Modular homes and custom modular home builders are rapidly reinventing the home building industry. Due to the focus on energy efficiency, architecture and
Design communities around the world are coming together to create innovative designs for homes of all shapes, sizes and tastes. Modular homes not only provide
affordable housing solutions because they are built faster and at a lower cost than traditional site-built homes, modular home builders are also
leading the way in sustainable new home construction and preserving the environment through green building.
Modular homes are built in pieces in controlled factory settings. Factory production means fewer accidents and errors and a more predictable product and time frame. The parts are then shipped to the site where they are assembled. Because the parts must be shipped, they are built much stronger than traditional site-built home structures and components, using ten to fifteen percent more building materials than are normally used. Modular homes also offer a much higher standard of quality control, with so many outside inspectors, engineers, and architects involved.
Since modular home builders provide 80 to 85 percent of the home, the buyer avoids the risk of giving a builder money and having the home not built to their specifications, or having its price inflated due to numerous change orders. Also, unlike modular homes, site-built homes are exposed to unfavorable weather conditions during the construction process, making the home vulnerable to water or weather damage, and increasing project costs. by adding additional materials and replacement components. All of these cost savings are passed on to the consumer, giving them more home for their money, but also giving builders more scope to incorporate best practices and energy-saving building products and services into their building processes.
For builders, most of the benefits of green building come from the flexibility inherent in the design and engineering of modular home systems. Modular homes are built stronger than traditional homes. They produce less waste due to reduced construction time, and less time needed on a site means less damage to the home site and the surrounding environment. Additionally, design flexibility and innovation combined with the use of non-traditional building materials allow home builders and designers to build around existing trees and wildlife, creating new homes that are less intrusive to their surroundings.
Modular or system-built components are pre-treated before shipping to site. This pretreatment reduces the amount of chemical vapors that enter the home during construction, resulting in better air quality from the start. In addition, the internal structure of the house is protected against mold or water damage thanks to the strictly controlled environments within the factories. Because construction can be completed in a fraction of the time required for traditional homes, there is less waste on the site, less threat of indoor air quality deterioration, and less chance of damage to the structure.
Wood for home components is delivered to factories in pre-cut lengths to further reduce waste, and many modular home factories and material suppliers employ extensive recycling programs to reduce excess or return materials to the environment. In addition, many builders consider site selection to maximize daylighting, heating and cooling capacities, as well as other considerations around water efficiency, daylighting, green energy, improved erosion control, and environmental protection. environmentally friendly building materials. Other green building practices include increasing slab insulation, using solvent-free foundation sealers, increasing fly ash content in concrete, improving foundation drainage, providing radon ventilation, and other tactics.
The speed of construction drives down the cost of modular homes, making them an ideal solution for both today’s affordable housing needs around the world and homeowners seeking relief from recent increases in utility costs. . Reduced construction loan costs and interest amounts, combined with lower prices per square foot compared to traditional site-built homes, allow homebuyers and homebuilders to focus their homebuilding dollars in energy efficient power and water systems. These can be as simple as water heaters and energy efficient appliances, or as complex as solar panels or gray water systems.
Today, many modular homes are built in a way that maximizes daylight while reducing or, in some cases, completely eliminating the need for electric lighting during the day. For example, the MCube in Venice, California, designed by Mdesigns, uses a Japanese shoji-inspired construction with translucent walls that emit light and let in natural light without heat radiation. The house also has solar underfloor heating, solar heated water and photovoltaic roof panels. This is just one example of the innovative designs emerging from architects and engineers around the world. Photos of the house are available at habitat.com.
Custom modular home builders such as Grant Smereczynsky, CEO of Building Systems Network, an Atlanta, GA-based custom modular home builder, are encouraging consumers who are not yet familiar with available modular home options to learn more. about the benefits of these advances in systems-based engineering, architectural design, and construction.