Saturday, November 1, 2008

Some photos of the Clayton i-house

Since this old blog post of mine is referenced high in Google's search results, I'd like to remind readers I've made dozens of other posts about the i-house since 2008 which can be found in the BLOG ARCHIVE index on the right of this page.

Link to my July 2009 video of i-house model (2-bedrm core+flex)in Albuquerque.


Link to better resolution photos, I took, on Flickr.

Clayton has a separate site just for the i-house. You can find it by Googling:

Clayton i house

(Their official site should be in the top five or so.)
























39 comments:

  1. How much does it cost? Looks awfully nice to be affordable for someone with a lower income.

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  2. A few of the articles mentioned...around $130,000 (without solar panels) and around $100,000 for the basic unit without the extra "flex" room and bathroom. That may seem expensive, but for its size, with these features, the price is well below similar homes.

    I believe they are aiming for the younger, more upscale market, of environmentally conscious people, who may have never considered a manufactured home, but would now because of the environmental features.

    Its introduction was slated for May, but with a big dip in Clayton stock, I wouldn't be surprised if they postpone its introduction.

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  3. Just saw one of these today. I freakin' luuv it! I toured the manufacturing plant and was very impressed with how they all are built assembly-line style. They even had a team of people cleaning the windows before the houses go on the road!

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  4. Well, thanks for your comment. So, you saw an i-house being made at the factory? That'd be cool. I took a tour of the Karsten factory in Albuquerque (Karsten, now owned by Clayton), and it was interesting. Lots of stuff flying around in the air though. I'd last about two days working in such a place.

    Post here again and tell me what you especially liked about the i-house. Thanks.

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  5. I wonder what type of foundation it needs? Is it "pit set" like other manufactured homes? Can you put it above a basement? Or....?

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  6. http://www.claytonihouse.com/

    I put in a question to the BLOG of the official Clayton i-house site (link above) and should have an answer soon. I believe a full basement is possible. The only foundation that is not possible is directly on a slab, as a perimeter foundation is necessary.

    We should be hearing a lot about the i-house shortly, in May (2009). There may be major media stories about it then.

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  7. It sucks. The only thing that this roof design can be used for is beer cans and trash storage.
    You would be insane to purchase one of these
    ????

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  8. http://www.claytonihouse.com/

    Just wanted to leave an update, here for those of you who find this post through a link. Check out my most recent blog post here:
    http://clayton-i-house.blogspot.com/2009/05/clayton-announces-i-house-pricing-and.html

    Or, just go to Clayton's ihouse website for all the plans, a 3D tour, and pricing available for the i-house. Their nation-wide roll-out has begun.

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  9. An observation--Could the washer/dryer combo be placed in the bathroom area? I hate to have dirty clothes mixed with dirty dishes!

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  10. http://www.claytonihouse.com/

    About the washer/dryer. In the larger 2-bedroom core model, they put the washer/dryer in a laundry room/walk-in closet area off the bathroom. So, they took your suggestion there. You can see it if you take their 3D tour at their website above.

    I see your point though. In the smaller model, if they had put in a normal size shower in the bathroom, they could have had room for the washer/dryer there.

    Wouldn't bother me in the kitchen though. It isn't like the old days when people would do loads of dirty diapers in the wash.

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  11. $100,000.00- $130,000.00 is just to much to pay for any trailer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  12. Is anyone else having trouble getting to their website? I'm really interested in learning more about this, but I keep getting error pages when I click the various links to Clayton's websites.

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  13. this house is sweet; looks really futuristic..

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  14. Its a trailor people, because they put "i" infront of it its cool? Gimme a break. This thing is gone in a strong wind, no bid at $130,000...try $30,000.

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  15. They need another bedroom in the main "house". Maybe a double-wide version. $130K really isn't high. If you built a 1,000 SF house @ $150 PSF you'd be at $150K.

    This could be very useful in more remote areas where the labor force is far away and expensive. Second homes in the mountains would be a great use.

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  16. Wow. This house looks GREAT! If I have a choice between a 1000sq ft. older home at $150,000 and a 1000sq ft. brand new green/solarized i-home at the same price, guess which one this chic modern urbanite is plunking his greenbacks down on?

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  17. I love this house. However I would need about 5 bedrooms how expensive would it get with 5 bedrooms and the solar panels. Does it come furnished?

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  18. Just tried to get to their website and I keep getting a syntax error on their site....

    I like the idea and design of the home, from what I've read you can add bedrooms. How many, I'm not sure.

    I live in the Northeast and would love to have one on a full basement foundation with higher R factor insulation too. Does anyone know if that's possible? How about the phone number for the manufacturer? :)

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  19. from yahoo news article: "The "i-house's" metal v-shaped roof — inspired by a gas-station awning — combines design with function."
    I can't wait to live in a gas station ;)

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  20. @Session9
    Clayton's number is 866-516-1140 (for scheduling a tour of i-house anyway)

    The phone number should work for getting some info too, although they could be hit with a lot of calls too.

