Is modern more expensive to build than Med Rev?
Published: Friday, October 24, 2008 at 4:41 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, October 24, 2008 at 4:51 p.m.
In my story on Casa Museo, the “classic Spanish” subdivision that will take the place of the modernist Houses of Indian Beach on Bay Shore Road in Sarasota ("Modern No More," Oct. 12), the developers said a reason for the change in plans was to lower the home prices.
“For whatever reason, it just costs more money to build a modern house. Everything has to be just perfectly done with modern, because ... if you have any imperfection at all, it is going to shout at you,” said Howard Rooks in the article.
That brought this response from a local architect who has built both modern and Mediterranean houses:
“It was stated in the article that modern-home construction costs are more than Mediterranean-home construction costs, and I completely disagree with that statement,” wrote Mark Sultana of DSDG Inc. in Sarasota. “From my experience in designing and building both types of homes, it is the exact opposite. I have personally built a modern, two-story, green-certified home in Sarasota on the water for less than $200 a square foot. “If you talk to any good residential builder in this area and ask what does a well-done Mediterranean home cost to build, you will hear anything from $300 to $400 a square foot.” I asked Sultana about the belief that because imperfections cannot be hidden by moldings and trim, modern homes require a level of craftsmanship that adds greatly to the expense. His response: “I agree with the fact that there is less room for error (with modern architecture), but moldings and trim are very expensive, especially when done correctly to the style,” he wrote in an e-mail. “Also, staining and a trim carpenter are costly when it comes to trim and molding. “Mediterranean (construction) costs more because of the finishes. For example, a clay barrel-tile roof costs a lot more than a flat single-ply roof. The stone trim around exterior windows, fascias, stone columns and the ornamentation in general on a Mediterranean home cost bucks. “On a modern house,” Sultana wrote, “you may have more windows, but the windows are aluminum storefront windows compared to expensive wood clad and wood-trimmed custom windows. The difference is a wash; the glass in both types of windows is the same glass — it all has to be impact rated.
“The exterior base finish is basically the same — both are stucco. We prefer to specify sand-finish stucco on both types of homes. “The interior finishes are a huge difference,” he added. “For instance, marble floors vs. wood or concrete floors, faux painting vs. white paint, vaulted ceilings vs. flat ceilings, arched decorative doors and openings vs. standard flat-panel doors, and so on. “I think a lot of the cost of both types of homes are dictated by the design and the architect. In general, modern should cost less, and my experience shows is does cost less.” Said contractor Pat Ball, "I am the worst one to ask if moderns are more expensive to build, because the only ones I have ever built are the Guy Peterson ones with a blank check. But Brian Bishop would tell you he builds a modern house with his SIPS (structural insulated panel system) panels, and he builds them cheap. And you can.
"But the thing about modern is, I suppose you could theoretically build it for the same price, but the stuff that makes modern sing, the incredibily straight sight lines, good margins and all that stuff, takes an extra level of attention that costs a little money." Sarasota County Commissioners approved today a virtual ban on building sea walls and generally made it tougher to build or reconstruct along the Gulf of Mexico.

The 2200 block facing the Gulf of Mexico on Casey Key is one of three areas in Sarasota County that is applying for a permit to build a sea wall. County commissioners have agreed to a virtual ban on new sea walls.
This marks the sixth hearing in the last 19 months that commissioners wrestled with the controversial issue, which would make Sarasota County one of the hardest places in Florida for landowners to get a permit to build a sea wall to protect their properties.
Besides the sea wall ban, the ordinance would push construction along the gulf as far landward as possible, said Commissioner Jon Thaxton.
The ordinance would basically put the onus on the landowner to prove that a new sea wall would not harm the property of adjacent landowners. But all sea walls damage adjacent property because of the erosion caused at their ends, Thaxton said. This is the feature of the ordinance that has drawn the most criticism from landowners on Manasota and Casey keys. "Where else do we give permits that actually hurt someone else?" Thaxton said.

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