How to Build Cars... And Houses.... And Houses out of Cars...

One of the benefits of our planning and pre-building process is that we can minimize the waste we generate. Not only wasted materials, but wasted time as well. We invest time up front on methods and processes that allow us to build efficiently like building the wall panels in the plant and delivering them to the site in the order we will stand them. We don't cut framing on site so there's not a big pile of lumber or steel scraps. The exterior rigid foam insulation is installed in the plant not hand-cut out in the field. We deliver the materials for each day's work in the morning and leave the job site clean at the end of the day. All this planning means there aren't extra parts, material or scrap sitting around on our job sites. It’s one of the remarkable things that people notice when they visit.


This way of working comes from the Toyota Production System (TPS). It’s called “The Five S’s.” They are:
• Sifting – Identifying the needed items at the worksite and removing the unneeded items
• Sorting – Arranging items at the worksite to be easily found and within reach when needed.
• Sweeping – Cleaning the area and around the worksite and cleaning the tools to maintain top performance
• Spic and Span – Providing a system to create a clean and safe work environment
• Sustaining – Creating awareness or discipline by each worker to maintain a clean and safe worksite.

The Five S’s are important because disorder can cover up problems and because they encourage prevention thinking.

Another positive result of the methods we use is a very clean job site.
We feel that it’s a good reflection on us and provides a safe work site for our associates and our visitors. Job site housekeeping is one of the major requirements in the General Safety and Health Provisions section of OSHA’s Health & Safety Construction-related Regulations. Even small obstacles can be a tripping hazard. Injuries from slips, trips and falls on flat surfaces account for a large number of the overall injures in residential construction.

Of course, an uncluttered job site is easier to work in too. Tools and supplies are visible, easier to find, and it’s easier to move around. Time isn’t wasted moving things out of the way before you can start the next task. A clean job site means that it’s easier to do even the small safety tasks that can make a difference like running our magnetic sweep around the site to pick up any stray screws that could pierce a boot or a truck tire.

Really, it’s just an extension of our quality-focused approach throughout the whole process. It includes all of the processes, the people, the methods and the end product.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

The House at 13981 SE Sierra Drive Will Be Open This Weekend

We'll have the house at 13981 SE Sierra Drive in Clackamas, Oregon open this weekend.

Hours will be Saturday the 30th and Sunday the 31st from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Pay special attention to the James Hardie Siding. It has a 30 year full replacement warranty on the siding and a 15 year finish guarantee. Imagine not having to worry about repainting for at least 15 years!

Drop by and learn more about what else makes Miranda Homes different.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

Pictures of a River View

We've finished the latest River View.


Front


Covered Back Porch


Kitchen with Tigerwood Floors


Living Room with Fireplace and Tigerwood Floors


Master Bathroom

To see more, visit one of our open houses!

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

Time Lapse Video

Some of you may have seen this before but I thought it was worth posting here.

This is a series of time lapse photographs of the setting of the first floor walls on one of our homes.

Click the image below to watch the video.




Since shooting this video we've switched to using a crane to move the panels but other than that, it's essentially the same.

The wall panels are built in the plant and include exterior sheathing, windows and exterior foam insulation. Although nailing the sheathing to the steel studs is an option we choose to use screws. Using screws helps keep the sheathing tight to the studs for a more rigid wall. We also install the foam exterior insulation in the plant to more effectively control the debris from cutting the material. Inside the plant we can easily sweep up the dust but on site it tends to become airborne and is nearly impossible to collect.

Each panel is numbered and stacked on trailers in the order they are to be installed.


The interior walls are set on the floor where they will be stood when exterior walls are placed.



As each exterior panel is lifted into place it is squared and attached to the previous wall sections and to the interior walls. Each wall is supported by the other walls it is connected to. All of the wall sections are screwed to the floor and bolted to the foundation.

It takes about 3 to 4 hours to stand the walls for each floor, depending on the size of the house and it can be done rain or shine.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

Open House This Weekend - Come see the Tigerwood floors I was telling you about

We're having an open house this weekend at 13981 SE Sierra Drive in Clackamas, Oregon.

We'll be there on Saturday the 23rd and Sunday the 24th from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm.

What are VOCs?

VOC stands for "Volatile Organic Compounds" which are sometimes referred to as "Off-gasses." Some of the most common sources of VOCs are paints, varnishes, cleaners and solvents. They release gasses not only during curing, but sometimes long after and sometimes without any odor. Concentrations inside the home can be up to five times higher than outdoors. VOCs affect the indoor air quality of a home and can have a negative impact on the health of its occupants. The EPA considers indoor air quality amongst the top five leading health risks in the US.

Click here to read more from the EPA website.

So, you can understand why Earth Advantage awards points toward certification based on the use of low VOC materials.

Don't be afraid to ask the builder of any home you're considering to provide the information on VOCs of the products they use.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

Follow Us On Twitter

Yes... We will be "Tweeting." You can expect regular updates on specific homes as we build them. You'll find us at Twitter under the user name MirandaHomes. (Click the button below)

For those of you who aren't using Twitter yet, it's a great way to keep tabs on what we're doing. Don't worry though, we'll still be blogging.

Let us know what you're thinking or if there are specific topics you'd like to see us cover in our Blog.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

Have Your Cake Without Taking it from Someone Else

Many of you may have heard the term "FSC" when looking at houses. If you aren't sure what FSC means or why it's important, read on...

