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Questions and AnswersThis section is a constant work in progress, so make sure you visit often! We are striving to make sure that we answer as many questions as we can for you on-line, so we can get you started on your EZ
Home Kits cabin, home or building as soon as possible!
- What IS pre-built, panelized construction?
- What comes in an EZ Home Kits package?
- How do they compare to modular, manufactured or mobile homes?
- How durable is the Log Cabin Siding or Cedar Siding?
- What is the difference between Log Siding and Cedar Siding?
- How long does it take to erect a pre-built, panelized model?
- How does an EZ Home Kits package save you $$$?
- How expensive is shipping?
- How long does it take to get the kit package?
- How much will my cabin, home or building REALLY cost?
- What if I wanted a Custom Designed Cabin, Home or Building?
* Return to the top of the page * Q: I love these
cabins and homes, but what IS a pre-built, panelized construction kit? A: Click on the links to learn a lot more about
Panelized Building Systems and see a project breakdown of Panelized vs
Stick-Built construction costs and savings...
The EZ Home Kits packages are cost-effective "pre-built," panelized structures, built with solid 2x6 frame construction (see
lots of photos showing several models being erected, accessible in our Construction Gallery).
If you are looking for a cabin, home or building that is frame construction, built with quality materials and components, is quick and simple to
assemble and live or work in, they are the perfect choice. You can save money, time and labor (both of which also save $$$) with an EZ Home Kits package. The cabins, houses and buildings designed as EZ Home Kits are similar to "stick-built" homes or
buildings you see being built on a site. The big difference is that we pre-build and precut the entire cabin, home or building and YOU save BIG $$$ on construction and material costs - PLUS - you save a tremendous amount of time in constructing your cabin, home or building... for example:
- The exterior wall systems are in panels! You just set them up and nail
them together, and your wall system is finished - no framing or cutting!
- The entire roof system and roof is included, with asphalt shingle roofs (metal roofs are available as an option).
- All of your major components are either pre-cut (no expensive lumber waste) and/or pre-assembled. Your roof and floor systems are fast and easy to erect - in fact, the entire first floor systems (in most models 1200 sq. ft. and
smaller) can have the entire joist system pre-built and ready to install.
- The exterior siding comes standard with vinyl siding, but you can choose
wood, hardiplank or even cedar or Log Cabin Siding.
- Pre-cut materials are all clearly number coded and ready to assemble for Interior walls, decks and porches, etc.
- All the Nails, Joist Hangers, Beam Hangers, Frame Anchors, Glues and Caulking Required to Erect Package are included.
- Bottom line, the obvious advantage of this system is that you can avoid most of the time and expense of the construction phase. Your EZ Home Kits cabin, home or building kit package comes
ready to nail together, with panels and components clearly marked and instructions for easy assembling. Some of the models, like the Koala or even the Kodiak (click here to see
delivery and construction photos of the Kodiak), can be assembled in less than a day!
* Return to the top of the page * Q: What comes in
a EZ Home Kits package? A: To see what is included in a EZ Home Kits Package, visit our "What's Included" Pages. * Return to the top of the page *
Q: How do they compare to modular, manufactured or mobile homes? A: The only real similarity is that the wall, floor and roof
systems are pre-built off site. Because our panelized system offers traditional, solid 2x6 frame construction, you won't experience the obstructions in building, zoning and association codes that are frequently associated with modular, manufactured or mobile homes.
It is important to consider the value of manufactured housing vs traditional 2x6 frame construction, too. If you check with a Realtor, you will find that manufactured homes generally have a depreciating real estate value - that's not to say that they aren't well built -
unfortunately, manufactured/mobile homes are sometimes treated differently in real estate value. For those people who like Log Homes, but have difficulty getting approvals for a Log Home, these homes are an excellent alternative - with the Log Siding, they look
like Log Cabins, Log Homes or Log Buildings. (See some of the model photos)
* Return to the top of the page *Q: How durable is the Log Cabin Siding?
A: Maintenance and durability do not have to be a concern. We recommend the Sikkens Wood Coatings for protection and preservation of Log Siding.
We support the Akzo Nobel "Sikkens Wood Coatings" products for a good reason -- there simply are no products available that even compare. This is not just our opinion -- check these superb products out with publications like Consumer Reports - and
many other resources, including anyone who knows and works with wood. With the Sikkens Cetol System, you coat the front and back of the Log Cabin Siding with Cetol 1 (using the brush method), then apply two coats of Cetol 23+ (spraying it on), and your
next maintenance will be years away. Even then, 3-5 years later, maintenance is a very simple procedure -- you pressure wash the siding (or logs, etc.), then spray on another top coat! This can be a project that takes only a few short hours.