    I'm getting the website fine, but one time, it was down. It is the Associated Press piece, on Yahoo and many newspapers, and they just got hit with thousands of people trying to read the website and registering for a login etc. I'm sure in a while, you should be able to get through.

    But, from reading their website, I know the home is not presently available in most parts of the Northeast. In NY State, for example, they had problems with bridge height, as the unit is quite tall. I read this on their site blog.

    If you get the two bedroom, one bath core, you can add an additional one bath two bedroom unit, for a total of four bedrooms. It is one of three flex room options you can add to a core unit.

    If you get the one bedroom, one bath core, you can add the extra unit for 3 bedrooms, 2 baths total.

    I break much of this this down, in a much more recent post on this blog. Click on the posts from 2009 (upper right hand corner of this blog page), and look at some of my more recent posts, if you still can't get connected to their official site.

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  21. Green, solar, clean simple lines why not.

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  22. I am a Sales Rep with Clayton Homes if you would like more detailed info on the I-house please call me. 606-678-8134 and ask for David.

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  23. Its the worst design I have ever seen. Remove
    all the expensive furnishings and you have a
    trailor with a roof view.

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  24. I have a lot in Redwood City, CA that can be developed using the Clayton I-House. I have developed the site layouts and am ready to file for building permits. You can email me at mariabanico@yahoo.com or call me at 650-302-5085

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  25. To answer an older question, a full basement is possible, but requires paying extra cost for some supports on the house. Clayton can tell you how much.

    This is an old post. Go to my newer posts (index where it says "BLOG ARCHIVE") for some videos and newer information, or to the official Clayton ihouse website:

    www.claytonihouse.com

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  26. Responding to a previous comment. If this is the worst design you have ever seen and you are anonymous on this blog then it is obvious you are a competitor. By far it is more than just a trailer. Can you pull it with your Ford pickup truck, I dont think so. Can you hall your riding lawnmore on it, that is what trailers are for. Before posting a negative comment do a little research first on this amazing, affordable, energy saving home.

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  27. Roughly the cost to set one on a basement is about $4000-$5000 here in Kentucky depending upon if your local dealer has to rent a crane or has basement rollers. The cost may vary by state location.

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  28. Thanks for that information David.

    Could you tell us if an inverter for a grid-tie, is included with the purchase of the $13,400 2k solar panel?

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  29. Sounds like Anonymous is the same guy. First question: Since it's obvious you don't "favor" this product, why do you keep coming back to trash its value? Ok....you don't like it already....now you can feel free to move on to something you DO like.

    Second question: One of the factories is in NM, but where are the other three? Please include both city and state. Thanks.

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  30. The four factories where the i-house will be built:

    Hermiston, OR, Sacramento, CA, Albuquerque, NM, and Knoxville, TN

    The closer you are to one of the four, the less delivery will be.

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  31. To David:
    I am not a competitor. I am just a designer and builder with 30 years of experience.
    This home is so overpriced for the poor design.
    Where the hell would put this thing. What is the final cost after everthing is set up and
    complete?

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  32. Mobile mansions rock!

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  33. i luuuuuuuv traila's,,i even made up a traila chant!

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  34. Does it have that trailer feel? do the floors shake if you walk too hard? I like it a lot but I'm concerned about purchasing a "green mobile home." I want it to have a good solid feel to it.

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  35. Well, it is shaped like a trailer, and the layout is similar, but the construction is very solid. Nothing like the trailers of 20 years ago.

    Take a friend along to jump on the floors with you to test it. If you have to travel far to see the i-house model, and haven't seen a manufactured home in the last ten years, visit a local Clayton dealer and ask to see the ones with 2 x 6" walls. If they seem okay, you'll probably like the i-house too.

    It is the re-sale value of a manufactured home that is more of an issue, than construction.

    If by any chance you live in New England, you should check out the super-efficient modern green pre-fabs by Blu Homes. They start at $150/sq. ft. ($5 to $50/sq. ft more than the i-house)and appear to be the best constructed for the money that you'll find. Nice styles too.

    http://www.bluhomes.com/

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  36. There is very little that seems modular about these two house plans. The only flexibility is how a second optional building is semi - connected. What building code is this house construction based on ? Does This house meet the International Residential Code requirements for wind load ? What happens when flood requirements require the finish floor to be 6' above grade.

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  37. Even if just one module is purchased, the unit is considered "modular" rather than the lesser "manufactured home" standard because of the higher building [structural] standards. (I know what you mean about that being confusing.)

    The plan can be modified at extra cost, to go on a full basement too.

    Ask about the wind/storm codes at the official site.

    About putting it 6' above grade -- ha ha -- guess you can ask if it can go on stilts. My guess is that it can.

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  38. "Higher building standards" are not the difference between modular and manufactured homes. Most are built the same ways by the same companies. The only structural difference is that manufactured homes are built on a permanent steel frame which is used for transportation, while modulars are not and are shipped on a flatbed and pieced together with a crane. From the images I've seen, it appears that the i-house is indeed a manufactured home.

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  39. Yup, I just saw a picture of it at the factory with it's steel chassis.. It's a manufactured home.

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