DIY Network

The Roddey Family Home From "Assembly Required" episode DASR-106

Although it only took Alan’s crew a couple of days to get that home in move-in condition, it will take much longer to build what the Roddey’s have in mind.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

The Roddey Home

With Dawn Gunter by their side, Chris and Ben take their elaborate designs to Palm Harbor. They envision four manufactured sections – or two "double-wides" up on stilts plus stick-built add-ons like a bay window, four car garage, decks and even an elevator tower. The Roddeys are pleasantly surprised to learn that Palm Harbor can not only work with their custom design, but also deliver a house in only two weeks.

The Roddey’s hired Nick D’Ascenzio as general contractor on the project. His first task was to build 40 16-foot pylons, or piers, that the house will sit on (figure A). With just two days before the home sections arrived, Nick faced some tough odds – the metal for the framework arrive late and a subcontractor knocked over several of the pylons. Nick’s crew and the Roddey family had to work non-stop rebuilding the piers.

Fortunately, when the home sections arrived, the crew was back on track and ready to set the house (figure B). Each 80 ton section was attached to a crane and hoisted onto the piers. Using come-alongs, they winched the huge boxes along the grid work and strapped them in to place. As they lag-bolted the two halves of each "double-wide" together at the marriage lines, the Roddey’s home came to life. In just two days, their 4200 square foot home came together (figure C), but they couldn’t unpack their bags just yet. Chris and Ben chose to take their existing Palm Harbor home and revamp the insides to their liking. The interior customizations took seven months to complete – knocking out walls, curing wood floors and ripping out the existing carpets and fixtures. The end result is stunning -wraparound decks, a tower with an elevator to the top level and a "key west" style metal roof. Inside, granite countertops, wood floors, custom fixtures and a home theater make the extra months of finish work worthwhile.

Roddey Homestead

RESOURCES :

Palm Harbor Homes
Website: www.palmharbor.com

Gunter Design Inc.
Telephone: 1-813-767-3809
E-mail: dgunter@microd.com

Contractors Group Unlimited
Contact: Nick D'Ascenzio
Telephone: 1-727-939-9633

The Highlands at Scotland Yards
Website: www.highlandsfl.com

Belle Casa Communities
Telephone: 1-727-938-7989

Manufactured Housing Institute
Website: www.manufacturedhousing.org