1414 - Modular Home Construction and Site Preparation
December 8-14, 2003 | June 7-13, 2004
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HI, I'M BOB VILA.
WELCOME "HOME AGAIN."
WE'RE STARTING
A BRAND-NEW PROJECT TODAY.
WE'VE COME TO A LITTLE TOWN
CALLED NEW MARLBOROUGH,
MASSACHUSETTS
IN THE BERKSHIRE HILLS,
SO TODAY WE'RE
GOING TO BE SHOWING YOU
A LITTLE BIT
OF THE COUNTRYSIDE HERE,
BUT WE'RE ALSO LEARNING
ABOUT MODULAR HOUSING.
WE'LL TAKE YOU TO THE FACTORY
WHERE OUR MODULAR HOUSE
IS BEING MANUFACTURED.
PLUS, WE'LL BE TOURING
OUR BUILDING SITE
AND MEETING
OUR GENERAL CONTRACTOR.
STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD
TO HAVE YOU "HOME AGAIN."
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
SEARS.
WE'RE IN SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA
VISITING SIMPLEX INDUSTRIES
WHERE WE'RE GONNA LEARN ALL
ABOUT MODULAR HOME CONSTRUCTION.
THE FACT IS THAT OUR HOUSE
IS BEING BUILT IN HERE,
AND WE'RE GONNA SEE HOW
ALL THE PIECES COME TOGETHER.
LET'S MEET PAT FRICCHIONE,
ONE OF THE OWNERS
OF THE COMPANY.
HEY, PAT, HOW ARE YOU?
HEY, BOB. HOW YOU DOING?
I'M GREAT. NOW,
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE
THAT THIS
IS A MODULAR HOUSE.
YES, IT IS.
IT LOOKS LIKE
A SUBURBAN COLONIAL.
SURE DOES. THIS
IS OUR ALEXANDRA
MODEL HOME.
HOW BIG A HOUSE IS IT?
IT'S ABOUT 3,000.
3,000 SQUARE FEET?
YES.
AND HOW MANY MODULES
MAKE UP A HOUSE LIKE THIS?
4 BOXES.
4 BOXES LIKE YOU SEE
COMING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.
THEY GET BOLTED TOGETHER.
EXCELLENT. NOW,
TELL US A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT SIMPLEX INDUSTRIES.
HOW OLD A COMPANY IS IT?
WELL, WE STARTED
IN 1971.
HOW WE ORIGINALLY
STARTED
WAS THE FACT
THAT MY GRANDFATHER
IMMIGRATED HERE FROM
ITALY IN THE TWENTIES,
AND HE WAS
IN THE PLUMBING
AND HEATING BUSINESS,
AND ONE OF THE FIRST
THINGS HE PATENTED
WAS A COAL STOKER CALLED
A SIMPLEX COAL STOKER,
AND THIS
WAS AN AUTOMATIC--
WHAT'S A COAL STOKER?
WELL, IT'S
A--COAL STOKER.
THIS AREA WAS RICH
IN ANTHRACITE COAL.
YEAH. WE'VE EVEN GOT
A TOWN CALLED ANTHRACITE.
THAT'S RIGHT,
AND WHAT IT WAS--
IT WAS AN AUTOMATIC
WORM FEED,
MEANING THAT YOU USED
TO HAVE THE COAL BIN,
AND YOU USED TO
AUTOMATIC FEED THE COAL
INTO THE FIRE POT.
AND IT USED TO
HEAT UP THE HOUSES
AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
SURE, AND SO THAT
COMPANY EVOLVED INTO
A MODULAR HOME
BUILDING COMPANY?
WELL, WHAT HAPPENED
WAS, YOU KNOW,
WITH THE COAL INDUSTRY
GOING DOWN,
THEY NEEDED TO DO
SOMETHING ELSE,
AND THEY WERE ALWAYS
INTERESTED IN
CONSTRUCTION,
SO ONE DAY THEY
WERE JUST SITTING AROUND
THE KITCHEN TABLE
AND THEY TALKED ABOUT--
"HEY, LET'S GET INTO THIS
MODULAR HOME INDUSTRY,"
AND THAT'S
HOW IT ALL STARTED.
SO, HERE IT IS
30 YEARS LATER.
HOW MANY HOUSES
DO YOU BUILD A YEAR?
WELL, WE DO ABOUT
400 HOUSES.
IT'S NOT ONLY HOUSES
WE DO.
WE ALSO DO, YOU KNOW,
COMMERCIAL BUILDING,
HOTELS, TOWNHOUSES,
THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
REALLY? NOW, PAT, WHAT
IS THE BASIC DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN
A STICK BUILT HOUSE
AND A MODULAR HOUSE?
