Masonry Magazine October 1992 Page. 39
Homebuilders and BIA Team
Up in Tampa Venture
Brick Institute of America and two Tampa Bay area homebuilders team up to reintroduce an age-old material, brick, to the present Tampa Bay area homebuilding market.
TWO TAMPA BAY area homebuilders, Capstone Builders of Clearwater, Florida and Cordell Homes of Riverview, Florida, have teamed up with Coloroc Materials and Brick Institute of American Region 9 to introduce an age-old material, brick, back to the present Tampa Bay area homebuilding market.
Former Northern Virginia award winning homebuilder and owner of Capstone Builders, Vince Wozniak, is no stranger to all brick home designs. "Most of our homes in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area were brick homes," said Wozniak. "I've often wondered why more brick hasn't been used in this area especially since initially it costs only about six percent more than a block and stucco home and costs less after about five years of living in that home," he said.
Wozniak explained that this is due to the fact that insurance is lower on a brick home, and homeowners save considerably on electric bills and maintenance on the home. "We surveyed homeowners at three Tampa Bay area home show exhibitions and had an overwhelming response in favor of brick if costs could be kept close to six percent of block and stucco construction."
Wozniak further explained that home show attendees who viewed the brick samples had no idea there were so many brick colors and textures available. He says that a local brick supplier, Coloroc Materials, has an extensive brick selection in their Tampa showroom. "I think most people associate brick with the traditional, red northern building material. However, the new light colors and textures adapt quite well to our west coast Florida climate," he said.
Cordell Homes of Riverview also participated in the brick promotion program by building an all brick home in Riverview. The home recently won a Grand Award in design from the Builders Association of Greater Tampa's 1992 Parade of Homes event. Innovative design aspects of this home include an all brick living room fireplace and an all brick oven hearth in the kitchen. Cordell Homes is headed by John Cordell and John Cordell, Jr., who have built homes together throughout East Hillsborough and Pasco counties for more than ten years. The Cordells are master brick masons, known for their expert brick artistry in the affordable and custom home markets.
To begin the all brick homebuilding project in Palm Harbor, Florida, Capstone contacted Don Evans of the Evans Group. Orlando, Florida. Their design idea was to develop a creative all brick home that honors the past.