One point worth noting... we have spent many hours re-educating professionals who tell stories about how they have seen problems -- such as pine wood deteriorating much faster than cedar under certain weather conditions, or, how their experience has been that they
have seen that the maintenance demands of wood are very high, and other, similar claims. In each case, we had them trace the circumstances, and every time the result has been the same -- the wood was wet or low quality, and/or, the wood was not properly prepared and preserved, usually using a
low-cost, low-quality finish. If you have any special or specific questions about wood, wood preservation or wood maintenance, we encourage you to send them to us. We will research your questions and get back to you quickly.
* Return to the top of the page * Q:
What is the difference between Log Siding and Cedar Siding? A: Preference, convenience, appearance and size.
Log siding gives the "Log Look" to your home, cedar siding is more contemporary
- preference in taste AND appearance is the deciding factor of difference... Log siding is a horizontal siding, so it must be
prepped and installed after you get it - making Log Siding vs Cedar Siding a choice of convenience vs. personal needs or tastes... Log Siding is 2"x 8" (finished size is about 1 1/2" x 6 3/4"), cedar siding is 1"x 6" (finished size is about 11/16" x 5 1/2") - so, sometimes, the size difference
is a significant factor to the energy-minded customer... For those people who like Log Homes, but have difficulty getting approvals for a Log Home, these homes are an excellent alternative - with the Log Siding, they look like Log Cabins, Log Homes or Log
Buildings. (See some of the model photos)
* Return to the top of the page *Q:
How long does it take to erect/construct an EZ Home Kits home or cabin model? A: The answer is (obviously) dependent on who is doing the construction, and how they are doing it... For example, we have a lot of "weekend do-it-yourselfers" - if
only one person is doing the majority of the work, and is only devoting a few hours a week, it will take several weeks for a home of average size. However, if that same person were constructing the same house from scratch, devoting an equal amount of time, the construction time would be MANY
months!
Our rule of thumb is that a crew of 4 can erect a 1600 sq. ft. home - to the "lock-up" stage, in approximately 15 days. This assumes that the foundation is already in (usually the foundation is completed while the customer is waiting for delivery). The
"finishing" stage is very dependent on the contractors or owner-builder who is performing the myriad tasks ranging from electrical and plumbing to installing the kitchen cabinets and flooring...
* Return to the top of the page * Q: How expensive
is shipping?
A: We sell all over the world. To keep the shipping costs to U.S. locations as low as possible, we have multiple, continent-wide production/manufacturing resources. We also use many freight-brokering resources so that we can ship "LTL" (less than a truckload), and
keep the cost of even a small single shipment down. We cannot provide final shipping charge quotes until we receive an order. At that time, we reduce the cost as much as possible by either coordinating your load with our other shipments, or, send it to one
of our freight-brokers, who then locates a shipment going to your region and arranges it with the load for cost-sharing.
For a better idea of "Average Starting" costs, please fill out an Info/Quote Form by clicking here.
* Return to the top of the page * Q: How long does it take to get the
kit package? A: Depending on the season (spring and summer are very busy!), our "lead time" varies from 6 to 12 weeks. * Return to the top of the
page *
Q: How much will a completed cabin, home or building REALLY cost? A: We are asked this question a lot! Our EZ Home Kits
Packages are what we call "Lock-Up" kits. This means that most of the materials needed to build a complete structure - a home, cabin, building, etc., is included and either pre-cut and/or pre-assembled for quick, easy assembly on your site. There are
certainly "completed" (turnkey) costs that are not covered in our packages - plumbing, heating, electrical, wall and floor liners, appliances, carpeting, construction teams, permits, etc. Our newsletter "My Building News" provides a lot of
cost-savings info and resources - if you haven't already subscribed, please do yourself a favor and do it now! * Return to the top of the page *
Q: What if I want a Custom Designed Building Package? A: No problem! We will gladly help you design any cabin, home or building, or modify an existing plan to suit your needs. Basically it doesn't matter whose design or plan you choose - we can panelize
almost any home or building design, and the cost of precision factory-panelized construction will save you a LOT of money over site-built construction.
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