WELL, THERE REALLY
ISN'T ANY DIFFERENCE
IN THE FACT THAT,
YOU KNOW,
WE'RE STILL USING
THE SAME MATERIALS
AS STICK BUILT
OR A SITE BUILT HOME.
THE ONLY THING
THAT WE'RE DOING
IS WE'RE BUILDING
HERE IN OUR FACTORY
IN A CONTROLLED
ENVIRONMENT.
SO, YOU'RE STILL
RECEIVING FLATBED TRUCKS
WITH 2 X 4s AND 2 X 12s.
ABSOLUTELY. PROBABLY
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE
IS WHEN YOU BUILD
ON SITE,
YOU'RE JUST GETTING
A SMALL TRUCKLOAD
OF LUMBER.
HERE, WE'RE BUYING
IN BULK.
WE'RE BUYING CARLOADS,
TRUCKLOADS,
AND THAT'S HOW
THE MATERIAL COMES IN.
AND, OBVIOUSLY,
WE HAVE MORE MEN HERE.
AND WE'RE, YOU KNOW,
BUILDING
IN A CONTROLLED
ENVIRONMENT.
WE HAVE
DIFFERENT STATIONS,
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS,
AND WHAT THEY DO
IS THEY BUILD--
THEY WORK AS TEAMS,
AND THEY BUILD
A HOUSE, BASICALLY,
IN AN ASSEMBLY LINE.
AND AS THE HOUSE
COMES FURTHER DOWN
THE ASSEMBLY LINE,
MORE AND MORE
GETS PUT INTO IT.
AND, OF COURSE,
THE BIG ADVANTAGE
IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE
TO DEAL WITH THE WEATHER.
YOU'VE GOT CONTROLLED
CIRCUMSTANCES.
THAT'S RIGHT. WE CAN
BUILD 12 MONTHS,
YOU KNOW,
OUT OF THE YEAR
WHETHER IT'S
SNOW, SLEET, RAIN.
IT DOESN'T...
IT DOESN'T...
THE ONLY THING
THAT WOULD HINDER IT
IS THE FACT THAT IF
OUR GUYS COULDN'T
GET HERE
TO THE JOB SITE.
RIGHT. SO A HOUSE
LIKE THIS ONE,
THE WESTPORT MODEL,
COULD THEORETICALLY
BE BUILT IN A WEEK
INSIDE THE PLANT HERE.
THAT'S CORRECT, BOB.
AND IT'S A LOVELY HOUSE.
HOW BIG IS THIS ONE?
THANK YOU.
THIS IS APPROXIMATELY
2,500 SQUARE FEET.
IT'S A 4 BOX CAPE COD
STYLE HOME.
SO THERE ARE 4 MODULES
THAT GET PUT TOGETHER.
CORRECT.
AND, AS YOU SEE,
WE HAVE THE PORCH ON IT,
WHICH GIVES IT
A LOT OF CURB APPEAL.
YEAH, A LITTLE
FARMER'S PORCH.
WELL, LET'S
GO INSIDE AND MEET
MICHAEL BUCHANAN
WHO HAS DESIGNED
THE HOUSE WE'RE
GONNA BUILD,
AND HE'S GONNA OWN IT.
LIKE THE DOOR KNOCK.
OH, THANKS, BOB.
OH, THIS IS GREAT.
IT'S BASICALLY
THE SOCIAL KITCHEN
WITH THE FAMILY ROOM,
THE EATING AREA,
AND THE KITCHEN
ALL IN ONE.
YES.
MIKE, HOW ARE YOU?
HI, BOB.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
GREAT, THANKS.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
SO, HOW DID YOU DECIDE
THAT YOU WANTED
A MODULAR HOUSE
AS OPPOSED TO
A STICK BUILT HOUSE
OUT IN YOUR SITE?
WELL, I WANTED IT
FOR A COUPLE REASONS.
I WANTED IT TO BE:
TIME-WISE,
IT'S MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE,
AND COST-EFFICIENCY,
AND PLUS, IT'S VERY
ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND.
SO, THAT WAS
SOME OF THE REASONS
WHY I CHOSE TO DO THAT
UP IN THE BERKSHIRES.
YOU'RE BUILDING
IN A RURAL LOCATION
IN THE BERKSHIRE HILLS,
AND ALSO IN AN AREA
WHERE IT'S KIND OF
A RESORT AREA,
SO THAT THERE'S
A LOT OF BOOM,
AND IT'S TOUGH
TO GET A CONTRACTOR
TO COME AND BUILD
A HOUSE FOR YOU.
