F.A.Q
Heritage Homes, built by Fair & Square Modular, FAQs:
Q. What is a System Built Modular Home?
A. A system built modular home is built to the Uniform Building Code (UBC) and/or the International Residential Code (IRC). This is the same code used by contractors to construct site-built houses. Instead of building in ever-changing weather conditions, modular homes are built in sections or modules indoors, where they are never subjected to adverse weather conditions. The sections move through the factory, with quality control checking them after every phase of construction. Finished modular sections are covered, sealed and transported to your home site where they are placed on your foundation. After your home is set and the interior is finished, other site work, such as a garage, deck, porch or patio is completed by Fair & Square Modular.
Q. What is the difference between a Heritage Home and a "double wide" or manufactured home?
A. Mobile homes, now called manufactured homes, are built to the HUD Code. They utilize a steel frame in the floor system for structural support and are built to a lower code for overall construction. They are usually set on temporary supports. In addition, they are typically considered "personal property" and will usually depreciate in value over time. The combination of these factors usually results in severe restrictions on their placement in communities. Heritage Homes are built in sections, but that is where the similarity ends. We use the highest quality materials and conform to the most stringent codes in the nation - the Uniform Building Code (UBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC). Fair & Square sets Heritage Homes on a permanent foundation. Heritage Homes are also built to all local building codes for our specific location, and in many cases construction exceeds the required codes. Our homes are built to appreciate and are treated the same way by banks, mortgage companies, appraisers, and insurance companies as site-built homes are.
Q. Do system built modular homes look different than site-built homes?
A. No - and unless you were there to see a Heritage Home delivered and assembled by Fair & Square, you would probably never guess that it's been built using modular sections. Heritage uses computer aided drafting and design programs to draw plans that fit your wants and needs.
We have a wide variety of standard plans, but our flexibility also allows us to work from your plan. This is what makes us a custom home builder. We can design a home to your site, taking account your solar aspects and views. We can design a home to your desired floor plan, for example, your location of the master suite relative to the living spaces. We can design a home to your taste - ranch, cape cod, loft, split entry, two story, contemporary, modern, or rustic. Q. How long does it take Fair & Square to build a Heritage Home?
A. It varies depending on the complexity of the project. Fair & Square can usually complete your home in half the time it takes to build a site built house. After your blueprint is finalized, your home will go on the production schedule and will typically start in the Heritage Home facility six to eight weeks later. Then, depending on the design of your home, it will take about two weeks on the production line to build the home. It usually takes another week for the home to be delivered to your site. During this time, Fair & Square will secure all necessary permits, install infrastructure and foundation and be ready to set and finish your home upon delivery.
Q. Are quality materials used in the construction?
A. Yes - as a matter a fact, the quality of raw materials used in modular construction is superior to site built construction. This is due to the fact that all of the materials have to be straight in order to fit in exacting tables and jigs to insure square and accurate construction. The construction takes place indoors - out of the elements where the home is protected during the construction process.
Heritage uses only kiln dried #2 Grade or better lumber to frame your home. Heritage manufactures the roof trusses for each home in our truss plant at their facility in Wayne, NE. They use only the best 2X4 and 2X6 lumber in the construction of their roof trusses. This increases the live load rating of your roof to greatly surpass the national code requirements.
Here are some of the quality products that may be used in the construction of your new Heritage Home: Moen Faucets, AquaGlass Tub/Shower Units, Pease Doors, Seagull Lighting, Weiser Locksets, Beaulieu Bliss Carpeting, WilsonArt Laminated Flooring, Bruce Hardwood Floors, Armstrong Vinyl Flooring, Jacuzzi Brand Whirlpool Tubs, CertainTeed 30 Year Shingles, Gerkin Comfort Series Windows or Pella Windows, Certainteed Vinyl Siding, and more.
All of the products that are used to construct your home are screened for durability, quality and product warranty. In addition, their "volume buying power" allows them to purchase high quality materials while passing on the cost savings to you.
Q. What type of trim and cabinets are used?
A. Heritage uses solid oak trim as standard, and also builds and stains your custom oak cabinets right in their factory! Their state of the art cabinet and finishing system gives you a true custom built cabinet with the features you desire. Oak is their standard cabinet, but upgraded wood species such as knotty pine, hickory, rustic hickory, maple and cherry are also available.
Q. What is the insulation R-Value of our homes?
A. Heritage addresses our mountain climate with R-25 wall insulation value and R-50 ceiling insulation value. Fair & Square Modular compliments Heritage's insulation by using Insulated Concrete Form foundations and high performance spray foam on the rim joints in the basement and exterior walls.
Q. Do these homes cost less than a conventional site built home? <
A. Our homes can provide you with more home for your investment dollar than a conventional site built home. It has been their experience that most clients aren't necessarily looking for the lowest price, but instead the best cost or overall value. What is the difference you ask? Price is a one-time event. Costs go on for the entire life of the product. In other words, a Heritage Home will cost you less to own throughout the years of ownership through benefits like increased energy efficiency of windows, no maintenance windows and siding, and better quality products and materials. Over two decades ago, when Heritage Homes started in business, they made the decision that they would strive to offer a top quality home at a reasonable investment. They felt that it was better to explain the price one time than to apologize for poor quality for the life of the home.
Q. How much per square foot is a Heritage Home?
A. Pricing houses by the square foot is like pricing cars by the pound. It is not a good measurement of "what you get," and usually is not a guarantee of anything. Because Heritage Homes is a custom homebuilder and serves a wide geographical region, they do not price their houses by the square foot. Your cost per square foot will vary largely based on three factors:
The total square footage (larger homes = lower cost per square foot) and the features you design into your home. The style of home - each style of home, from ranch to two-story, loft, Cape Cod, prow, split entry will vary. The amount of custom features you design in your home. Because you are the designer, you control the costs. Fair & Square Modular will help you design a home that will fit your needs, desires and budgets. More importantly we will give you a GUARANTEED FIRM PRICE.
Q. Can I use my own plan or do I have to select one from Heritage?
A. YES - whether you use a Heritage Home plan or yours, you can be the designer. Through a design consultation with Fair & Square Modular, most clients are able to design that "perfect plan" that fits their family.
Q. Who should I contact about financing?
A. Fair & Square Modular has several local banks that we work with and would be glad to suggest a mortgage firm to you.
Q. Can Fair & Square and Heritage Homes deliver an Energy Star home? A. Yes, along with the purchase of Energy Star appliances, we can certify a home to an Energy Star rating. This rating will stay with the house indefinitely. An Energy Star home uses significant less energy to operate. The home is run through vigorous testing and inspections by a third party to verify and document the energy efficiency of the home rather than simply a builder claiming they build efficient houses.
Q. What type of green building tools does Fair & Square and Heritage Homes utilize? Can I get my system built home certified?
A. Energy Star is the first and most important step to building green. Most green building programs have Energy Star mandatory as part of meeting their certification. System built modular construction is inherently green with their efficiency structure. Waste produced from construction of the home is cut down 50% to 70%. Heritage Homes takes it a step farther by following and meeting the Green Building Nebraska program. Most green building programs look at the whole picture. Energy efficiency, water efficiency, lot development, resource embodied energy, indoor air quality, landscaping, homeowner maintenance and the home's overall impact on the environment are all taken into account. Fair & Square, by having a LEED AP on staff and being a member of the US Green Building Council, can certify your home through the LEED for Homes program or through a local adopted green building program.
Contact Us
Physical Address
2673 Jacob Circle, Unit 700
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-879-7725
Fax: 970-871-1121
fairsquareoffice@yahoo.com