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After purchasing the basic House Port Kit Package, either with the Contemporary Flat–Style House Port or with the Traditional Pitched–Style House Port,
you can begin to make it your own with custom finishing. It’s up to the individual building the PopUP House to decide how they’d like to customize the home and on what type of budget.
The basic House Port Kit Package is reasonably priced and can be personalized on a frugal budget or lavishly decorated with a more extensive budget.
Stucco (exterior/interior/roof)
Stucco is popular for many reasons. An inexpensive coating, it can be applied directly to the wall panels and can be finished in different ways, depending on the desired look.
The composition of stucco—lime, gypsum and fiber with cement—is the modern alternative to mud or clay. It protects the building from wind, rain and, to some degree, fire.
Stucco, like plaster, is multi–layered, usually applied in two to three coats. Green stucco products made with local, recycled materials are no more expensive than traditional stucco.
Metal Panels (exterior/interior/roof)
Metal wall panels are easy–to–install sheets that are applied onto the subgirt, allowing moisture to pass through, preventing water damage and lowering maintenance.
The metal panels come in a number of styles such as the Flush Metal, Form Tyte Metal, Industrial Metal, Industrial Metal Type II, and Soffit Metal, and there are a variety of finishes and colors available.
Reclaimed Wood (exterior/interior/roof)
Reclaimed wood is lumber that is re–used for something other than its original purpose. It has been taken from buildings that have been demolished,
i.e., old factories, commercial structures, old barns—anywhere that wood can be saved and used again. Researching the Internet for green building materials will provide locations that sell reclaimed lumber or paneling.
Most of the older reclaimed lumber is longleaf yellow pine, which was abundant during early American construction. Many early barns were made of American Chestnut but in time most people built with local timber,
so reclaimed wood can come in a mixed blend of oak, hickory and poplar. Because of limited quantities, reclaimed wood is a more expensive green alternative.
Plastic Wood (exterior/interior/roof)
Plastic wood is an alternative to wood and has many advantages. Unlike wood, plastic will not rot, split or crack, nor will it eventually need to be replaced.
It is maintenance free—other than an occasional wash, which will restore your plastic like new. It is much lighter than wood, so shipping costs are lower.
It comes in plywood sheet sizes or lumber sizes. Plastic lumber cuts like wood so no special tools are needed. Plastic wood is often fabricated from recycled materials and comes in a variety of colors.
Concrete or Cement Plank Siding
Another man–made product with durability, low maintenance and simple application is concrete plant siding. It resists insects and moisture,
and comes in different textures and sizes to mimic the look of different wood grains. It comes raw or primed, ready to be painted any color.
Bamboo (exterior/interior)
Bamboo is giant grass that can grow up to four feet a day. Like grass, when cut, it begins to grow again at a great pace. Bamboo plywood panels or planks can be affixed to either exterior or interior walls.
Because it is lightweight, it performs very well in adverse conditions, such as high winds and during seismic activity, compared to traditional lumber material with its greater mass.
The House Port protects the bamboo from being saturated by rain.
PATIO FLOOR (exterior/interior)
Concrete (exterior/interior)
When the Pop–Up House foundation is being poured, the owner can extend the concrete surface of the interior space under the House Port, thereby increasing the square footage with a seamless concrete floor.
The concrete can then be sanded and polished in its natural state or finished in a custom color using garage paint.
Pavers/Bricks/Tile (exterior/interior)
Another, less expensive, choice is to polish or paint the cement of the interior floors and set matching colored pavers or bricks in sand outside under the House Port, as seen in the prototype for a seamless effect.
Laying grass rugs both inside and out gives the entire living area continuity and enlarges the space. Tiles can also be laid down over the concrete slab, both inside and out, for the ultimate in seamless space and luxury.
French Doors (exterior/interior)
Patio doors can be referred to as either French or flush doors and can be hinged or swinging. The standard French patio door has a double pane glass, is framed by wood, steel or fiberglass.
An added feature is adjustable blinds that can go between the panes of glass. Energy efficient Low–E glass is available. French doors can have an in–swing hinge or an out–swing hinge.
Sliding Doors (exterior/interior)
Another option is sliding doors, as seen in prototype, which are both low cost and low maintenance. Aluminum and vinyl are built to resist rust and mildew. They won’t chip or fade and don’t need painting.
Low–E glass in both these models increases energy efficiency.
Exterior curtains that encompass the perimeter of the House Port are optional but can be very useful for privacy, shade, and for filtering noise. They come in sections and can be used as single or multiple panels.
They are available in a variety of fabrics, such as vinyl or cotton. The curtains can be installed in two ways: the curtain track or the roller curtain. The curtain track, as seen in the prototype,
is a track attached to the House Port with beam flange connectors. The curtain is hung on a 1/2" roller hook that runs on the track. The roller curtain that uses a rope and pulley system which is attached to the structure by a flat piece of aluminum, 18" on center.
