Dan, as he is usually called, is a Gulf Coast native and a 1971 Ocean Springs graduate who started Blanchard Construction in New Orleans in 1975. He returned to the Coast to the Bay-Waveland area in 1980, then Gulfport in 1990 and has been building and now rebuilding the Gulf Coast for nearly 30 years. Dan is a member of the Homebuilders Asociation of the MS Coast since 1993, past president in 2002, past Board of Director of the local and state associations, a current director of the MS Housing Institute, a Certified Professional Builder member and holds a commercial certificate of responsibility and a residential licence. The HELP YOU BUILD concept began many years ago as a way to allow our customers to participate more in the construction of their home or commercial building project, allowing them to do as much of the project themselves as possible and have more control over choices and decisions and their money for what will be the largest investment in and for their future.
Submitted by Shannon from
Q: How have building codes changed since Hurricane Katrina?
Answered 11/21/09 06:51:31 by Dan Blanchard
A: Shannon, thank you for your question, I had answered this question before but you now give me an oppurtunity to correct my previous answer; I was informed during my last visit to the Gulfport Code Office that they did indeed have a wind code but only to 100mph which was the minimum requirement at that time, since Katrina SSTD-99 has been adopted which addresses ways to elevate and strengthen new homes to withstand higher winds and water. Call us to HELP YOU BUILD your new home or commercial project.Submitted by Wendy from Gulfport
Q: I understand many building codes have changed since Katrina. Can you describe some of the major changes that will affect me when building a home?
Answered 10/24/09 19:48:21 by Dan Blanchard
A: Wendy,thank you for your question, I gave a call to my contact at the Gulfport Code Office and he shared with me that prior to Hurricane Katrina we did not have any wind codes, since Katrina they have adopted SSTD 10-99;Standard for Hurricane Resistant Residential Construction.SSTD 10-99 addresses ways to stregthen our homes from the top of the roof all the way to the foundation using strapping, shear walls and roofs.The first question is where you plan to build, if you are in a flood plain and have to elevate your home on pilings of wood, concrete or steel there are various ways to secure the home to the pilings, Also many cities are requiring impact or wind rated windows and doors or coverings for them. Most important is to protect the "envelope" of your home which is the combination of windows, doors, walls and roof that keep the elements outside, the loss of a window or door can cause high winds to pull your home apart. A properly constructed home built following all of the new codes whether it be wood,concrete, brick or the insulated concrete form (ICF)will be safer and stronger than ever before. We can HELP YOU BUILD the home of your dreams,safe and strong,contact us for a free estimate.
