Method Homes Prefab Green Modular Homes

Apologies on no blog posts for some time, but we’ve been busy…which is good. We have much exciting news to share but just can’t seem to find the time to do so.

A few quick updates:

-Method is updating our website which should be live before the next Dwell hits the stands! Finally after two years! Look for our add in the back of the annual PreFab issue. Thanks for continuing to support prefab Dwell!

-Method is working on upcoming prefab home projects, and we are fortunate to have a nearly full schedule for the remainder of the year. Check the details of these new projects in updated site….again coming very soon we hope.

-We officially launched Homb in partnership with Skylab Architecture. www.welcomehomb.com This prefab system will revolutionize the way we look at designing and building. Look for a Homb near you very soon.

-Method begins production on our first Seattle infill project next week! With Pb Elemental. www.pbelemental.com We’re excited about this project and all that prefab has to offer this type of urban infill environment. See renderings.

-We have a new office: 3132 Fairview Ave. E Seattle WA 98102 Stop by and say hello, have a glass of wine with Brian. Bring your boat….we have moorage!

-Method in development on new DADU (detached accessory dwelling unit) project for Seattle….can’t share too much yet.

-Look for Method featured in new prefab book by renowned author Sheri Koones, foreword by Robert Redford. Book titled Prefabulous + Sustainable, due out in April but available for presale at Amazon.com

Thanks everyone for their support. We appreciate all of you. Talk soon.

This cabin has been a blast to build. The interior is complete, but the weather has held us up some on the exterior. We have some minor exterior trim, painting, stairs off of back decks and final site clean up remaining. For now, enjoy these interior shots! And a couple exterior too…

Back in August I posted a description and some pics of a project on Obstruction Island in the San Juan’s. We’re still working with the clients and last week were finally able to get out there and perform a deep water survey at high tide. The goal with this project is to crane the sections of the home off of a barge and directly onto the waiting foundation. The barge needs a certain amount of water beneath it to pull this off, and all findings are looking positive. Now that we know how close the crane can get to the shore, we can accurately determine how far we can reach, in order to make sure the home can be sited behind the 50′ shoreline set back. This time out to the island, the principle architect of Balance Associates was able to come along and perform his studies gathering the lay of the land, in order to draw up some preliminary sketches. The engineer and operator of the crane company also joined us, and were professional and focused on our intent and goal of setting a modular home onto this beautiful piece of property. Although at first they might have thought we were crazy, they soon realized what we were doing and the complexity of the project and why they were on board. To crane a home from a barge onto water front property on an inaccessible island, will easily cut a year off the construction time, including the confidence to rely on a realistic budget with many less unknowns than these projects normally experience. Anyhow, here are some pics. We’ll keep you updated on this and many of our other potential San Juan Island projects.

The M2 in Glacier is almost complete. Here are a couple sneak peek photos of the inside. More to come shortly.

Here’s to a great 2010! Cheers.

With snow a couple days after set and below freezing temps every day since, we have been hard at work trying to button up this latest project. No time for blogging! But here are some pics of the M2 on site. The set went off without a hitch, other than the crane being delayed due to freezing hydrolic lines, but we got it done none the less. There was a huge group of supporters there, including the homeowners and some friends. Tom Lenchek, the principle at Balance Associates was also there lending support in lining up the modules on the foundation. It was great! Most of the group had never seen a modular set before, and I think once they witnessed the gracefulness of the craning process they were relieved and could enjoy it. Anyhow this home only took an hour and a half of crane time, and it all went perfect. We will be posting the professional shots soon along with a new time lapse video on YouTube shortly. For now here are some pics post set. And again as I’ve warned before, these have all been taken either with my phone or my ancient Canon PowerShot. Enjoy!

Here are a couple shots I took today in our shop, of the M2 cabin almost ready for delivery and install. Our delivery and crane companies along with our set crew is scheduled for this Weds, Dec 9th and the weather looks to be cold but favorable. These shots are pretty blurry for some reason but you can see the progress. I’ll post pics of the interior a few days after set, once we get it into some natural light! For now, hope you enjoy these pics as I have not posted any of this home in a couple weeks.

Bunch of pictures, little punch list. Enjoy! The owner moves in tomorrow.

The weather has turned clear once again just in time to move around some dirt. The Glacier M2 Cabin is scheduled to be set Dec. 9th, one week from tomorrow. Today the preparation prior to backfill happened, including footing drains, gutter drains and water proofing. Here are some pictures I took today, including some of the bolts that will hold the moment frame in place once the modules are set. The moment frame is a steel upside down U that will give the open great room module some engineered strength, which is due to the fact the end of the room is all glass, which according to engineers doesn’t provide much strength. The moment frame is already framed and part of the structure sitting in the shop, which will then fit over these bolts that are poured as part of the foundation. This is NOT orthopedic surgery, just a little math and paying attention. And The Mountain was out today! So here we go…

…allowed us to pour the footings for the M2. It was great. Over the last couple of days Western Washington has been experiencing high winds and heavy rains which have contributed to power outages, downed trees and flooding. Good ‘ol fall in the NW! We poured 12 yards of concrete which had a SLAG mix. SLAG has replaced Fly Ash in concrete for a greener alternative to all Portland Cement. SLAG is a bi-product of iron blast furnaces, which otherwise would have ended up in a land fill. Here are some pictures I snapped today with my phone, so they are not the greatest but at least they show progress in this weather! Set date on the M2 has been set for December 9th. Stay tuned…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haII_SjnPJQ