FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(FAQ)
 We have provided the following information
to assist with answering general questions. If you have specific
questions, please feel free to contact
us.
Q. Are Farwest Homes manufactured, modular, prefabricated,
or what?
A. They are most accurately described as panelized
homes, with open panels. That is the walls are pre-built in
the plant in Washington state with 2x4 or 2x6 kiln-dry Douglas
Fir studs at 16" on center, just like your normal site
built custom home. The exterior plywood is nailed on and the
windows are installed there with high quality caulking and
flashing. The Cedar exterior window trim is also installed
and the wall panels are carefully stacked flat, banded in
bundles, and wrapped in waterproof plastic for shipment.
 Q. Are these SIP's, or Structural
Insulated Panels?
A. No, the walls are not insulated to make
easier to install the plumbing and electrical. The insulation,
which does not come with the house package, is installed after
those are completed, and it is not part of the structural
strength of the wall as the foam is in the SIP. We use the
standard studwall for strength.
Q. What is included in the house package?
A. All of the lumber, plywood, exterior Cedar
trim, siding (many types are available), vapor barrier, windows,
exterior doors with locksets, floor trusses or joists, roof
trusses or rafters, subfloor, decking, deck framing, interior
and exterior stair materials and joist hangers needed to build
the house. The walls are prebuilt as described above, and we
also include delivery to your site and working drawings.
 Q. What do I need to supply?
A. Everything else including, but not limited
to, the foundation, plumbing, electrical, heating, insulation,
nails, glue, seismic hold-downs, drywall, paint, roofing material,
cabinets, finish flooring, and countertops. And of course
the land, utility connections, permits, site plan, engineering
stamps, and the labor and equipment to unload the trucks and
put it all together.
Q. What kind of windows come with it?
A. Almost any kind you want. The standard
brand we use is lifetime warranty dual-pane Milguard vinyl,
but we also will install many brands of wood, clad wood, or
aluminum.
 Q. Can I do it myself?
A. Many people with basic carpentry skills
and tools have built Farwest Homes and saved a lot of money
acting as owner-builders or their own general contractor.
Most people hire subcontractors to do the technical parts
such as plumbing and electrical.
Q. How much do the home packages cost?
A. They are usually $34-$49 per sq. ft. delivered
in California, including 8 sets of detailed plans. Prices
are plus local sales taxes. Call or email for a price list
on our stock plans as seen on the website.
 Q. What kind of machinery is used to unload the trucks
and hoist the walls?
A. We usually use a 8,000 lb. capacity telescoping
boom, or extended reach forklift with a truss boom attachment.
These are used to unload the truck and do all of the heavy
lifting of the wall panels and beams. They are in common use
in construction and are available at most equipment rental
yards. The owner or builder is responsible for renting this
and having it on site when the truck arrives.
Q. How will I know how to put the house together?
A. The house package arrives with a plan
marked with the exact location of every wall and each wall
is clearly marked with its location. We also have an instruction
booklet which you can review before the house arrives, and
your Farwest Homes Representative, Walls & Roofs LLC,
will be on site when the first truck arrives and available
to answer any questions you may have about Farwest's "Easy-Panel
Wall System".
 Q. Do you sell to contractors?
A. Yes, we have many contractors who only
build with Farwest Homes because they know the savings in
on-site labor costs enables them to build at lower costs and
still provide a higher quality house than is generally being
built by their competitors. Walls & Roofs LLC can offer
special discounts to builders.
Q. Where do you ship Farwest Homes?
A. Generally,the West Coast and neighboring
states including Alaska and Hawaii. We also can ship to Japan
and China. Walls & Roofs LLC best serves Northern California.
For other areas, please contact us for the name of your nearest Farwest Dealer.
Q. How much does it cost for Farwest to do custom
plans?
A. There is a $5,000 deposit (up to a 2,000 sf
custom home) which is fully credited back to the purchase price
when you order the home. To modify one of our stock plans,
the deposit is $2,700., or a stock plan set with no modification
is $1,200.
Q. What if I already have a set of plans?
A. Send us your plans and we will quote a
price to build that house. We often work from plans done by
local architects and designers.
Q. Do you do duplexes, triplexes, apartment buildings,
commercial buildings, barns, workshops, garages, granny units,
or motels?
A. Yes, all of the above. We even have some
stock plans for multiple units.
If you have additional questions, or would like to speak
with a representative, please contact
us.
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