As hurricane seasons grow longer and stronger—and insurance rates skyrocket—Louisiana must face a hard truth: the way we’ve been building homes, especially within 50 miles of the coast, is no longer sustainable. Every major storm costs us billions. But what if we stopped merely reacting to disaster and started building to prevent it?

The solution isn’t complicated. It’s time we embrace smarter, stronger, and storm-ready construction—starting with concrete block homes and resilient foundations.

Concrete Block Homes: The Smart Alternative

It’s true—concrete block (CMU) homes are heavier and may cost more up front than traditional wood-framed houses. But what they deliver in strength, durability, and long-term savings more than offsets the difference.

These homes are far more resistant to hurricane-force winds and storm surge. They don’t rot when wet, don’t attract termites, and are naturally fire-resistant. But beyond disaster resistance, they simply make economic sense:

• Maintenance costs are significantly lower over the life of the home.
• Recovery after flooding is faster and cheaper, thanks to moisture-resilient materials.
• And homeowners often qualify for substantial insurance discounts, with some saving 20–30% annually just by building to fortified standards.

Over the course of a decade, that can amount to thousands—if not tens of thousands—of dollars saved. And that doesn’t include the avoided costs of repairs, displacement, and lost property due to water damage.

In short, these homes protect not just your family—but your finances.

Smarter Interiors: Mold-Resistant Walls & Waterproof Floors

Storms don’t just batter homes from the outside—they infiltrate the inside with moisture, leading to costly and toxic mold damage.

That’s why smart building also includes:

• Mold-resistant drywall or cement board for interior walls—especially the bottom 4 feet
• Waterproof flooring like ceramic tile, sealed concrete, or luxury vinyl plank
• Moisture-barrier paints and vented wall assemblies to combat long-term humidity

These materials won’t stop the flood—but they will make cleanup faster, safer, and less expensive. They also reduce the likelihood of costly insurance claims and long-term health risks.

What About Louisiana’s Clay Soils?

Critics sometimes argue that CMU homes are too heavy for Louisiana’s soft, clay-rich soils. But weight alone isn’t the problem—foundation design is.

Louisiana builders already have the tools to make block homes stable and long-lasting:

• Post-tensioned concrete slabs, which resist cracking even as soil expands and contracts
• Deep pile and pier foundations, which reach stable layers below surface clay
• Raised pier-and-beam foundations for homes in flood zones, especially when made of concrete or reinforced block

With the right foundation, concrete block homes perform exceptionally well—even on Louisiana’s most challenging soils.

Durability Can Be Beautiful

There’s no reason strength has to come at the expense of style. Today’s concrete block homes can be finished with:

• Stucco, brick veneer, or fiber cement siding
• Traditional Louisiana-style porches, columns, and shutters
• Elegant interiors with open floor plans, crown molding, and natural light

In fact, some of the most attractive coastal homes in Florida, the Caribbean, and South Louisiana are built from block. You don’t have to sacrifice beauty for resilience.

What the State Can Do

We need more than good advice—we need good policy.

• Offer tax credits and insurance discounts for fortified or elevated homes
• Require stronger foundations and materials in high-risk zones
• Provide training and incentives for builders to use block, cement board, and elevated construction
• Speed up permitting for disaster-resilient design.

Conclusion: Building Like We Plan to Stay

We don’t need to fear the next hurricane—we just need to build like we know it’s coming. That means ditching outdated, fragile construction and embracing concrete block homes with smart foundations and mold-resistant interiors.

The goal isn’t just to survive the storm—but to stay in our homes, keep our communities intact, and lower the costs that are driving insurance and recovery through the roof.

It’s time Louisiana builds like we plan to be here after the next storm.

Let’s build to last.

—Claston A. Bernard
ICC/LSUCCC Certified Building Inspector
Over 18 Years in the Building Inspection Profession