Replies

1. 
   RickDeckard | Feb 03, 2005 08:50am | #1

   You know, I looked far and wide and couldn't find any out west and they all seemed to be in the Northeast. I found a great one in Quebec, but I don't remember the name.

   Then suddenly, I started finding them by the boatload in my area. I did a lot of internet searching before finally looking in the Yellow Pages and finding one (a dealer, not a factory) right close by. I was able to go visit and see two of their houses in progress.

   I have to say, for all the "factory precision" talk you hear about, that isn't what I saw. I saw shear walls nailed on an 8" schedule or so, which would have been fine if the nails weren't 1/2" away from the stud!

   Lots of cracked studs and lots of wasted lumber (thus lots of thermal bridging). If there's any way I can afford it, I'll will do SIPs or something alternative, then a "modern" framer and last one of these "precision" walls. That said, if the cost savings were great, it might be worth it.

2. 
   aimless | Feb 03, 2005 06:05pm | #2

   Perhaps you should post this on the forum that is related to Fine Homebuilding? Look near the top of your screen and click on 'Breaktime'.

1. 
   NorthRd | Feb 04, 2005 01:19am | #3

   thank you....

    

3. 
   spinnm | Feb 04, 2005 06:45am | #4

   I built my last house this way.  One of the large lumber yards here does it.  I "assumed" that it would be somewhat like modular housing...done on a jig, precision.

   What I discovered after the fact, was they had a bunch of clueless kids building wall sections on the floor.  The ROs were all wrong thanks to their CAD guy.  They sent a couple of kids out to fix them.  After about 3 hrs, we ran them off.  Framer fixed and we cross-charged the lumber co.

   In other words, check more than I did.  Don't assume.  It's a time-saver if they're perfect.  If not, an expert framing crew can probably do it faster.

   ShelleyinNM

4. 
   panelguy | Feb 06, 2005 04:46am | #5

   I work for a pre-fabricated housing company in Ottawa, Canada and we build wall panels for the packages we ship to Japan, the UK, Ireland, the Bahamas and the US. I agree with everything that Mr. Ruiz has outlined in his article. Our clients vary and the reasons they use our panelised system also varies. It may be lack of skilled carpenters, expensive labour costs, desire for a better product (e.g. factory-built, controlled environment), etc. We think about how the building is going to be put together so once it reaches the site all of the hard work is done. There are no unexpected problems. We even supply with some of our packages pre-cut roof rafters and floor systems (or floor cassettes). Please take a look at our web site http://www.dac.ca and you will see that we have done a lot of work in Maryland and on Nantucket Island.

5. 
   AndyEngel | Feb 25, 2005 07:00pm | #6

   Try BT Building Systems in, I think, Seymour, CT.

   Andy Engel

   Senior editor, Fine Woodworking magazine

   Other people can talk about how to expand the destiny of mankind. I just want to talk about how to fix a motorcycle. I think that what I have to say has more lasting value. --Robert M. Pirsig

6. 
   terminator | Feb 26, 2005 04:08am | #7

   try Pre Bilt in Branford Ct 1-800-427-2113. worked on a few jobs that used them and was impressed about the quality and expertise...

1. 
   steveony | Mar 01, 2005 07:32am | #8

   I live in Saratoga NY and am about to build a spec house with Harvest Homes located outside of Albany.  Also try Barden Homes near Syracuse.  Both available on the net.