High Quality Home for Only $150K
Three Days — Expected On-Site Time to Assemble Enhanced Shell of the Home
Walpole, NH - If you were to compare the world of home building and design to the fashion industry, then it could easily be said that "smaller" is the new black. Factors such as the economic downturn, a more difficult banking and lending environment, and the continued focus on sustainability and energy efficiency have all contributed to a shift towards building smaller, more affordable homes.
In this new and ever changing environment, design/build firms like Bensonwood Homes need to practice "adaptability" in order to meet the new realities of the industry. That's why Bensonwood Homes has developed a new system enabling the company to build a complete house from foundation to roof for only $150,000. This price includes the foundation, excavation, assembly and installation of fixtures and quality finishes.
"What's happened is that all of a sudden this is kind of the new normal, with smaller budgets and buyers wanting smaller, more efficient homes, so companies like ours are finding a way to meet their needs within the new economic realities," said Tedd Benson, founder of Bensonwood Homes.
The home, being built in Southwest New Hampshire, is approximately 1,000 square feet on one level. The living area and two bedrooms feature cathedral ceilings, while the bath and central closets have a flat ceiling with access for storage and mechanical systems. The home is designed to be full of natural light and will have a grand volume in the living area. The enhanced shell of the home including siding and windows is expected to be completed in May in only three on-site working days.
"With this home we are able to maintain the standards that are the hallmarks of a Bensonwood home without sacrificing quality, such as well insulated walls, and an extremely tight thermal envelope," adds Benson. (Read more in Tedd's blog and see pictures of the home being built in the shop at www.teddbenson.com. Follow updates and the on-site assembly of the home with pictures and video on Twitter - @Bensonwood or on Facebook - Bensonwood Homes).
Some keys to achieving the cost/quality balance were Bensonwood's design and off-site fabrication processes as well as a new system enabling Bensonwood to pre-install exterior doors within wall panels. Previously, when shipping a finished wall panel to a construction site, Bensonwood was unable to include exterior doors because of variations between the floor and the door jamb.
As a result of these innovations and improvements in its offsite building system, Bensonwood is able to complete multiple elements of the home simultaneously. The wall elements are framed, sheathed, insulated and have their windows installed at the factory in the same day. Interior and exterior finishes are also applied at the same time, with entire wall sections being shipped to the site complete with siding, windows, wiring, plumbing and other elements pre-installed.
"We are paying very careful attention to what is wanted and needed by homebuyers. This house shows that we can meet current market realities without sacrificing quality," continues Benson. "We see this as an emerging business model, where people now want homes that are smaller, better, more energy efficient and cheaper. We can do that."
About Bensonwood: For more than 30 years, Bensonwood has delivered uncompromising quality and innovation in timber frame, hybrid and high-performance building. Through its unique Open-Built® system, Bensonwood incorporates advanced technologies and environmentally responsible practices in all its buildings including a line of customizable, Net Zero homes the company has developed (www.bensonwood.com/unity). Bensonwood was also featured recently in 16 episodes of PBS's "This Old House," designing and building a high performance, eco-friendly home in Weston, MA. Winner of PATH's 2006 Innovative Small Builder of the Year award, and Residential Contractor magazine's "2008 Builder of the Year," Bensonwood is a nationally recognized designer/builder of residential and commercial structures.
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