Two Weeks after the Delivery of a Modified Brentwood Model

"Today, completed 2 weeks since we received the house package.  We're ready for the roof sheathing nail off inspection and I made the call to the county building department, with a request for morning inspection to support putting felt on the roof starting at noon.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, promises to be very exciting with all that we want to get done before the rain moves in:... like finish nailing the roof, lots of detailed work in the roof structure, get all of the plumbing holes poked in the roof, perhaps install the 3 sky lights, the gutter guy will install our gutters (waiting on down spouts), get felt on the roof and load it with the shingles."

 

 

 

 

For more information go to www.northcoastpackagedhomes.com

 

 

 

The Many Benefits of Panelization

Panelized construction saves both the owner and the contractor time and money.  Higher quality, efficiency and project control all contribute to these savings.

From saving time to controlling costs with guaranteed quotes, higher quality and reduced construction waste, it is not surprising that more and more home builders and their clients are choosing panelized construction.

Making Dreams a Reality

With the technology that is currently available and the adaptability of using a panelized system no two panelized homes are ever exactly alike.  Whether you are working with a design professional or have your own dream home in mind, we can turn your idea into your dream home.

Build Your New Home in Less Time

Your new home can be fabricated at the factory before being shipped to your home site while the foundation and subfloor are being installed.  Once delivered  the shell of the panelized home can be erected and made weather tight in just a few days.  This reduced construction time saves weeks compared to on-site framing and weather, material delivery delays and subcontractor scheduling delays are much less of a concern for panelized home construction.

Framing Packages are built Precisely and Efficiently

The precision technology used to produce panelized home components and uniform quality control simply cannot be replicated on a job site.  Factory framing is engineered to the highest quality, ensuring your home is built precisely square and dimensionally correct.  Your home is built to meet your local building code no matter if your area requires special consideration for high winds, seismic or fire codes.  With such a low margin of error and precision building, panelized homes are known for increased energy efficiency.

Costly Overruns are Eliminated

When building a new home unforeseen delays and circumstances such as material cost increases inflates costs.  Panelized construction reduces or eliminates some of these costly delays.

With a majority of the panelized home's initial construction occurring in a climate controlled factory the framing package is not subject to weather delays and then due to the speed of assembly the exposure to the elements is greatly reduced.

Reducing the amount of on site labor also reduces a project's reliance on subcontractors.  Panelized construction eases the scheduling and coordinating the completion of the home.

Your New Home will be built in Less Time

Mother Nature is often the harshest of all obstacles facing home building.  Since the framing package is pre-constructed in a climate controlled factory worries of rain, snow or wind damage are virtually eliminated.  Weather tight in a matter of days warping, mold and mildew are eliminated.

It is no wonder that panelization is the wave of the future.

For more information go to www.northcoastpackagedhomes.com

And Construction of the Subfloor of the Brentwood Continues

Gradually the basement walls go up for the subfloor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So caught up now.  Perhaps one more entry before the delivery of March 11th.

 

 

For more information go to www.northcoastpackagedhomes.com

 

 

 

 

Building the Brentwood Starting the Foundation

The site is a beautiful location up in the Sonora area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information go to www.northcoastpackagedhomes.com

 

 

 

 

Building a Brentwood with a Walk Out Basement

I have a unique opportunity to share the building of this home from the ground up over a number of posts.  My client is taking a wonderful series of photos and as he builds his new home I will share the photos.

This first set is the plans.  From the first day that we met at his site to picking up his permit was ten weeks.

Main Floor Plan:

 

 

Basement Plan:

 

 

Front Elevation:

 

 

 

Rear Elevation:

 

 

For more information go to www.northcoastpackagedhomes.com

 

 

Home Design Trends for 2014

·        Traditional Styled Homes.  More homeowners are looking for traditional styled homes with a contemporary twist.  Hip roofs combined with 10’ ceiling allowing larger windows and a lot of light.  Large covered porches with French doors (or French styled sliding doors) opening the inside to the out of doors.  Asymmetrical facades with front columns and a welcoming entrance.

·        Kitchens.  The tradition of the kitchen at the rear of the house adjacent to the garage is continuing to be a design of the past.  Kitchens are now the central element of the home becoming more of a multitasking area from entertaining to helping children with homework.

·        Spa bathrooms and a Quiet Sitting Room.  With life becoming busier a private place to get away and relax is becoming more a necessity than a luxury.

·        Flexible Space.  Whether a parent joining the household, a child returning home or a home office more and more designs are incorporating a bedroom with an en suite bath and perhaps a sitting room with a private exterior entrance into the home.

·        Energy Efficiency.  Between the new Energy Commission regulations going into effect and more and more building and planning departments adopting CalGreen checklist, building a home that is not energy efficient is no longer an option.  Using a framing package aids in meeting some of the requirements.

But as always the most important thing is to carefully consider all of your own personal needs when designing your new home.

For more information go to www.northcoastpackagedhomes.com

2013 Title 24 Energy Standards Impacts

Effective January 1, 2014

The California Energy Commission approved upgraded energy compliance requirements that will become effective January 1, 2014.  The new requirements are part of the energy Commission's Net Zero goal for 2020.  The new requirements will require homes to be 20-30% more efficient than the current regulations.  Projects submitted to building departments prior to January 1, 2014 will not be required to meet the new standards.

New 2013 Requirements

Mandatory Enforcement

• All homes will be required to install sealed ductwork and hire an independent Home Energy Rater (HERS) to inspect the duct installation during construction and verify duct leakage does not exceed 6% on new homes and 15% on remodels and additions.
• Install a dedicated electrical outlet for a future demand gas water heater and install a gas pipe sized to provide at least 200,000 BTU demand to the same location.  Installation of gas service is not required.

Upgraded Requirements

• Wall insulation will increase to require installation of rigid insulation on exterior walls or complete additional upgrades in the house to avoid the change.
• Window U-Values and Shading Coefficients will require installation of high efficiency windows.  Typical vinyl windows with dual pane Low-E glass will not meet this requirement.  Windows will require additional high performance coatings (ie. Milgard SuncoatMax) or special tinting. Credit for installing most industry standard Low-E windows will be eliminated.
• Homes with significant cooling demands (ie. Central Valley and Inland Valleys) will be required to install a Commission approved whole house fan with automatic insulated shutters, or complete additional upgrades.
• All hot water pipes 3/4" and larger will require insulation, not just the hot water line to the kitchen sink.
• Lights in the garage, lanndry room and utility rooms must be high efficiency and installed with special "vacancy censors".
• Lights recessed into the ceiling, no matter where they are located, will require gaskets and sealing.
• Return grilles on air conditioning systems have new sizing requirements.  Anticipate grille size to increase by 50-100%.
• Additions and alterations will require a special HERS inspection during design to determine existing conditions in order to take credit for any improvements to the house (ie. ceiling insulation, window upgrades, heating and air conditioning upgrades, etc.).

It is anticipated that the new requirements will add as much as $10,000 to $15,000 per project.

For more information go to www.northcoastpackagedhomes.com