Marvin Development Corp is a Fort Myers Florida based home building company and has built over 3500 homes in cities such as Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Springs, Golden Gate Estates, and Ft. Myers. Marvin Homes has also built in fine southwest Florida communities such as the Wildcat Run, Spanish Wells, the Veranda, Caloosa Preserve, the Rookery, Bonita Springs Country Club, Longshore Lakes, Pine Shadows Air Park, Imperial Golf Estates, St. Charles Harbour, and Gulf Harbour, and the Brooks.

  We always start with a clean lot. Any trees and grass are removed from the construction area. After the lot scrape is complete pre-fill (if needed) will be placed. Pre-fill is installed and compacted in 12” lifts. Depending on the amount of pre-fill placed we will have a certified engineer perform a compaction test so that we can be assured that the fill is strong enough to support the weight of a house. If possible any grass scrapings will be stockpiled on the site for possible future use as backfill. The dumpster and port-o-let are then delivered to the site. Temporary power, trusses, windows, and water meter or well may be ordered.

Slab Stage
We use a stem-wall type foundation. The installation of the stem-wall is a multi-phased project involving six separate subcontractors and three building department inspections. The process is as follows: A) an 8” deep x 16” wide footing is dug. Horizontal and vertical steel is placed, the footing is inspected, and poured with concrete. B) A minimum of two courses of block are placed. C) Interior of the Stemwall is filled with clean fill and it is compacted. D) Plumbing lines are installed and inspected. E) Soil is pretreated for termites. F) Vapor barrier is placed and forms for concrete slab are installed and inspected. The slab is poured. We use 3000 p.s.i. concrete on all concrete pours.

Prior to this point 7 subcontractors have been used and 4 building department inspections have been performed. If the house is a “Good Cents” energy efficient home, rigid foam insulation is placed on the inside of living area block walls.

Interior Framing Stage

Metal studs are installed on a pressure treated lumber bottom plate. Wood blocking is placed where cabinets and window treatments will be installed.

This is the second time the plumbing subcontractor comes to the site. In the first stage he put his drain lines in the slab. This time he installs his water lines. All Preferred and all Marvin “Key” series of homes include the manabloc plumbing system.

In this phase the electrician places his panel box, all cut out boxes for plugs and switches are placed, and wire is run to these locations.

After all trades have completed their rough phases and the framing is complete we call for inspections. Each mechanical trade and the framing has a separate inspection, but we wait until all are trades are completed before ordering the inspection. The reason for this is all the work is inter-related. One subcontractor may accidentally damage the work of another.

 
AC Rough
The air conditioning subcontractor is the first mechanical trade on the site because his equipment and ductwork require the most area. The efficiency rating of the AC unit is a minimum of 11 SEER. On a “Good Cents” home mastic is used on duct joints and the efficiency of the AC unit jumps to a minimum of SEER12.

The roof is installed after the framing and mechanical inspections are completed. If a shingle roof it is installed right over the 15# dry-in. If a tile roof a 90# built up roof is hot mopped on top of a 30# dry-in. The tile is installed on top of the built up roof.

Good Cents: Ceiling insulation installed (sidewall installed after masonry stage)

Standard Insulation: Ceiling insulation and sidewall insulation is installed and is inspected by the appropriate building department.

Drywall board is hung, joints are taped, and then house is textured. Bathrooms and kitchens are textured with a semi-smooth finish. Marble windowsills are installed (if applicable). The exterior of the house is finished at this point. Industry standard is a purge coat of cementitious finish.

Baseboards, doors, wood window sills (if applicable), and casings are installed at this point. After the house is trimmed the painter preps then paints the house. Soffit and fascia is installed.

Cabinets are installed in the house at this point. The dishwasher, microwave or range hood, built in ovens and cook tops (if applicable), and suspended light fixtures are delivered to the site during this stage. The AC, plumbing and electrical subcontractors begin their installation process. The AC subcontractor will install his vents, air-handlers, and compressors. The Electrician will install light fixtures, switches, plugs, microwaves, cook-tops and built-in ovens (if applicable). The plumber will install the dishwasher, sinks and all faucets. Some cooperation is needed between the subcontractors because some of the components require both to completely install. With range hoods that are vented to the exterior the electrician will install the hood and the AC subcontractor will hook-up the venting.

Each piece of property has different criteria depending on the area. If a septic system were required it would need to be installed prior to beginning any of the following.

The transportation department having jurisdiction over the property would be contacted to determine if a culvert or swale drive is needed. The agency would also provide the height of the drive and the height and size of the required culvert. If a culvert were required it would be installed at this point. If a septic system or culvert were required they would be inspected. Then the grading portion of the work would begin.

The driveway area would be cut, (if on septic, the septic would be covered); backfill and a rough grade of the yard would be done. The driveway would then be formed, inspected (if applicable) and poured.

After this the final grade would be done to get the house ready for sod, the sprinkler system and landscaping installed (if applicable), and then the sod installed (and inspected if applicable).

Once the mechanical trades are finished the flooring goes into the house, tile floors followed by carpet. The interior doors are then set in place and the bottoms trimmed if needed.

The pool shell is normally dug after the framing stage. If access to the site is a problem the pool may be dug immediately after the Stemwall block is placed. The deck is normally completed when the exterior work is started. The pool screen enclosure will be completed at about the time of the final grade.

During this phase of construction the final inspections are completed. All mechanical inspections (plumbing, electrical, AC) and building inspections are completed. Touch up paint is done. And any other items that need attention are completed

The final stage is the customer acceptance phase. The Owner will meet with the job superintendent and walk through the house using an in depth check list. Any remaining items will be corrected at this stage.

Closing takes place at the Builders main construction office approximately one week after the final inspections are complete. The Owner needs a Homeowner’s insurance policy for closing. During the closing all estimates will be reconciled, warranty papers presented to the Owner, and the keys to the home will be given to the Owner. The Owner may need to meet with the lender prior to closing (depends on the lender).

Note: Above schedules, time frames, inspections, are subject to change.