FSC is the acronym for "Forest Stewardship Council"; a global agency developed to ensure the sustainable growth and harvesting of forest products. They certify forest products for companies and land owners who can verify that they use practices that are consistent with FSC standards. Those standards cover not only the sustainability of the forest itself, but also the well being of the animals and people who work in, live in and depend on those forests. It encompasses the health, environmental, social and economic aspects of growing and harvesting forest products.

Click here to learn read more about the Forest Stewardship Council

The reason I bring this up is that we're installing some of the most beautiful hardwood flooring you'll ever see. It is FSC Tigerwood 3/4" solid wood tongue and groove. It is much harder, and more durable than oak and it has a contrast between light and dark that really comes out when finished. After installation the tigerwood can be sanded and finished with a natural vegetable oil and wax based finish or by using traditional floor finishes. Because it's a solid wood floor rather than a laminate it can be refinished several times if needed without worry of sanding through to a composite base.

FSC products are generally more expensive but builders who choose to use them recognize the benefits as people question the choices they make and how they affect others.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

What does it mean to be Earth Advantage® Certified?

Earth Advantage scores homes based on a worksheet that covers all aspects of construction. Builders earn points by choosing more sustainable construction methods and materials over less sustainable ones. The categories include interior air quality, environmental responsibility, energy efficiency and resource efficiency. The standards Earth Advantage has created target an energy usage of at least 15% less than a home built using the minimum building code. To be Earth Advantage Certified a home must score minimum of 90 points. That qualifies it for a Silver rating. To earn a Gold rating, a score of 120 points, and for a Platinum rating a total of 140 points must be earned. To see the points worksheet Click here.

What is the cost to build a Silver level home? What about Gold and Platinum.

Most builders should be able to attain a Silver level for about $3,800 in labor and materials. Much of it can be done for very little money by considering the Earth Advantage standards in the design process. Things like implementing a waste management plan, reducing house size and taking care to cover the construction site with erosion control materials are examples of low cost solutions.

At Miranda Homes we choose to build to a minimum of a Gold level certification. Reaching this level takes more planning and some better material choices. Some of how we reach a Gold level is by using Insulated Concrete Forms for our foundations and Spray Foam Insulation to seal the home against weather. We also use engineered steel studs, advanced framing systems, a home-run plumbing distribution system and an air management system to maximize energy usage and improve the quality of the interior air. We include a conditioned crawl space, rigid foam exterior insulation, a heat pump and run all heating ducts within conditioned space. The additional expense for these items and the other quality, energy efficient products we use comes to about $14,000 over a code built home.

Platinum level certification is the highest award Earth Advantage offers and Miranda Homes will build to this level based on customer requests. To reach Platinum level Miranda Homes includes all of the items used to reach Gold level certification as well as additional landscape planning. The location of the property and its proximity to shopping and public transit must also be considered. To reach this level adds approximately $18,000 in cost over a code built home.

At Miranda Homes we work hard to offset these extra costs through efficiencies in engineering, purchasing and processes.

But we don't do all of this for the certificate. We take these steps to give our customers homes that:

• Reduce carbon footprints - Our Platinum homes produce approximately 5.3 tons less carbon per year than the average home. (Click Here to see what a ton of carbon looks like)


• Reduce utility costs - Our Platinum homes reduce energy bills by an average of 50% over traditional homes.


• Increase the life of the home - All of our homes are estimated by The Office of Sustainable Development to last 100 years longer than a code built home.


• Bring a higher resale value - Earth Advantage homes are proven to shorten time on the market and bring higher prices. (Read a story HERE)
  


• Reduced waste in landfills - Our recycling program diverts 75% of construction waste to reuse. (approximately 7,500 pounds per home)

As you'll see from the points worksheet, there are many ways to reach the different Earth Advantage levels. Some are more expensive than others but some have a much higher payback in reduced utility costs and improved lifestyle benefits. Every builder of an Earth Advantage certified home has completed the points worksheet and most will be glad to share it with you.

To learn more about Earth Advantage and the certification process for new homes click here. For more information about how Miranda Homes reaches Gold and Platinum levels call us at 503-658-4818. We'll be glad to show you our points worksheets.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes

“Built-In” versus “Bolt-On” Performance

You may have heard the saying, “You can’t un-ring a bell.” Sometimes you just can’t go back and change things.

When a fruit grower decides to grow organic fruit they change their whole way of doing things. There’s no way to make fruit organic after the fact. There’s no “Bolt-On” alternative to doing things right from the start.

When Toyota created the Prius they didn’t start with a Corolla and bolt on an electric motor. They started from scratch to build a whole new car. It has new wheels, a new transmission, a new computerized dashboard, and a new drive system. Every component was reconsidered with the whole vehicle in mind. The result is the most popular hybrid car on the market and the rest of the automotive industry has begun to follow.

The same is true when building homes. We can’t start thinking about energy efficiency, lifespan, health and comfort of a home after it’s built. There are certain essential components that just have to be built in. It starts with a clean slate and reconsideration of every component with the whole house in mind.

Solar panels can be bolted on and energy efficient appliances can be installed but after a furnace and duct work have been installed in the garage it’s not feasible to move them into conditioned space. An insulated foundation, without vents, that includes an earth slab and vapor barrier cannot be installed after the fact. Replacing traditional batting insulation with spray foam insulation would require gutting the inside perimeter of the house. There is simply no alternative to doing things right from the beginning.

We call it, “Built-In Performance” and we don’t build homes without it.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes