All Virginia Building Solutions home installations are unique, with each based on the type and style of home, land topography and weather conditions.
When the day begins, all you will see is your home’s foundation, but by day’s end, you’ll see a nearly completed home that is weather tight.
Your home will home arrive at your homesite in two or more modular units, according to the floor plan you choose.
After your land is cleared, footers are dug and your permanent foundation is completed. A separate day will be scheduled for the home’s installation. A crane is then ordered and logistics to transport your home is coordinated with VBS personnel.
Your home sometimes may arrive a day or two in advance. Depending on your lot size, your home’s modular units may need to be temporarily stationed elsewhere and delivered as needed to the homesite.
The crane, along with a truck hauling the out-rigging, counter weights and pads, generally arrives the morning of the installation. A crew of 4-6 people will arrive early that morning to assist the builder in the installation.
The crew will then begin to uncover the protective plastic and sheathing from the modular units, and the hardware holding the units to the transporters is removed. After the crane is positioned into place, its outriggers are extended onto railroad tie pads and the boom is extended.
The installation is a flurry of activity and non-stop work. Cables are threaded under the home that connect to a spreader bar and crane. Rope taglines are used to guide, pull and tug each home section over the foundation, where it is then lowered.
Workers then use crowbars to pry the units into position. This process repeats with precision until each section is in place. Support posts are placed under the load-bearing marriage walls of each adjoining units if the home is on a basement foundation. Perimeter joists are then nailed to the sill plate, per a nailing schedule. Underneath the home, center floor joists are bolted to one another at the marriage wall.
If you’re building a ranch or a Cape-style home, the hinged roof is raised by the crane, and supported knee walls are nailed into place. End wall panels also are lifted and installed in addition to any gables or dormers.
If you are building a two-story home, additional units are stacked on top of each other, after the electrical and plumbing connections are completed between the stories. Like in the ranch home, the roof is then raised and end panels are installed on top of the second story.
The day ends with the crane being dismantled and the removal of all disposable materials. While more work has to be done before the home is finished, there is no longer an empty foundation.
According to the agreement with your builder, additional of garages, porches, decks may need to be built as well as any utility hookups.
To see time-lapse videos of home installations by Virginia Building Solutions, click here.
