FAQs

Habitat Post & Beam, Inc., warrants that for 20 years from the day of product delivery we will be responsible for any major structural defects that occur as a result of the material we supply; this warranty is transferable.  Defects resulting from improper construction, improper or lack of maintenance, negligence, use of substitute materials, or the effects of damaging natural occurrences are not covered under this warranty.  Individual manufacturers' warranties apply.  Manufacturers' (shingles, doors, windows, etc.) warranty stickers/cards/ paperwork can be found in or on packaging upon shipment – please keep in a safe place.

Habitat provides pre-built factory panels comprised of kiln-dried 2×4 studs 16" on center as a solid nail base for securing cabinets, siding, etc.  (it is the recommendation of the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association that cedar clapboards be nailed with 1-1/2" penetration into solid wood every 16-24"), and      1-1/2" Styrofoam bonded to 1/2" CDX plywood is included for on-site application (cavity insulation – fiberglass, spray foam, etc. – is locally supplied and installed.).  Our wall systems meet or exceeds the IECC energy codes for all climate zones in the US, including Alaska.  See our Framing Systems page for more information.  We do not use stress skin panels.  We believe that while stress skin panels provide a high R-value, there are inherent problems that have discouraged our use.  For additional information, visit our Framing Systems page and scroll down to "The Habitat Wall System vs. Stress Skin Wall System." 

All of our framing systems meet or exceed the International Energy Conservation Codes (IECC) for the coldest regions of the US, including Alaska! The wall system uses 1-1/2" foil-faced polyisocyanurate (R 10) insulation and 1/2" CDX fir plywood for on-site application.  Cavity insulation (fiberglass, spray foam, etc.) is supplied and installed by owner/contractor. The Beamed Roof System insulation includes staggered layers of foil-faced rigid urethane insulation with R-60 Equivalent (R-41 continuous is the equivalent of R-60 cavity insulation), and 1/2" CDX fir plywood nailbase over the insulation. Our Higher R-Values can be obtained with an additional layer(s) of insulation. 

See our Framing Systems page for more information.

A common problem with timber frame construction wall finish is the eventual separation of Sheetrock from the posts and beams as the structure ages.  Habitat includes a dado (groove) in the exterior wall posts and beams into which the Sheetrock is slid during construction, which allows it to remain tight and true.

We use Andersen®'s top-of-the-line 400 Series High Performance™ Low-E4™ glass windows and patio doors with maintenance-free cladding that features a 20-year warranty (http://www.andersenwindows.com).  Exterior doors are JELD-WEN® fiberglass, insulated, pre-hung doors (http://www.jeld-wen.com).  Roof windows/skylights are by Velux® (http://www.veluxusa.com).  If you prefer to purchase your own windows and doors locally we will provide the rough openings in our wall panels for the sizes you specify.  For more information visit our Specifications page, and the individual manufacturers' web sites (links above).

Siding is primed finger-jointed red cedar clapboards for horizontal application (4” exposure).  Our trim is Boral® TruExterior® poly-ash primed (for more information visit our Specifications page).  Alternatively, you can supply your own siding and trim which will reduce your package price.

From the point of signed contract with approved building permits and no further design changes (see our Working With Us page for more information), we can typically deliver your home or addition in 4-6 weeks, and rarely is it more than 8 weeks. This is the average timeframe required for site preparation and foundation/first floor deck installation. We will work with you and your builder to determine the ship date to best fit with your contractor's schedule.

We're not; the names are just a coincidence.  If you're looking for Habitat for Humanity (the non-profit organization that helps lower-income individuals build their own homes), go to http://www.habitat.org where you can find the chapter closest to you, or call 1-800-422-4828