Zip Kit Homes is a part of the Timberhawk Inc. family. They specialize in constructing modern, high performance, panelized homes out of their Cedar City, UT factory.
Panelized homes are, essentially, stick-built homes that are prefabricated into panels and trusses for easy assembly.
Zip Kit Homes brings more than 20 years of construction experience to the table. They have built hundreds of homes, townhomes and apartments in the Western U.S. Their homes have received recognition and have been featured in Dwell and Builder Magazine.
Zip Kit Build Process
Building a home with Zip Kit is a simple, 5-step process. Here’s how it works:
1. Design and Engineering
Once you have chosen a home, Zip Kit will inquire about your local building department’s design and engineering requirements. When designing and engineering the home, several factors need to be considered, including:
- Frost depth
- Snow load
- Wind loads
- Soil conditions
- Seismic requirements
Once Zip Kits has all of this information, they can finish the plans for your building. Before moving on to the second step, you will receive your completed floor plans, engineering calculations and stamped structural drawings. These documents can be taken to your local building department to secure a building permit.
2. Site Work
Once the building permit is secured, site work can begin. Site work can include:
- Excavation
- Septic installation
- Well drilling
- Foundation
3. Assembling the Exterior Shell
The next step is to assemble the home’s exterior shell. All parts and components will be delivered right to your building location, making it easier for contractors to get started.
The exterior shell kit includes the following:
- Weathertight exterior wall panels
- Farmed interior wall panels (no drywall)
- Ice and water shield roofing underlayment
- Exterior doors and windows
- Roof components or panels
- Flashing and trim
- 1.5” rigid insulation (optional)
- Standing seam metal roof kit (optional)
- Modern siding kit (optional)
- Metal soffit and fascia (optional)
Depending on your location, Zip Kit’s for-hire contractors may be able to provide onsite assembly.
Exterior shell kits are designed so that you can buy as much or as little as you want or need.
4. Complete the Structure
Once the exterior shell kit is assembled, subcontractors will complete the following:
- HVAC
- Insulation
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Drywall
These are components that are not part of the kit and are not included in the price. The subcontractors you work with will use their own products for this job.
5. Finish Kit
Once the interior is complete and the drywall is installed, your “Finish Kit” will be delivered to the home site. These kits are optional, but they can include:
- Cabinets
- Flooring
- Light fixtures
- Plumbing fixtures
Once all of these steps have been completed, you can obtain your occupancy permit and move in.
Are Zip Kit Prefab Homes Considered Green?
Yes! Zip Kit’s panelized system produces a highly energy efficient home. All of the home’s components and energy efficient wall panels are assembled in their factory – out of the elements.
All wall panels, pre-cut pieces and components are delivered as a kit and ready to be assembled on-site.
Zip Kit’s standard panelized wall system includes the following components:
- Fiberglass insulation
- ZIP System waterproof sheathing
- WPC cladding
- Furring strips in between the siding and insulation
- 1-1/2″ rigid foam insulation
- Energy efficient windows
- Metal siding trim
The panelized system from Zip Kit offers many advantages:
- Wood Plastic Core (WPC) siding: Combines plastic and wood to offer maintenance-free siding. The siding looks like wood, but it offers the durability of engineered composite materials. WPC siding never has to be painted or stained.
- Metal roofing: Zip Kit Homes provides the entire roofing kit, including the underlayment, soffit, fascia, trim pieces and fasteners, and the standing seam metal roofing. A high-temperature ice and water shield is also included in the kit.
Zip Kit’s panel walls are 2×4 and include 1.5” of rigid closed cell insulation boards. These insulation boards run around the entire perimeter of the home, which prevents thermal bridging and creates an overall more energy efficient home.
This blanket of rigid foam insulation helps reduce heating and cooling costs by 40%.
Along with improving insulation, this method of insulating the home creates a “thermal break,” which prevents heat loss through the wall’s wood studs.
In addition to insulation, Zip Kit Homes uses advanced framing techniques to further reduce energy costs while saving on material costs. When fully implemented, advanced framing techniques offer the following benefits:
- Labor savings of 3%-5%
- Material cost savings of about $500 per 1,200 square feet
- Heating and cooling savings of 5%
Overall, Zip Kit homes generate about 80% less waste than your average stick-built home.
Are Zip Kits Manufactured Homes?
No. Many people assume that prefab homes (or pre built homes) are considered manufactured homes, but that’s not the case with Zip Kit Homes.
Manufactured homes, like mobile homes, are held to less stringent building codes. The homes from Zip Kit meet the same building standards and codes as stick-built homes. Lenders and appraisers view their homes as the same as any other site-built home.
How Much Do Zip Kit Home Cost?
Because Zip Kit only provides home kits, it’s challenging to estimate the total cost of the home’s construction. Prices vary significantly by location, and building costs will be determined by your local contractor that will be erecting your home.
There are several factors that will affect the cost of your home:
- Shipping distance
- Contractor costs
- Engineering requirements
- Site location
- Home options you choose
Zip Kit Homes says that their homes cost about the same or are slightly lower than site-built homes.
Financing is no different than financing any other site-built home. Zip Kit Homes does not offer direct financing, but they do work with banks in many locations.
How Long Does It Take to Build a Home?
Zip Kit Homes can build a home in their factory in as little as one to two weeks. When demand is high, it may take longer for your home to be manufactured.
The timetable will also depend on your local contractors and your site. Extensive site work and permits can add to the building time.
To get started on your build please visit ZipKitHomes.com.
