Question and Answers
Who is Busy Hammers?
John C. Lange, Principal of Busy Hammers has sold and managed over 3,000
building projects. Busy Hammers is an independent dealer, representing
Barden Homes in New Hampshire. E-mail me at
busyhammers@comcast.net. Barden Homes is the oldest and largest family
owned home-building company in the northeast, engaged in the design,
manufacturing/construction and marketing of quality homes and commercial
buildings. There has been an excellent and solid growth rate with over
20,000 Barden homes built in the northeastern U.S. The management team is
well suited to the housing industry, encompassing many years of experience
in building, engineering and marketing.
Who is Barden Homes?
Barden is a family-owned and operated business which has been a leader in
the pre-engineered housing industry since 1947. The Barden family is
committed to providing custom homes at affordable prices, quality materials
and unequaled customer satisfaction. Barden Homes currently serves over
twenty states from the northeast to the Midwest. Manufacturing facilities
are located in Middleport and Tully, New York. The Barden Corporation (www.bardenhomes.com) has a
commercial division and is one of the largest church builders of all
denominations in the East. In addition to churches, Barden has also provided
building for banks, motels, restaurants, medical and professional offices
and low-rise building for shopping plazas. Every year Barden supplies
multi-family housing such as apartments, condominiums, town houses and
housing for the elderly.
What is a Busy Hammers Home?
You get a luxurious house (contemporary or traditional) incorporating
architectural and engineered panelized construction. Its design
characteristics, attractiveness, cost, and resale appeal to anyone
interested in building a home.
How cost effective is a Busy Hammers Home?
At finish, a completed Busy Hammer panelized home can appraise significantly
higher than a conventional stick-built home built on the same site.
What does “pre-engineered”, “panelized” or “component” housing mean?
These
terms mean Pre-assembled or pre-cut in a controlled environment and
installed at a later time on-site. Barden Homes has developed a
pre-engineered framing system consisting of heavy laminated wood beams,
2”x8”, 2”xl 0” or 2” x 12” floor joists pre-cut to installation lengths, ¾”
tongue and groove plywood, a 2”x6” o.c. exterior wall system, pre-assembled
with the 7/16” OSB wall sheathing installed. The interior wall partitions
consist of 2’x4”, 16” o.c. wall panels. The roof system consists of
pre-engineered structural 2”x4” trusses, 24” o.c. with ½” CDX plywood roof
sheathing installed at the construction site. The floor deck system is
pre-cut to length in our manufacturing plant and delivered to the job site.
As the deck system is being installed by the framing crew, the wall systems
are manufactured in our plant. These components can be up to 16 ft. long
with exterior wall sheathing pre-installed. These complete wall systems are
then transported to the job site on a flatbed truck. The wall panels are
then lifted into place by crane at the job site and secured by the framing
crew. The roof sheathing is then installed on the site. The pre-engineered
(pre-cut and pre-assembled) framing system allows for additional quality
control of materials and component integrity, thereby dramatically speeding
the framing process (by as much as 63% according to the National Association
of Home Builders, March 1996). An average size home can be framed, with
windows, doors and roof installed in only a few days. This allows the home
to be weather tight, lockable and will allow for the mechanical installation
to proceed in a timely manner.
What materials does Barden supply in the standard package?
The standard package price includes the pre-engineered
framing system. roofing. siding, windows, exterior doors, interior doors.
casings, baseboards, trim, kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities. countertop
and wire closet shelving
All
packages have various material selection options and are customized to the
buyers own personal needs. All preliminary drawings, engineering, energy
audits and complete final construction drawings with architect’s seal are
included in the Barden Homes standard package price.
Do you provide financing for a Busy Hammers home?
Yes! Through our lenders, Busy Hammers can finance your home with 100% financing including
the cost of the land.
We can supply nine-month construction financing that can be turned into
conventional financing with us or at a lending institution of your choice.
How many models are available?
There are over 140 pre-designed architecturally engineered traditional and
contemporary models. These models have multiple existing floor plans. If you
cannot find your dream home layout, any model can be custom designed to your
wishes or give us your plans or ideas. Barden has designed homes drawn on
napkins. All models are available with
optional nine-foot (9') ceilings and many models have standard cathedral
ceilings. The source of our success is your happiness with your new home.
Remember, “We Listen To You”.
What is Panelized Construction?
Panelized homes are built according to local building codes using
traditional framing. Components are built in a factory as roof trusses, wall
panels and floor panels. Each exterior panel includes studs and sheeting.
The components are transported to the job site where they are assembled into
place with a crane. Completion of the exterior and interior of the home is
done at the job site. The main benefits of Component Construction are:
The builder is better able to control costs for the homeowner.
Homes are framed in faster.
Homes are built in a controlled environment minimizing weather damage and
theft at the jobsite. Specialized equipment is used to build the components
in a quality and efficient manner. Moreover, the components are built
indoors in a controlled environment that minimizes weather damage and
jobsite theft.
What is the difference between Panelized Construction and Stick Built
Construction?
Stick
Built Construction refers to the building method where the entire home is
built at the jobsite stick by stick. Today few homes are built completely as
“stick built construction” because most homes use components that are built
in a factory such as roof trusses, windows, pre-hung doors and cabinets.
Panelized Construction just continues this trend by building walls and
floors as components.
