Designing Elevated Homes in St. Petersburg Without Sacrificing Curb Appeal

Have you dreamed of living near the coastline in St. Petersburg, but hesitated to build a new home because of elevation requirements? Fortunately, today’s custom home builders are elevating home designs across Pinellas County to future-proof properties while maintaining high design standards. While elevated homes are already popular along Florida’s coast for their safety and long-term value, custom home builders have taken elevated designs to a new level for coastal luxury living.

In this blog, we’ve gathered insights from our Winway Home design professionals and other industry experts (linked below in this article) on the benefits of custom-built elevated homes, including how they are uniquely suited to Florida’s coastal environment as they increase curb appeal and value.

Begin With the Mandates — Then Make It Beautiful

In much of coastal Pinellas County, new homes must be designed around floodplain rules (Base Flood Elevation or BFE). FEMA, state, and local guidance allow space below the lowest elevated floor to be used for access, parking, and storage only. These mandates also require flood-damage-resistant materials and flood openings or breakaway walls where applicable.

Treating these rules as design opportunities (rather than limitations) is the key to curb appeal. Let’s look at a few examples of how custom home builders in St. Petersburg are integrating innovative design elements to increase both the aesthetics and functionality of elevated homes.

Integrated Stairs and Welcoming Porches

Nothing kills curb appeal faster than “tacked-on” stairs. This is why custom home builders integrate stair runs in St. Petersburg elevated homes that turn or split, wrapped by deep porches or architectural breezeways. This softens the vertical rise and creates a gracious entry sequence. Where homes sit in Coastal High Hazard Areas, lower-level breakaway walls required by FEMA can be detailed with shadow lines, lattice, or openwork screens. This increases airflow from coastal breezes and works as a design enhancement while maintaining code compliance.

Design tip for curb appeal: Use handrail profiles, newel posts, and lighting as a single composition so the approach feels layered and welcoming at the street level.

Garage and Storage Below BFE and Beyond Functionality

Under-BFE areas, such as storage enclosures and garages, can boost everyday function without resembling a blank concrete box. FEMA allows parking, access, and storage in enclosed areas below the lowest floor, if the walls are designed to break away (in certain zones) and openings, materials, and utilities meet flood-resilient requirements.

Innovative home builders can use these requirements as an opportunity to integrate recessed garage doors, adding rhythm with pilasters or louvers. And by specifying flood-resistant finishes, the base can look like part of the architecture, instead of an afterthought.

Why it matters: A composed, transparent ground level reduces bulk at the street and visually “lifts” living areas — an effect associated with coastal luxury.

Elevator Stacks That “Disappear” Into the Floor Plan

For many elevated homes in St. Petersburg, an elevator stack is the difference between practical and delightful. An elevated home design can align the shaft with pantry or closet runs so that the elevator stack essentially “disappears” inside the floor plan, providing universal access from garage to living levels. This approach preserves elevation and stunning coastal views, while future-proofing for aging in place without a visual penalty on the façade.

Outdoor Rooms That Frame Views and Shade the Base

Upper-level covered porches and roof decks add drama and shade to an elevated home. Thoughtful placement of columns and cable rails keeps water views open while providing a strong architectural rhythm from the street. On the ground level, a FEMA-mandated under-house space can become a shaded lounge or drop zone adjacent to the pool equipment and storage (while maintaining compliance with floodplain rules).

Coastal-Modern Materials That Stand Up to Salt and Sun

Salt-laden air, humidity, and UV rays are tough on exterior home finishes. The EPA recommends solar-reflectant cool roofing to help reduce heat gain and increase your home’s comfort. FEMA’s corrosion guidance emphasizes stainless, hot-dip galvanized, or specially coated metals for connectors and exterior hardware in coastal zones.

However, Galvalume® (steel roofing coated with an aluminum-zinc alloy) should only be used if the home is more than 1,500 feet from the coastline. Aluminum is recommended if the home is 300 to 1,500 feet from the coast. Armored Coast™ (steel sheeting coated with a zinc-aluminum-magnesium alloy) is recommended if you want to live on the coast, and it comes with a 20-year warranty (and a higher price tag).

It’s a good idea to check with a local home builder in the St. Petersburg area who can help you select the right materials for your home design and your region’s climate conditions. Your custom home builder can pair durable exterior hardware with weather-resistant siding that’s resilient to salt air, wind, and moisture — while maintaining aesthetic appeal.

These include:

• Fiber Cement Siding: Known for its fire resistance and ability to withstand high winds.
• Vinyl Siding: Lightweight and cost-effective, though less durable in extreme conditions.
• Engineered Wood Siding: A sustainable option offering a natural look with enhanced durability.

Rooflines and Details That Perform Beautifully

From the street, nothing signals quality like a disciplined roof edge. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) FORTIFIED program promotes going “beyond code” standards — especially the roof — to reduce storm damage. While this adds resilience for insurance purposes and long-term value, it also offers an opportunity to integrate elegant eaves, concealed gutters, and consistent metal accents, which elevate both performance and appearance. Custom builders are now implementing these roof enhancements regularly into their code-compliant and design-forward elevated homes.

Landscaping and Hardscaping for Elevated Curb Appeal

Outdoor features like a refined hardscape are just one way custom home builders make elevation feel intentional. Industry experts like Love Your Landscape recommend hardscape touches like continuous paver patterns, scaled stair landings, and integrated planters to frame each level of the home.

Well-designed landscaping not only enhances a home’s beauty, but also complements its environmental footprint, balancing function, sustainability, and visual drama. Intentional landscaping can also improve drainage to accommodate Florida’s wet seasons. Builders can layer in shielded, coastal-rated fixtures to light stairs and porches. Subtle, warm lighting can minimize harsh shadows beneath the home and guide guests safely at night.

Design With Pinellas County Rules In Mind

Pinellas County publishes clear floodplain resources on how BFE affects both design and insurance. When building on a flood plain, the elevated home’s floor plan must document flood hazard boundaries, BFEs, and elevations. A complete, code-aware, elevated home design smooths the review process and helps keep timelines on track. A custom home builder in St. Petersburg who works in flood zones every day can translate those requirements into architecture that sells from the street.

Maintenance Is a Design Decision

Coastal construction lasts longer in St. Petersburg — and looks better — when materials, fasteners, and finishes are selected for maintainability. Regular washing, touch-ups, and hardware checks slow corrosion and UV wear in Florida sunshine and saltwater humidity. Planning access via catwalks, hose bibs, and safe ladder points makes upkeep easy and preserves that “like-new” look, according to engineering experts like CEDengineering.

Putting It All Together With Intentional Architecture

Elevated homes in St. Petersburg can be both resilient and beautiful. With integrated stairs and porches, compliant-yet-attractive ground levels, discreet elevator stacks, purposeful outdoor rooms, and coastal-modern materials, your elevated foundation becomes a canvas for design — instead of a compromise.

As custom home builders in Pinellas County, Winway Homes unites FEMA and Florida code know-how with architecture that feels at home on the coast, while looking exceptional from day one.

Ready to elevate your home standards?
Winway Homes designs and builds elevated residences that meet Florida’s toughest coastal demands while delivering standout curb appeal. Contact us today to discuss your lot, your elevation target, and a material palette that looks great for years.