Homes built for RV's
Does anyone know where I can get some pics/ideas/plans for homes built to accomodate Class As? My idea, upon retirement, is to build a new home, closer to the east coast. Want to build it with an atta...
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You might also consider another book that I found on Amazon.com
Well two books. One I am reading now is called Building With SIPS - structually insulated panel construction. Living in Oregon, with 9 months of rain and a short summer to build in, I wanted a home to go up fast, and be air tight in the common 50 MPH winds in this area. SIPS will meet all those needs, and can be R-30 walls and ceilings. They make them up to 16' wide and 36' long. Those are installed by a crane. More a problem fitting them onto a truck for transportation, than the ability to build the outer skins a certain size anymore. 12' wide can be stood up on a truck for transportation, or stacked 10' tall by using wide load trucks. Each panel has about 8" of insulation and is covered with 1/2" OSB on each side, that will take the load of the building and transfer it to the floors or foundation.
The whole house can be planned out in about 2 months (The county takes the most time to approve everything) and the SIP construction is fairly quick. Normal backlog once the County approves the plan is only a couple of weeks. This is the same time it will take to prep the foundation, and install the sewer lines.
Once the panels are delivered, some use a panel construction company to set everything up, and they have the house sealed up with a roof installed within 5 days. A crane is used in setting the roof and any beams. Construction forklifts can handle the smaller 8' wide panels. They can be 16 - 20' tall if you desire a two story place. Some roof panels are 9'X 36' jumbo panels (do not require a special wide load truck to deliver a stack of them). I plan on having 3' overhangs to shade the sidewalls of the home, and provide passive cooling to prevent as much sun on the windows in the summer time.
You should also consider "What your contractor will not tell you" and you should know. It offers tips, like your contractor might sbid on a house that has no paint in the bid, or no front light fixtures, or any fixtures at all for the bathrooms. The contractor will bid the contract, and install everything included in that contract. If you forgot to include copper piping in the walls, it will require a change notice. Do you think the contractor will offer the best price after you have committed to build with them? Probably a little higher than the lowest bidder would have given you.
If you have no front porch light, the city will not give you a permit to occupy the building. You will require a minimal amount of lighting, and many states require at least some florescent lights, or more energy efficient lights throughout the home. For example City of Long Beach CA requires only florescent lights in the bathrooms. You could use LED lights too, it is a option that is more energy efficient. If the contracts do not list any light fixtures, do not expect the builder to install anything for free. Normally they will suggest another chance notice.
My buddy had a neighbor build on a addition to his home, and coated it with stucco to match the existing house siding. When the windows where installed, carpet down, and doors done, the builder presented the homeowner with a bill, he was complete. The neighbor asked "What about the stucco?" It was still gray cement, not the same color as the house. Checking the contract, they found no color specified, so yes the house was built without need to paint it. Lucky the friend was a painter, and they mixed a batch of color, and painted the final stucco coat for about $100. (it is tinted concrete, so the color will last some 50 years).
Just some things to think about!
Good luck on your home,
Fred.
Well two books. One I am reading now is called Building With SIPS - structually insulated panel construction. Living in Oregon, with 9 months of rain and a short summer to build in, I wanted a home to go up fast, and be air tight in the common 50 MPH winds in this area. SIPS will meet all those needs, and can be R-30 walls and ceilings. They make them up to 16' wide and 36' long. Those are installed by a crane. More a problem fitting them onto a truck for transportation, than the ability to build the outer skins a certain size anymore. 12' wide can be stood up on a truck for transportation, or stacked 10' tall by using wide load trucks. Each panel has about 8" of insulation and is covered with 1/2" OSB on each side, that will take the load of the building and transfer it to the floors or foundation.
The whole house can be planned out in about 2 months (The county takes the most time to approve everything) and the SIP construction is fairly quick. Normal backlog once the County approves the plan is only a couple of weeks. This is the same time it will take to prep the foundation, and install the sewer lines.
Once the panels are delivered, some use a panel construction company to set everything up, and they have the house sealed up with a roof installed within 5 days. A crane is used in setting the roof and any beams. Construction forklifts can handle the smaller 8' wide panels. They can be 16 - 20' tall if you desire a two story place. Some roof panels are 9'X 36' jumbo panels (do not require a special wide load truck to deliver a stack of them). I plan on having 3' overhangs to shade the sidewalls of the home, and provide passive cooling to prevent as much sun on the windows in the summer time.
You should also consider "What your contractor will not tell you" and you should know. It offers tips, like your contractor might sbid on a house that has no paint in the bid, or no front light fixtures, or any fixtures at all for the bathrooms. The contractor will bid the contract, and install everything included in that contract. If you forgot to include copper piping in the walls, it will require a change notice. Do you think the contractor will offer the best price after you have committed to build with them? Probably a little higher than the lowest bidder would have given you.
If you have no front porch light, the city will not give you a permit to occupy the building. You will require a minimal amount of lighting, and many states require at least some florescent lights, or more energy efficient lights throughout the home. For example City of Long Beach CA requires only florescent lights in the bathrooms. You could use LED lights too, it is a option that is more energy efficient. If the contracts do not list any light fixtures, do not expect the builder to install anything for free. Normally they will suggest another chance notice.
My buddy had a neighbor build on a addition to his home, and coated it with stucco to match the existing house siding. When the windows where installed, carpet down, and doors done, the builder presented the homeowner with a bill, he was complete. The neighbor asked "What about the stucco?" It was still gray cement, not the same color as the house. Checking the contract, they found no color specified, so yes the house was built without need to paint it. Lucky the friend was a painter, and they mixed a batch of color, and painted the final stucco coat for about $100. (it is tinted concrete, so the color will last some 50 years).
Just some things to think about!
Good luck on your home,
Fred.
