According to some modular home owners, all homes may one
day be factory-built. Is this crazy or what? Possibly not.
It just might surprise you the advantages that modular
homes bring to the new construction industry. These aren't
the mobile homes of the past. Modular homes are the real
deal. They are better built than site built homes, and on
average 20 percent less costly.
In 2003, an ideal situation occurred that allowed modular
home construction to be put to the test. Michelle Kaufman
(of Michelle Kaufmann Designs) decided to build her first
home with her husband Kevin Cullen in California just
outside of San Francisco. Kevin, being a builder, acted as
the general contractor, and the couple began the normal
arduous process of designing, permitting and financing
there site-built Glidehouse. As is typical, delays and
upwardly increasing bids plagued the process, and the
couple became progressively frustrated.
Being in architect design, Kaufman began investigating
design options with modular technologies. She even began to
solicit customers that may want to create an identical
Glidehouse to hers, but through modular design and
construction. Late in 2003, about 6 months into her own
home construction process, she found a client in Washington
state that responded to her offer.
What were the results? Well, the total time for design,
engineering and construction was 21 months for the
site-built home, and only 10 months for the modular home.
In other words, despite a 6 month lag, the modular home was
finished much sooner. Likewise, there was an extra 10
months for the site-built home in payments for a
construction loan, land purchase, and insurance before
occupancy could occur. Is there any question that time is
money?
But the benefits don't end there! The overall costs
including foundation and land preparation as well as home
construction was more than 20 percent less for the modular
home. Along the way, there was less waste produced and much
less frustration. The two identically designed homes were
far from identical in expense and time needed for
construction.
But while they look the same and are designed the same, are
they both equal in quality? If they are typical of most
comparisons, no they are not. The modular home is actually
better. Added reinforcements during the factory built
process provide greater sustainability and strength to
modular homes. Likewise, quality of workmanship on average
is better in a factory where the climate is constantly
controlled and quality assessments are uniform. Even in
post-hurricane situations, modular homes are preferred not
only because of their speed of construction, but because of
their durability.
So if saving time and money are important to you and having
a home with better quality and durability is appealing, you
may want to consider a modular home. And if you suspect
design limitations are a reason to hesitate, think again.
The fact is many of the homes in your own community are
modular, and you don't realize it! Put modular homes to
your own test. The results are likely to be pleasing.
Sources:
1. Arieff, Allison. The Proof is in the Prefab. Dwell.
November, 2006.
2. http://livemodern.com. Mayer, M. Why Modern? 5/7/2007.
3. www.modularhousing.com. A Guide to Residential Modular
Construction. From Factory to Finish. 2004.
----------------------------------------------------
Michael Zenga owns the largest modular home dealership in
MA and is an unabashed advocate for the modular home
industry
http://www.zncustombuilding.com
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