Heritage Superior Construction Specifications
These are the superior construction specifications you can expect in every Heritage Home. Certain features you choose may change or improve these minimums. We set high standards when selecting the materials and products used in every home.
Plans: Architectural building plans are included along with the suggested foundation and garage plans, if required, for the on-site construction work and for your use in obtaining financing.
Laminated Beams: 1-3/4” x 9-1/4” laminated beams run the entire length of the home for both the rim joists and the center structural beam. After the house is set on the foundation, the center laminated beams of each modular section are bolted together with 1/2” steel bolts. This eliminates the need for a center steel beam and adds additional strength to the structure.
Floors: Floor joists are 2” x 10” Select Structural at 16” on center. The floors are 23/32” tongue and grooved oriented strand board (OSB), fastened with ring shank nails and adhesive. An open joist truss floor system is optional. Walls: All load bearing walls are built with 2” x 4” studs at 16” on center. The outside walls are sheathed with 7/16” OSB for strength and as an air barrier and is applied with both staples and adhesive.
Roofs: Roofs are framed with engineered trusses 24” on center and sheathed with 15/32” OSB. Shingles are 30 year, 240 lb. CertainTeed fiberglass with seal down adhesive (selfsealing on hot days) applied over a double layer of 15 lb. asphalt impregnated felt. Eave overhangs are 22” and gable end overhangs are 16”. Framing Connectors: Heritage Homes meets the Simpson Well Connected House standards with steel framing anchors and hurricane ties used in the floor system, outside walls, rim joists, wall to roof and other areas to reinforce structural framing members.
Siding: There are a number of siding options available. Vinyl siding by CertainTeed with a limited lifetime warranty and vinyl soffits and corner boards that never need painting are standard. Also available is fiber cement wood grain painted lap siding made from Portland cement, ground sand, and wood cellulose fiber. This product holds paint very well, will not rot or delaminate, is dimensionally stable even with extended moisture, humidity or snow, and is noncombustible. Fiber cement has a 50-year limited transferable product warranty. Stained rough sawn 1”x8” Western Red Cedar lap siding and 2”x8” log siding with wood soffits and fascia is available for those who prefer a more rustic look. Insulation: Exterior walls have 3½” of fiberglass batt insulation with a vapor barrier (R-13) between the studs. Then we add 7/16” OSB sheathing glued to the framing, which acts as an air barrier and adds structural integrity. Next, the exterior of the walls is sheathed with 3/4” rigid foil faced foam insulation. Our rigid foam is a uniform closed cell polyisocyanurate with an R-5.0 rating. With rigid foam, our standard wall has an R-value of over R-20, considerably better than the typical 2” x 6” wall construction system. The attic insulation is highly efficient cellulose insulation blown in to average an R-40. Even more insulation is available with our Superinsulation System, which gives you R-25 walls and an R-50 attic.
Electrical: A 200 amp panel box with 40 full size breaker spaces is wired and included to mount on the basement wall. Wiring is grounded and light fixtures, smoke detectors and bath fans are installed. No mast or service entrance is included. Bath, kitchen and exterior outlets have GFI protection and all other 110v outlets have AFCI protection. Windows: Gerkin Comfort Series vinyl single hung windows are standard, with stylish 2 1/2” beveled fusion-welded frames, triple weather seals with multiple vinyl chambers, internal aluminum reinforcement, heavy duty block and tackle balancers, and warm edge technology glass. The combination of vinyl multi-chamber profiles with argon gas filled 3/4” double pane LoE3 insulating glass makes Gerkin windows more thermally efficient than standard thermopane wood windows. Vinyl has excellent insulation properties and is a nonconductor of heat and cold, so the window frame will be comfortable to the touch and will reduce the chance of any frost or condensation. The overall window performance has a U-value of 0.30 and an outstanding air infiltration rating of .06 CFM. The argon gas filled LoE3 high performance insulated glass (windows for high elevations may not have argon gas) will save significantly on energy bills by blocking 95% of harmful ultraviolet rays and deliver a 98% performance improvement over clear insulated glass. The summer heat is reflected away and in the winter heat is reflected back into the house.
