Here are the most common questions that we are asked.  If you have a question that is not answered here, please give us a call at (314) 713-2551 or send us an e-mail.

Q. What is an Engineered Home?
A. An engineered home is built in sections.  An engineered home is a building system where components which are fabricated into sections called boxes, all designed, engineered and assembled in the climate controlled environment of a modern factory.  It is when these boxes are assembled together an engineered home is created.  An Engineered Home is NOT a "Double-Wide", a "Single-Wide" or a "Trailer"; those are different types of homes, built to different standards and specifications.  An Engineered Home is virtually in-distinguishable in appearance from a site-built home.

Q.  What is the difference between an Engineered Home and a Site-Built Home?
A. A site-built home is built on-site, on your lot, without protection from inclement weather, sometimes taking over 12 months or more to complete.  An Engineered Home is built in a climate controlled weather-proof factory in a number of days.  Once it is brought out of the factory it is 85% complete and covered in water-proof wrap helping to ensure that wind, rain, and snow will not penetrate the unit before it is delivered to your site.  Once the house is set on your foundation, it is immediately closed-up and made as weather-tight as possible, ensuring that during the on-site construction process, rain or snow should not penetrate the home.

Q. What makes GAA Builders unique?
A. The founders of GAA Builders pride themselves on selling a high-quality, low-cost home to the general public.  When you buy your home from GAA Builders, you can be assured that it will be set on a sturdy and level foundation (the most important aspect to ensure the structural integrity of your home), it will be energy efficient, and will be built with sturdy walls, and floors, ensuring it will be a great investment for years to come for you and your family.  GAA Builders does not take shortcuts to increase our profit and once you sit down with us, you will see the enthusiasm we have to complete your home on-time, on-budget and on-target.  There is no reason an engineered home should not last for decades, and we will help you see that it does.

Q. I've heard Engineered Homes are less expensive than site-built homes, is this true?
A. Yes!  Engineered Homes by GAA Builders are usually less expensive than a site-built home because of the efficiencies which come from the home being built on a factory assembly line.

Q. Can an Engineered Home from the GAA Builders withstand a hurricane?
A. Engineered Homes by GAA Builders are delivered on the back of a truck, traveling hundreds of miles at speeds of more than 75 miles an hour, always arriving at your site in one piece, although hurricanes are more powerful and dangerous than that, it gives an example as to the conditions that an Engineered Home is able to withstand.  Most Engineered Homes from GAA Builders are built to withstand a wind rating of at least 100 miles an hour, and can be built to higher specifications if you feel the need for it, in addition, if your town requires a higher wind rating or special wind bracing due to its location near a coastal area, those additional requirements can easily be included when your home is built.

Q. Can I build an Engineered Addition to my current home, even if my current home is not an Engineered Home?
A. If you are looking to significantly increase the size of your house with an addition, you can build an Engineered Addition with GAA Builders.  If you are looking for an addition, but are unsure of what to do, please give us a call at (314) 713-2551 so we can determine it is is best for you to build an Engineered or site-built addition.

Q. What Engineered manufacturer does GAA Builders use?
A. GAA Builders is proud to use Contempri Homes.  Contempri Homes has been building engineered homes for over 40 years and is known for building very high quality, custom homes.  GAA Builders has chosen to work with Contempri Homes because they are willing to go out of their way to provide a home just as the customer wants it, unlike most other "Custom" engineered builders. You can find more information about Contempri Homes on their website at http://www.contemprihomes.com. 

Q. Where can I build an Engineered Home?
A. You can build an Engineered Home anywhere a site-built home can be built.  Towns do not treat Engineered Homes any differently than a site-built home.  The only thing that will prevent GAA Builders from building on your site is if the crane or the engineered units are unable to reach your lot due to narrow roads, steep hills, overhead wires that cannot be moved, etc.  This is a very rare occurrence, and one of the first things that GAA Builders will do is inspect your site to ensure that a home is able to be built there.

Q. How long does it take to build an Engineered Home?
A. After we receive final approval from you and we place the house on production, you could be in your home in about 3 months, but typically if will take you from the time you pick your house to move-in day from 5-10 months.

Q. Is there a limit to the size that an Engineered Home can be built?
A. The only size limit is what you can afford and what size houses your town will allow you to build on your lot (you can easily get this information from the town hall).  There really is no limit to how big an Engineered Home can be.

Q. I saw a great house plan in a magazine, on TV, etc.  Can GAA Builders build an Engineered Home like that for me?
A. Maybe.  Even though there is no limit to the size of the Engineered Home you can build from the Engineered Home Group, Engineered Homes do have special requirements in the width, length and height of the house, as well as special considerations in regards to the layouts of the home.  In most cases, we are able to take a home plan and just make minor changes so that it can be built as an Engineered Home.  If you have a floor plan that you would like to build from, please make an appointment with us so we can determine what, if any, changes need to be made.

If you know that you want to build an Engineered Home, it's best to specifically look for an Engineered Friendly floor plan, but please bring to our attention any floor plan you like and let us decide if it can be constructed as an Engineered Home.

Q. What types of homes can the GAA Builders build?
A. GAA Builders can build almost any type of home, such as a ranch, a raised ranch, a bi-level, a cape, a 2-story (colonial, contemporary, victorian) as well as multi-family buildings.  If you want to know if we can build an Engineered Home that you are interested in, please ask!

Q. Does GAA Builders have pre-designed floor plans that I can use?  Or can we design our own custom floor plan?
A. Yes, and yes, we have a number of plans you can choose from, but since there are so many different types of homes and floor plans available, we suggest that you look through home catalogs to get a good idea of what you want.  Additionally, if you have a simple floor plan - even if it's written on a napkin - we can use that as a starting point for your Engineered Home.

Q. Can I build my Engineered Home on a full basement?  What about above ground pilings?
A. Yes, and yes!  Engineered Homes can be built on any type of foundation you choose, such as a crawlspace, basement, or elevated on pilings in flood prone or shore areas.

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