So here I am vacationing on the Outer Banks, NC in a rental house. Don't
hate me! ;-)

Typical of most houses in the area, it is built up on 6 x 6 posts to
protect the living area against flooding. This house also happens to have
the ground floor enclosed and appears to include a garage.

I say "appears to" because I see a garage door as well as an entry door on
the ground floor, but the keys they gave us don't open the ground floor
door so I don't know what's behind the garage door.

Now, I've explored every inch of the 1st floor living area and can find no
access to the ground floor. There's no staircase hidden behind any door
that would lead down to the ground floor. I checked every closet, hallway,
etc.

The only possibility is a small room with a stacked washer and dryer off of
the kitchen that might have lead to a staircase but based on the layout of
the bathroom behind it, I'm not sure a staircase would have even fit there.

OK, so here's my question...

Is it typical of these types of flood safe houses not to have access to the
ground floor from inside the upper ("1st") floor or is it because this
house is (maybe was built to be?) a vacation rental?

On Aug 4, 6:10*pm, DerbyDad03 wrote:
So here I am vacationing on the Outer Banks, NC in a rental house. *Don't
hate me! ;-)

Typical of most houses in the area, it is built up on 6 x 6 posts to
protect the living area against flooding. This house also happens to have
the ground floor enclosed and appears to include a garage.

I say "appears to" because I see a garage door as well as an entry door on
the ground floor, but the keys they gave us don't open the ground floor
door so I don't know what's behind the garage door.

Now, I've explored every inch of the 1st floor living area and can find no
access to the ground floor. There's no staircase hidden behind any door
that would lead down to the ground floor. I checked every closet, hallway,
etc.

The only possibility is a small room with a stacked washer and dryer off of
the kitchen that might have lead to a staircase but based on the layout of
the bathroom behind it, I'm not sure a staircase would have even fit there.

OK, so here's my question...

Is it typical of these types of flood safe houses not to have access to the
ground floor from inside the upper ("1st") floor or is it because this
house is (maybe was built to be?) a vacation rental?

probably a bit of both........

On Sat, 4 Aug 2012 22:10:17 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

So here I am vacationing on the Outer Banks, NC in a rental house. Don't
hate me! ;-)

Typical of most houses in the area, it is built up on 6 x 6 posts to
protect the living area against flooding. This house also happens to have
the ground floor enclosed and appears to include a garage.

I say "appears to" because I see a garage door as well as an entry door on
the ground floor, but the keys they gave us don't open the ground floor
door so I don't know what's behind the garage door.

Now, I've explored every inch of the 1st floor living area and can find no
access to the ground floor. There's no staircase hidden behind any door
that would lead down to the ground floor. I checked every closet, hallway,
etc.

The only possibility is a small room with a stacked washer and dryer off of
the kitchen that might have lead to a staircase but based on the layout of
the bathroom behind it, I'm not sure a staircase would have even fit there.

OK, so here's my question...

Is it typical of these types of flood safe houses not to have access to the
ground floor from inside the upper ("1st") floor or is it because this
house is (maybe was built to be?) a vacation rental?

Homes can be the same in Florida. A stilt built that only allows
ground level access from the outside. Some only having lattice
surrounding the bottom area. They are used for storage, usually not
accessed from a floor above..

The landlord is keeping you out of his storage area or would have
given a key to you. YMMV

--

Oren wrote:
On Sat, 4 Aug 2012 22:10:17 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

Stuff about a house on stilts snipped...

OK, so here's my question...

Is it typical of these types of flood safe houses not to have access to the
ground floor from inside the upper ("1st") floor or is it because this
house is (maybe was built to be?) a vacation rental?

Homes can be the same in Florida. A stilt built that only allows
ground level access from the outside. Some only having lattice
surrounding the bottom area. They are used for storage, usually not
accessed from a floor above..

The landlord is keeping you out of his storage area or would have
given a key to you. YMMV

--

I know why we didn't get a key...we also didn't get a key to the attic, one
closet on the 2nd floor and the backyard storage shed. That had nothing to
do with the question, but thanks responding anyway.

On Sat, 4 Aug 2012 23:08:19 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

Oren wrote:
On Sat, 4 Aug 2012 22:10:17 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

Stuff about a house on stilts snipped...