Exterior Doors: The front door and other outside doors are warp-free steel, with a wood thermal break, foam insulation, adjustable thresholds, and frame saver jambs that prevent rot and moisture absorptions. The vinyl frame patio doors have 1” thick LoE3 insulating glass.
Plumbing: All water lines are rigid copper, while waste and vent piping is DWV Schedule 40 PVC plastic. Shower and tub/showers have Moen pressure balancing valves for anti-scald protection. The kitchen sink and lavatories have single lever Moen valves and PVC corrosive-resistant sink waste traps. Heating: Our standard design calls for the furnace and duct work to be in the basement. Registers, boots and return air grilles are installed through the floor for basement connections. A metal flue is available if you plan to have a gas furnace or gas water heater. Thermostat wiring is installed. The furnace, air conditioning, ductwork and water heater are provided by others.
Interiors: All interior walls and ceilings are gypsum drywall. Walls have a textured orange peel finish and are painted at the factory. Rounded drywall corners are standard on all outside corners and on the window returns. The ceilings have a knock down texture finish and are painted. The paint is a washable, vinyl latex high-build, low sheen enamel, from Sherwin Williams.
Millwork: Interior doors are oak, with oak jambs, casing and oak base. Doors and trim are stained and finished by our own employees, using an environmentally safe pigmented stain that penetrates the wood and brings out the natural wood grain. The wood is sealed and finished with Aqualux Plus, a water based polyurethane, that is approximately nine times harder than solvent-based products. Windows have round corner drywall returns with oak sills (oak jamb extensions are available). Four stain colors are offered.
Kitchens: Cabinets have solid oak frames and raised panel oak doors. The cabinets are finished in our factory with the same up-to-date process we use on the millwork. The cabinets are available in Spice, Prairie Heritage, Chestnut or Natural Amber stain. Cherry, Rustic Cherry, Hickory, Rustic Hickory, Quarter Sawn Oak, Alder, Rustic Red Oak, Knotty Alder, Rustic Maple and Maple cabinets are also available in many different door styles. Drawer bases, utility cabinets, dishwasher panels, appliance garages, valances, corner cabinets, lazy susans and crown moldings are available. Countertops are Wilsonart laminate with ceramic tile backsplashs. Optional solid surface and quartz countertops are also available in a variety of colors. Stainless steel sinks are standard and include a garbage disposal and a single lever Moen faucet. A range hood with charcoal filter is included.
Baths: Baths have oak vanities with Wilsonart laminate tops, ceramic tile backsplashes, and oval drop-in lavatories. One-piece cultured granite lavatory/tops are optional. The main bath has a
one-piece, fiberglass tub/shower with a smooth gelcoat finish and curtain rod. Master baths have a one piece fiberglass shower stall with a gelcoat finish and tempered glass sliding door. Bath
fixtures are white unless otherwise requested. Flooring: Each home includes vinyl and carpeting. The vinyl is Armstrong Midstar 14’ wide sheet vinyl for fewer seams, installed over 1/4” underlayment in the kitchen, bath, entry and laundry areas. Our standard carpet is Beaulieu America textured saxony in brilliant stain-resistant colors over a 7/16” thick rebond pad. Upgrade carpet and pad is available room by room or for the whole house.
Appliances: Sears dishwashers, ranges, cooktop grilles, refrigerators, and above-the-range microwaves are optional. Codes: All Heritage Homes are inspected during construction and certified by the Nebraska Public Service Commission, Housing Department to comply with the International Residential Code or International Building Code, International Plumbing Code, International Mechanical Code and National Electrical Code. Some areas require additional snow loads or local modifications to those codes and Heritage Homes can accommodate these special needs. All construction meets or exceeds the requirements for conventional financing. Warranty: Be sure to ask for your written warranty that includes a limited three year workmanship and material warranty and a ten year structural warranty. Warranty requests will be handled through your local Builder/Distributor. These specifications may change because we are continually researching materials and methods to improve our homes.
