Manufactured / Modular / Moblle Homes on the Big Island?

[Hapagurl]

Did you find the modular that works for the big island? Just curious.

[terracore]

The Hale Plus homes never made it to market. Reportedly, the delay is due to interference from the unions that represent traditional construction workers, even though the builders are so overwhelmed with business some of them don't even return phone calls. They currently only offer a building described as a shed, but it the size of a tiny house. Unfortunately it is overpriced, and built in such a manner that nobody would ever want to own one. It has a flat roof with no overhang, like a shipping container, and their market is a rain forest where buildings usually have roofs with large overhangs. If I wanted to live in a building the size of a shipping container, with no eaves, I would spend 10% the cost of their Hale Plus shed and buy a shipping container.

[hotzcatz]

Shipping containers make terrible houses, as far as living in them goes, but folks still try it occasionally.


The huge roof overhangs aren't only for the rainfall but to shade the sides of the house and keep them cooler. Since we're now using the IRC instead of the UBC, insulation is starting to be required but shade on the side of the house is still a really good thing. If the heat isn't there in the first place, you don't need the insulation to keep it out.


Stark white roofs are also a LOT cooler than dark colored roofs. Which is why so many white cars around here.


Not sure what the crazy increase in materials cost is gonna do for construction. We're finishing up the workshop with what we've got on hand but will be starting some new construction maybe late this year or next year and hopefully materials cost will have come down some by then.

[MickeyE]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

<SNIP>

Not sure what the crazy increase in materials cost is gonna do for construction. We're finishing up the workshop with what we've got on hand but will be starting some new construction maybe late this year or next year and hopefully materials cost will have come down some by then.

Just curious wondering if you are using or considering using albizia for any of your construction and what the cost difference would be compared to other construction lumber.

You have probably seen the Hawaii Invasive Species site at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/info/in...files/albizia/ but others on the forum may not.

There is an interesting article at https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/albizia-project/ about using albizia for housing construction.

And some good information and products made from albizia and bundles of lumber at https://thealbiziaproject.com/ .



Mickey

[terracore]

Originally Posted by MickeyE

Just curious wondering if you are using or considering using albizia for any of your construction and what the cost difference would be compared to other construction lumber.

You have probably seen the Hawaii Invasive Species site at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/info/in...files/albizia/ but others on the forum may not.

There is an interesting article at https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/albizia-project/ about using albizia for housing construction.

And some good information and products made from albizia and bundles of lumber at https://thealbiziaproject.com/ .



Mickey

Albizia is an invasive junk tree that destroys whatever ecosystem it's introduced to. I think it's a good idea to use it in the manners you suggest in it's native habitat, or as its felled elsewhere as part of an eradication project, but nobody is going to want to purposely grow it in Hawaii because there is no way to stop it from spreading from where it's purposely grown. The prototype shelter in the one article used construction techniques that used the albizia as an engineered wood by laminating it with glue. Similar projects could be undertaken using other species (like hemp) that are a better fit for Hawaii. JMO.