Both component (panelized) and stick built construction follow the same
local building codes and use the same traditional framing details. Panelized
Construction builds inside by craftspersons in a controlled environment
using sophisticated cutting equipment and precision jigs to assemble
components with all of the materials within easy reach. The materials are
stored under roof and constructed under roof; then delivered in an enclosed
vehicle, insuring protection from the elements.
Stick built construction builds outside on the ground in all types of
weather and has to work with materials the lumberyard dumps on the ground.
The main advantages of panelized construction are that the builder has much
better control of the costs, the homes are framed in more quickly and there
is less weather damage and theft at the jobsite.
What types of materials are used in panelized construction?
Busy Hammers standard homes are constructed with kiln dried SPF 2x6”
exterior and 2x4” interior stud walls, and OSB Board for all wall and
subfloor sheathing. Roof sheathing is 1/2” plywood. Shingles have 5”
exposure and 30 year warranty. All specifications can be upgraded by
choosing the gold or platinum packages if desired.
The most important part of a home is the shell and precise weather tight
joints. More expensive, higher quality wood products produce higher quality
homes. Combine higher quality with proper fastening/nailing techniques and
you will construct a home that will weather the elements for a longer
duration.
All our truss cords are fabricated with #1 grade pine for vertical loading
integrity. Hurricane straps are included to enhance wind-loading
characteristics. Wall studs are low moisture content kiln dried SPF (Spruce,
Pine, and Fir) white wood, designed to minimize or eliminate the natural
tendency of wood to twist as it dries in the walls, creating those unsightly
crooked walls.
In addition to superior materials, panelization allows the entire shell to
be cut and assembled under roof in the factory. The lumber is cut and then
assembled using jigs on a table with automated nailers for precision and
strength that simply cannot be matched on site with traditional "stick
built" construction (i.e. "building on the ground"). The panels are shipped
in enclosed trucks and assembled in 5 to 7 days on average.
This means that the entire super-structure of your home is only exposed to
the elements for days, rather than weeks
with typical on site "stick built" construction.
What about obtaining building permits, project supervision and subcontractor
scheduling?
You
can do this yourselves or we can assign a project coordinator who will
oversee and/or help you with such things as building permits, material
deliveries, subcontractor scheduling and quality control, your towns
building department inspections scheduling and can arrange to obtain the
certificate of occupancy. Your Barden Homes sale representative is available
for project supervision and for any questions or concerns which may arise.
We encourage you to utilize this service.
What will my home to cost?
The
appraised value of your home will be relative to similar new homes which
have been built/sold in your local area but construction costs for your Busy
Hammers home will be 15-25% (on average) less.
What kind of lot will a Busy Hammers Home require?
The Busy Hammers home will go on any lot. All models can be constructed on
any site that will accommodate a proper foundation.
Does Busy Hammers offer building options; can I build the home myself or can
I have it completely built and just move in?
YES,
your building choices are numerous- among your many selections are:
1. As a package to be erected by the owner where the owner does all the
construction and/or subcontracting.
2. As a shell erected by Busy Hammers ready for the interior finish to be
completed by you and/or your subcontractors.
3. As a complete turnkey finished home where you place an order with Busy
Hammers for your home, along with choice of colors, cabinets etc. The owner
chooses to have no involvement in the physical construction and waits for
home to be completed and moves in.
Do Busy Hammers buildings have commercial applications, too?
Yes. Barden has a large commercial building division and is one of the
largest church builders of all denominations in the East. In addition to
churches, Barden has also provided building for banks, motels, restaurants,
medical and professional offices and low-rise building for shopping plazas.
Every year Barden supplies multi-family housing such as apartments,
condominiums, town houses and housing for the elderly.
How difficult are Busy Hammers Houses to erect?
A Busy Hammers house can be completely ready for interior finishing in as
little as five days, exclusive of site work (grading, excavation) and
foundation (concrete basement or slab).
Is any special equipment necessary to erect a Busy Hammer Home?
No!
How long does it take to get delivery after placing an order?
Thirty to forty-five days. This allows ample time for site preparation.
Are Busy Hammer Homes energy efficient?
EXTREMELY. Standard sidewalls can have Energy Efficiency Ratings of R-23 and
R-38 minimum for the roof. Your energy cost will depend greatly on where you
live, what type of heating (natural gas, propane gas, electric or oil) and
your life style. Every home can be built with energy conservation in mind.
2x6 inch walls with R-19 insulation. Blown ceiling insulation. Insulated Low
“E” glass in windows. Insulated fiberglass exterior doors along with
Insulation around all framing of exterior doors and windows. Insulation
around all connections. Efficient 13-seer or better heating and cooling
unit.
I can’t wait to get started! What’s the next step?
Contact us at 1-866-724-1508 or e-mail us at
busyhammers@comcast.net for a
‘no obligation” meeting. There are many floor plans available in the Barden
Homes catalog. Once you have been pre-qualified and have chosen the floor
plan you desire, a deposit of $500.00 to $1,500.00 (depending on size of
home) starts your new home floor plans! Remember, when you build a Barden
Home you are continuing a tradition of affordable custom homes, quality
materials and customer service unequaled in our industry. The unique cost
saving ‘Co-op Building Program” has been the driving force behind the
continued growth of Barden Homes. Our motto says it best- "We Listen to
You”.
Visit the Barden Homes website at www.bardenhomes.com
