SmartVENT Foundation Flood Vents

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:42:37 -0400

Smart Vent to Help with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Season Finale

Smart Vent, Inc., manufacturer of code compliant foundation flood vents, is among a group of builders and suppliers selected to help in the construction of a home and church destroyed by Hurricane Katrina by "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition".

The Usea family of Westwego, LA home was severely damaged during hurricane Katrina. Brad Usea’s mother Grace’s home was completely destroyed, leaving her and Brad’s brothers homeless. Brad and Laura Usea immediately took their family members in, even though their home was in disrepair. In February 2007, their home was struck by a tornado, causing even more damage to their home and completely destroying the FEMA trailer in the backyard. Considered local heroes by many, Brad and his brother Chad, both volunteer firefighters work to help rebuild their community. They are a very deserving family. Three homes are being built on their existing lot to accommodate the entire extended family. In addition, Deltec Homes, Ty Pennington and the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" team will also rebuild the Noah’s Ark Missionary Baptist Church in New Orleans.

Smart VENT® has stepped up to the plate with financial assistance, product donation, engineering consultation and labor to help "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and Deltec Homes to provide shelter and security for this family. Smart VENT’S® Vice President and General Manager, Michael Graham, and Ronald Long, our gulf coast certified installer and technical representative are down in New Orleans and will be on site during the entire length of the build helping with construction.

The home and church are built in a flood plain in New Orleans. The raised foundation needed openings to allow floodwater in and out and that is what Smart VENT® does best. The church needed ventilation along with flood vents and the home needed insulated vents due to a design calling for a green sealed crawl space. Smart VENT’S® first recommendation was to first raise the height of the first floor to one foot above the BFE (Base Flood Elevation), then use Smart VENT® insulated vents in the house and Smart VENT® automatic flood/air vents in the church. Both products open automatically when floodwater rises, and because of their patented opening system, these two projects required 2/3 less vents then first thought.

"As a leader in the production of hurricane-resistant housing, Deltec Homes has a great number of homes that are built in flood zones. The flexibility of the Smart VENT® system to work with both vented and sealed crawlspaces makes it an ideal product for these areas." States Steve Linton of Deltec Homes.

As an added surprise, Smart VENT® will pay the cost of ten year’s worth of flood insurance for the family and for the church.

"The hurricane was a horrible tragedy, but today, nearly three years after Katrina, homeowners and builders are not realizing the financial and safety benefits of building-in protection. By building the home only one foot above the base flood elevation and adding the proper amount and placement of flood vents- the flood insurance premiums have been reduced by 94% on both structures. This is a big money. On these two structures they will save about $3200.00 per year on flood insurance, and we do this for our customers every day. " Adds Mike Graham.

"People just don’t know these savings are available. Our donation to pay for the flood insurance for both the family’s home and the church represent Smart VENT’S® commitment to educating homeowners that there are ways to safely build in a flood zone, reduce flood insurance premiums and ensure that they will be first to receive a settlement should another catastrophic event happen. Saving money for homeowners is rewarding, but the calls and letters we receive after saving a customers home is an unbelievable feeling". Floods are horrible. Let’s take action. Let’s build safer homes and take advantage of the FEMA premium reductions while doing so. On this EMHE project, the additional cost will be paid for in one year with reduced premiums." Concludes Graham.

All SMART VENT® products are certified engineered openings providing an automatic entry and exit of floodwaters that release hydrostatic pressure yielded upon foundations during flooding. The indestructible vents have two patented floats that automatically release with rising water and open the bi-directional flood door rotating it out of the path of flood water, providing the required 3" diameter of completely unobstructed open area for flood water to enter and exit.

SMART VENT® foundation flood vent features include all stainless steel construction that meet or exceed flood and corrosion resistance code requirements, easy to clean stainless steel mesh screens that keep unwanted pests from invading and weather-stripped insulated doors that minimize heat and air conditioning loss. Additionally, each SMART VENT® protects 200 square feet of area below the base flood elevation, thus requiring 2/3 less vents than any other vent on the market, increasing the aesthetic appearance of a home dramatically.

Because Smart Vents® are code compliant; homeowners across the country are realizing huge savings on their NFIP insurance premiums after installing Smart Vents®. Smart Vents® not only bring their homes into compliance, but provide substantial savings.

For more information on the SMART VENT® foundation flood vent, winner of the prestigious 2007 Most Innovative Product Award by attendees of the World of Concrete Show, MVP Award and Top 100 Products honors from Building Products magazine, Product of the Year by the editors of DO! Magazine. SMART VENTS are approved by the Florida Building Code Commission, along with the International Code Council Evaluation service contact Smart Vent at 877-441-8368 or visit www.smartvent.com

"Deltec Homes is the nations leading producer of hurricane resistant structures. Deltec has been in business since 1968 and has never lost a home to high winds. Deltec manufactures the structural components for their homes in Asheville NC and ships them all over the world where they are assembled and finished by local labor." For more information on the event, please go to www.extremeneworleans.com or www.deltechomes.com.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition", which has won back-to-back Emmy Awards as Best Reality Program (non-competitive), is in its 5th season on ABC. The program is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. Denise Cramsey is the executive producer; and David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA.