Forma Home Systems

Technology Frames Home Construction's Future

By Kay Wilthew

Professional homebuilders recognize the fundamental objective of any building project: move a satisfied customer into a high-quality new home quickly and efficiently. Forma Home Systems delivers an edge to homebuilders with a meticulously controlled manufactured wall panel construction process. Forma's products surpass traditional construction models in three critical areas: speed, cost and quality. Impressively, Forma's product line extends well beyond wall panels.

Forma provides a comprehensive package containing almost every element necessary to dry in a project. Michael J. Murray, CEO and a principal founder of Forma Home Systems, explains, "A delivered package includes under-floor framing materials, builder's hardware, floor panels, wall panels, roof trusses and roof sheeting. Our goal is to add as much value to those components as we can."

Floor panel performance and quality is enhanced with the Weyerhaeuser TJI Silent Floor system and warranty. Wall panels constructed from kiln-dried and engineered lumber enable automated computer integrated equipment to produce square panels, which are delivered to building sites complete with electrical chases drilled, JELD-WEN windows installed and flashed, and all exterior walls sheathed, with sheetrock optional on interior walls. Roof trusses complete the package and essentially round out Forma's "one-stop shop" service. More importantly, Forma's whole house approach carries the house design from under-floor framing to roof trusses to ensure all components work together.

Panels can be delivered and a house completely dried in within days. The company's website formahomes.com demonstrates the process from material delivery through home completion. Once a pre-sale is made, the builder can close the property and move the customer into the home in substantially less time than traditional stick-frame construction. Forma's pre-manufacturing and delivery program represents a major benefit to a production builder, resulting in fewer dropouts, a higher close ratio on pre-sales and faster customer move-in.

Forma Home Systems launched three years ago when founders Murray and Reid Gustafson, retired president of Shea Homes, seized the opportunity to capitalize on advanced fabricated panel technology previously unavailable in the United States. Forma's primary market area includes California, Nevada and Southern Oregon, but Murray expects Forma's territory will expand rapidly across the country. "We've been approached by several of the top 10 national builders in the country about working initially in a western regional operation, and potentially rolling out nationally."

The Forma System is modeled on the Swedish System that meets the exacting building code specifications established in Northern Europe, requiring zero air penetration at a 50-mile-per-hour wind. "The only way to get the level of quality required," says Murray, "is to manufacture in a plant and have extensive automation. It's a challenging standard for them to meet."

The timing was perfect for Forma to enter the panel manufacturing market. "The market has been extremely accepting of both panelization in general and our technology in particular," states Murray. The technology is "very persuasive; it makes sense, people understand it intuitively when they see it." While many building projects use prefabricated panels, no existing fabricators could meet the industry's demand for scalable production, speed and quality. Forma's founders recognized the trade opportunity and crafted a model to tap this significant market segment. Forma is one of only a handful of companies in North America to utilize this type of equipment, which, according to Murray, results in very competitive pricing. "Our ability to match pricing is incomparable; if we want a job, we don't lose it. Period." With regard to time saving, Murray adds, "Forma can cut one-half to one-third off delivery time, and to pre-manufacture a product and have it waiting on those pre-sales is a huge advantage to a production builder."

Forma's process differs from other U.S. manufacturers in Forma's meticulously controlled manufacturing process. Their impressive system uses an automated framing station and a multi-function bridge, the component that nails off the sheathing then routes and cuts window and door openings. Forma selected German equipment for its elegant engineering. Murray explains, "In the U.S., some semi-automated pieces of equipment are available but their approach is to have 20-30 nail guns, all nailing at once. This method is crude and difficult to manage. The European approach uses one to four nail guns with a sophisticated motion control to place the guns where they need to be." This control results in construction to within practically a millimeter of tolerance. "One approach is brute force; one is state-of-the-art technology."

Speed of delivery, competitive cost and quality workmanship: improved performance in any one of these areas would attract industry notice. Forma Home Systems hits the mark on all three, and does so with precision and style.

Forma Home Systems is located at 375 Diablo Rd. Suite 210, in Danville, CA 94526. Call (866) 859-4091 or formahomes.com for more information.

A Better Way to Build

- Increase quality
- Save time
- Cost savings
- Reduce jobsite waste

"Our project was an in-fill city site, with lot-line to lot-line construction; Forma Homes was on board 100% in adapting their system to our specialized need. The quality of their product is high, but the most important thing is their people - helpful at every turn, and dedicated to getting us what we needed. We were able to frame a 3,000-square-foot, three- floor custom-home in three weeks instead of three months. We saved enormously on labor with the shorter build time! We are already planning our next project with Forma Homes, and will recommend them on all appropriate projects in the future."
- Jim Zack, AIA
Zack/de Vito Architecture
zackdevito.com

May 2007 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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