This is by no means an exhaustive list of what's available in the area of
prefabricated homes and buildings. This article is to introduce you to the world
prefab. If you're in the industry, you'll probably be cringing about now at the
word "prefab". But, the word is one that has become synonymous with homes and
buildings that have been partially or fully assembled in a factory setting.I for
one am excited to see the latest versions of modern prefabs emerging globally.
They're well thought out, beautiful, and energy-efficient.And to anyone who has
any doubts about the quality of today's prefab homes, I'd ask, would you rather
buy a house whose parts have all been crafted outdoors exposed to the elements
-- by hand. Or, would you rather buy a house built in a factory setting to tight
specs exceeding that of site-built homes. I say exceeding, because a normal
site-built home doesn't have to endure the rigors of transportation.For your
review, here are quick descriptions of 10 of the many categories of prefab homes
available for exploring at http://PrefabExpo.com - in no particular order:1.
ManufacturedSingle-family residential dwellings consisting of one, two or more
sectional units and constructed to Federal HUD code. Zoning regulations and
ordinances of the local Municipality or County might not permit use of mobile
and manufactured homes in all areas of their jurisdiction.2. ModularModular
refers to a method of building a home, rather than a type of home. A modular
home can be built in a factory from a stock modular home plan or from a
customized plan, to the state, local or regional codes of where the home will be
set up. Modular homes have not typically experienced the zoning restrictions and
discriminative ordinances applicable to manufactured and mobile homes.3.
PanelizedPanelized homes are factory-built homes in which panels whole walls
with windows, doors, wiring, and outside siding are transported to the site and
assembled. Panels are made from insulating foam sandwiched between two layers of
structural material. The panels are lightweight and might already be filled with
insulation when they arrive on the site. The homes must meet the state or local
building codes of where they are sited.4. Steel-frameSteel framing is an
equivalent to conventional stick frame or post & beam home design where the
structural lumber is replaced by steel studs and trusses or steel posts and
beams. Light-Gauge Framing System features screw-together, galvanized
stud-and-truss, grid-type construction system built on 4-foot center.Red-Iron
Metal Post & Beam Systems features bolt-together, pre-engineered
post-and-beam-type framing system that uses the red-iron steel "C" beams on
8-foot center. The prefabricated home built with this method can be
single-story, two-story, and even tri-level home.Unlike conventional wood framed
home that requires interior walls to support the roof, the higher
strength-to-weight ratio of steel house allows to span greater distances with
less material and fewer supports. The result is higher floor layout and interior
design flexibility.Unlike wood, steel won't shrink, rot, warp, buckle, split, or
be attacked by insects. This results in greater durability, lower long-term
maintenance, higher energy efficiency and overall greater quality of this
prefabricated home.5. PrecutThis category includes wood-framed factory-built
houses or cabins where building materials are factory-cut to design
specifications and transported to the site to be assembled. PrefabExpo.com
presents prefab building kits designed as wood-framed (also known as
balloon-frame, 2 x 4, 2 x 6 or stick-built construction) as well as
prefabricated home kit/cabin kit using post-frame method. The homes or cabins
must meet local or state building codes of the area where they will be sited.6.
CedarAccording to Katahdin Cedar Log Homes, Cedar is aromatic to people, and
problematic to insects: The heartwood of northern white cedar produces organic
compounds called thujaplicins which create that fresh, pleasant cedar aroma.
But to insect pests, such as moths and termites, cedar just plain stinks. Theyll
avoid cedar homes and instead search out inviting, tasty pine structures.Cedar
home kits include everything you need to build the home, itself. That is to say,
the walls, the floor, the ceiling, the windows and doors. But your foundation,
plumbing and electrical system are not usually included in a kit.7.
TimberframeTimber framing is a specific type of post and beam construction in
which a frame is created from solid wood timbers that are then connected by any
one of the following wooden joints: mortise and tenon, dovetails, or scarfs
secured with hardwood pegs. The frame is covered with any one of a number of
enclosure systems. Normally the timbers remain exposed to the interior of the
building.Timber frame structures exhibit a strength and aesthetic quality not
found in conventionally framed houses. The timbers are pre-cut, shaped, and
finished at the factory, then sent to the construction site, where they can be
quickly assembled by a crew, using cranes to lift the bents and beams into
place. Joinery is the heart of the entire structure.8. LogLog homes provide
their owners with a comforting and relaxing sense of informality and simplicity.
The mass of logs produces heating and cooling benefits, and reduces noise
transmission into and throughout the home. These are very attractive
characteristics, but there are also challenges in construction and limitations
in decorating. These aspects require special design considerations and have
unusual maintenance requirements.Basic Kits Are... WALLS ONLY: The walls-only
log home package includes all the logs for the outside walls, including
fasteners. Roof beams and staircases may be added. STRUCTURAL SHELL: Shell This
package includes everything that's in the walls-only package, plus all
components necessary to keep the weather out, such as exterior doors, windows,
and the roofing system. THE COMPLETE PACKAGE: Complete packages also includes
interior components required to finish log homes. Such items include interior
walls, stairs, closets, interior doors and trim.9. CircularThe circle is the
strongest geometrical shape we recognize, and this factor likely influenced
builders of circular homes for thousands of years. Prefabricated circular
buildings have been built as cabins, studios, homes, offices or community halls
and convention centers.Most of today's prefabricated circular homes and cabins
offered across the country use conventional wood-frame or post & beam
construction method. These homes and cabins are ideally suited to take the full
advantage of locations offering exciting panoramic views, and to incorporate
factor of the surroundings into the home design.10. DomeGeodesic Dome is using
triangular networks forming hexagons and pentagons and creating a free-span,
spacious environment of spherically shaped structure requiring no internal
supports. This results in large flexibility for utilizing interior space to
implement floor designs not limited by structural restrictions. Because of the
structural strength of the shape, the domes have a far better record of
withstanding tornados, hurricanes and earthquakes than cube-shaped structures of
conventional homes.Advantages...MATERIAL COSTS: Geodesic domes provide the
greatest amount of floor area with the least amount of surface area, reducing
the quantity of needed building material by as much as 30-50%. ENERGY
EFFICIENCY: As a result of the shape, the dome has approximately 30-50% less
roof and wall area than cube-shaped home of equal floor space. This results in
lesser area being exposed to the elements, resulting in reduction in heating and
cooling costs of dome shaped structures. Also, the spherical shape of the dome
facilitates natural air flow yielding more even temperatures maximizing overall
interior temperature comfort. Disadvantages... As a result of complicated
angles, the interior and exterior finishing of the dome (after speedy assembly
of the prefabricated shell) is significantly more labor intensive than finishing
the conventional house. Also, the finishing work requires highly skilled or
specialized tradesmen which might not be available at every location. These
factors might present welcoming challenge for the skilled handyman/homebuilder,
but would create substantial cost outlay if hired labor is considered.I for one
am excited to see the latest versions of modern prefabs emerging globally.
They're well thought out, beautiful, and energy-efficient.And to anyone who has
any doubts about the quality of today's prefab homes, I'd ask, would you rather
buy a house whose parts have all been crafted outdoors exposed to the elements
-- by hand. Or, would you rather buy a house built in a factory setting to tight
specs exceeding that of site-built homes. I say exceeding, because a normal
site-built home doesn't have to endure the rigors of transportation.For your
review, here are quick descriptions of 10 of the many categories of prefab homes
available for exploring at http://PrefabExpo.com - in no particular order:1.
ManufacturedSingle-family residential dwellings consisting of one, two or more
sectional units and constructed to Federal HUD code. Zoning regulations and
ordinances of the local Municipality or County might not permit use of mobile
and manufactured homes in all areas of their jurisdiction.2. ModularModular
refers to a method of building a home, rather than a type of home. A modular
home can be built in a factory from a stock modular home plan or from a
customized plan, to the state, local or regional codes of where the home will be
set up. Modular homes have not typically experienced the zoning restrictions and
discriminative ordinances applicable to manufactured and mobile homes.3.
PanelizedPanelized homes are factory-built homes in which panels whole walls
with windows, doors, wiring, and outside siding are transported to the site and
assembled. Panels are made from insulating foam sandwiched between two layers of
structural material. The panels are lightweight and might already be filled with
insulation when they arrive on the site. The homes must meet the state or local
building codes of where they are sited.4. Steel-frameSteel framing is an
equivalent to conventional stick frame or post & beam home design where the
structural lumber is replaced by steel studs and trusses or steel posts and
beams. Light-Gauge Framing System features screw-together, galvanized
stud-and-truss, grid-type construction system built on 4-foot center.Red-Iron
Metal Post & Beam Systems features bolt-together, pre-engineered
post-and-beam-type framing system that uses the red-iron steel "C" beams on
8-foot center. The prefabricated home built with this method can be
single-story, two-story, and even tri-level home.Unlike conventional wood framed
home that requires interior walls to support the roof, the higher
strength-to-weight ratio of steel house allows to span greater distances with
less material and fewer supports. The result is higher floor layout and interior
design flexibility.Unlike wood, steel won't shrink, rot, warp, buckle, split, or
be attacked by insects. This results in greater durability, lower long-term
maintenance, higher energy efficiency and overall greater quality of this
prefabricated home.5. PrecutThis category includes wood-framed factory-built
houses or cabins where building materials are factory-cut to design
specifications and transported to the site to be assembled. PrefabExpo.com
presents prefab building kits designed as wood-framed (also known as
balloon-frame, 2 x 4, 2 x 6 or stick-built construction) as well as
prefabricated home kit/cabin kit using post-frame method. The homes or cabins
must meet local or state building codes of the area where they will be sited.6.
