Reasons To Build "Modular"

Speed:

• Construction is completed in 1/3 the time of site-built homes
• Construction of the home can occur while the foundation is being built
• House arrives in one piece, no waiting for certain materials or work crews to be free from other jobs

Affordability

• Controlled factory environment ensures guaranteed fixed pricing and no costly overruns
• Reduced on-site manpower
• Lower labor rates
• Minimal waste
• Minimal debris clean-up cost
• Less interest on construction loan
• Minimum of 15-30% cost savings

Exceptional Quality Control

• Modular Home passes numerous internal and third-party building inspections at all phases of production
• Home meets or exceed all federal, state or local regulations
• Tight quality control by manufacturer ensures safe and secure structures

Superior Materials and Manufacturing

• High-quality name brand materials used for construction (Moen, Anderson, Shaw, CertainTeed, American Standard, Merillat, Therma-Tru)
• Modular units are safely housed and assembled in climate-controlled factory
• Materials never subject to inclement weather, natural elements, vandalism or pilferage
• Homes delivered 85% complete, and erected onsite in hours

Durability

• Modular homes are built to last
• Withstands tramsportation to building site at speeds of up to 65mph (gale force winds) and crane lift onto foundation (earthquake conditions)
• Constructed with 30% more lumber, more glue and more nails than site-built home
• Unquestionably stronger than conventional stick-built homes

Outstanding Long-Term Value

• Endurance
• Reliability
• Minimal upkeep
• Longer life cycles
• Great return on buyer’s investment

Flexibility and Choice

• We offer vast range of choices for exterior treatments, customized interior features and accessories
• Large variety of house styles
• Custom designs or modified architectural plans
• Homes for all budgets and lifestyles

Drainage, Holes and Moderation

An edited version of this Insight first appeared in the ASHRAE Journal. Ever wonder how we can build a 50 story glass tower that doesn’t leak, but we can’t seem to build a two-story house that doesn’t leak? The answer is a little bit of counter intuitive thinking.

Ever wonder how we can build a 50 story glass tower that doesn’t leak, but we can’t seem to build a two-story house that doesn’t leak? The answer is a little bit of counter intuitive thinking.

We have learned to add holes and drainage in tall buildings in order for them to work. The lesson learned in tall buildings is that we can’t keep the rain out so we drain it out after it has entered. We can reduce the amount that enters but we can never completely keep it all out. Drainage and holes are key. These are regularly installed in tall buildings but not in short buildings. Until we add holes and drainage to small buildings they will continue to leak. This is so counter-intuitive that it borders on magic.

This story all begins with a cup in the rain (Figure 1). It is a plain ordinary cup, nothing magical about it yet. It is oriented parallel to the ground. Rain falls out of the sky due to something called gravity. The raindrops have momentum (“kinetic energy”) associated with them. There is no wind in this simple story of a cup in the rain so far. Sometimes the raindrops don’t fall completely straight down* and so they will occasionally fall into the cup. But lo and behold, even though some raindrops enter the cup the rainwater can drain out of the cup due to the slope of the cup with a little help from gravity. Drainage at work.

Figure 1: Cup in the Rain—Occasionally raindrops enter cup due to momentum and drain back to exterior via gravity and slope of cup. Did I mention drainage?

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Energy Efficiency Tops with Green Home Owners

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"Greater energy efficiency drives consumers to choose a green-built home,” according to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders. With the cost of fuel skyrocketing, and consumers looking to fuel efficient cars to help at the pump, it is no surprise that they would also be looking for energy efficiency from their buildings.

According to the survey, which polled 800 registered voters about how important certain features would be in their decision to build a green home or remodel their current home to be more green, 64% said that energy efficiency would be the most important feature, the healthier environment of green homes came in second at 55%, and 49% percent believed it would be the right thing to do for the environment.

Home builders and designers who can provide energy efficient homes will have a better chance of surviving the recent housing slump. While general home sales are down, recent studies have shown that the sale of green homes is remaining steady. Green houses also tend to be worth more.

The one concern most consumers have is the cost of green homes. While tax credits and rebates help, home owners should be looking at the long term benefits of owning green. With lower energy and maintenance costs over time, the additional premium is worth it. Also, as technology and building techniques evolve, construction costs will come down.

In today’s volatile fuel market, energy efficient buildings are going to be all the rage, and delivering quality homes at a reasonable price will help many builders rise above the slumping market.

Written by Dawn Killough

Published on July 11th, 2008

Living Homes

BENEFITS OF BUILDING GREEN

Benefits of Green Building

Environmental benefits:

• Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity
• Improve air and water quality
• Reduce solid waste
• Conserve natural resources

Economic benefits:

• Reduce operating costs
• Enhance asset value and profits
• Improve employee productivity and satisfaction
• Optimize life-cycle economic performance

Health and community benefits:

• Improve air, thermal, and acoustic environments
• Enhance occupant comfort and health
• Minimize strain on local infrastructure
• Contribute to overall quality of life