Alternative Housing

Glidehouse--an Eco-friendly Prefab House

Some modular homes are designed to look just like their stick-built neighbors.  But there are some that stand out from the ho hum crowd with unique architect-inspired designs.  Let's take a look at the Glidehouse, a modern prefabricated home from designer Michelle Kaufmann. 

The Glidehouses range in size from 670 to 2,000 square feet, and the price starts at about $81,000 and runs to $161,000.  This doesn't include the cost of land and hiring a general contractor for installation (although, remember that with a modular home, labor and costs are much less than with custom built homes, because they are built in factories and designed to go up quickly at the building site).

The standard plan for the Glildehouse is about $130 a square foot--a pretty good deal for those of us living in pricey housing markets (California, anyone?).  The homes meet all uniform and international building codes.

Oh, and did I mention that these houses are eco-friendly?  The Glidehouse is crafted from renewable and recyclable materials such as bamboo floors and lightweight concrete countertops using recycled paper and fly ash.  Also, the home's layout was designed with the idea of being sustainable.  The windows are placed to maximize ventilation, the roof is designed to support solar panels, and the exterior walls are made from long-lived, low-maintenance materials such as metal and cement board.

More information at: Michelle Kaufmann Designs

Cost for Modular Homes?

A couple of times, we've mentioned how modular homes are cheaper than stick-built homes, but we haven't said by how much or what the exact cost is.  (Sssh, don't tell, but it's because we didn't know.)  Of course, it's going to vary, depending on what you want and which manufacturer you go with, but you probably just want some general information.  So, after doing a bit of research, here's what I found:

• "Modular homes usually cost less per square foot — 5% to 25% less, one manufacturer estimates — than site-built homes, thanks to shorter, more organized and more predictable construction schedules." -- from an article called Modular Homes Gain Acceptance
• "Cost Savings (for modular homes)– Building time is reduced by building the home and doing the site preparation at the same time. This reduction in time lowers your interest payments on a construction loan." -- from the Ritz-Craft Corporations FAQ: Modular Housing Comparison to Stick Built Homes
• "Although modulars are often a solid bargain, you should not expect an unrealistic discount to other types of building. When you purchase your new modular home you are choosing unmatchable quality and speedy completion. If a modest savings accompanies those features you win in every way. As in any business you will find as many pricing policies as you will builder/dealers. Be alert. Sometimes there are genuinely good buys, but watch out if it sounds too good to be true." from the Modular Home Pricing FAQ

So, all in all, it looks like the cost for modular homes will run you less than the cost for regular homes, but it won't be a huge savings.  The big savings is in the time it takes to complete. 

Just as a reminder, here, we're talking about modular homes and not manufactured homes (like the single- or double-wide trailer).  Modular homes can be customized and, when finished, don't look any different from regular stick-built homes.

Modular Homes Can Be Built in Days

Modular homes have been around for a while, but they're just now starting to catch on in a big way.  Manufactured in factories instead of on the job site, modular homes can be assembled (from vacant lot to full-blown move-in-ready home) in days.  Once the foundation is set, the home (which arrives in pre-built pieces) can be put up with relative ease, especially compared to all that goes into building a stick-built home from scratch. 

But what are the benefits to modular homes, aside from speed? 

"Modular homes cost less... because the components are built in an indoor factory, production is constant which helps control labor costs. Second, rather than purchasing the materials necessary for one, two, or five homes, the factory buys literal train-loads of lumber, hardware and appliances for about half the normal cost.

"The other benefit of modular construction is quality... Built entirely indoors, the various components are never subjected to punishing elements, and because they’re fashioned to be transported to the home site, the modules are built tough. All boards are both nailed and glued, all drywall is reinforced, and all electrical and plumbing apertures are thoroughly sealed."

Quotes from The New Mod Squad, an article that takes a look at the benefits of modular homes.

Designer Prefab Homes

There have been quite a few design contests lately that have worked to build interest in prefab or modular homes.  Professional architects and designers have flocked to the challenge and created beautiful units that have people rethinking their opinions of these kinds of homes.  They are anything but basic.  Today's prefab homes not only look cool; many are environmentally friendly.  Instead of sprawling 5,000 square foot monstrosities, these homes give you luxury living in a smaller footprint that has less impact on the earth.

An ABC news article points out that these factory-built homes are still fighting resistance in the U.S., but it's only a matter of time before they catch on: "...proponents of prefab housing agree that the concept still has a way to go before it catches on throughout the United States. 'There's still a widely held misconception that anything built in a factory is a trailer home...That's a stigma of prefab that we have to overcome...But it won't take long...Factory-built housing can be extremely high quality and a good investment."

