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The Four Principles of FlexHousing™
FlexHousing is the best of everything we know about housing — under one roof.
Any home can be a FlexHouse — a suburban bungalow, high-rise condominium or infill townhouse. FlexHousing™ is simply an approach to designing and building homes based on the principles of :
Adaptability
Accessibility
Affordability
Healthy Housing™
In the past, homebuyers — particularly those planning a family — either bought a larger home than they needed so they could grow into it or looked for a new home every time their housing requirements changed.
Because the FlexHouse adapts easily to meet changing needs, it alters that pattern. FlexHousing™ design makes it possible for the house to change as the owners' wants and needs change.
In a house designed on FlexHousing™ principles, space can be arranged and re-arranged to meet future needs without expensive retrofits and renovations. Designing a FlexHouse involves anticipating possible uses for rooms, potential traffic flow and future requirements.
Adaptability
Adaptability means designing a home for a variety of possible arrangements. For example:
Designing an attic to allow for conversion to an apartment by roughing-in bathroom or kitchen plumbing at the time of construction.
Reinforcing bathroom walls during construction to allow for the installation of grab bars.
Installing modular kitchen counters and cabinets that can be adjusted vertically on brackets or that can have sections either inserted or removed below countertops.
Building such features into a new home during initial construction saves time, money and inconvenience when changes are needed or desired down the road.
With FlexHousing™, prospective buyers get many homes in one. Through adaptable features such as convertible rooms or pre-designing for external additions, occupants can create a home that's right for today and tomorrow without the troubles and expense of conventional renovation.
In the end, the adaptable nature of FlexHousing™ makes it possible to create "housing for life".
Accessibility
The FlexHousing™ concept is user-friendly and its features add convenience and practicality to the functions of a home. For example:
Wider than usual doorways allow for greater access whether for moving furniture, carrying an armful of groceries or allowing mobility for a wheelchair or walker.
A bathtub with free space along its entire length provides for ease of access, not to mention being less awkward to clean.
On grade access provides a convenient and safe entrance to the home.
A fundamental consideration of FlexHousing™ is the reduction of potential hazards. Examples include:
Non-slip flooring in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms.
Handrails that start before the top of the stairs and end just past the bottom to provide guidance and support.
Side-opening wall oven reduces risk of burns and injury
Security is a basic element of design and construction in FlexHousing™ — not an afterthought. Pre-wiring for the installation of an alarm or surveillance system makes it easy for homeowners to take measures they need to feel secure. Strong, easy-to-use locks and latches are standard FlexHousing™ features.
Affordability
Although the initial cost of a FlexHouse is slightly more than a conventional home, FlexHousing™ features recover their investment over the long-term because pre-engineered features allow for easy and inexpensive change and renovation. In addition, staying in a FlexHouse avoids the significant costs of moving.
FlexHousing™ is the design of living spaces that do not become obsolete. In a FlexHouse, buyers purchase a home that provides the space required today, with the option of adapting it later if their needs change.
Because a FlexHouse offers more potential and comfort than a conventional home, it is desirable to consumers. This makes for a superior long-term investment. The quality of the features, the attention to detail and the ability to become exactly what a homeowner wants and needs increases the curb appeal and resale value of a FlexHouse.
Healthy Housing™
The fourth principal of FlexHousing™ incorporates the concept of Healthy Housing™. The integration of healthy building materials and innovative housing technology protects the health of the occupants and the environment. There are four predominant features of a Healthy House:
Occupant Health: Healthy Housing™ uses low-emission building materials, finishes and flooring to help keep indoor air healthy and fresh.
Energy Efficiency: Healthy Housing™ uses integrated and properly sized heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to get the greatest energy efficiency possible.
Resource Efficiency: Healthy Housing™ uses long-lasting, environmentally appropriate building materials. Resource-efficient landscaping techniques help to conserve water and reduce maintenance for homeowners.
Environmental Impact: In addition to using alternative water and wastewater systems where practical, Healthy Housing™ communities promote transportation patterns that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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