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Modular Home Timeline
The New Modular Home: Chic, Eco-friendly and Fabulous
The modern prefab and modular homes are experiencing a resurgence for many reasons. These days it seems architects and designers are eager to create new environmental-chic versions of the modular home, and these new designs offer so much versatility and and appeal that their popularity is naturally on the rise. With the employment of new methods of construction and transportation, designers are cutting waste and energy consumption, slashing production costs while achieving greater overall methods of sustainability.
Before diving into the interesting benefits if investing in these new homes, let’s take a look at the definitions of prefab/prefabrication and modular, and then take a closer look at the new and modern prefab modular homes.
Prefabrication is the practice of assembling parts in a factory, then transporting the complete or partial module to the construction site. Modular homes are homes in which there are design elements that are separate modules of the whole that can be used interchangeably to create different designs. Modular design, benefits the buyer because the interchangeable components can be moved around to better accommodate different spaces, styles, and needs. Think Rubik’s cube- the premise of the modular aspect of a home is similar. As long as the exterior dimensions remain the same, the rooms and walls within a design can be shuffled around.
So, what are the benefits of these new homes that combine elements of both prefabrication and modularity? First off, as already mentioned, the modular aspect of these homes, makes it possible to design a home that’ll complement the space you are placing it on. You can play around with a variety of different designs and create the perfect fit.
Since the modules are constructed in a factory, a high quality of construction is ensured. The fasteners are accurately applied, materials are cut with more exactness, and since they have to be transported, everything is tighter and more secure. This extends the life span and cuts on upkeep. Modular prefabrication factories also produce less waste as compared to standard home construction. The production of modular homes generates somewhere around 2% of waste, as compared with the 30-40% of wasted material generated from a standard home construction. Additionally, since the duration of pre-fab modular construction is shorter, and so the cost of production is lower.
Many companies use a very responsible cradle to cradle method of transportation. With this method, the components of the home are intended to be flat and standard and so the design can be sent to a computer and cut in masses at regional locations, packed flat and then shipped to local distribution areas.
Companies like Michelle Kaufman Designs are very conscious of the building materials they use. Sustainable touches with her designs include bamboo floors, energy efficient windows and doors and thick insulation. Her designs promote natural cooling, through the use of long shallow spaces and cross-ventilation. The need for artificial lighting is reduced with the gliding glass wall design and the placement of clerestory windows. Some homes include water conserving toilets, faucets and bathroom counter tops made of Richlite, a recycled-paper product. Outside, exterior walls are made of maintenance-free Cor-Ten steel, Galvalume (anodized alloy-coated steel), Hardi panels (cement board) or sustainable harvested Western red cedar planks.
Through afford ability and convenience, the development of the new modular pre-fab homes has brought eco-chic construction to a wider audience so that we many continue to live well, but tread lightly.
Build Your Own Modular Home?
Because about 85 percent of a modular home is built in the factory before it arrives to your lot, many homeowners opt to be their own general contractor. This indeed has many advantages in additional cost savings and as well as control. By applying for a “sweat equity” finance loan there is a degree of savings, and overall being your own contractor can save you 10 to 30 percent in expenses. This makes this option attractive for some.
However, you will be earning your savings as you handle the tasks for which the builder is responsible. You will either complete or arrange subcontractors to complete several components of the site work and finishing work for your modular home. The following items are areas that will deserve your attention:
Land/Lot – Finding a lot for building is one of the earliest steps, but additional factors are required as well regarding the lot. This includes finding a surveyor to survey the lot, as well as an excavation crew to mold the lot according to where drainage patterns and clearing must occur. Also, a site plan drawn up by an engineer will be needed so that building permits can be obtained. This encompasses soil samples as well as drainage grades as well.
Foundation – Either a structural or foundation engineer will need to be contracted to assist with accurate foundation plans. Once designed, concrete services and framing will be needed to form the foundation accordingly. This is an important step particularly for modular homes.
Permitting – A laundry list of permits are needed including a building permit, electrical permit, foundation permit, etc. In addition, before completion, pest company evaluation of the soil and structure is needed, as well as a department of health inspection for many towns.
Crane and Set Crew – These may be provided by the manufacturer, but you are still responsible for overseeing their work and making sure they are available for the set-up process. You may decide to hire them outside of the manufacturer as this could save additional money; but be sure they are experienced in modular homes.