OK, so here's my question...

Is it typical of these types of flood safe houses not to have access to the
ground floor from inside the upper ("1st") floor or is it because this
house is (maybe was built to be?) a vacation rental?

Homes can be the same in Florida. A stilt built that only allows
ground level access from the outside. Some only having lattice
surrounding the bottom area. They are used for storage, usually not
accessed from a floor above..

The landlord is keeping you out of his storage area or would have
given a key to you. YMMV

--

I know why we didn't get a key...we also didn't get a key to the attic, one
closet on the 2nd floor and the backyard storage shed. That had nothing to
do with the question, but thanks responding anyway.

You asked if it was "typical". Yes. Some builders do not give an
interior access below from above. It can be "typical" to build the
house with "access" from above.

What did I miss in your "question"?
--

On Sat, 04 Aug 2012 15:26:19 -0700, Oren wrote:

On Sat, 4 Aug 2012 22:10:17 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

So here I am vacationing on the Outer Banks, NC in a rental house. Don't
hate me! ;-)

Typical of most houses in the area, it is built up on 6 x 6 posts to
protect the living area against flooding. This house also happens to have
the ground floor enclosed and appears to include a garage.

I say "appears to" because I see a garage door as well as an entry door on
the ground floor, but the keys they gave us don't open the ground floor
door so I don't know what's behind the garage door.

Now, I've explored every inch of the 1st floor living area and can find no
access to the ground floor. There's no staircase hidden behind any door
that would lead down to the ground floor. I checked every closet, hallway,
etc.

The only possibility is a small room with a stacked washer and dryer off of
the kitchen that might have lead to a staircase but based on the layout of
the bathroom behind it, I'm not sure a staircase would have even fit there.

OK, so here's my question...

Is it typical of these types of flood safe houses not to have access to the
ground floor from inside the upper ("1st") floor or is it because this
house is (maybe was built to be?) a vacation rental?

Homes can be the same in Florida. A stilt built that only allows
ground level access from the outside. Some only having lattice
surrounding the bottom area. They are used for storage, usually not
accessed from a floor above..

I would expect that, too. An interior stairway takes space from both floors
that would be better used as living (or storage) space. Since it can't be
used as "living" space (doing so would defeat the whole purpose of the
stilts), there is little downside to having no internal access.


The landlord is keeping you out of his storage area or would have
given a key to you. YMMV

On Sat, 04 Aug 2012 19:24:39 -0400, "
wrote:

On Sat, 04 Aug 2012 15:26:19 -0700, Oren wrote:

On Sat, 4 Aug 2012 22:10:17 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

So here I am vacationing on the Outer Banks, NC in a rental house. Don't
hate me! ;-)

Typical of most houses in the area, it is built up on 6 x 6 posts to
protect the living area against flooding. This house also happens to have
the ground floor enclosed and appears to include a garage.

I say "appears to" because I see a garage door as well as an entry door on
the ground floor, but the keys they gave us don't open the ground floor
door so I don't know what's behind the garage door.

Now, I've explored every inch of the 1st floor living area and can find no
access to the ground floor. There's no staircase hidden behind any door
that would lead down to the ground floor. I checked every closet, hallway,
etc.

The only possibility is a small room with a stacked washer and dryer off of
the kitchen that might have lead to a staircase but based on the layout of
the bathroom behind it, I'm not sure a staircase would have even fit there.

OK, so here's my question...

Is it typical of these types of flood safe houses not to have access to the
ground floor from inside the upper ("1st") floor or is it because this
house is (maybe was built to be?) a vacation rental?

Homes can be the same in Florida. A stilt built that only allows
ground level access from the outside. Some only having lattice
surrounding the bottom area. They are used for storage, usually not
accessed from a floor above..

I would expect that, too. An interior stairway takes space from both floors
that would be better used as living (or storage) space. Since it can't be
used as "living" space (doing so would defeat the whole purpose of the
stilts), there is little downside to having no internal access.


