Hi to all:
I’m a newbie to this board and I hope you’ll be patient with me. I am going to inherit my mom’s house soon, a 1950’s 2-1/2 bed, 1 bath slab. Now come the questions, in no particular order or sense:
1) I want to tear out part of the house and put in a basement. I’d like to size it so I can get some modular units and just drop them right in. Is this possible? To use modular or panelized units for an “addition?”
2) Can anybody recommend a modular or panelized company/contractor in No. Ill. or So. WI that I could talk with. I can’t find one.
3) Can I put a basement beneath a garage if I use steel beams to support the garage floor?
4) Can anybody recommend some books on modular or panelized construction so I get more familiar with this method?
Thanks for any help. I’m sure I’ll have more questions in the future and hopefully will be able to contriute as well. – Dan
Replies
I've worked in the truss and wall panel business for a long time. Never had any direct dealings with modulars.
I doubt prefabrication would be much of an option on an addition. (Unless it was a HUGE addition) A lot of preliminary design and engineering work goes into panelization. It just isn't worth all the time it takes to get everything set up right for a small job.
There are no books on panelization that I know of. It's done differently everywhere, so it would be hard to write anything about it.
There are 2 panelizers in northern Illinois that I know of:
Best Homes, Inc. (I used to work there)
1230 W. 171st St.
Hazel Crest, IL 60429
Phone: 708/335-2000
Fax: 708/335-4891
Contact: Norris Cain or Scott Arquilla
Walnut Custom Homes, Inc. (Small, family owned place, I think)
PO Box 605
Walnut, IL 61376
Phone: 815/379-2151
Fax: 815/379-2011
Contact: Bonnie Kepner
The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin. -- Mark Twain
"3) Can I put a basement beneath a garage if I use steel beams to support the garage floor?"
Yes. I have a 24 x 24 garage with a single beam and center post. Temporary shoring and forming was used and the garage slab was poured. That is the way that it is commonly done in my area.
In other areas they use preformed, prestressed slab (span crete) and set them on the foundation.
That is an expensive way to just get a little more area. But if you have a sloping lot where you would need tall foundation walls and lots of fill anyway then it is a good way to go.
Depending now you are going to use the basement space you will need to insulate the basement ceiling. There are now several ICF systems available for this and if I was redoing it now I certain would look at using one of those systems.