IT IS DIFFICULT,
AND THAT WAS
THE OTHER CONCERN
THAT I WAS
THINKING ABOUT.
AND THEN I DECIDED
WHY NOT BUILD
A PRE-FABULOUS HOUSE,
AND SO THAT'S WHY
I CAME TO SIMPLEX,
TO HAVE THEM BUILD THIS.
A STICK BUILT WOULD
HAVE PROBABLY TAKEN,
WHAT, MAYBE 6 OR 8
MONTHS?
AT LEAST.
I ACTUALLY THINK
WITH THE AMOUNT
OF DETAIL THAT'S HERE,
IT PROBABLY WOULD'VE
TAKEN MORE LIKE A YEAR.
OK, WELL LET'S TALK
ABOUT THE HOUSE.
WHAT'S YOUR INSPIRATION?
WELL, MY BIBLE IS
THIS RECREATION OF
BUNGALOW STYLE HOUSES,
AND SO I DECIDED
TO GO THROUGH THIS
AND PICK OUT
VARIOUS ELEMENTS
TO BE ABLE TO APPLY
TO A PREFABRICATED HOUSE.
BUT, WAIT. LET'S
LOOK INSIDE THERE,
'CAUSE, I MEAN,
THESE ARE BASICALLY
YOUR
SEARS CATALOG HOUSES
FROM THE TEENS
AND THE TWENTIES,
AND I'M FASCINATED
BY THE FACT
THAT THERE'S SO MANY
THOUSANDS OF THEM
STILL OUT THERE.
WHICH SPECIFIC HOUSES
IN THERE DID YOU...
I HAD THEM MARKED HERE,
AND WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THIS
IS THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE
TO SEE THE CONTRAST
BETWEEN THE TWO
DIFFERENT STYLES,
AND SOME OF THE DETAILS
THAT WE'RE GONNA CREATE
WITH USING
THE BRACKETED DETAILS,
THE TAPERED COLUMNS,
THE PIERS THAT THE COLUMNS
ARE GONNA BE SET ON--
YEAH, THESE ARE
CRAFTSMAN STYLE
BUNGALOWS.
YES, AND THE GREAT DETAILS
WITH THE EXPOSED RAFTERS--
ALL THOSE TYPES OF DETAILS
I WANTED TO INCORPORATE
IN THIS PARTICULAR HOUSE.
UH-HUH, AND YOU'RE ABLE
TO DO THAT, PAT?
Pat: YES WE ARE, BOB.
YEAH. ALL RIGHT.
WELL, SHOW US.
YOU'VE GOT,
OBVIOUSLY,
THE ELEVATION
DRAWING HERE
FOR THE HOUSE THAT'S
BEING BUILT FOR YOU.
TAKE US THROUGH IT.
WHAT ARE
WE LOOKING AT?
WELL, A TYPICAL DETAIL
ON AN ARTS AND CRAFTS HOUSE
WOULD START
WITH THE FRONT PORCH,
AND SO WE WEREN'T ABLE
TO DO AN EXAGGERATED
OVERHANG
THAT YOU WOULD SEE
ON A BUNGALOW,
BUT WHAT
WE WERE ABLE TO DO
IS CREATE THIS
COLONNADE EFFECT HERE
WITH A PERGOLA
WITH THE ARTS AND CRAFTS
BUNGALOW COLUMN--
SO THE PERGOLA
WILL BE INDEPENDENT
OF THE HOUSE ITSELF?
IT WILL BE. IT WILL
BE BUILT ON SITE,
SO THIS IS A COMBINATION
OF STICK BUILT
MIXED WITH MODULAR
CONSTRUCTION.
YEAH, LITTLE DETAILS
LIKE THAT,
BUT ALL OF THIS
IS BUILT HERE
AT THE FACTORY,
RIGHT?
ABSOLUTELY, AND THAT'S
THE BEAUTY OF IT.
WHAT KIND OF A ROOF
IS IT?
IT ENDS UP
BEING A STEEL ROOF
WITH A SHED DORMER DETAIL
HERE THAT STEPS OUT,
AND IT STEPS RIGHT HERE,
AND WE HAVE
THESE 3 GREAT WINDOWS
WITH THE CHARMING
WINDOW BOXES UNDERNEATH,
AND THEN OFF OF HERE
WE HAVE A SUN ROOM
WHICH WILL HAVE A VAULTED
CEILING IN THIS AREA,
AND THEN TO THE SIDE
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
THE MASTER BEDROOM WING.