Read article: Sleek, Modern Designs Spark an Interest in Prefabricated Houses

Prefab Homes for the Masses (yes, that's us)

Modular homes are starting to make big time news.  Popular online magazine, Wired, writes an interesting article on the nuts and bolts of prefabricated or modular homes.  They start at the beginning: "Inside a cavernous hangar where the pneumatic thwack! thwack! thwack! of nail guns mixes with the drone of jigsaws, Britco produces as many as 600 modular structures a year - everything from houses and banks to classrooms and McDonald's restaurants..." and go on to talk about benefits and why modular homes are increasingly a smart option for would-be homeowners on a budget and also for big real estate communites that are building homes by the score: "The benefits of prefab building are hard to ignore. For starters, it eliminates much of the uncertainty surrounding what proponents call stick-built homes. Construction happens indoors, so there's never weather-related delay or damage. Manufacturers trim costs by ordering in bulk... Houses are typically built on a flat surface, which ensures a truly plumb structure. That also keeps the crew off high ladders, so workers' comp claims are lower."

It's a detailed four-page article and definitely worth reading in full if you're thinking a prefab home might be for you: "Some Assembly Required"

Designer Modular Homes?

When modular homes first came on the market, they tended to be boxy, unsightly things without a lot of imagination.  The only reason anyone would buy one was because they were cheaper than traditional homes.  Well, times have changed.  Modular homes are still cheaper, but that doesn't mean they aren't as cool.  Today's homes come with tons of designer options and can even be customized a great deal. 

In an article called "Modular Homes Come with Vaulted Ceilings, Custom Windows, and More," an Arizona newspaper writes: "If you think modular houses resemble boxy mobile homes, think again. Today's modular residences look like conventionally built homes and come in sizes from cottages to mansions. They are homes with roomy interiors, complete with decorative moldings, great rooms and custom windows."

Are Modular/Manufactured Homes Safe?

Modular homes are cheaper than traditional stick-built homes because they are manufactured in a factory instead of on-sight.  But are they safe?  With all the natural disasters lately, you want to make sure the home you choose can withstand the elements and then some, right? An article in a Florida paper (they know all about hurricanes and such down there) says:

"Modern manufactured homes are now as safe as site-built homes. A Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles report Aug. 24, 2004, states that of all manufactured homes in the path of Charley's 145 mph winds that were built to meet modern standards, not one received any structural damage."

Source: "Hurricanes Prove That New, Affordable Modular Homes are Safe"

LV Home, an Affordable Modular Home

The LV Home was featured on the Travel Channel's Amazing Vacation Homes not long ago, and it's what prompted me to first start looking into modular homes.  The LV Home has a 970 square-foot kit house (there's now a larger house available as well) that you can actually order online for a little under $30,000.  Depending on where you live and the choice of finishes you choose, total construction costs run about $75,000-$120,000.  You pay $10,000 down, and from there you get the plans, instructions, and a preparation checklist to help you and your contractor start laying the foundation while you're waiting for the kit to arrive.  Said kit with materials arrives 21 days to a few weeks later (dependent on the waiting list).

The LV Home is an extremely simple house made primarily of metal and glass with some wood in the frame.  This is what makes the cost so low.  It's also a great choice for land with a view.  The living areas and two-bedrooms sport floor to ceiling windows and sliding glass doors.  The lesser used rooms (kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room) are in the back where there are fewer windows. The simple design and durability of the building materials keep the LV Home low maintenance.

The LV Home is designed to be assembled by two to four people.  The kit comes with the shell, instructions for the contractors, a schedule, lists of materials and tools, and a videotape.  Finding contractors and the interior is the responsibility of the homeowner (but is included in the final cost estimate of $75,000-$120,000).

Wondering about energy efficiency?  The LV Home has 6-inch exterior walls that help make it both efficient and quiet.  It passes US building codes for snow, high wind, and earthquake sounds.

For more information, visit the LV Home web site: http://www.rocioromero.com/homelv.htm

Benefits of Modular Homes

When people hear about modular homes, they may think of those old-fashioned ugly mobile homes, the ones continuously being smashed by hurricanes in the South.  Manufactured homes have come a long way, though.  Today, there are whole communities of homes based on modular construction.  All over the US, and in other countries, modular homes are on the rise.  There's a good reason for that.  Here's a look at just some of the benefits:

• Since modular homes are constructed in manufacturing plants rather than on a lot somewhere, the cost of the building materials can be better controlled, so the overall construction costs are cheaper.
• Because these homes come in pre-built modules, assembly at the building site is much quicker than with stick homes.  Again, this saves money because it saves time.
• As housing costs skyrocket in many parts of the country, first-time buyers and low income families cannot afford even the smallest traditional houses.  However, since modular homes are more affordable, there will always be a market for them among those who desire a home cannot afford an expensive one.
• As manufacturing techniques and modular home designs improve, their popularity and acceptance is improving.  These days, it is difficult to tell at a glance whether a home is stick built or modular in design.
• Quality and productivity are easier to control and monitor in a factory setting than on site, so you are assured a modular home will be of sound quality.
• The stigma that only seniors purchase modular homes is quickly becoming a fallacy.  These cheaper homes are appealing to many age groups, including young families, empty-nesters, and single people.

Source: Builder's Guide to Modular Construction