CedarAccording to Katahdin Cedar Log Homes, Cedar is aromatic to people, and
problematic to insects: The heartwood of northern white cedar produces organic
compounds called thujaplicins which create that fresh, pleasant cedar aroma.
But to insect pests, such as moths and termites, cedar just plain stinks. Theyll
avoid cedar homes and instead search out inviting, tasty pine structures.Cedar
home kits include everything you need to build the home, itself. That is to say,
the walls, the floor, the ceiling, the windows and doors. But your foundation,
plumbing and electrical system are not usually included in a kit.7.
TimberframeTimber framing is a specific type of post and beam construction in
which a frame is created from solid wood timbers that are then connected by any
one of the following wooden joints: mortise and tenon, dovetails, or scarfs
secured with hardwood pegs. The frame is covered with any one of a number of
enclosure systems. Normally the timbers remain exposed to the interior of the
building.Timber frame structures exhibit a strength and aesthetic quality not
found in conventionally framed houses. The timbers are pre-cut, shaped, and
finished at the factory, then sent to the construction site, where they can be
quickly assembled by a crew, using cranes to lift the bents and beams into
place. Joinery is the heart of the entire structure.8. LogLog homes provide
their owners with a comforting and relaxing sense of informality and simplicity.
The mass of logs produces heating and cooling benefits, and reduces noise
transmission into and throughout the home. These are very attractive
characteristics, but there are also challenges in construction and limitations
in decorating. These aspects require special design considerations and have
unusual maintenance requirements.Basic Kits Are... WALLS ONLY: The walls-only
log home package includes all the logs for the outside walls, including
fasteners. Roof beams and staircases may be added. STRUCTURAL SHELL: Shell This
package includes everything that's in the walls-only package, plus all
components necessary to keep the weather out, such as exterior doors, windows,
and the roofing system. THE COMPLETE PACKAGE: Complete packages also includes
interior components required to finish log homes. Such items include interior
walls, stairs, closets, interior doors and trim.9. CircularThe circle is the
strongest geometrical shape we recognize, and this factor likely influenced
builders of circular homes for thousands of years. Prefabricated circular
buildings have been built as cabins, studios, homes, offices or community halls
and convention centers.Most of today's prefabricated circular homes and cabins
offered across the country use conventional wood-frame or post & beam
construction method. These homes and cabins are ideally suited to take the full
advantage of locations offering exciting panoramic views, and to incorporate
factor of the surroundings into the home design.10. DomeGeodesic Dome is using
triangular networks forming hexagons and pentagons and creating a free-span,
spacious environment of spherically shaped structure requiring no internal
supports. This results in large flexibility for utilizing interior space to
implement floor designs not limited by structural restrictions. Because of the
structural strength of the shape, the domes have a far better record of
withstanding tornados, hurricanes and earthquakes than cube-shaped structures of
conventional homes.Advantages...MATERIAL COSTS: Geodesic domes provide the
greatest amount of floor area with the least amount of surface area, reducing
the quantity of needed building material by as much as 30-50%. ENERGY
EFFICIENCY: As a result of the shape, the dome has approximately 30-50% less
roof and wall area than cube-shaped home of equal floor space. This results in
lesser area being exposed to the elements, resulting in reduction in heating and
cooling costs of dome shaped structures. Also, the spherical shape of the dome
facilitates natural air flow yielding more even temperatures maximizing overall
interior temperature comfort. Disadvantages... As a result of complicated
angles, the interior and exterior finishing of the dome (after speedy assembly
of the prefabricated shell) is significantly more labor intensive than finishing
the conventional house. Also, the finishing work requires highly skilled or
specialized tradesmen which might not be available at every location. These
factors might present welcoming challenge for the skilled handyman/homebuilder,
but would create substantial cost outlay if hired labor is considered.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Diane is co-creator of the Prefabricated Homes and Buildings
website, PrefabExpo, located on the Internet at http://PrefabExpo.com and enjoys
showing buyers everything that's available to them in the way of Prefabricated
homes, cabins and buildings. - Plant Guide #18478.... Growing Acid-Loving
Plants Growing azaleas, rhododendrons, blueberries, holly, pieris, heather, and
other plants that love acidic and organics soils. One of my fond memories of
being 12 was catching my first shad. Each spring the shad migrate up the
Delaware River to end their life long journey to spawn. Their migration is like
clockwork, arriving exactly on time, like the swallows of Capistrano each year.
In many ways so are the flowers and buds on plants. I remember my shad and the
picture of this trophy. I was standing next to a large azalea in full bloom.
