Modern Masonry Homes Reduce Hurricane Damage

DENVER, Nov. 10, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- A new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Concrete Sustainability Hub, supported by the Concrete Masonry Checkoff (CMC), has found that reinforced concrete masonry homes sustained roughly half the wind damage of wood-frame homes in Florida during Hurricane Irma. The study, which analyzed post-storm building damage data from three major hurricanes, Irma (2017), Harvey (2017), and Michael (2018), compiled through National Science Foundation NHERI DesignSafe field assessments, compared wood-frame, reinforced concrete masonry, and reinforced concrete construction.

The research, published on the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSHub) website, highlights the significant impact of the structural system on hurricane damage. Modern, reinforced masonry construction combines concrete masonry units (CMU), steel rebar, and grout into one high-performance structural system. Vertical and horizontal steel bars reinforce the block walls, while grout locks the components together to help the building resist high winds and windborne debris.

The study found that reinforced concrete masonry homes sustained roughly half the wind damage of wood-frame homes in Florida during Hurricane Irma. The homes also outperformed wood-framed construction in all hurricanes examined. Florida alone carries an estimated $1.8 trillion in hurricane-exposed residential property, underscoring the stakes in how homes are built.

The research also examines how investments in stronger construction can pay off through avoided storm losses. Florida's statewide building code upgrades, for example, have added roughly $3,000 to the average home's construction cost, a premium that the study notes has historically been recovered through avoided storm losses within about eight years.

Kirchain also points to an opportunity to communicate resilience in ways that help owners and homebuyers compare construction options. Much like an EnergyGuide label explains appliance efficiency, clearer information about building performance could help people make more informed decisions.

That understanding is increasingly important as coastal populations grow and severe storms expose more homes to damaging winds. Because wind forces increase disproportionately with wind speed, even a relatively small increase can substantially increase structural damage and associated repair costs.

The latest study from the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub, supported by the Concrete Masonry Checkoff (CMC), finds that reinforced concrete masonry homes sustained roughly half the wind damage of wood-frame homes in Florida during Hurricane Irma. The study, which analyzed post-storm building damage data from three major hurricanes, Irma (2017), Harvey (2017), and Michael (2018), compiled through National Science Foundation NHERI DesignSafe field assessments, compared wood-frame, reinforced concrete masonry, and reinforced concrete construction. The research, published on the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSHub) website, highlights the significant impact of the structural system on hurricane damage. Modern, reinforced masonry construction combines concrete masonry units (CMU), steel rebar, and grout into one high-performance structural system. Vertical and horizontal steel bars reinforce the block walls, while grout locks the components together to help the building resist high winds and windborne debris.

The study found that reinforced concrete masonry homes sustained roughly half the wind damage of wood-frame homes in Florida during Hurricane Irma. The homes also outperformed wood-framed construction in all hurricanes examined. Florida alone carries an estimated $1.8 trillion in hurricane-exposed residential property, underscoring the stakes in how homes are built. The research also examines how investments in stronger construction can pay off through avoided storm losses. Florida's statewide building code upgrades, for example, have added roughly $3,000 to the average home's construction cost, a premium that the study notes has historically been recovered through avoided storm losses within about eight years.

Kirchain also points to an opportunity to communicate resilience in ways that help owners and homebuyers compare construction options. Much like an EnergyGuide label explains appliance efficiency, clearer information about building performance could help people make more informed decisions.

That understanding is increasingly important as coastal populations grow and severe storms expose more homes to damaging winds. Because wind forces increase disproportionately with wind speed, even a relatively small increase can substantially increase structural damage and associated repair costs.

The latest study from the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub, supported by the Concrete Masonry Checkoff (CMC)