Just wrap this home at ground level. It appears to not have interior
access from above (garage door, man door, etc, only).

http://www.newhorizonconstruction.net/userfiles/image/gallery/display/hewett_front_angle.JPG

A stilt built fish house WILL have access from below to an upper
floor.

http://t8.bigstockimages.com/4/6/2/large2/2642428.jpg
--

We'd be just guessing. See if you can get a hold of the property owner, and
ask.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

"DerbyDad03" wrote in message
...
So here I am vacationing on the Outer Banks, NC in a rental house. Don't
hate me! ;-)

Typical of most houses in the area, it is built up on 6 x 6 posts to
protect the living area against flooding. This house also happens to have
the ground floor enclosed and appears to include a garage.

I say "appears to" because I see a garage door as well as an entry door on
the ground floor, but the keys they gave us don't open the ground floor
door so I don't know what's behind the garage door.

Now, I've explored every inch of the 1st floor living area and can find no
access to the ground floor. There's no staircase hidden behind any door
that would lead down to the ground floor. I checked every closet, hallway,
etc.

The only possibility is a small room with a stacked washer and dryer off of
the kitchen that might have lead to a staircase but based on the layout of
the bathroom behind it, I'm not sure a staircase would have even fit there.

OK, so here's my question...

Is it typical of these types of flood safe houses not to have access to the
ground floor from inside the upper ("1st") floor or is it because this
house is (maybe was built to be?) a vacation rental?

On Aug 4, 7:55*pm, wrote:
On Sat, 4 Aug 2012 22:10:17 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03





wrote:
So here I am vacationing on the Outer Banks, NC in a rental house. *Don't
hate me! ;-)

Typical of most houses in the area, it is built up on 6 x 6 posts to
protect the living area against flooding. This house also happens to have
the ground floor enclosed and appears to include a garage.

I say "appears to" because I see a garage door as well as an entry door on
the ground floor, but the keys they gave us don't open the ground floor
door so I don't know what's behind the garage door.

Now, I've explored every inch of the 1st floor living area and can find no
access to the ground floor. There's no staircase hidden behind any door
that would lead down to the ground floor. I checked every closet, hallway,
etc.

The only possibility is a small room with a stacked washer and dryer off of
the kitchen that might have lead to a staircase but based on the layout of
the bathroom behind it, I'm not sure a staircase would have even fit there.

OK, so here's my question...

Is it typical of these types of flood safe houses not to have access to the
ground floor from inside the upper ("1st") floor or is it because this
house is (maybe was built to be?) a vacation rental?

It is because 99% of those enclosures are bootlegged in after the
final inspection and it is not supposed to be living area.
FEMA would be happier if they were totally open. Any partition has to
be "break away".

That would be my guess. Built as a stilt house and the lower area
enclosed later.

Harry K

On Sat, 4 Aug 2012 22:10:17 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

So here I am vacationing on the Outer Banks, NC in a rental house. Don't
hate me! ;-)

Typical of most houses in the area, it is built up on 6 x 6 posts to
protect the living area against flooding. This house also happens to have
the ground floor enclosed and appears to include a garage.

I say "appears to" because I see a garage door as well as an entry door on
the ground floor, but the keys they gave us don't open the ground floor
door so I don't know what's behind the garage door.

Now, I've explored every inch of the 1st floor living area and can find no
access to the ground floor.

I do know that some codes for beachfront properties call for the house
to be raised. The ground floor is OK for storage, but that is all. No
heaters, no fuse boxes, etc.

I can think of a couple of reasons it would be in accessible from the
living quarters. One is the code that would prohibit an access point
that could be a potential path for water to get upstairs.

The other is taxes. If you have access, the tax code may define that
space as living quarters and raise the assessment and taxes.

Ask the locals and they will have a better explanation for you.
Meantime, enjoy the beach. That is a nice place to stay. Last time I
was down that way the scenery was being ruined. The police were
cracking down on the nude/topless bathing. No sense of aesthetics.

Does this relate to Honda generators?

On Sat, 4 Aug 2012 21:07:52 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

We'd be just guessing. See if you can get a hold of the property owner, and
ask.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

"DerbyDad03" wrote in message
...
So here I am vacationing on the Outer Banks, NC in a rental house. Don't
hate me! ;-)

Typical of most houses in the area, it is built up on 6 x 6 posts to
protect the living area against flooding. This house also happens to have
the ground floor enclosed and appears to include a garage.

