GOING THROUGH THE ROOF
For these reasons and more, it seems the popularity of modular homes will continue to
climb." This industry is growing tremendously in large part because we are building homes that meet the marketplace need,
meaning we can customize the product. If you went back in time to when modular homes originated, the industry was very production oriented. We had a brochure that had 10 houses in it, and you picked one of those houses. That was it. Now somebody can come to us with a set of plans, and we can build according to their designs."
THE BENEFITS OF BUILDING WITH MODULES
Despite its few drawbacks, modular home building
offers the building industry an innovative alternative to the traditional
methods. Many builders are beginning to recognize and utilize the
advantages this technique offers. For anyone interested in building
a stronger home in less time with less money, modular home building
may just be the answer you've been seeking. "It's the quickest growing
segment of the construction industry right now, It is really going
to impact the future.
THE FUTURE'S SO BRIGHT
This ability to customize is contributing to modular homes' big fan base. "In terms of versatility for the builder, and in terms of getting the consumers the designs and the customization that they want, it's the optimum way to
build. We build anywhere from entry-level homes to very high-end homes. We have over 70 floor plans from which to choose, but that doesn't mean that we can't do anything to the floor plan they choose. People take our existing floor plans and improvise This means that we are very much a custom home builder." Additionally, modular homes are a good choice for eco friendly builders.
When building a modular home, materials are often ordered to the exact dimensions, which dramatically cuts down on excess waste. And what little waste is generated can be easily gathered for proper disposal. This is harder to manage onsite, where such elements as wind and rain can make clean-up difficult. The extra materials and attention to precise construction and structural integrity also make for a better insulated home, which ultimately means better energy efficiency.
The modular method also provides independent builders with an economy
of scale, which enables them to compete against larger, publicly traded
companies. "Where home building in the past used to be a very fragmented
industry, there has been a lot of consolidation, which makes it difficult
for the average home builder who is doing anywhere from 25 to 150
homes a year to compete against these large, publicly traded companies.
Despite its many benefits, as with any innovative method, modular
home building is not without its bugs. There's not a whole lot of
downside to it, but if there is any, I would say that it would probably
be in the fact that sometimes you can't achieve everything on a system-built
home that you can achieve on a site-built home, since there are width
and height restrictions.
Although modular homes aren't suitable for every situation you have to be able to get a crane to the site, there are limitations on the sizes dictated by individual states' transportation rules, not all designs are easy to
modularize a lot of builders use a combination of modular and site
building." For example, if the roof line is very complicated, then what they will do is have most of the house built in the factory, and then they will add the roof onsite. You don't have to choose one or the other, you can mix and match."
Design
Engineers
NO UNEXPECTED PRICE INCREASES
Unlike site building, in which material costs can fluctuate wildly overnight, modular manufacturers guarantee pricing for a specific period of
time usually several months. This offers predictability when bidding a job.
ADVANTAGEOUS FINANCING
More national lenders are adopting programs specifically for those in this business. For builders, lenders have programs that can include model home financing, customized draw schedules and credit lines. On the consumer side, lenders are offering
one close construction/permanent loans.
LESS INSPECTION ISSUES
Modular homes are built to state building codes and in most states are certified by independent
third party. This means far fewer onsite inspections for the less paperwork and fewer hassles.
SHORTENED CONSTRUCTION CYCLE
Home builders can shave their construction time by more than two-thirds when compared to site building. With a shortened cycle time, builders can increase profits and minimize exposure to escalating material and labor prices.
IT'S GREEN
Factory construction gives modulars a solid green pedigree. They are
well insulated, they can be cited for passive solar and there's less noise when building in existing neighborhoods. This is augmented with little job site waste, reduced Dumpster and cleanup costs.
UP-TO-DATE DESIGNS
Most modular homes are one-of-a-kind designs, which means you can outperform production builders by offering customization.
BUILT TOUGH
To withstand the rigors of highway travel and the stress of being lifted by a crane, modules contain up to 30 percent more materials than site building. Drywall, for instance, is both glued and screwed to studs, and triple-headers are used around stairways and doors.
Prefab Structures
Resources
