Answers to your questions.
Q: How much does it normally cost to install a Jenesys home?
A: This is simultaneously one of our most frequently asked questions and one of the most difficult to answer. The difficulty comes from the vast amount of variables involved in the construction process. Local labour rates & availability, material costs, permit fees, and interior finishing options are just some of these variables. The way we have been addressing this is to tell our clients that our buildings will finish for about $10 more per square foot than the same size of building would if built conventionally. This extra cost comes from the superior quality of the energy efficienct materials we use. We estimate that in most cases this extra investment will be regained within 7 years of buying the house through savings in energy bills (at current energy prices). After the first 7 years the house will start giving a return on this investment.
Q: Does the quoted price include all interior finishes, appliances?
A: No. We currently offer our shells in two package options, the "Clad Shell" and the "Unclad Shell". Both packages include floor, wall and roof panels, trusses and beams, exterior doors and windows, interior walls and stairs. The Clad Shell includes exterior siding and trim. Clad shells for our cottage models ( wings and sr series ) also include roofing. Roofing is not included in the E Cube packages. Garage doors are not included for the E Cube 2244. No plumbing, lighting, heating, or other systems are included.
Q: Is it possible for a homeowner to assemble themselves if unskilled?
A: No. Even our smaller cottage models, though simpler than conventional construction, do require some experience with building techniques in order to be assembled. Unless the homeowner also a builder, we recommend hiring a contractor. Jenesys can help you find a contractor within our primary market areas (British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Washington and Oregon).
Q: My only concern is putting it together... Do you have people in (my area) who can do it, or have done?
A: Though Jenesys does not currently take part in the actual building of our shells, we will help our customers locate a builder in their area who has experience with SIPs or prefab construction. We also send assembly instructions along with our packages and can provide a representative from our company to oversee the first few days of construction, to make sure your team is on track.
We are currently looking to grow our network of strategic partnerships with builders in all market areas of North America. If you are, or know of, a builder who would like to work with our system please contact us via our builders page.
Q: Typically how long does it take to construct an E Cube?
A: Under ideal conditions an E Cube should finish in half the time a comparable, conventionally built house would take. However, because of the involvement of multiple trades in the construction process, time management can still be a complex process and our buildings can take as long as conventional buildings to complete. See our "how to" page for more information on the buliding process.
Q: How are modifications / customizations handled? Are there costs involved?
A: To begin the customization process we first ask for a deposit of $1000. This pays for design modifications at a rate of $50/hr. Any remaining amount at the end of the customization process will be applied to the cost of the package. We would then ask for any site plans and photos you have, as well as a written "program". The program is like a wish-list for your new home and may include such things as desired overall square footage, number of rooms, or specific desired features. After some discussion with you about your site and your program we would come up with a set of preliminary drawings (elevations and floor plans) for your review. We would then discuss these drawings with you and incorporate your feedback into another set of drawings. This cycle continues until we have reached a plan that satisfies your needs.
Q: Can the designs be modified to include skylights?
A: Yes.
Q: Is there a limit on how big a customized design can be?
A: There is no limit to the size of the "footprint" of a customized design, but the vertical size is limited to three storeys.
Q: Do your designs lend themselves to a basement, full or partial?
A: Yes. Our buildings can be built on any type of foundation; slab, crawlspace, or basement.
Q: Do the panels have drywall already installed, or is drywall, mudding and painting all done afterwards?
A: It is all done afterwards. SIPs can be manufactured prefitted with drywall but we recommend against it because of the potential for damage to the fragile drywall material during the installation process.
Q: In the biggest E cube, is part of the square footage for the garage, or does the square footage exclude the garage?
A: The square footage for the E Cube 2244 does not include the garage.
Q: In your clad shell packages, the siding is included. What colours are available for the siding?
A: The siding comes from the factory in a variety of colours and can also be painted in any colour. Contact us to view the current array of available colours.
Q: Are plumbing and electrical roughed into the pannels?
A: Channels for the electrical systems are pre-drilled into the pannels, allowing for easy instal by an electrician. Whenever possible plumbing is done through interior walls, which are not panels but conventional framing. Keeping the plumbing in interior walls protects it from proximity to outside environmental conditions while maintaining the integrity of the insulative panels used in exterior walls. Plumbing and electrical systems and their installation are not included in our shell packages.
Q: What is a rain screen?
A: A rain screen is a type of siding that protects the walls of a building from moisture. Sooner or later any type of siding will let some moisture through. In rain screen application, this eventuality is planned for by leaving a space between the siding and the wall to allow moisture to drain without becoming trapped in the wall.
Q: Where are the SIPs made?
A: There are a large number of SIPs manufactures distributed across North America. This allows us to have the panels fabricated close to the home-owner's location and shipped a relatively short distance.
Q: I am looking for quality construction, quality designed homes suitable for tropical climates.
A: You've come to the right place. Jenesys homes will out-perform conventionally built homes in virtuallyany climate.
Q: Is the E Cube exterior resistant to mold/mildew?
A: The E Cube shell is built with Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). As with any other type of building material, proper ventilation is the most crucial point in regards to moisture resistance. Our buildings are designed to enable proper ventilation. Find out more about SIPs at: http://www.sips.org/.
Q: Are the SIPs treated against insects?
A: The SIPs we use do not come chemically treated against insects, but such treatment is available upon request.
Q: Can the frame be made to withstand hurricane force winds per Hawaii County code?
A: Yes. The shell (no frame) provides a much sturdier structure than conventional stick-frame construction.
Q: Any reason they would not be suited to Southeast Kansas climate?
A: No. SIPs-based construction provides much higher wind-resistance and insulation value than conventional construction. With an appropriate HVAC ("Heating, Ventilation, Air-conditioning and Cooling") system one of our buildings will provide more comfort, energy efficiency, and safety under severe climate conditions than would a conventionally built stick-frame home.