I say "appears to" because I see a garage door as well as an entry door on
the ground floor, but the keys they gave us don't open the ground floor
door so I don't know what's behind the garage door.

Now, I've explored every inch of the 1st floor living area and can find no
access to the ground floor. There's no staircase hidden behind any door
that would lead down to the ground floor. I checked every closet, hallway,
etc.

The only possibility is a small room with a stacked washer and dryer off of
the kitchen that might have lead to a staircase but based on the layout of
the bathroom behind it, I'm not sure a staircase would have even fit there.

OK, so here's my question...

Is it typical of these types of flood safe houses not to have access to the
ground floor from inside the upper ("1st") floor or is it because this
house is (maybe was built to be?) a vacation rental?

Oren wrote:
On Sat, 4 Aug 2012 23:08:19 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

Oren wrote:
On Sat, 4 Aug 2012 22:10:17 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

Stuff about a house on stilts snipped...

OK, so here's my question...

Is it typical of these types of flood safe houses not to have access to the
ground floor from inside the upper ("1st") floor or is it because this
house is (maybe was built to be?) a vacation rental?

Homes can be the same in Florida. A stilt built that only allows
ground level access from the outside. Some only having lattice
surrounding the bottom area. They are used for storage, usually not
accessed from a floor above..

The landlord is keeping you out of his storage area or would have
given a key to you. YMMV

--

I know why we didn't get a key...we also didn't get a key to the attic, one
closet on the 2nd floor and the backyard storage shed. That had nothing to
do with the question, but thanks responding anyway.

You asked if it was "typical". Yes. Some builders do not give an
interior access below from above. It can be "typical" to build the
house with "access" from above.

What did I miss in your "question"?
--

Hey, I would have responded sooner but it was a beautiful night for some
body surfing under the stars.

You didn't miss anything in my question, in fact you answered it very well.

However, I didn't ask why we didn't get a key to the ground floor, yet you
answered that "question" anyway. I only mentioned that the key didn't open
the ground floor to explain my comment that there "appears" to be a garage,
but I can't be sure. It really had nothing to do with my question about
ground floor access in a stilt built house.

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On Sat, 4 Aug 2012 22:10:17 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

So here I am vacationing on the Outer Banks, NC in a rental house. Don't
hate me! ;-)

Typical of most houses in the area, it is built up on 6 x 6 posts to
protect the living area against flooding. This house also happens to have
the ground floor enclosed and appears to include a garage.

I say "appears to" because I see a garage door as well as an entry door on
the ground floor, but the keys they gave us don't open the ground floor
door so I don't know what's behind the garage door.

Now, I've explored every inch of the 1st floor living area and can find no
access to the ground floor.

I do know that some codes for beachfront properties call for the house
to be raised. The ground floor is OK for storage, but that is all. No
heaters, no fuse boxes, etc.

I can think of a couple of reasons it would be in accessible from the
living quarters. One is the code that would prohibit an access point
that could be a potential path for water to get upstairs.


Really? Water needs a staircase to up stairs? If the water level reaches
the living area, it's getting in, period.

The other is taxes. If you have access, the tax code may define that
space as living quarters and raise the assessment and taxes.

Ask the locals and they will have a better explanation for you.
Meantime, enjoy the beach. That is a nice place to stay. Last time I
was down that way the scenery was being ruined. The police were
cracking down on the nude/topless bathing. No sense of aesthetics.

I spent a year in Germany while in the USCG. The island that I was
stationed on had a number of nude beaches - family style. Little kids all
the way up to grandma and grandpa. It was the in betweens that made it
tough on us 20 something's.

DerbyDad03 wrote in
:

So here I am vacationing on the Outer Banks, NC in a rental house.
Don't hate me! ;-)

Typical of most houses in the area, it is built up on 6 x 6 posts to
protect the living area against flooding. This house also happens to
have the ground floor enclosed and appears to include a garage.

I say "appears to" because I see a garage door as well as an entry
door on the ground floor, but the keys they gave us don't open the
ground floor door so I don't know what's behind the garage door.

Now, I've explored every inch of the 1st floor living area and can
find no access to the ground floor. There's no staircase hidden behind
any door that would lead down to the ground floor. I checked every
closet, hallway, etc.

