Does Make It Right act as a general contractor on its construction sites?
How do you keep construction costs low?
How much of your building materials are donated?
Do you get discounts for materials?
Is there a list of materials that MIR use?
What types of construction have you used for your houses? Do you have a favorite?
What type of insulation do you use?
What are your R-values?
What type of HVAC system do you use?
Why don’t you build passive air conditioned free houses?
Are your houses totally run on solar?
How many houses are you building?
How much do your houses cost per SF?
What kind of windows do you use?
What is Verve?
Can I replicate your construction techniques anywhere in the world?
Why don’t you do solar thermal?
How do you maintain quality control?
Why cementitious fiber board instead of wood?
Do you use any PVC in the house?
Why are you no longer building modular homes?
Can I submit products to be considered?
Do you do grey water collection?
What is Cradle to Cradle?
What LEED Certification are you?
Have you thought about doing the Living Building Challenge?
Do homeowners pick their home designs and the color of their houses?
How deep are the pilings in the ground?
Why are houses built on piles?
Why not use CMU piles?
Are the houses built to be hurricane proof?
How are the windows protected in a hurricane?
Why do some houses have elevators and some do not?
Some houses have fences, some don’t – why?
What is your average timeline schedule for a house to be built?
Do you recycle construction materials?
Do you use volunteers in construction projects?
What is pervious concrete?
Does Make It Right act as a general contractor on its construction sites?
No. We believe in hiring and training local contractors, technicians and laborers in an effort to support local businesses and spread green building construction knowledge in the regions where we work. Make It Right acts as the site superintendant, ordering and specifying all materials, scheduling work timelines, overseeing construction and quality control and handling homeowner maintenance issues.
How do you control construction costs?
We control construction costs through a line item bid process and by purchasing all materials. We also standardize designs and construction methods to keep costs down.
How much of Make It Right’s materials are donated?
Paint, carpet, water heaters and countertops are donated to our work in the Lower 9th Ward. Paint, flooring, countertops, electrical systems and HVAC systems have been generously committed to our project in Kansas City.
Do you get discounts for materials?
We do receive discount pricing. By controlling the purchasing of materials, we are able to purchase materials tax-free and avoid the general contractors’ markup.
Is there a list of materials that Make It Right uses?
Here is snapshot of materials we are currently using on homes.
What types of construction have you used for your houses? Do you have a favorite?
We have experimented with many types of residential construction, including stick framing, modular, steel studs, OSB SIP and metal SIP. We currently use OSB SIP due to its quick, easy installation and tight building envelope, which helps reduce energy consumption and cost. The panels are built in 3D and cut by computer-controlled machinery in a factory to limit errors.
What type of insulation do you use?
We use closed cell spray foam for any ceilings under exterior decks (R-30), we have used spray foam in the past for stick framed walls (R-13) and spray foam in the floor framing under the house (R-13). Our current exterior walls are typically 4.5″ OSB SIP which has 3.5″ of EPS foam (R-17), and our roof panels are 8.25″ OSB SIP which has 7.25″ EPS foam (R-33). See our Library entry on Insulation for more information.
What are your R-values?
OSB SIP:
4.5″ Walls: R-17
6.5″ Walls: R-25
8.25″ Roofs: R-33
Floors R-13
Stick frame:
Exterior walls: R-13
Floors: R-13
Roofs: R-30
What type of HVAC system do you use?
Currently we are using Unico high velocity systems. To learn more about high velocity systems, please go to our Library entry on HVAC.
Are all your homes solar powered?
Yes. Make It Right installs photovoltaic panels on all our homes and buildings. Learn more in the Solar section of our Library.
How much do your New Orleans homes cost per SF?
Our square footage cost ranges from $220 per sf to $130 per sf depending on the home design.
What kind of windows do you use?
Currently we are using Marvin All Ultrex Windows.
What is Verve?
Verve is a wireless switching interface that allows us to reduce wiring and control switching by on-demand programming. Learn more in the Electrical Systems entry of our Library.
Can I replicate your construction techniques anywhere in the world?
We are careful to make our designs and construction methods site-specific, so that they are optimized for the local climate and environment. However, most of the materials and methods we use can be utilized to build healthy homes anywhere. Consult a licensed professional in your region with questions about our building methods and materials.
Why don’t you do solar thermal?
We use Noritz tankless water heaters. A solar thermal system would be redundant and we often need the roof space for our solar panels.
How do you maintain quality control?
Quality control is overseen internally by Make It Right, our general contractors, LEED providers and architects. We maintain quality through visual walkthroughs, documented updates and documented forms that are signed off by all managing parties.
Why cementitious fiber board instead of wood?
We use cemetitious fiber board because of its durability. Cementitious fiber board resists termites, mold, rot and has a fire rating.
Do you use any PVC?
We use alternatives to PVC whenever possible due to PVC’s negative impact on the environment and human health. Our water supply pipes are made of PEX; our cleanouts, exhaust pipes and waste supply pipes are ABS.
Why are you not building modular anymore?
We had problems with materials control and lack of documentation in the modular plant we used. We also wanted to get away from the need for shipping modules long distances. In addition to the environmental impact of shipping, road condition ins Louisiana contributed to modules arriving with damages and in need of significant repairs.
Can I submit products to be considered?
Absolutely. Learn more about product donations here.
Do you do grey water collection?
We were collecting rain water to wash cars and water lawns in New Orleans until the city asked us to stop. New Orleans has laws spanning back to the 1800s that prohibit retaining water that can promote mosquito growth. Once these laws are changed, we will go back to installing rainwater collection systems.
What is Cradle to Cradle?
Cradle to Cradle® is a unique approach to design and science, created by architect William McDonough and chemist Dr. Michael Braungart and described in their book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. Please see our Library entry on Cradle to Cradle to learn more.
What LEED Certification do your homes meet?
All of our homes and buildings are LEED Platinum.
Have you thought about doing the Living Building Challenge?
We admire the Living Building Challenge goals, but the requirements are impossible for us to meet when building affordable homes for low-income families.
Do homeowners pick their home design and colors?
Homeowners pick the design of their house, exterior and interior colors and interior finishes.
How deep are the pilings in the ground?
Piles are driven 30-40 feet into the ground using vibratory pile driver. See our Library entry on Foundations to read more.
Why are houses built on piles?
Because of soil conditions in the Lower 9th Ward, piles are necessary.
Why not use CMU piles?
Our current foundation method is the most affordable for our housing types. See our Library entry on Foundations to read more.
Are the houses built to be hurricane proof?
Our houses are built to withstand 130mph winds and elevated out of the flood zone.
How are the windows protected in a hurricane?
We use hurricane fabric made of Kevlar, the same material used in bullet-proof vests.
Why do some houses have elevators and some do not?
We include exterior elevators on some homes to accomodate disabled or elderly homeowners.
Some houses have fences and some don’t – why?
Make It Right does not install fences. While some homeowners have added fences, Make It Right prefers to keep the neighborhood as open as possible.
What is your average timeline schedule for a house to be built?
12 weeks
Do you guys recycle?
We recycle all our wood waste, recyclable plastic and cardboard.
Do you guys use volunteers in construction?
Yes and no – please visit our Volunteer page to learn more.
What is pervious concrete?
Pervious concrete is a concrete mixture with a high percentage of aggregate that allows water to permeate the surface. Standard concrete is impervious which causes water to shed off the surface. Pervious allows water to recharge the natural aquifers and also helps in reducing storm drain runoff.