Connections and Finishing Work – Here you will need several subcontractors to assist with necessary items in completing your home after arrival. Subcontractors include electricians, plumbers, HVAC personnel, painters, flooring specialists, drywall repair experts, countertop installers, and possibly roofers. While the button up and tie in work is not vast, it is varied enough that an array of specialists are required.
Landscaping – This includes both “soft” landscaping such as plants, lawn and trees as well as “hard” landscaping such as driveways, walkways, decking and patios. Asphalt specialists may be needed for driveways as well as concrete or masonry specialists for other areas.
While this list is not entirely complete, it does cover the major areas. Compared to a site-built home, the task of being your own builder is far less challenging. Modular homes do facilitate your own involvement in being the builder which can save you a great deal of money in the end.
Modular Home Q & A
Have you always wanted a home, but have held off due to the cost? Many people have the same concerns. Most adults have the goal of owning their own home, but cannot find the time or the money to buy the home that fits their needs. A modular home can be your dream home, without the difficulty of constructing it yourself. A great advantage is that modular homes can be built in far less time than other homes. This article will answer some basic questions about the ever-expanding world of modular homes. How are they constructed?Modular homes are factory-made, not constructed on-site. After constructing each section of the home individually, it then receives a comprehensive inspection to make sure that the home is up to building codes. You can be reassured that high quality and durable materials are consistently used. Modular homes are, however, very similar to traditionally constructed homes. About how much do they cost? The floor plan you choose will dictate the ultimate cost of your modular home. You can choose a plan that is custom-made to fill your unique desires. Of course, the larger the home, the larger the price tag. In addition to the speed at which modular homes can be built, they are typically less expensive per square foot than homes which are built in the traditional way. A modular home can be constructed in just two months. Does the cost of the home include the cost of the foundation? The price of the foundations is not covered by most manufacturers of modular homes. The cost can be included in your loan or it can be paid for from your own funds. In order to reduce upfront costs, the majority of people choose to get financing for the total price. It is important to know all the details of the coverage, including what is and isn’t covered, so make sure you contact the manufacturer. Can modular homes be built to specification and are they energy efficient?One wonderful feature of modular homes is that they are all constructed to meet HUD guidelines. Each part of the home is inspected for quality and is required to pass the standards of building specification inspectors. Modular homes are more efficient, in many ways, than are traditional homes.
Modular Home Q & A
Have you always wanted a home, but have held off due to the cost? Many people have the same concerns. Most adults have the goal of owning their own home, but cannot find the time or the money to buy the home that fits their needs. A modular home can be your dream home, without the difficulty of constructing it yourself. A great advantage is that modular homes can be built in far less time than other homes. This article will answer some basic questions about the ever-expanding world of modular homes. How are they constructed?Modular homes are factory-made, not constructed on-site. After constructing each section of the home individually, it then receives a comprehensive inspection to make sure that the home is up to building codes. You can be reassured that high quality and durable materials are consistently used. Modular homes are, however, very similar to traditionally constructed homes. About how much do they cost? The floor plan you choose will dictate the ultimate cost of your modular home. You can choose a plan that is custom-made to fill your unique desires. Of course, the larger the home, the larger the price tag. In addition to the speed at which modular homes can be built, they are typically less expensive per square foot than homes which are built in the traditional way. A modular home can be constructed in just two months. Does the cost of the home include the cost of the foundation? The price of the foundations is not covered by most manufacturers of modular homes. The cost can be included in your loan or it can be paid for from your own funds. In order to reduce upfront costs, the majority of people choose to get financing for the total price. It is important to know all the details of the coverage, including what is and isn’t covered, so make sure you contact the manufacturer. Can modular homes be built to specification and are they energy efficient?One wonderful feature of modular homes is that they are all constructed to meet HUD guidelines. Each part of the home is inspected for quality and is required to pass the standards of building specification inspectors. Modular homes are more efficient, in many ways, than are traditional homes.
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Modular Homes – Not To Be Confused With Trailers
Want to shift from Boston to California and worried to death because you do not want to abandon the home that took every drop of your sweat to build and neither do you want to rent it to a faceless stranger? What about packing it and taking it with you? Yes sir!! You heard me correctly. That’s the modular home for you
A Modular home is the distant, less-tainted cousin of the mobile house. The mobile house, though considered as the answer to America’s “affordable-housing” void, faced a head-on blow when it was categorized as ‘low class’ and ‘trailer-park’.
Modular means design based on a module (unit of measurement) which is repeated throughout the building. Thus a modular home is a house, the sections of which are transported to the building site and then joined together by local contractors.
