For the Baker family, finding a new home to meet the needs of their growing family required an out-of-the box solution. Hansel and Gretel Baker — along with their children Mike, Ike and Al — looked to Sugar Land, TX, where they knew sweet deals could be found to build a house from the ground up.
The Bakers sought design advice from multiple sources: home design websites, lifestyle magazines and friend of the family Candy Lane, head of Candy Lane Builders, who they hired to construct the home.
Initially, the family’s design ideas were met with snickers from the building team, but the Bakers said they were willing to offer up more than 100 grand for the sustainable, saccharine design they craved. The builders realized they were in for a big payday if they could deliver.
In the planning stages, Candy Lane Builders advised the Baker family to try prefabrication, as they could manufacture the double-gingerbread layer structural insulated panels offsite and transport them to the 5th Avenue location for assembly.
The installation of a photovoltaic array on the home’s south-facing roof and Energy Star-burst appliances would also help to reduce the home’s energy consumption, as they wanted to save money for their baby Ruth, due in January.
Midway through the build, OSHA inspectors visited the site to ensure the team was meeting safety protocols. Passing this inspection would be no piece of cake, as the OSHA inspectors were nutrageous about safety.
Candy Lane Builders, which is known for its impeccable safety record, employed all necessary precautions, including the crucial Twizzler-brand fall-arrest system. Their workers were trained to know that even at low heights, working on a roof with custom sno-cap shingles can put them at risk of falls, especially for workers with butterfingers.
The home was completed on time and on budget, and Candy Lane Builders soon handed the Baker family the keys to their dream gingerbread house. After blowing their favorite builders a hershey’s kiss as they drove off, the Bakers moved into their new home — a real life saver for their growing family.
Later that day, the house and family were eaten by the Construction Dive staff.