HAVE YOU GOT A SET
OF FLOOR PLANS?
YES. RIGHT HERE.
ALL RIGHT, SO THIS
IS ALL THE LIVING ROOM?
YES. A LARGE LIVING ROOM.
I DECIDED TO BREAK AWAY
FROM THE CLUSTER
OF THE SMALL ROOMS
THAT THE BUNGALOW HOUSES
STARTED TO HAVE
IN THE EARLY 20th CENTURY,
AND I WANTED TO
MAKE IT A BIGGER
AND BRIGHTER INTERIOR
AND MORE UPDATED
FOR THE 21st CENTURY,
SO THAT WAS ONE REASON
IS INSTEAD OF MAKING
TWO SMALL ROOMS
IS TO CREATE
ONE LARGE GREAT ROOM.
OK, AND THEN THIS
IS THE FRONT HALL
AND STAIR HALL,
AND WHAT'S ALL THIS?
THIS ENDS UP BEING
A KIND OF A CASUAL
DINING ROOM AREA
WITH A SITTING ROOM HERE,
A LARGE STYLE KITCHEN
THAT JUST OPENS ONTO
THE DINING ROOM
WITH KIND OF AN ARTS
AND CRAFTS ARCHWAY
OPEN HERE.
AND THEN OVER HERE?
THIS ENDS UP BEING
THE MASTER BEDROOM
WING HERE,
SO THE MASTER BEDROOM HERE
WITH A LARGE MASTER BATH,
WITH AN EXTERIOR PATIO
OFF OF IT.
SO, PAT, TELL US
ABOUT THE MODULAR
PART OF THIS.
WELL, BOB,
THIS PARTICULAR HOUSE,
WE'RE BUILDING IT IN 5
DIFFERENT MODULAR SECTIONS.
SO 5 BOXES
WILL BE COMING
DOWN THE ROAD?
THAT IS CORRECT.
AND THEN ON HIS FIRST FLOOR,
AS YOU CAN SEE,
WE BUILT IT
IN 5 DIFFERENT SECTIONS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE
THE FIRST BOX RIGHT HERE
WHICH ENCOMPASSES...
THE DARK OUTLINE
IS ONE BOX?
CORRECT. AND THEN
THE BACK OF THE BOX
IS THE LIVING ROOM, KITCHEN,
AND PART OF THE LIVING ROOM,
ALONG WITH THE SUN ROOM,
AND THEN OVER HERE
WE HAVE THE MASTER BEDROOM
WITH THE MASTER BATH.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO PANELIZE
THIS WALK-IN CLOSET HERE
IN OUR FACTORY,
AND WE'LL SET IT ON SITE.
AND THEN
2 MORE BOXES
MAKE UP
THE SECOND FLOOR?
CORRECT.
ALL RIGHT.
NOW, MICHAEL,
YOU'RE A DESIGNER.
ARE YOU
GONNA BE SATISFIED
WITH A FACTORY-BUILT
HOUSE?
WELL, WHAT I DECIDED
TO DO WAS EMBELLISH IT
A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY
THAN WHAT YOU MAY
TYPICALLY THINK
OF A PREFABRICATED HOUSE.
SO, FOR INSTANCE, WE TOOK
MERILLAT CABINETRY,
WHICH IS OFF-THE-RACK
KIND OF CABINETRY,
AND WE DECIDED
TO ADD, LIKE,
ARTS AND CRAFTS
BRACKETS TO IT.
WHAT WILL ALSO CONVEY
THE ARTS AND CRAFTS
BUNGALOW THEME
WILL BE THE HARDWARE
THAT WE CHOOSE,
WHICH IS HAND HAMMERED
NICKEL HARDWARE,
SO THESE KIND OF DETAILS
WILL GIVE THAT
KIND OF OLD-WORLD CHARM
THAT WE ALL ASPIRE
TO HAVE.
AND THIS OVER HERE?
AND THEN
IN THE MASTER BATH,
WE DECIDED TO
TENT THE CEILING.
WE DID A WAINSCOTING
DETAIL,
WHICH IS TYPICAL OF
THE ARTS AND CRAFTS
BUNGALOW,
WITH THESE 3 BAY WINDOWS
IN FRONT HERE.
WHAT'S THE SQUARE
FOOTAGE OF THE HOUSE?
IT'S APPROXIMATELY
3,200 SQUARE FEET.
YOU'RE GONNA BUILD
3,200 SQUARE FEET
IN HOW MANY DAYS?
IN 5 DAYS, ABOUT.
SO IT'LL TAKE
5 DAYS.
THAT'S PRETTY
IMPRESSIVE.
