Pre-Fabricated Homes
Presented by Pacific Sierra Corporation
Prefabricated Homes in Hawaii:
A Unique Approach
Looking for an efficient way to build your dream home in Hawaii?
Did you know that traditional prefab homes are rarely found in Hawaii?
Prefabricated homes can be made more inexpensively because they are built in a factory out of the weather and can be built 5 days a week every week before being taken to the home site. However, in Hawaii things are different; everything has to be shipped into the island in shipping containers. So mainland modular homes, and double wide homes face hurdles like risk of damage during transport, increased shipping costs, and increased transportation costs.
But there are prefab homes in Hawaii; the catch is they have to be able to fit into a container. Therefore, in Hawaii, one of the ways to fit your prefabricated home into a container is to build a kit home or a panelized home. When Hawaiians refer to a prefab home they often are referring to a panelized home. This is where all of the wall panels are made in a factory and numbered, so the walls can be assembled on site.
The panelized home requires only a traditional foundation, and subfloor, and then a crane can be used to lift the panels for the walls into place from the container. This allows the home to be built in 2 to 3 days with much less labor and overall expense.
Building Your Dream Home on the Maui Beach
A Custom Prefabricated Home Build from the Mainland
A wealthy attorney who was a Pepperdine University graduate sought to build his dream home on one of Maui’s beaches, where he had purchased land. However, now he faced two hurdles: first he wanted to build it quickly, and secondly he lived on the mainland and could not spend months in Hawaii while his 3,000 square foot home was being built, to ensure quality work was done without his presence.
A friend recommended Pacific Sierra Corporation, a Portland, Oregon-based home design firm with 50 years of experience specializing in Hawaiian home construction. Their innovative method of custom home plans that could be built using prefabricated panelized home sections that can be shipped to Hawaii in containers and assembled, by local construction workers that were known to be reliable, gave the perfect solution to the attorney’s problem.
Pacific Sierra’s experience facilitating the permitting process allowed the attorney to navigate the permitting paperwork, and ensure it complied with local regulations.
The home build progressed quickly after laying the foundation and subfloor, the prefabricated panels were then able to be erected in two days, followed by the trusses and roof. This effective solution handled Hawaii’s building issues, including a manpower scarcity and high labor rates.
As an owner-builder, the attorney was able to save 25% to 30% on the construction costs. Pacific Sierra Corporation’s collaboration and broad network of dependable subcontractors, built up over five decades, ensured quality work.
From groundbreaking to completion the construction took five months, which is short for a home of its size and location. The finished product featured all of the features that the client requested, and shows that prefabricated panelized construction does not completely limit design options.
The home was intended to survive Hawaii’s peculiar coastal storms, and it served as an example of efficient, high-quality construction. The client, was very satisfied with the finished outcome. His dream of owning a beach home on Maui was accomplished swiftly and under budget thanks to Pacific Sierra Corporation’s competence and support throughout the process.
A Dream Home on the Cliffs of Maui
Challenges of Building a Home with a View from a Cliff
A national cell tower executive who had purchased land on Maui, was looking to build his perfect retirement home, on the breathtaking cliffs of Maui, he was not aware that building a home in such a location presented significant challenges. His main concern was how to get the home built quickly despite Hawaii’s construction labor shortage. He was not fully aware of the high construction costs of Hawaii, nor the logistical hurdles of building on a cliff.
In order to get the home built quickly, Pacific Sierra Corporation recommended building a prefabricated panelized home that would be built on the mainland, and then shipped in containers to Hawaii. This solution gave him the 3,000-square-foot home he wanted along with a custom floor plan and features of his choice.
One of the greatest obstacles was delivering the building materials to the top of the cliff. Initially, a helicopter was contemplated, but later a truck driver was found who would drive the materials up the narrow, winding drive to the building site.
The construction process began with clearing the land and pouring the foundation. Once the flooring was installed, the prefabricated panels arrived. In an impressive demonstration of efficiency, the crew was able to erect the interior and exterior walls in a few days without the assistance of a crane. The trusses were then installed on top, allowing the home to be finished swiftly.
As an owner-builder guided by Pacific Sierra, the customer saved approximately 25% on building expenditures. The company’s skill in facilitating owner-builders to navigate Hawaii’s complex permitting systems was critical, and removed a usual source of expense, delays, and irritation for many people who build a home.
Despite the tough location and innovative construction method, the home did not sacrifice quality or individuality. The panelized technique enabled the same level of personalization as a typical stick built home, ensuring the client’s vision was completely fulfilled.
The entire construction process, from start to finish, took just five months – a remarkably short time for a project of this scale in such a challenging location.
Upon completion, the client was thrilled with his new cliff-top home. The stunning views, and significant cost savings all contributed to his satisfaction. Pacific Sierra had successfully facilitated a building challenge into a dream home, proving that even ambitious Hawaiian home projects can become a reality.
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Sunday - Closed
