A Perfect Prefab: A Credit to the Neighborhood

LivingHome, Sustainable Home  

The couple's rural site is 600 feet up on a hill in the woods and seven miles from the coast. "Being we're in a rural county with lots of regulations," Renee says, "the home's location on the site was partially determined by the soil test the engineers did for the septic system. There was some preexisting access to the lot that also influenced where to put the house. LivingHome works with a contractor, and he had to say, 'Yes, you can put a LivingHome here," before we could start."

Renee acted as the project manager for the build. The contractor worked with Renee to put in the foundation and get the county's plans approved. Renee's husband rotated the house plan to sit at the cardinal points on the property. The couple paid an additional cost to have a three-foot overhang on the backside of the house, "which shades us from the heat in summer," she says. They also chose to put the solar panels in the yard rather than on the roof.

Sustainable Construction Materials

The couple clad the exterior in Hardiplank, with cedar accents. "We're located in a wildlands fire interface," says Renee, "so fiber cement board was essential. It's close to being fireproof and helps with our anxiety living in this part of the country." They upgraded the flat roof to handle, in the next year or two, a living or green roof.

"The upgrade makes sure the structure can handle soil and water," Renee explains. "There are scuppers on the sides of the roof so that water will drain off, and it will be considered fireproof once I plant it with sedums and succulents." Because the property is fast-draining and includes a new French drain, Renee adds that she'd like to incorporate a swale into the landscaping in the future.

The 1,300-square-foot home has three bedrooms and two baths. The finishes include zero-VOC paints, stains, and sealants, and low-VOC millwork. Vents incorporated into the structure automatically expel mold-causing humidity. The windows and open floor plan provide lots of natural daylight and cross-ventilation. Minimal ductwork reduces dust and allergens.

The house is 100-percent electric, powered by 24 solar panels. The house's systems also include a heat-pump water heater and Daikin mini-split system for heating and cooling.

Plant Prefab: An Arranged Marriage That Works 

 Having lived in the house for a year now, Renee and her husband are still thrilled with their LivingHome 6. "It was the most bang for our buck on cost, the LEED certification was Platinum, and it met our needs in terms of space, as we wanted three bedrooms but didn't want a huge house," she says.

Because Renee and her husband planned the house "on paper" before purchasing, they had few concerns. Still, Renee says, "It was like an arranged marriage! We didn't walk into a LivingHome6 until we walked into our own house!" But "everything feels good. The proportions feel good."

Plus, because of the way her husband sited the house, on the summer solstice, "the sun sets through the windows opposite each other, and the sun rises through the windows on the winter solstice, so the house is completely aligned to the two solstices." She adds that "the stars just jump in through the clerestory windows at night, and trees tightly surround us; palm trees, coast live oaks, and bay trees."

"The house just snuggles into the site and looks like it's always been there," she adds, "yet the design gives it a real presence. We've had at least two people who down the road say we're a credit to the neighborhood. The mail carrier, the UPS guy, the Lyft driver—they've all said it's such a cool house. We think so, too."