Envision Prefab Ships e-House to Florida

[Sponsor article from Envision Prefab]

UPDATE 3/16/09 - Envision Prefab has gone dark.  The website was shut down.  Apparently, the company was sold to some company in Panama -- Aaron Newman says the terms of the sale are confidential.  If you have any concerns, feel free to contact us. 

Container architecture has taken on various forms over the last few years. We’ve seen many building types constructed with creativity as architects and developers experimented with cargo containers, from office buildings to apartments, and single-family homes. South Florida based company, Envision Prefab, is bringing container architecture to a new level by creating complete modular housing out of these frames. Envision has tracked the progress of a model home from its initial cutting and through the factory process, ready to be shipped. If you've ever thought about using containers in home design, make sure to read below:

The home starts with the basic cargo containers. Factory technicians mark out the windows, doors, mechanical, and plumbing vents and cut through the corrugated metal walls. The interior wall is completely removed, and the containers are braced to prevent any deflections. In the future living room, the original container doors are welded open, and a balcony is created. Once the welding is finished, the containers are sand blasted and coated with an anti-rust primer before construction resumes.

When the home is back in place, framing begins. Using steel studs, the crew frames the exterior walls and the ceiling. When the framing is in place, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical crews come in for the rough work.

Next, the insulation crew comes out to the site. The modules are lifted onto large benches, where closed cell spray foam insulation is applied generously underneath the home and to its walls.

The walls are now ready to be covered. The exterior sheathing and house wrap is applied, and the windows and doors are installed. Inside the home, the drywall crew hangs sheetrock on the walls and ceiling. In the last stage of construction, the kitchen cabinetry and bathroom vanities are installed. Some fixtures, such as flooring, are installed after transportation out of necessity. The home is now ready to be shipped to its final destination!

Envision Prefab’s model home, the “e-House,” was developed to meet the standards of all major green building programs, whether EnergyStar for Modular, LEED-H, or The National Green Building Standards. The home boasts such features as a Solar Energy system, smart home lighting, and greywater recycling, as well as innovative additions like an organic waste composting machine, and custom made recycling center.

e-House was designed to educate homeowners about sustainability. In a recent interview, CEO Aaron Newman said, “Green is about more than just features, it’s about lifestyle and living with consciousness."

This e-House here is set to ship to West Palm Beach, Florida, where it will be for sale early next year. More information will be posted on www.envisionprefab.com.