Wooden houses from A-hus
People often talk about catalogue houses, prefabricated wooden houses delivered in modules. And that’s right. But how does it work in practice? What sort of work underlies this type of house? We have amused ourselves by following the entire chain of events that leads to a completed A-hus. From the planting of the first sapling until it is time to move in. Join us on an exciting journey.
1. Planting saplings
Our timber comes from Sweden, much of it from our parent company, Derome AB, as well as from other companies and countries. Whether the source is from Sweden or abroad, we mainly use fir, and only those trees that meet our high quality standards. (Of course we also manufacture and deliver houses with brick or stucco exteriors, though wooden houses are our speciality).
2. Time for felling
After about 60-70 years, it’s time to fell the trees that will eventually become an A-hus. The trunks are cut into logs and all of the branches and treetops are gathered and chipped after drying. The chips are then usually used for district heating.
3. Refinement process
When the logs come to us we refine them into timber (boards in various sizes) in our own sawmill in Anneberg, just outside Kungsbacka. We use the leftover chips to heat our own facility. The boards then spend a few weeks in large drying areas before they proceed to our production area in the next building.
4. Every A-hus is architect-designed
While the timber is growing, felled and refined, our architect department is working at a feverish pace. Many people work every day improving existing house plans and creating new ones. They follow trends and developments in the market, both to find the right design and to incorporate innovations into everything from materials to energy solutions.
5. The sales rep is a house innovator
What others usually call sales reps we call house innovators. The reason is quite simply that for us at A-hus, these people play a much more important role than “merely” selling houses. They guide customers through what may be the biggest transaction of their lives. From the period before the house is chosen until long after occupancy. These are experienced individuals who inspire trust.
6. Coordination phase
A house building project involves many different suppliers, from insulation and doors to household appliances and floor heating. A-hus coordinates and organises the entire process. Right from the start we have a high basic standard with respect to upgrades. And since we are one of Sweden’s leading single-family home manufacturers, we can purchase large quantities and negotiate good prices, with savings passed on to our customers.
7. Time to build
Like Santa’s factory, the houses are assembled – first in various steps at different stations, then entire sections. Everything is done by our own trained and experienced employees, under our roof, protected from wind and weather – right here in Anneberg.
8. Home delivery
The completed house modules are transported to the plot and the future homeowners (who are often present when the house arrives to watch it be built on site – an unforgettable experience).
9. Completed on site
The modules are put together and the house begins to resemble a house. Everything is completed on site, wall by wall, room by room. The buyer’s involvement in this process naturally depends on the type of contract selected – complete package, shared contracting or general contract (read more under “Contract types”). Irrespective of contract type, the building process usually takes about 16 weeks.
10. Next step: power and water
Plumbing, heating and wiring are installed during the building process. The final stage includes interior painting, wallpapering and floor-laying, as well as kitchen and appliance installation. In addition, each A-hus always has a primer coat directly from the factory.
11. Final inspection
In simplified terms, we can say that final inspection is a guarantee that the building process was properly done, a final review between customer and builder.
12. Finally: moving in
The big day finally arrives, time to move in! What began as a sapling 60-70 years ago has now been transformed into a real A-hus. The fact that the house has now been completed does not signify an end to the relationship with A-hus; quite the opposite, we make ourselves available to answer and solve any questions that may arise long after occupancy.