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Panelized house package used by Bedford (PHOTOS)

On Friday, September 15, 2007, Bedford Habitat for Humanity received a panelized house package from New Hope Construction, a non-profit manufacturer located in Hendersonville, TN. A large truck containing nearly everything needed to build the home arrived promptly at 8AM. Immediately volunteers were involved in unloading the truck while many of the experienced laborers and Bedford Habitat regulars finished construction on the floor of the home. Although New Hope packages usually include flooring materials, Bedford HFH opted to build the flooring themselves, so that walls could be put up on the first day.

Many of the materials for the latter stages of construction (cabinets, paint, etc.) were taken to a warehouse. It must be emphasized that there is a critical need for warehouse or storage space when using pre-framed packages, unless of course it is possible to have as-needed delivery of materials. It is likewise critical to have the foundation set before the building materials arrive, for raising the walls on the first day reduces the need for warehouse or storage space.

Within the first few hours, the flooring had been set and all the necessary materials had been taken to the warehouse. Work then began on raising the exterior wall panels. All of the panels were numbered, which made assembly quick and easy. The volunteers loved the symbolic act of raising the walls together. Once those were secured, work then began on installing the interior wall frames, which were also numbered. By the end of the day, the house had gone from a foundation to a structure with floors, walls, and siding.

The second day started with installing the roof system. First the trusses were raised, as volunteers lifted the numbered trusses up to the more experienced builders who installed them. In no time the roofing structure was complete and the plywood roof was being fitted. All of the plywood is pre-marked with chalk lines to make nailing more efficient. From there the roofer’s felt was put over the plywood, as many of the skilled builders worked on building an overhang to improve the appearance of the house from the street. By the end of the second day, the entire roof apparatus had been installed, except for the shingles.

In sum, the pre-framed construction package was a perfect fit for Bedford HFH. The volunteers were very active in the construction process, and were not dismayed by the prefabricated pieces. The package also allowed Bedford Habitat to make enormous progress over a very short period of time. Going from a foundation to a house structure complete with a roof in only two days is an amazing accomplishment, and would not have been possible were it not for the pre-framed package. Furthermore, buying from a manufacturer is often times cheaper than building a traditional stick frame house. It was not necessary for Bedford HFH to hire an architect or spend useful time contemplating house designs. The pre-framed system also made it possible to maximize the use of materials, producing less waste.

In short, this account should make it clear that many affiliates could benefit from purchasing pre-framed housing packages. It could be particularly useful to more rural affiliates that may lack paid staff or a steady stream of volunteers.

Click here to see the pictures of this build

(12/15/07)