IT IS AMAZING.
WHILE YOU'RE GONNA TAKE 5 DAYS,
WE'RE GONNA TAKE LONGER
THAN THAT IN SHOW TIME
SO THAT WE CAN STAY HERE
AT THE FACTORY
AND SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT STEPS.
WHEN WE COME BACK,
WE'LL BE IN THE BERKSHIRE HILLS
TO FIND OUT MORE
ABOUT THE UNIQUE ATTRACTIONS
OF THIS AREA.
Bob: THIS IS
THE MEETING HOUSE HERE
IN NEW MARLBOROUGH, MASS.
BILL WILSON,
WHO'S THE PRESIDENT
OF THE BERKSHIRES
VISITORS BUREAU,
IS JOINING US NOW
SO THAT WAS CAN TALK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
ALL THESE WONDERFUL
PLACES HERE.
I GUESS THE FIRST TIME
I HEARD
OF THE BERKSHIRES,
AS A FLORIDA BOY,
WAS WHEN JAMES TAYLOR
SANG THAT SONG
ABOUT THE TURNPIKE FROM
BOSTON TO STOCKBRIDGE,
OR THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
AND I'VE COME HERE OVER
THE YEARS MANY TIMES.
I KNOW THERE'S
WONDERFUL ATTRACTIONS,
BUT WHAT'S
THE HISTORY OF THIS
AREA AS A RESORT?
WELL, A LITTLE OVER
100 YEARS AGO,
MANY OF THE VERY PROMINENT
WEALTHY FAMILIES IN NEW YORK
WERE LOOKING FOR A PLACE
TO ESCAPE IN THE SUMMER,
AND SO THEY CAME UP TO
THE BEAUTIFUL GLORIOUS
BERKSHIRE HILLS
AND THEY STARTED BUILDING
WHAT WE NOW CALL
THE BERKSHIRE COTTAGES.
NOW, THESE "COTTAGES"
WERE NOW HUGE
PALATIAL MANSIONS,
BUT IN THOSE DAYS WITH
NO PROGRESSIVE INCOME TAX,
PEOPLE JUST STARTED BUILDING
BIGGER AND BIGGER HOMES,
AND THERE WAS ALMOST
A COMPETITION.
AND SOME OF THESE
GLORIOUS HOMES
ARE NOW RESORTS,
AND MANY OF THE OTHER
LARGE MANSIONS
HAVE BECOME
GREAT ATTRACTIONS.
I'M FAMILIAR
WITH ONE WHICH WAS
RECENTLY RESTORED,
WHICH IS CALLED
"THE MOUNT,"
AND THAT BELONGED
TO THE WRITER
EDITH WHARTON.
I THINK IT WAS
BUILT AROUND 1900.
AND THEN I ALSO KNOW
THAT THE GREAT
AMERICAN SCULPTOR
DANIEL CHESTER FRENCH
SPENT THE SUMMERS HERE
AND HAD
A MAGNIFICENT STUDIO.
HE'S, OF COURSE,
THE SCULPTOR OF
THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL
AND THE MINUTEMAN STATUE
IN MASSACHUSETTS.
WHO ARE SOME OF
THE OTHER LUMINARIES?
WELL, ONE THING
I SHOULD MENTION
ABOUT THE MOUNT
AND EDITH WHARTON
IS THE BERKSHIRES
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
SORT OF A MAGNET
FOR CREATIVE MINDS,
SO THERE WERE A LOT
OF AUTHORS,
LIKE HAWTHORNE AND MELVILLE,
AND, AS YOU MENTIONED,
EDITH WHARTON.
NOW, TELL US ABOUT
NORMAN ROCKWELL'S
PRESENCE HERE--IN
STOCKBRIDGE, RIGHT?
YES, IN STOCKBRIDGE,
AND AGAIN, HIS CREATIVITY
WAS INSPIRED BY THE AREA,
AND HE ACTUALLY
LIVED IN STOCKBRIDGE,
HAD HIS STUDIO IN
STOCKBRIDGE,
AND DID A LOT OF
HIS WORK IN STOCKBRIDGE.
AND TODAY,
THE NORMAN ROCKWELL MUSEUM
STANDS IN STOCKBRIDGE,
AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE
IS TAKE HIS ORIGINAL STUDIO
AND MOVED IT
ONTO THE PREMISES
WITH THE SAME ORIENTATION
TO THE SUN.
NOW, MANY PEOPLE KNOW
ABOUT NORMAN ROCKWELL
FROM HIS "SATURDAY
EVENING POST"
MAGAZINE COVERS.
