Frequently Asked Questions

What is KAPANA, generally speaking?

KAPANA is a growing network of modern, award-winning designer living spaces, offered by landowners to travelers and adventure seekers who want to either experience on/off-the-grid adventures, without sacrificing luxury.  

The KAPANA is built 100% inside a US Based factory and delivered to the site and attached to traditional utilities and also has the option to go off-grid with a variety of options. The KAPANA has a heavy gauge steel rib structure and then clad in thick honeycomed anodized aluminum panels. The KAPANA is delivered build and dropped off onto your property and anchored to your foundation, there is no building required outside of hooking up utilities, connecting to the foundation and building any patios or other external structures. Building in a factory also guarantees precision and efficiency. It’s more efficient to assemble in a controlled factory environment than onsite. Additionally, a factory environment ensures a consistent work force and a fixed price point. Factory precision in the modular process has been a standard practice in Europe and Scandinavia for decades. KAPANA is extending this modern tradition to include smart technology that is optimized for the way we live and work today, while maintaining scalability for what technology brings tomorrow.  


Where can you ship the KAPANA?

We can ship a KAPANA to anywhere in the world.


Who needs a KAPANA?

Millennial are very interested in the KAPANA for the fact they can be moved and are easy to maintain. Anyone who has a nice piece of land with a view, just drop off the KAPANA and now you have a vacation spot. Also you can take a vacant piece of land and turn into an income property in a very short amount of time.


Does the KAPANA require a permit to be installed on my property?

Yes, the KAPANA is treated like a traditional stick-built home the difference is that the plans have already been approved as a structure and has already been inspected and signed off and only needs to be submitted to the city with the location so that the city will provide you with what their local requirements are for installing the KAPANA. Each city has different requirements and zoning definitions which your local architect and GC can address.


Can I put an KAPANA in a mobile home park?

No, the KAPANA is not a mobile home, although it is transportable. The KAPANA is a factory build home and goes on residential zoned lots like a traditional home.


How does one purchase a KAPANA?

Simply drop us an email or give us a call.


What are the options?

There are a few options available like; size, color, flooring materials, kitchen no kitchen, bathroom no bathroom, AC and a few more.


What is the size limit on a KAPANA?

There is no limit to the size of the residential or commercial structures we offer. The KAPANA units come in two sizes; 200 sqft and 400 sqft. You can combine them together to make whatever size you desire or your property zoning allows. The KAPANA’s can be connected and even stacked. They can be connected directly to each other to make a larger floor plan or connected independently using breeze ways between each unit. The sacking allows for external or internal access with balcony decks.


How long does it take?

From the day you order it to delivery we are looking at about 3 months.


How does the KAPANA appraise in relation to a traditional home?

A KAPANA home structure will go up or down in value just like any traditional stick-built structure. Of course this is completely dependent on market conditions.           


What type of foundation does the KAPANA require?

While there are several different types of foundations that we would recommend, based on your site and soil conditions, in general our engineers suggest 1 of 3 types of foundation systems:

  1. Slab on grade: Slab-on-grade or floating slab foundations are a structural engineering practice whereby the concrete slab that is to serve as the foundation for the structure is formed from a mold set into the ground. The concrete is then placed into the mold, leaving no space between the ground and the structure.
  2. Perimeter stem wall or “Raised Foundation”: A raised foundation typically consists of a foundation stem wall and footing supporting the exterior walls of the structure, with the middle portion supported on posts and piers.
  3. Helical Pile: Screw piles, sometimes referred to as screw anchors, screwpiles,helical piles, and helical anchors are a steel screw-in piling and ground anchoring system used for building deep foundationsScrew piles are manufactured using varying sizes of tubular hollow sections for the pile or anchors shaft.

All of these options are recommendations, our engineers will  check with the local jurisdiction to make sure the structure meets local requirements.


What weather climates can the KAPANA support?

The KAPANA’s standard insulation can support weather climates from 0 to 125 F. There are additional options for extreme cold temperatures.


Can it be used for commercial applications?

Beside its residential use, the KAPANA can be used as a store, a coffee shop, an office and pretty much anything you can think off.


Can I customize my KAPANA?

Yes, you can customize the KAPANA to suit your particular needs. We also have custom smart furniture options to maximize your space.


Can the KAPANA be used as a guest house (ADU Accessory Dwelling Unit)?

Yes, the KAPANA can be used as a guest house also known as and ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) Please click on this link to read more about the ADU program: http://www.hcd.ca.gov/policy-research/AccessoryDwellingUnits.shtml


Does the KAPANA have solar?

Yes we do. On December 5th 2018, California officially mandated all new homes built beginning Jan 1, 2020 going forward, are required to have solar. 

All KAPANA homes are available with Solar and Photovoltaic Systems that are either “grid connected” or stand alone for those in need of “off-grid” solutions.


Can the KAPANA go totally off grid?

Yes, the KAPANA can go totally off grid with a few alternative utility options.


How are the utilities connected?

Utilities (electric, water, sewer/septic & sometimes solar) are connected the same as they would be in a stick-built structure. There are lots of variables to choose from, and are often dictated by your intended use of the structure, but there is a key advantage when building modular. MEP Engineering is required on all our structures, which means we have our engineers calculate the most efficient energy systems on every project, and back that up with a detailed report, which becomes part of your “construction documents”. This ensures we are meeting the minimum energy conservation requirements.


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