The Home Crowd

This is going on the short list of “Things I want”. Quiet Solution’s soundproof drywall boasts that one 5/8″ sheet is acoustically equal to (8) layers of standard 5/8″ drywall. Not many of us have the square footage to spare by packing in an additional 5 inches of drywall to the interior of your homes. Also, don’t count on any of your doors functioning properly to account for that. That would never happen of course, as it would be simpler just to construct a masonry wall, than build up a mountain of gypsum.

photo credit: djweitzner

Seeing as how the average interior wall has an STC (Sound Transmission Class) value of about 34, good enough to separate your family but still hear their conversations through the wall. Partition common walls separating apartments, townhomes and condos are required to have and STC of 50. Which is good enough to keep your business your own, yet still allows your neighbors to share their musical tastes with you….like it or not. Most of Quiet Solutions’ QuietRock products sport an STC of at least 50. They have an interactive sound example page at their website which allows you to experience the contrasting STC values as if a garage band was playing in the next room.

The best possible soundproofing solution they currently have has an STC value of 80, which is meant for home theaters and can be reached by adding two layers of their 1 3/8″ to a stud wall. This assembly, I imagine, when used in master bedroom applications, will bring upon the end of the phrase “Stop it! You’ll wake the kids!”

HGTV’s “I want that!” showcases the QuietRock product in the video below

There are other uses of course. Making your home feel solid and quiet and every sound in it’s place can be appreciated by everyone in your household. Finally get that media room/home theater you’ve always wanted? Now keep it ramped up way beyond bedtime. Oh, and those neighbors you have? You know the ones, the ones who, at best buy, go straight for the stereo demos and their accompanying volume knobs until products drop from the shelves, and your sanity drops from sight? Yeah, treat your exterior walls.

The downside of course for this product is the price. Prices start at 40$ (volume purchase) for a 4′x8′ sheet, and only go up from there with higher rated products. Standard drywall is of course, considerably less, but to gain a comparable STC rating using a combination of standard drywall, resilient channels and other various products would bring the project budget closer to what you would have spent by just ordering soundproof drywall.

- Quiet Solutions’ Website

I’m not sure how many waterskiers this rig can tow, and actually doubt it’s ever left its foundation/boat slip. But wouldn’t that be hilarious? If the neighborhood went to hell, you could just pull up anchor and head south to Oregon… head north to Canada… um, yeah.. better off finding another spot a mile away.

The Houseboat (Floating home) from ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ can be yours for an even $2,500,000. But with that, you can retreat back to 1993, before Tom Hanks’ Oscars and Meg Ryan was America’s sweetheart. I remember vividly though thinking how great that would be to walk out on the deck and be so close to the water.

(From Coldwell Banker via Zillow Blog - Which was the source of previous Famous Homes)

In 1915, Sears began selling home kits by way of mail order from a specialty catalog. The homes were transported largely via railcar, with the average home filling two cars each. By 1925, Sears had sold 30,000 homes. Unfortunately, due to the great depression that hit a few years later, and it’s lingering economic effects, Sears’ sales suffered, and by 1940 had stopped selling homes. In these 15 years of operation though, Sears sold 75,000 homes across the country. Numbers which, any homebuilder today would be proud to boast.  The kit homes, were of good quality, very stylish, and most importantly, very affordable. The “Magnolia” model (pictured below) sold for $5,140 which adjusted for inflation from 1918 to today would cost approximately $80,000.

(click image to enlarge)

Now, keep in mind, that only covers the cost of your home kit, no labor, contractors, sub-contractors, interior designers, furnishings or the most atrocious of all costs nowadays….the land itself.  But after all is said and done, construction-wise, you’d still find yourself in a relatively affordable home.

Nowadays, the kit homes themselves are a piece of American history, and rightfully so, have developed a following among those who wish to live in their own collector’s item.  The construction had a solid feel, and from most accounts, the kit homes still standing today have stood the test of time well.  I’m not sure the same will be said of the pre-fab homes built over the last few decades that usually come in a couple pieces and are transported by a flatbed truck.

Makes ya wonder though, if the Great Depression never happened, would Sears be THE name in homebuiding today?  Maybe they’d have ventured into master-planned communities, urban infill projects, possibly entire Sears branded cities and infrastructure?

Sears Modern Home (via Architecture Coach)