SOME OF THESE FAMOUS
PAINTINGS THAT HE MADE.
THAT FAMOUS ONE
WHERE THE LITTLE BOY'S
HAVING THE SHOT,
AND THE OTHER ONE
WHERE THE ARTIST
IS KIND OF LOOKING
AROUND THE CORNER
OF HIS PAINTING,
AND HE'S
PAINTING HIMSELF--
YEAH, THE TRIPLE
SELF-PORTRAIT.
YEAH. THE BIG ONE
THAT WE ALL LOVE
IS THE CHRISTMAS SCENE,
'CAUSE THIS
IS A VERY POPULAR
CHRISTMASTIME
DESTINATION.
YES, AND THE MAIN STREET
OF STOCKBRIDGE--
NORMAN ROCKWELL
PAINTED A PAINTING
OF CHRISTMASTIME
AT THE MAIN STREET,
AND THIS IS REENACTED
EVERY YEAR HERE IN
THE BERKSHIRES:
WHERE PEOPLE GATHER;
THEY BRING
THEIR VINTAGE CARS;
THEY SET IT UP
JUST AS IN THE PAINTING,
AND THAT IS ONE OF
HIS MOST FAMOUS PAINTINGS.
UH-HUH, AND AS
YEAR-ROUND DESTINATION,
THERE'S ALSO A LOT
OF RECREATIONAL
POSSIBILITIES
IN THE BERKSHIRES.
WE HAVE GREAT SKIING--
DOWNHILL SKIING AS WELL
AS CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING.
WE HAVE SNOWSHOEING.
WE HAVE HIKING.
THEN IN THE FAIRER MONTHS,
WE HAVE GOLFING AND BIKING,
WHITE WATER RAFTING, BOATING,
AND A VARIETY OF OTHER THINGS.
THE BOSTON
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
HAS MADE ITS SUMMER HOME
AT "THE SHED"
HERE IN TANGLEWOOD
FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
SO, THIS IS ALSO
A BIG MUSIC SCENE
IN THE SUMMERTIME,
ISN'T IT?
YES, IN ADDITION
TO THEATER AND DANCE,
THE MUSIC
IS JUST PHENOMENAL.
THE BOSTON SYMPHONY BRINGS
PEOPLE HERE FROM NEW YORK,
AND FROM, REALLY,
ALL OVER THE WORLD
ALL SUMMER LONG.
IT'S OUR SINGLE
BIGGEST ATTRACTION.
DRAWS ALMOST 400,000
PEOPLE A YEAR.
AND THE 19th CENTURY
RELIGIOUS SECT
THAT WE CALL
THE SHAKERS,
THEY ALSO HAD
A PRESENCE AROUND HERE.
RIGHT, AND HANCOCK
SHAKER VILLAGE
IS AN ELEGANT RESTORATION
OF LIFE AS IT WAS
DURING THE SHAKER TIME.
EVERYTHING IS DONE
THE SAME WAY WITH
INTERPRETERS,
AND IT'S SCENIC,
AND A VERY GOOD
HISTORIC EXPERIENCE.
NOW, BILL,
THE BERKSHIRES
ARE ALSO HOME
TO SOME OF
THE FINEST COLLEGES
AND PREP SCHOOLS
IN AMERICA, RIGHT?
RIGHT, AND PROBABLY
THE MOST WELL-KNOWN
IS WILLIAMS COLLEGE
UP IN WILLIAMSTOWN,
WHICH HAS JUST BEEN NAMED
THE NUMBER ONE LIBERAL ARTS
SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY
BY "U.S. NEWS
AND WORLD REPORT."
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
AND I'M GLAD AND PROUD
TO BE AN ALUMNUS.
AND THE ART SCENE
AROUND HERE
IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.
WELL, THERE'S
A GREAT CONNECTION
BETWEEN WILLIAMS COLLEGE
AND THE STERLING & FRANCINE
CLARK ART INSTITUTE.
AND THE CLARK ART,
AS WE CALL IT,
HAS THE LARGEST--
HAS OVER 34 ORIGINAL
RENOIRS ON THE PREMISES.
IT'S A GREAT,
GREAT COLLECTION
OF IMPRESSIONIST ART.
IT'S ONE OF THE BEST
IN THE COUNTRY.
YOU'RE DOING
A GREAT JOB
OF BOOSTING IT,
BILL. THANKS.
THANK YOU, BOB.
NEXT, WE'LL BE AT THE BUILDING
SITE FOR OUR MODULAR HOME,
AND WE'LL GET STARTED
ON THE FOUNDATION.
