotechnical report determines when a deep foundation is required based on soil borings and site conditions. This system provides superior stability, especially in coastal areas with soft soils, high water tables, or flood zones, ensuring the home remains secure and level over time.