Drywall (interior)
Drywall became the foremost building material in North America after WWII, although it had been extensively used since the beginning of the 20th century.
It was much less time consuming and easier to use than plaster, which took three labor–intensive coats and long drying times in between the layers.
Drywall—also known as gypsum board, plasterboard or Sheetrock—came to the building site in sheets, made of harden gypsum plaster mixed with fiber.
As the Modernist movement evolved, drywall ascetically fit the bill with its symmetric, minimalist look. Even more important, this streamlined building material is inexpensive, quick and efficient to use.
Once the drywall application is finished it is ready for painting or paneling. Today, a green alternative to drywall is EcoRock.
Those who have a more purist approach to interior wall finishes can choose plaster, a mixture of gypsum and water that takes three coats (a scratch coat, a brown coat and a skim coat.)
Another choice is American Clay, natural earth plaster, which is applied in a similar process but which is 100% green.
Wall Paneling (interior)
Wall paneling is a simple and low–cost way to cover interior walls. You can cover part or all of a wall in any room in your home in a short time.
For example, you may prefer wainscoting, wherein the lower half of a wall can be paneled while the upper wall is painted. Wood paneling is typically installed as solid, interlocking boards.
Sheets are fairly thin, usually 1/4" to 3/4" thick. Wall panels come in different wood finishes, such as pine, redwood and cedar. Inexpensive woods used as paneling can be painted. Eco–friendly bamboo,
in different varieties, is also available.
Hardwood/Floating Hardwood
Hardwood flooring is the traditional and timeless look for floors. It is attached to a sub floor
(customarily of plywood) and can be laid in a geometric or random pattern. There are many varieties of wood
but the most popular are oak and pine. The length and width can vary, although a common dimension
is 2" x 12". Popular plank widths are 4" to 6" by 8'. An alternative, timesaving method is the floating hardwood floor,
which is a floor that is put down directly on the concrete flooring, either with adhesive or by using a “click” method, where the pieces click together by tapping them in a
tongue–and–groove style. Floating floors can also use an under–laminate so no adhesive or “click” method is required.
Laminates
Laminate flooring was invented to lower the high cost of traditional hardwood flooring, which is high maintenance and will scratch, stain, and quickly fade, even when utilizing the many available floor treatments.
Laminates have the look of hardwood but have added durability and are lower maintenance. When choosing a laminate, the thickness of its core is an important consideration since laminate is susceptible to high traffic.
Laminates with wax in their joints or water repellent chemicals in their core are more expensive but do stand up better to wear and tear, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.
Today there is a glueless locking system that makes installation easier, enhancing its time saving reputation.
Cork
Cork is peeled bark from the trunk and branches of the cork oak tree. The bark, which is harvested every 9 to 15 years, will grow back and can be re–harvested, unlike the bark of other trees.
Since the cork oak lives for nearly 200 years, cork is an abundant renewable resource. A modern manufacturing technique using the click–and–snap application makes installation simple.
Today’s cork comes in many patterns, colors and textures, suitable for every décor. Its cushion effect is comfortable but it is tough for long–lasting wear.
In addition, it is a hypoallergenic product.
Rubber
Recycled rubber flooring is made of 100% post–consumer tire rubber. It is the ultimate eco–friendly flooring material with amazing durability, resilience, color wear, and slip– and stain–resistance.
It has low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emissions. Rubber flooring comes in rolls or tiles.
Vinyl
Vinyl is the most versatile, appealing flooring resource on the market today. It is offered in many styles, colors and textures—anything from smooth to stone, traditional to contemporary, with colors to fit any décor.
Vinyl comes in tiles and sheets, is easy to install and cleans effortlessly with soap and water. Its peel–and–stick application is suitable for any room in the house. Common household tools are all that are needed for installation:
tape measure, pencil, chalk line, ruler and utility knife. Environmental vinyl products, such as Polyflor, are available. The cost value of vinyl cannot be beat.
Tiles
Tiles are the most basic form of ceramics and have been around for centuries. Pioneered in Britain during
the 19th century, mass production of manufactured floor tiles is now standard. Although the expensive, labor–intensive procedure of tiles set in “mud”
or grout is still around, cement board as a tile backing board is now commonly used. The invention of the cement board, following the not so successful Sheetrock/plywood period,
has re–invented the tile industry. Tiles can be found in any size, style, color and texture. Its long lasting durability and beauty cannot be matched.
The kitchen layout is a standard design that can be adapted to pre-fabricated kitchen units. It can also be custom built using materials chosen by the owner.
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