Since 1968, Asheville’s Deltec Homes has been a purveyor of prefabricated homes, typically custom designed around a distinctive octagonal floorplan. Now the eco-conscious company, which has seen many of its customers assemble their own abodes over the years, is mitigating an additional cost driver with its pre-designed, build-it-yourself series.
“What’s new about the DIY Collection is that we have streamlined the process by establishing set floorplans. This way, customers can get the home much more quickly and at a lower cost,” says Deltec president Steve Linton, noting about 15-20 percent savings from the elimination of custom design fees.
At 800-1,700 square feet, DIY Collection packages range from $32,000 to $84,000 and include a roof, floor and wall system, overhang, pre-installed windows and Typar weather barrier. After selecting one of nine floor plans plus window and siding colors, users wait six to eight weeks for delivery of their home — manufactured in pieces at Deltec’s local facility — to arrive at the job site. Pre-installed and pre-painted siding, garages and decks cost extra, as does assistance from Deltec’s field consultants.
“Each panel is cut to exact measurements and assembled like a kit, making it easy for those with very little building experience,” reads a release from the company. Under state law, Deltec customers who are not general contractors can assemble one dwelling as their primary residence provided that they meet certain requirements. Among those are occupancy of the dwelling for at least a year before selling; ownership of the land being developed; and a commitment to supervise construction to completion, including presence at all inspections. Upon completion, the house is classified as site built rather than modular.
With a full set of drawings and a construction manual, five to six sets of hands and a Deltec consultant, assembly can take about a week, according to Linton, who says this quick construction of the shell (which protects from the elements) is the company’s specialty.
After that, Linton explains, “a ‘do-it-yourselfer’ would need to arrange the foundation, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and the finishes for the home.” All work must be comply with standard building code and pass a handful of inspections, regardless of whether it’s carried out by the new owner or a licensed builder’s team. Although the final cost is driven by many factors — the buyer’s expertise and land conditions, for example — readying the house for occupancy averages about 200-300 percent of Deltec’s price tag, according to Linton.
“More and more we hear about people acting as their own builder in order to either save money or fulfill a life-long dream,” he says. The first DIY Collection package will ship to Hendersonville in October.
Visit deltechomes.com/our-homes/diy-collection/ for more information on Deltec Homes and its DIY Collection.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.