Each year I would see the blooms on that azalea and know that as they swelled so
the shad were approaching. Thus I came to associate the blooms of azaleas with
it's time to go fishing. How smart and lucky I was. For there are so many
varieties and blooming times for azaleas plus some varieties have small second
flushes, that I can now say with absolute certainty that, "It's always time to
go fishing". There are so many varieties of azaleas and rhododendrons that
experts only estimate their approximate number. There are early bloomers and
late season bloomers. Some with large flowers and some with small flowers. Some
are scented. There is a spectrum full of colors and sizes. Some are evergreen
and some deciduous. Thus azaleas and rhododendrons are shrubs for all seasons.
In winter, these plants stand out with large evergreen leaves and bring showy
flowers in the spring. Throughout the summer and fall the leaves add pleasing
green color to the landscape. The intense flowers of azaleas and rhododendrons
make them a popular selection. If you have difficulty telling an azalea from a
rhododendron, stop worrying. Call them all rhododendrons and you will be
correct. If you know how to grow a rhododendron, then you can use the same
cultural principles in growing blueberries, holly, pieris, heather, and other
plants that love acidic and organics soils. Rhododendrons love mild humid
climates. Site selection is important. Many people come to us and report that
they have had little luck in planting rhododendrons and want to try again. Our
suggestion is to first look at your environmental conditions and determine if
you should replant. Rhododendrons are found in nature predominately on north to
east slopes. Here there is less rapid temperature changes and the drying west
and south winds are shielded by natural features. Always protect azaleas and
rhododendrons from wind. Plant with barriers in mind. Barriers can be evergreen
screens, or buildings or slopes. Evergreen screens can help highlight the
blooms. Be mindful that a corner of a building may not offer protection but
actually funnel winds by the plants. Rhododendrons actually like filtered light
better than shade. If your site is full shade consider a pruning of the overhead
trees to allow better light penetration. The soil that you plant Rhododendrons
in should have good drainage. You can run a simple test by digging a six inch
hole and filling it with water. If it is not drained in 4-5 hours you need to
increase the drainage of the site. Rhododendrons have very small delicate roots.
If the soil drains poorly there is probably to much clay. The roots can't
penetrate heavy clays. I would suggest a raised bed or a drain tile to carry
away the excess water. It is difficult to improve poor soils to grow
rhododendrons without creating other problems. Sometimes trees with surface
roots rapidly take over soils that are improved and compete for nutrients. They,
after all have a head start on your new plants. It may make sense to raise up a
bed a whole foot. This gives improved drainage and allows the new plants more
competition free time in getting established. Make sure you have an acidic soil
of 5 to 5.5. If you have a large pine tree rake up its needles and use them as
both a weed barrier and a pH adjuster. There is no good substitute for quality
organic materials being incorporated into your soil. Clay soils are especially
enhanced by organics. Lots of ground pine bark, oak and pine leaf mulches and
topsoil mixed well, works much better than peat. Peat will hold water preventing
oxygen from filtering to the root zone. Peat can also hold moisture for long
periods in the spring and winter. The area that you prepare should be prepared
weeks before you plant. This allows the pH to change. Most of the rhododendrons
and azaleas that we sell are potted. These plants should never be planted so
that their stems are below what it was in the pot. Plantings should always be
about 2" above the surrounding soil. Water the plant well after planting. Native
rhododendrons have very shallow surface roots and have natural mulch and organic
debris covering the surface roots. This conserves moisture and minimizes winter
injury. You want to mirror the natural conditions so using decomposed pine
needles and oak leaves is the best mulch. A layer of two to four inches is
ideal. Keep the layer of mulch away from the stem. The mulch should not be
removed. It should be with the plant for all seasons. It is the plants winter
blanket. It helps keep the plant from winter leaf scorch. If you want your beds
to have designer colors such as red mulch black much, plastic fiber cloth, river
pebbles etc., then plant some other plant, because these plants are delicate and
conditions must be correct or you will have poor results. I don't recommend any
fertilizing of the plants for beginners. If you must add fertilizers make sure
it is for acid loving plants.In nature these plants do well with low nutrient
levels. Their small surface roots can be easily be hurt by over application of
fertilizers. I would use no more than 2 pounds of a 6-10-4 per 100 square feet,
but organic matter that is covering the plant should be perfect. Do not
fertilize after July 1. Fertilizing after this time may force growth during the
winter when the plants should be dormant. The mulch can also act a a natural
weed barrier. As it decomposes add more. Fall is the optimum time to make sure
you have enough mulch. Following these recommendations will help you have
success in raising these plants. See Bill's web site at
HTTP://www.seedlingsrus.com About the Author Bill Has been raising and selling
trees for 45 years near Doylestown Pa. and has two web sites
http://www.seedlingsrus.com and http://www.zone5trees.com
You may view the latest post at
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