Where does the FabCab name come from?
FabCab = Fabulous Cabin

What is the client responsible for?
FabCab pricing is for the package only and does not include delivery, permitting, site preparation (including foundation) and assembly by a contractor.

Would you be able to design a foundation?
We can design a foundation in conjunction with our structural engineering consultants, and it would be tailored to your specific site and situation.

Can a FabCab be installed over a daylight basement or main level?
Yes. FabCab’s structures are a timber frame (post and beam) system, which can be integrated with standard stud construction, as long as the stud framing is planned and built appropriately. It is common for projects to be built as a hybrid combination of the two structural systems. This allows homeowners to potentially save money in spaces that don’t need to be timber-frame (such as in garages or basements).

Can staircase to the lower level be incorporated into the FabCab?
We are currently working on two-story designs. Also, as mentioned above, a FabCab can be built over a basement.

Can FabCabs accommodate full size appliances?
The larger designs for FabCabs will be able to accommodate full-size appliances and it is possible for the smaller designs to accommodate full-size appliances.

What is the process of designing from scratch or modifying layout, time involved and fees associated?
If a custom design is desired, then a design deposit would be required for the time needed to come up with the appropriate design. If the desired changes require only minor modifications of an existing prototype, then the design fees would be accordingly small. (The design fees for minor changes could range between $500 to $5,000 depending on the complexity of the changes.) If the design will be from ‘scratch’, then the design fee would be larger, to match the much more involved effort and attention required. The design fees for a fully custom design process typically range from $10K to $15K, which is about half of a typical architectural fee for the same scope of work. That design fee does not include the engineering. In terms of time, design changes could add 1 to 3 weeks to the standard process, and fully custom design from ‘scratch’ could add 4 to 6 weeks to the process.

What is the payment schedule from the time of ordering?
Payment schedule depends on what the customer is requesting. If they are purchasing a pre-designed model, then they would need to put down a 50% deposit when placing the order, and then pay the remaining 50% at the time of the delivery. This schedule allows the materials to be purchased and for milling and processing to begin. If design changes are requested, then a design deposit will be required up front for the preliminary design. If the client is satisfied with the preliminary design, then FabCab would proceed with a final design a which would need to be approved by the customer before ordering.

What is the build schedule from the time of ordering to install?
The building schedule would be as follows. Once the permit has been approved (which usually takes 4 to 6 weeks in most jurisdictions), the contractor sets to work on the site preparation and foundation. The site work and foundation can take between two and four weeks for most situations. The timber frame package should be ordered at the time that the permit is issued, since it will take a couple of weeks to process. The SIPs panel package should be ordered at the same time. Once the foundation is ready, the timberframe components will go up in a few days, and then the SIPs panels will go up in another couple of days. Both of those systems go up really quickly since they are all cut in the respective factories that make them. The house will be closed in and weather tight* in two or three weeks, which is much faster than standard stud framed houses. (*This includes the siding, roofing, windows and exterior doors.) The rest of the process will go at the speed of conventional construction, except that the step of insulating is already done by the SIPs panels. This remainder could be done in another month if the contractor can line up subs efficiently, but it could easily take a couple of months. So, the total construction process should take about three months. Again, this is much less time than typical construction generally takes.

Is it possible to visit your factory?
We do not have a factory ourselves, since we are a company that coordinates the process with all of our partner companies. Our partners have their own factories that make their respective components. We design the units, and give the partners the specifications with which to manufacture the appropriate components. We streamline and simplify the process for customers, so that the design and planning process is more manageable and more predictable. This method saves time during construction, which generally translates to saving money.

I already have a concrete slab poured. Can you use that?
We suggest pouring a new slab or pouring a topping slab over the pre-existing one so the plumbing and heat can be cast right into the slab.