From the Desk of
Thomas B.Coates Jr
Designer
I experienced the full force of Hurricane Michael, a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane that struck the panhandle on October 7th, 2018, devastating Mexico Beach and causing a staggering $25.5 billion in damages.
Surviving the Surge
My own small house in Port St. Joe, situated on St. Joe Bay, bore the brunt of a 7-foot storm surge that engulfed my home in just 15 minutes. The water surged in so rapidly that my house effectively became a "boat," yanking the pilings right out of the ground. When the water eventually receded, my house settled with a significant 14 inch tilt in a 24-foot span. All doors and windows were jammed shut, rendering them inoperable
Seeking Resilience in the Wake of Disaster
Experiencing such a storm is truly devastating; you lose invaluable personal items, and your very survival feels like a stroke of luck. As I surveyed my own damaged home and countless others in the aftermath, I couldn't help but wonder if there was a better way to construct houses so they could be more easily repaired. After a storm, the wait for assistance can stretch on for months just to begin repairs, and the associated costs can skyrocket.
A Mission of Repairing with Ease
Creating Innovative Hardware Solutions
My damaged house needed help so I purchased 14 Harbor Freight bottle jacks and began the leveling process on my little cottage. I reworked the footings and successfully raised and leveled the floor system to within a mere half-inch. Platform Hardware designs came from the need of hardware to repair building. Hardware is designed to connect columns and beams together much like posts and beam construction but using bolts instead of wooden pegs.
Building Foundations
A building platform resembles a dining room table, where the hardware connects the table legs to the footings and tabletop, enabling the construction of various structures on the platform. Extensive load testing has been conducted on the hardware. It's important to note that the load and lateral resistance primarily depend on the quality of the timber used.
Diverse Applications
The applications of this hardware are diverse, extending beyond homes. It's engineered to facilitate construction and repairs with minimal manpower. In the face of an impending hurricane or tornado, my advice is to prioritize safety and evacuate. I've witnessed train cars toppling over, and there are no guarantees in life or construction. My best hope is to be prepared for repairs when needed. Don't forget to discover my home plans as well.
So, I started Platform Hardware. I embarked on a mission to create a new building system. A system for building new or retrofitting an existing home that if damaged that could be repaired. After all, I managed to fix my 24x24 cottage all by myself, with the assistance of a good friend and my son.