THE HOUSE TAKES SHAPE: A magical moment!

It’s not really magic but close... On the morning of September 17, at Les Boisés de la Héronnière in Eastman, the foundations are ready to receive the ÉcoterraTM house. Early in the morning everyone is busy preparing for the arrival of the different modules (six modules altogether – four for the house, one for the roof with the photovoltaic panels and one for all the mechanical equipment in the basement). A seventh module – the garage – will be installed the next day.

Installed with a 60 ton crane, the principal modules vary in weight between 12,800 (the roof) and 17,600 lbs (the back north module with the kitchen). Included are 2000 lbs. of equipment (cables and stabilizing arms) to lift the modules.

The spectators are always amazed by the crane which transports the modules the short distance from the truck to the house-site to install them either on the foundations or on the ground floor modules.

Installation techniques are so refined that problems rarely occur. The ÉcoterraTM house is installed without a glitch, all the modules fitting together like a puzzle. A team of four to six people can complete a regular installation in four to eight hours depending on access to the site and the complexity of the modules.

The day of the installation could not have been better; a beautiful, sunny fall day. An ideal start for the ÉcoterraTM house on-site, building today for a better tomorrow...