Actech makes house a home

MELISSA FOLLOWELL
Herald Staff Writer

ONECO - Millie Oberheu's 1957 house was more than a house, it was the home her children grew up in. So she was distraught to find out when she went to remodel last year, that her home had to be destroyed.

"The house was full of mold and had to be torn down," Oberheu said. With the help of Manatee County 's SHIP program - State Housing Initiative Partnership - Oberheu was able to get funds to rebuild the home. She faced the grim reality that her new home would be much smaller and without its former architectural flair. But then she contacted Dave Revels of Revels Construction. "They actually ended up giving me more house," Oberheu said.

The company is using Actech panels to construct a new and improved version of her old home. "I got to decide what I liked and what I wanted to change," she said. Actech panels are a marriage of steel and insulation that meet Category 5 hurricane codes, are bug and moisture resistent and fire retardant. "You don't have to worry about termites or moisture," Revels said. That means mold won't be a problem again for Oberheu. Actech homes save homeowner's money because of reduced labor costs. Only three to four men were working on the home the day that all four walls went up. Steve Rechtsteiner patented the system in 1993. It's one of 57 patents he holds in a variety of industries. "We've built in 40-something different countries over the years," Rechtsteiner said. The first home was built in Auburndale in 1994. "It's withstood four hurricanes," Rechtsteiner said. That is one of the reasons Revels and Rechtsteiner have volunteered time and energy building Actech homes with volunteers from DeSoto Disaster Recovery in Arcadia . "We did three houses in five days over in Arcadia ," Rechtsteiner said. "Over 65 percent of the structures damaged or destroyed during Charley are still in the same condition." Once the foundation is poured, a team of relatively inexperienced people can assemble the home.

On top of the mold-resistant and energy-efficient quality of her new home, Oberheu is also going to make her home eco-friendly on the inside. She's exploring floor coverings that don't emit greenhouse gases and energy-efficient appliances. Oberheu could be in her new 1,400-square-foot home as soon as the end of the month, Revels said. Oberheu's is the second Actech house in Manatee County and several more are in the works, Revels said.

Melissa Followell, Herald reporter, can be reached at 708-7920 or mfollowell@Bradenton.com.