NEXT TIME ON...
WE'RE STARTING A NEW PROJECT:
BUILDING A MODULAR HOME
IN THE BERKSHIRE HILLS
OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.
WE'LL MEET THE CONTRACTOR
AND TAKE A LOOK
AT THE CONDITIONS
AT OUR BUILDING SITE.
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE MANY
ATTRACTIONS IN THIS AREA,
INCLUDING MUSEUMS, COLLEGES,
AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
FOR ALL SEASONS.
WE'LL ALSO TRAVEL
TO SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA
TO MEET THE DESIGNER,
LOOK AT THE PLANS,
AND VISIT THE FACTORY
WHERE OUR HOUSE IS BEING BUILT.
SO, DON'T MISS IT.
THAT'S NEXT TIME ON
"HOME AGAIN."
NEXT TIME ON...
WE'RE STARTING A NEW PROJECT
BUILDING A MODULAR HOME
IN THE BERKSHIRE HILLS
OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.
DON'T MISS IT.
OK, SO HERE WE ARE
AT OUR BEAUTIFUL 9 ACRE,
WOODED, HILLSIDE BUILDING SITE.
I LOVE THE FERNS
AND THE DEEP WOODS IN THERE.
WE'RE GONNA MEET
WITH MICHAEL SHIELS,
WHO'S OUR GENERAL CONTRACTOR,
AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT
THE CONDITIONS ARE LIKE.
OUR GENERAL CONTRACTOR,
MICHAEL SHIELS,
IS FROM THIS AREA,
AND THIS IS AN UNUSUAL
PROJECT FOR YOU,
BUT LET'S TALK FIRST
ABOUT THE CONDITIONS HERE,
'CAUSE WE'RE
IN VIRGIN RAW LAND.
BEAUTIFUL
DECIDUOUS FOREST.
YES.
WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND?
WELL, WE DID FIND
A FAIR AMOUNT
OF WATER IN THE SITE
WHEN WE STARTED DIGGING.
UH-HUH.
WE HAD TO DO
SOME EXTRA PREP WORK
FOR THE FOUNDATION SYSTEM
WE'RE USING HERE.
NOW, WHEN YOU SAY
A "FAIR AMOUNT"
OF WATER,
DO YOU MEAN THERE
WAS, LIKE, GROUND WATER
THAT WAS REAL CLOSE TO
THE SURFACE, OR...
WELL, WE'VE HAD
SO MUCH RAIN HERE,
AND BECAUSE OF THE CLAY
OF THE SOIL,
IT WAS HOLDING
ALL THE WATER,
SO THERE WAS A LOT
OF ON-SITE WATER.
IT WASN'T
SO MUCH GROUND WATER
AS THE SOIL TENDS
TO HOLD THE WATER.
IT TENDS TO HOLD
THE WATER. OK.
SO, YOU'VE
ALREADY BASICALLY
SLICED OUT A SHELF
HERE FOR THE PROJECT.
YES.
AND I DON'T SEE WHERE
ALL THE SPOILS WENT.
DID YOU TRUCK IT
OFF THE SITE?
MOST OF THEM; YES.
YEAH, OK,
AND THEN WHAT
ARE WE STANDING ON?
THIS IS 3/8 CRUSHED STONE
THAT WE TRUCKED IN
AND GIVEN A GOOD
FLAT LEVEL SURFACE.
WE CAN COMPACT IT
REALLY WELL.
SO THIS IS JUST
FROM A NATIVE QUARRY
IN THIS PART OF--
THIS IS
CRUSHED STONE. YES.
YEAH, GOOD.
INEXPENSIVE.
WHAT'S THAT FOR?
THAT'S A ROAD FABRIC WE USED
UNDERNEATH THE CRUSHED STONE
BECAUSE WE HAD SO MUCH WATER
WHEN WE WERE
PREPARING THE SITE.
WE WANTED TO GET A GOOD BASE
BEFORE WE PUT THE STONE DOWN.
SO WHEN WE COMPACT,
IT DOESN'T VIBRATE
THE WATER THROUGH.
AND THAT WON'T ALLOW
THE CLAY
OR THE MOIST CLAY
TO KIND OF INFILTRATE
INTO THE CRUSHED STONE?
THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT'S A NICE PRECAUTION
TO TAKE, I GUESS.
AND THEN WHAT'S
HAPPENED BACK HERE?
I MEAN, WE ARE
PUTTING IN A FULL
FOUNDATION SYSTEM
THAT IS A PREFABRICATED
FOUNDATION SYSTEM,
BUT WHAT DO WE HAVE
ALREADY IN PLACE?
