While the construction industry has historically been slow to change, new technologies have emerged. Our curiosity often drives us to investigate these new technologies and, for some, employ them. The pioneering process can take time and effort.
We talked with two people who stretched the status quo. Homeowner Ty Warbington and Architect Mark Candelaria each used different new tech approaches to build a new residence. By telling their stories, we can all learn something.
Ty’s Story
Choices
Ty and his wife, Wendy, were looking for a lower-cost alternative to a conventional stick-built home. Manufactured homes were a consideration; however, they did not meet the family’s requirements. Ty researched and discovered a steel home kit that fit their needs. The company producing the steel home had all the pieces precut and ready to be assembled on-site. Plans for assembly were supplied, and Ty was going to do the work with the aid of friends and relatives. They were off to a good start.
Permitting Challenges
Ty brought the plans to his local building department to obtain the required building permit. The plans provided by the manufacturer needed more information for the department to issue a building permit. The department rejected the plans, requesting greater details. They suggested that Ty engage the services of a structural engineer to provide the necessary calculations and details requested.
Steel home kits are not mainstream. They are also not directly addressed in the International Residential Code that governs most of our building jurisdictions. Building jurisdictions rely on the expertise of engineers to ensure that a structure is safe. That is their responsibility, after all.
Once the building department’s requirements were met, a permit was issued, and assembly began.
Changes Prolonged the Process
Early in the assembly process, Ty and Wendy decided they wanted a vaulted ceiling throughout the living area. The building inspector said they would need further engineering before approving the changes. Ok, they went back to the drawing board. The first engineer could not help them, so Ty sought a second engineer to provide the county with the necessary details. That was a long process.
It turned out that the steel home was not the simple alternative they had hoped for. The house was finished, but only after several starts and stops. Overall, the process took a year and a half, 18 months, to complete.
Mark’s Story
Central Arizona Habitat for Humanity reached out to Architect Mark Candelaria to assist them with getting a 3D-printed house completed in Tempe. This promising technology is far from mainstream. As an architect, Mark is very familiar with residential codes and building department requirements, and his approach differed from Ty’s.
Permitting Was A Team Effort
Mark tells us that he anticipated the challenges to permitting the 3D house. He assembled a team of representatives from Habitat for Humanity, a structural engineer, and a German firm supplying the equipment for the 3D printer. They met with building department officials weekly to discuss the department’s requirements. Working with all parties in what Mark describes as a collaborative team effort it still took about a year. When this project was being built, COVID-19 was also in full swing. The team meetings were held via Zoom. Anyone who has participated in Zoom meetings knows that they work well but do not replace the synergy that occurs with in-person meetings.
The Team’s Efforts
There was incredible effort applied in developing new design and structural details. The education process of how to construct the 3Dhome and the inspection process of the building were ongoing components of the build.
Our Takeaway
Using new materials takes effort and education. When introducing a new construction technology, be prepared for challenges. You will need to understand how the tech works and be ready to demonstrate its soundness to industry players. These players include clients, architects, engineers, workers, suppliers, associated trades, and building officials (including plan checkers and field inspectors). The more these technologies are used the easier the permitting will become.
Mark believes that 3D-printed houses are a viable solution for the housing industry, and we will see more of them in the future.
For Ty, the finished product is what they hope for but, it took much longer than they anticipated. Choosing a local product (the one he chose was from Texas) could have been a choice that made communication between the manufacturer and the permitting agency easier.
###
PODCAST
PHOTO CREDIT
- Ty Warbington
- Habitat for Humanity of Central AZ