This kind of a house has it’s own advantages. To begin with, modular homes are built in such a way that they conform to any kind of geographical territory. So if one wants to shift from Bristol to Brunei, there would be no worries about the reconstruction of a house. And then, there is the question of economic viability. To test which, a two-unit modular townhouse was built in Cambridge by Epoch and the Hickory Consortium – a Cambridge Massachusetts based group. With the aim of constructing environmentally sustainable and economical houses, the group found that modular homes cost a whooping 15% less than site-built construction.
As Steve Snyder, the executive director of Modular Building Systems Association in Harrisburg puts it, “A lot of people find out that it can be inexpensive and also look the same as stick-framed houses.” Since the houses are inspected at every phase of construction, there are no cost overruns because the number of contractors are less and most of the costs are fixed. What comes as an added advantage is that a well- built modular home has almost the same longevity as it’s site-built counterpart – something that raises its value over time.
However, the modular home has had a difficult journey towards widespread acceptance because buyers have often had to sacrifice quality for affordability.
Such trivial issues have found their solution in Douglas Cutler, principal of Douglas Cutler Architects in Wilton. It always struck Cutler that manufacturers never sought out talented architects to “jazz up the design” – an initiative that he took in collaboration with manufacturers like Goscobec Modular Homes, SUN Building Systems and Haven Homes. As a result, we today have modular homes with an architectural flair.
And still, the best is yet to come. MIT researchers are ’studying ways’ to reduce the brittleness and reinforce the cement with microspheres. Innovative metallic and adhesive bonding techniques are being worked upon to join the panels into a weather-tight shell. Combining metal fasteners with structural plastic tapes are also under consideration.
The modular home is yet to see its best days when the completed design will be sent via computer network to an automated factory where the components would be prefabricated and the entire house with roof, floor and walls would be erected – all in one day!!
Where Is The Best Place To Get Financing On A Modular Home, With A Credit Score In Mid 600’s?
How can I get a good rate on a loan for a modular home and not have large payments for the rest of my life? What mortage company is the best to help me out?
How Much Does a Modular Home Cost?
Modular homes are built in a factory (often on an assembly line) usually in large, three-sided sections with windows, doors, cabinets, electrical and other features in place. The sections are trucked to the home site, lifted by crane onto a pre-built foundation and fastened together.
Although some modest modular homes are similar in appearance to double-wide mobile homes (manufactured houses), upscale modular homes can be customized in almost any architectural style and can be two or more stories high. Once built there’s no easily visible difference between high quality modular and more traditional homes constructed on-site .
Typical costs:
It’s estimated that modular construction costs 5-25 percent less than traditional homes built on-site, although some companies claim savings of up to 50 percent. Prices start around $50,000 -$60,000 for an 800-900-square-foot home (1 or 2 bedrooms, 1 bath) but can go as high as $500,000 -$1 million for large, customized, high-quality homes. And that’s without the land, foundation or other site work.
A rough estimate for a 1,600-square-foot home ($89,000 base price) with modular garage ($20,000) plus permits, utility connections, site prep, foundation, engineering and survey work is $167,500 total cost.
An upscale 3,200-square-foot modular home delivered in eight pieces in Maryland had a base price of $300,000 but the extras, including a basement, septic fields, porches, a driveway, permits and other charges, bumped the total to about $560,000.
What should be included:
No matter where the factory is located, modular homes are designed and built to meet state and local building codes at the home construction site. Modular sections are generally quite sturdy, because they’re built to travel to the home site, and are usually fairly air-tight and energy efficient.
One advantage of modular construction is that the process is much faster than with more conventional onsite home-building methods. Building the modules in the factory can take two weeks to three months; assembling them on the foundation can take several hours or several days. However, inspections and on-site work can add another 30-90 days to the construction process.
The Modular Building Systems Association provides a brief guide to residential modular construction and a modular homeowner in the St. Louis, Missouri area shares his experiences and expenses.
Additional costs:
Landscaping your new modular home is an additional cost to be factored into your budget.
Shopping for a modular home:
Decide what size and style home interests you. Check out local manufacturers — the farther the modular sections have to travel to reach your home site, the higher the transportation costs. Request and check references.
The Modular Building Systems Association (MBSA) provides tips for selecting a modular home dealer, financing details, links to modular home manufacturers by state.
When hiring a general contractor, check to be sure the company is properly insured and bonded, and licensed in your state. For the manufacturer, dealer and any contractors you hire, check if they have any complaints with the Better Business Bureau.