WELL, BECAUSE OF
LOCAL CODES
AND THE REGION WE'RE IN,
THIS IS A WALK OUT BASEMENT.
IT'S REQUIRED THAT WE GO
4 FOOT BELOW THE FROST LINE,
AND THIS IS WHAT'S
CALLED A FROST WALL.
OK, IT'S A FROST WALL
JUST ON THE BACKSIDE
OF THE HOUSE.
WE'RE ON A SLOPE, AND ON
THE BACKSIDE OF THE HOUSE,
YOU WALK OUT TO GRADE,
SO YOU GOTTA DIG
AN EXTRA 4 FEET DEEPER
TO MAKE SURE THAT A FROST
WON'T MAKE IT HEAVE.
EXACTLY.
YOU GOT IT. YEAH.
AND YOU CAN SEE
FROM THE BACKSIDE
OF THESE PANELS
THAT THEY ARE
MADE IN A FACTORY.
THEY'RE NOT POURED
IN PLACE.
I GUESS THERE'S A GREAT
DEAL OF ADVANTAGE
TO NOT HAVING TO BRING
CONCRETE TRUCKS OUT HERE
INTO THE REMOTE
COUNTRYSIDE.
YES. BOTH TIMING
AND FOR COST,
IT'S VERY EFFICIENT
TO DO IT THIS WAY.
IT'S ALL PRE-ENGINEERED,
AND ASSEMBLY GOES
VERY QUICKLY.
OK, AND WHAT THE CREW
THAT IS WORKING
BEHIND US, I GUESS,
IS DOING IS STILL ALL
THE LAYOUT WORK, RIGHT?
YES. YEP, PREPPING FOR
THE SETTING OF THE WALLS.
OK, SO PINPOINTING
ALL OF THESE LOCATIONS
WILL BE VERY, VERY
IMPORTANT,
'CAUSE YOU GOT A LOT
OF RIGHT ANGLES
TO DEAL WITH.
NOW, IS THERE ANY KIND
OF A FOUNDATION PLAN
THAT WE COULD LOOK AT
JUST YET?
SURE.
ALL RIGHT,
SO WHERE ARE WE
LOCATED RIGHT NOW?
WE'RE RIGHT IN
THIS CORNER RIGHT HERE.
OK, SO THE GRADE
GOES DOWN,
AND SO THIS LINE
REPRESENTS THIS
FROST WALL
THAT WE WERE
JUST TALKING ABOUT.
YES. THAT'S ALL
BELOW GRADE.
OK, AND THEN
WHAT ARE ALL THESE
LITTLE SQUARES?
THOSE ARE
THE LALLY COLUMN PADS
THAT WILL SUPPORT
THE HOUSE
IN THE CENTER
OF THE MARRIAGE WALL.
OK. THEY'RE
PRE-CAST, ALSO?
THAT'S CORRECT.
THEY'LL BE INCORPORATED
IN THE STONE,
AND THEN WHEN
WE POUR THE FLOOR,
IT'S ALL MARRIED AS ONE.
AND IT JUST SITS ON...
THESE WILL BE SET FLUSH
WITH THE STONE.
THEY'LL BE DUG OUT
IN THE CENTER.
I SEE, SO YOU
HAVE TO BURY THEM
JUST A LITTLE BIT
AND IT'LL ALL BE FLUSH.
THAT'S CORRECT.
BUT THERE'S NO
CONCRETE AT THIS LEVEL
THAT'S POURED?
IT'S ALL PRE...
IT'S ALL PRE-CAST.
PRE-CAST. GREAT.
AND THEN HOW DO YOU
GET THE TAMPING
ACCOMPLISHED?
WELL, ONCE THE ELEVATIONS
ARE DETERMINED,
THEY GET THE PERFECT LEVEL,
AND THEN HE RUNS DOWN
WITH A COMPACTOR
AND MAKES SURE THAT
THE COMPACTION RATE
IS THE WAY
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.
SO WE PASS THIS MACHINE
ACROSS THE AREA
ONCE OR TWICE,
AND THAT
TAKES CARE OF IT.
[WHIRRING]
WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT WITH
A PREVIEW OF OUR NEXT SHOW.
STICK AROUND.
THAT'S ALL
WE'RE GETTING DONE TODAY.
COME "HOME AGAIN" NEXT TIME.
WE'LL BE PUTTING TOGETHER
THE ENTIRE PREFABRICATED
CONCRETE FOUNDATION SYSTEM
FROM SUPERIOR WALLS.
TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU
"HOME AGAIN."
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