crawler

A tracked heavy machine with a pivot point used to pull or push a heavy load (typically our homes “the last mile” to the foundation)

freight / hauler / truck

A large motor vehicle to transfer heavy loads. ideabox homes are delivered as far as possible to an accessible site, typically with a large 30’ truck. They unhook near foundation or transfer to other equipment listed above.

modular

A factory prefabricated home made of three-dimensional modules that are transported on flatbed trucks or removable frame to a home site and assembled with a roller system or crane. They are built to conform to the requirements of the International Building Code, and must conform to any local construction ordinances. Inspections are done by the Building Department.

manufactured

A complete dwelling unit constructed in a factory in compliance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The home may be one or more transportable sections each constructed with a steel chassis to which axles and wheels are attached for towing from the factory to the home site. Once placed on site the wheels are removed and the home tied to a permanent foundation or foundation system. Inspections on the structure itself are done at the factory by HUD. Foundation and connection inspections are done by the Building Department.

install

“Install” or “installation” is a general term used for getting the home onto a foundation site, and finishing up all remaining exterior and interior work to complete the home. Typically some exterior trim and siding, flashing, interior doors, bolting units together, connecting services like power water and sewer, and finish drywall touchups. Our homes typically come 95% complete from the factory.

installer

A certified licensed installer is required for the installation to the manufactured code, optional for modular code. There are specific details they are required to comply with both federal and local requirements.

box cribs

A box crib or cribbing is a temporary wooden structure used to support heavy objects during construction. Typically used to stage a home near a site or on site for the installer to place on the foundation.

concrete perimeter stem wall foundation

A type of foundation common in much of the United States, stem walls are short (up to several feet, or the height of a crawl space) and are attached to a concrete footing. They are typically used in houses with crawl spaces, either vented or unvented, and are especially common in California, the Northwest, and the South. They are also a popular choice among architects designing homes in areas where earthquakes occur frequently.

ideabox tailored modular IRC designs are designed for this foundation type.

compacted gravel / concrete pad / runners

A foundation type designed for a certified installer and federal manufactured code installation process. Perimeter material is per owner and installer to close up the foundation and creates a crawl space style foundation.

ideabox original federal manufactured models are designed for this foundation type. A stem wall foundation is also possible, but requires more planning.

zonal heating

Each room with an Apex 72 or PerfectToe space heater set to a thermostat. Each room can be set to a separate temperature.

ductless heat pump

A ductless heat pump (DHP) system is one that delivers heated and cooled air to individual rooms or small areas in a home. It uses a two-way heat pump to work without ductwork. Two-way heat pumps are efficient because they take advantage of heat's natural tendency to move from warm spaces to cool spaces and can reverse the process while using a minimal amount of electricity. A DHP system is not provided by ideabox due to local code and unit warranty reasons, but they are a system easy to install with a local company and widely used in many of our homes for heating and air conditioning.

tankless water heater

Tankless water heaters, also known as demand-type or instantaneous water heaters, provide hot water only as it is needed. They don't produce the standby energy losses associated with storage water heaters, which can be more energy efficient. Due to instant heat loads and serving the entire home, ideabox can only offer this if powered by natural gas or propane.

heat pump water heater

Heat pump water heaters use electricity to move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly. Therefore, they can be two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric resistance water heaters. To move the heat, heat pumps work like a refrigerator in reverse. They have a fan which can be noisy, and have air volume spatial requirements which typically require louvered doors or wall vents in ideabox designs. State of Washington Energy Codes require this type of water heater in new construction if home is powered by electricity.