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Modular the Way to Build on Remote Sites, Brochure Shows
Modular housing is a cost-effective alternative for home buyers who want to live in a remote or sparsely populated location, according to “Modular Homes: The New Face of Home Building.”
Just published by the Building Systems Councils (BSC) of NAHB to provide builders and consumers with information about the benefits of modular homes, the full-color, 16-page brochure includes articles with tips on selecting a manufacturer, customization, financing and additions.
“More than 42,000 new modular homes were built last year alone and the number continues to grow,” said David Endy, of modular manufacturer Stratford Homes in Stratford, Wis. and chairman of the BSC. “This brochure is an excellent guide for anyone interested in learning more about the advantages of building or buying this type of home.”
The brochure includes portions of a story that appeared in Building Systems magazine describing how modular housing came to the rescue of Bill Holztrager, who wanted to build his vacation home on Bald Head Island off the coast of North Carolina, the permanent residence of only 120 people.
The obstacles of building on a site reachable only by ferry or private boat were formidable. “You’d have to ferry both men and materials out and back; shipping materials out, bringing scrap and waste back,” said Holztrager. “You’re paying freight on that both ways, as well as travel time for your building crews — when you can find them. And if you run out of something, you can’t just run out to the local lumber yard.”
Other logistical challenges included architectural covenants and complex engineering requirements to help the home withstand high winds and rain churned up by storms in the Atlantic.
Modular construction provided Holztrager with a way out, and four modular sections and a crane were ferried to the island on a 14-foot-wide barge.
“This was my first time using modulars and I can say it is pretty much easy street from a traditional builder’s point of view,” said Holztrager’s home builder. “The on-site execution went flawlessly. We had good weather conditions. And the set crews really knew what they were doing. It went together perfectly.”
The Building Systems Councils’ free publication explains how modular homes are constructed in a climate-controlled manufacturing facility by skilled craftsmen using state-of-the-art machinery. Once the completed “modules” are constructed in the factory — complete with attached walls, floor, ceiling, wiring, plumbing and interior fixtures — they are transported to a home site where they are assembled and finished.
The modular construction process can significantly reduce construction time while producing a beautiful, code-compliant home.
Home buyers benefit from a cost-effective home that can be built in a fraction of the time of a site-built home. Due to the controlled construction process, modular homes are also considered to offer better energy efficiency, resulting in lower heating and cooling bills for the owner.
The brochure is available by contacting the Building Systems Councils at 800-368-5242 x8576, or online at www.nahb.org/modular.
 ‘The Modular Home’ Available at BuilderBooks.com
“The Modular Home,” available through BuilderBooks.com, shows you how going modular can expand choices, save time, save money and prove to be more durable than a conventionally built house. “The Modular Home” is fully illustrated with a 16-page full-color insert, plus renderings and floor plans. To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665.
Sign Up for the Modular and Panel Plant Tour
The Building Systems Councils' Modular and Panel Plant Tour will be held May 21-23 in Appleton, Wis. Tour stops will include Stratford Homes, Vetter Windows and Doors, Wausau Homes, Wisconsin Homes and Automated Building Components.
To register online, go to www.nahb.org/PlantTour.
Take the Concrete Technologies Tour
"Building with Concrete: The Basics and Beyond" is the theme for the 2006 Concrete Technologies Tour in Phoenix June 11-13.
There will be an introduction to concrete, followed by two days of tours, including visits to plants and job sites. You'll also have an opportunity for a post-tour education session on "Concrete Mix Designs, Construction Guidelines and Troubleshooting."
For more information and to register online, visit www.nahb.org/ConcreteTour.
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