The only possibility is a small room with a stacked washer and dryer
off of the kitchen that might have lead to a staircase but based on
the layout of the bathroom behind it, I'm not sure a staircase would
have even fit there.

OK, so here's my question...

Is it typical of these types of flood safe houses not to have access
to the ground floor from inside the upper ("1st") floor or is it
because this house is (maybe was built to be?) a vacation rental?

maybe that is where the owners store their own extra stuff,that they don't
want a renter to access. Or it's stuff for when THEY use the house,so they
don't have to truck it and out in each time.

Or sinisterly,that's where they hide their recording/internet gear for all
the hidden webcameras in the rental space above.....
[play Hitchcock theme music]

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
localnet
dot com

On Sun, 5 Aug 2012 11:49:43 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

Hey, I would have responded sooner but it was a beautiful night for some
body surfing under the stars.

What's for dinner? Seafood I hope :0
--

Oren wrote:
On Sun, 5 Aug 2012 11:49:43 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

Hey, I would have responded sooner but it was a beautiful night for some
body surfing under the stars.

What's for dinner? Seafood I hope :0
--

It was tonight! We did some crabbing with chicken legs and caught enough
Blues for us all to have a taste.

2 years ago, while vacationing in Ocean City, Maryland we found out about a
crabbing spot about 2 miles down a dirt road into a nature preserve. (It
was legal to crab there) We caught close to 3 dozen in just a few hours.
That was full meal of blue crab.

We're doing a half day charter tomorrow, so hopefully it'll be seafood
again.

On Mon, 6 Aug 2012 01:36:58 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

Oren wrote:
On Sun, 5 Aug 2012 11:49:43 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

Hey, I would have responded sooner but it was a beautiful night for some
body surfing under the stars.

What's for dinner? Seafood I hope :0
--

It was tonight! We did some crabbing with chicken legs and caught enough
Blues for us all to have a taste.

2 years ago, while vacationing in Ocean City, Maryland we found out about a
crabbing spot about 2 miles down a dirt road into a nature preserve. (It
was legal to crab there) We caught close to 3 dozen in just a few hours.
That was full meal of blue crab.

We're doing a half day charter tomorrow, so hopefully it'll be seafood
again.

Blue crabs go through "Molting/Mating". In this part of the season
restaurants offer "fried soft shell crab sandwiches". The whole crab
is fried after they shed the shell. Yummy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFG87XDLZ6U

What's for dinner today? G
--

We're doing a half day charter tomorrow, so hopefully it'll be seafood
again.

Blue crabs go through "Molting/Mating". In this part of the season
restaurants offer "fried soft shell crab sandwiches". The whole crab
is fried after they shed the shell. Yummy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFG87XDLZ6U

What's for dinner today? G
--

Oh well, the fishing sucked. We caught a bunch but they were mostly
undersized. Only kept 4 for 6 people so dinner was a taste of blue fish and
Spanish mackerel for everybody, with a salad, linguine with red sauce and
broccoli with garlic. Not a perfect match of foods, but that's vacation
eating!

Much cheaper than a restaurant for 6!

The fishing was so bad that about 2 hours into the trip our captain's cell
phone rang and he answered it with "Please tell me you found some fish!" By
the look on his face I knew the answer was "No". When we got back to the
(huge) marina everyone was bitching about how bad it was.

On Tue, 7 Aug 2012 12:13:02 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

The fishing was so bad that about 2 hours into the trip our captain's cell
phone rang and he answered it with "Please tell me you found some fish!" By
the look on his face I knew the answer was "No". When we got back to the
(huge) marina everyone was bitching about how bad it was.

We call it fishing instead of catching. G

Try a local fish monger market for the last meal in the rental.
--

Oren wrote:
On Tue, 7 Aug 2012 12:13:02 +0000 (UTC), DerbyDad03
wrote:

The fishing was so bad that about 2 hours into the trip our captain's cell
phone rang and he answered it with "Please tell me you found some fish!" By
the look on his face I knew the answer was "No". When we got back to the
(huge) marina everyone was bitching about how bad it was.

We call it fishing instead of catching. G

Try a local fish monger market for the last meal in the rental.
--

It's not the last meal, but we picked up 4 dozen steamers in a fish market
that was local to the seaside town we ferried over to today. My son is
getting them ready as them as I type.