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Modular Mountain Retreat > Episode 6: Shake Roof and Stone Façade for Modular Home

Cultured Stone and Façade

Project: Modular Mountain Retreat, Episode 6, Part 1

The assembly of the main sections of the modular home is nearly complete, and work is underway on the building's exterior.

The roof shingles are being installed and Brian Eberle (from Enviroshake) is on hand to explain the benefits of the engineered shingle product that's been chose for use.

At the back of the house, Mark Murphy (from Owens-Corning) is directing a crew that's applying a Cultured Stone veneer to the foundation of the home.

Inside, Bob looks at the distinct features of the modular construction process, including the marriage walls and joints.

Part 1: Cultured Stone and Façade: Mark Murphy from Owens-Corning shows Bob a new man-made stone product for the exterior of the modular home. The product combines Southern Ledge Stone and Dressed Fieldstone and is considerably lighter than natural stone. It is colored with iron oxide and other natural pigments to give it the "fresh from the ground" look of real stones.

The installation of man-made stone is far simpler than it is with real stone. The lightweight stones can be adhered to the wall with standard mortar. And Owens-Corning produces nineteen types of this product in a variety of colors. The cost is about half that of natural stone.
Part 2: Touring the Master Bedroom in the Modular Home

Beautifully sited on wooded acreage with breathtaking views of some of the most beautiful countryside in New England, this Arts and Crafts style bungalow certainly doesn't look factory-built. You'd never know it was a modular home unless Bob took you to the Pennsylvania factory where it was built, almost from start to finish.

The house goes down the assembly line from framing, through wiring and plumbing, all the way to the installation of flooring and priming for paint.

The house is trucked to its pre-fabricated foundations on the lot, and start all the finishing touches that will prove that a modular house doesn't have to be a cookie-cutter affair.

Also from Modular Mountain Retreat

Episode 1 - Modular Home Construction and Site Preparation
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Description:
Bob and his crew travel to western Massachusetts to feature the construction and on-site assembly of a modular home in the Berkshires Hills. Simplex Industries is building the home in Scranton, PA. Bob visits the Simplex factory to witness the the prefab process. Pat Fricchione, Jr., owner of Simplex, tells Bob the history of the company, remarking on how the image of modular construction has changed over the years. While touring the building site, Bob gives an overview of the rustic Berkshires area before joining general contractor Michael Shiels to discuss the foundation prep work that is underway.
Episode 2 - Modular Construction Details and Foundation Work
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Description:
The crew from Superior Walls is preparing for the pre-cast foundation walls, which will provide the base for the modular home. To learn about the manufacturing process for the pre-cast panels, Bob travels back to the Simplex plant in Scranton PA, where he sees how each module is framed and prepped for delivery. Back in the Berkshires, once the panels have been lowered into place by crane, Mel Zimmerman from Superior Walls explains the foundation assembly process.
Episode 3 - Modular Construction, Wiring, and Drywall
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Description:
All of the work in progress is going on indoors, safe from the elements that can slow traditional home construction. The work underway includes roof assembly, subfloor installation, wall framing, and drywall application for the house's main living areas. Tasks that are also ongoing include spackling and sanding, installing insulation, applying wall and roof sheathing, plus house wrapping and interior trim work. Leviton structured wire boxes, which will form the backbone of the home's voice and data system, are also being installed, while, at the Simplex stair shop, the staircase for the project houses is being carefully assembled.
Episode 4 - Interior and Exterior Finishes on a Modular Home
Episode 5 - Assembling a Modular Home
Episode 7 - Panelized Cedar Shingles, a Metal Roof, and The Mount
Episode 8 - Direct Vent Heat and Composite Deck Materials
Episode 9 - Energy Efficient Heat, Column Deck Supports, and The Mount
Episode 10 - Berkshires Architecture, Shakespeare & Co., and Structured Wiring
Episode 11 - Introducing Elm Court
Episode 12 - Sound Insulation and Restored Rooms at Elm Court
Episode 13 - Elm Court Decor and Ongoing Restoration

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