Hi Mike! Welcome to the forum. I was wondering if you have any feedback on building in tropical regions. I live in Puerto Rico and right now we are in the middle of the hurricane season and I wondered if this type of constuction could eventually resist 70+ mile winds and days at a time of rain. Thanks!

wind wouldn't be much of a problem i dont think, but i dont know anything about lots of rain... im lucky to get much rain were i am lol

Underground has always been the preferred choice for tornado sheltering in the Midwest, Sylvia, because the work wonderfully and are inexpensive.We design and build with an abundance of windows but you can buy or build hurricane shutters Build on a slope for water drainage away from the house and follow the advice in the books and videos as per mounding earth in a V above the uphill patio, using french drains, etc. You can also drain off on a sidehill patio. Start small and see what works for you. -- MO

Devon, I wish I could ship you some of our rain, in a hurricane event we could easily get 26 inches in 24 hours :shock Thanks Mike, I will definitely start small, I'm thinking about a small greenhouse just to see how it holds up and then hopefully my house will follow. I have lots of books so I am also concerned with the humidity inside the house...Thanks again guys for your feedback!