Tag: portable buildings

  • This new custom Maverick layout is awesome

    The Maverick by General Shelters continues to be a great template for customized tiny (read: small, efficient) homes. Here is the standard Maverick floor plan:

    Here is the modified floor plan:

    To be clear, every cabin by General Shelters is great to customize, but as we have already shown in this post, adding two feet to the width and ten feet to the length really adds to the space

    Built with wood framing like all other General Shelters cabins, this is fully insulated, wrapped in high gauge steel, and built to last generations. Refrigerator, stove/oven, dishwasher, and microwave are all included. Forgot to mention in the video that the cabin features central heat/air.

    For the current model, we kept the width and size the same, but removed the dormer. Controversial move, because we love the extra light, but really do not miss it. We also removed the fixed kitchen island to allow more space for the owner to place a table. Additionally, we opted for the white interior trim instead of the rustic unfinished cedar slats – really makes the windows pop.

    Here is a short walk-through of the new Maverick.

  • Watch this Chapparal get placed into final position

    General Shelters of Texas manufactures the largest finished portable pier-and-beam buildings in the United States. This is not easy, though their fifty years experience makes it look simple enough.

    They are wood-framed buildings, clad and roofed in steel, so they flex when moved. This is where General Shelters’ experience comes in. They have A/B tested techniques and processes so that the structure stays intact and holds together, such that only minor fixes need to be performed after delivery.

    This is the final stage of installation, when the building is carefully lowered into place. Blocks have been placed where the pressure-treated interlaced skids will rest, expertly placed so the entire building is square and on the level.

    Funny enough, they positioned the cabin at our location the day before to get an early start the next morning. Dimebox over in Lee County is about forty miles away, so I gave them a thirty minute or so head start and waited at the entrance of the property and waited for them. I chose an alternate route roughly the same length of time, so I thought I would arrive earlier then the install crew.

    After forty five or so minutes I drove into the property to find they had already positioned the cabin and blocks! This is a short video showing the custom Chapparal being lowered into place:

  • General Shelters has added two new awesome floor plans to their collection

    When General Shelters says that the options for customization are practically limitless, they really mean it! Having manufactured finished portable pier-and-beam cabins for nearly twenty years, one would imagine that there is nothing new to offer. But the design team at General Shelters have done it again, adding The Farmstead and The Haven to their collection.

    Like all other cabins, these are stick-built structures clad and roofed in steel. Portable, but not mobile homes or trailers. Designed to last generations, these are perfect cost-effective solutions delivered at a fraction of the time as built-on-site homes.

    The Farmstead is an 18ft by 60ft (1080sf) two-bed/two-bath cabin with barn-style roofing. Featuring two dormers, the Farmstead is an open, bright model that feels much larger than its square footage. With doors on the front and back, it is ready to add a deck to either side. If you want a country themed cabin, the barn-style is perfect for you!

    The master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom, and features a soaking tub, with a linen closet housing a stackable washer/dryer. The guest bedroom has a convenient Jack-and-Jill bathroom, with the commode available from the living area.

    This model features the attractive Barnwash paneling, Galvalum ceiling, and brown vinyl flooring. White Dallas Granite is used throughout. Here is the spec sheet which lists all materials used in the construction of the Farmstead.

    The kitchen is a chef’s dream, its huge island with its inset double stainless-steel sink perfect for meal prep, service, and clean-up. Conveniently, the island has room for seating four people.

    The Farmstead includes a three-ton central HVAC, refrigerator, microwave, stove, oven, dishwasher, the aforementioned stackable washer/dryer, and in-line water heater. It is insulated floor to ceiling.

    The Haven is a mono-slope one bedroom/bath cabin. Measuring 18ft x 36ft (648sf), windows at the top of the front wall allow plenty of light inside. Love that covered porch! [NOTE: the top windows are not included in the stock model.]

    Part of General Shelters’ ‘Efficiency’ series, the Haven is built to limit costs. Toward that end, counters are formica, with spray sheetrock ceiling. Here is the spec sheet for the Haven.

    Another cost-saving move is eliminating insulation beneath the floor, and including two window-mounted 12k BTU air conditioners in place of central HVAC.

    The bathroom features plenty of space. While not ADA spec, the door is 36in wide, and features a step-in shower with seat. Featured throughout are Bianco Romano formica counters – very attractive and money-saving.

    The bedroom looks dark from this angle, but there is an entire wall of windows on the front wall.; you can see them in pic below. Featured in this model are Pallet paneling for an especially rustic look.

    Appliances include a stackable washer/dryer combo, 18cf refrigerator, 30in slide-in range, vented microwave, and the two wall-mounted 12k BTU air units.

    As with other General Shelters buildings, they can be ordered to any level of finish and customization. Once you have submitted your changes, we submit those to the engineering team at General Shelters and they will advise whether those are possible or what can be done to meet your need.

    We are excited to introduce you to these new floor plans! If you want to visit the homes we have on site at Trees of Central Texas, give a call at 979-836-7225 and swing on by. As a Platinum level dealer for General Shelters, we have helped hundreds of people design their perfect buildings!

  • Take a Look at our Custom Maverick by General Shelters

    The Maverick is our go-to standard model to customize.

    General Shelters’ Maverick’s simple design and small footprint provide an excellent template for customizations.  For our custom 2 bed Maverick, we balanced the need for open space and functionality by adding two feet to the width, nine feet to the length, a dormer, expanded living space, and a Jack-and-Jill bathroom.   At 832sf (16×52) it is a cozy, bright space perfect for full-time or part-time living.

    Cozy and bright!

    The popular Colony Green color for the exterior steel walls is complimented with faux cedar accent wall and gables.  Inside, the new ‘Barnwash’ paneling lends a rustic touch that compliments both dark and light furniture and decorations. To emphasize the rustic atmosphere, we upgraded the ceiling to the metal galvalume from the stock gypsum ceiling tile.

    Very nice spaces.

    Other upgrades for this model include White Dallas granite counters throughout, 36 inch interior doors, and central heat/air. This model comes with a full-size GE refrigerator, microwave, and stackable washer/dryer.

    Big enough for a king-sized bed!

    An island in the kitchen area doubles nicely as a serving area, while providing plenty of space for food preparation. We opted out of the dishwasher for this model, but included a stainless steel double sink.

    The Jack and Jill bathroom feautres 36" doors.

    The Jack-and-Jill bathroom is a space-saving feature that conveniently allows one person to use the bathroom facilities and another to use the shower/bath.

    Here is the floor plan of our custom Maverick.  We added two feet to the width, and nine and a half feet to the length.Plan your own building and we can make it!

    This model sold for $129,900, but we have a slightly redesigned model for sale at $126,900 and available for viewing at our Brenham location.

  • Check out this Promotional Video by General Shelters

    General Shelters has a lot to talk about, but sometimes pictures are worth thousands and thousands of words.

    Take this promotional video, for example.  Chock full of pictures submitted by customers, and featuring pictures of staged buildings, nothing tells the story of the coziness and quaintness of Genera Shelters’ cabins like seeing them in full color.  Rustic and individualized, General Shelters offers flexibility and durability to your building.

    Take four or so minutes and enjoy this overview!