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Throw
out all of your
pre-conceived notions about
systems-built homes.
Today, using the method of
prefabricating a home in a
climate-controlled warehouse
and assembling it
permanently on a homesite
can result in a beautiful,
expertly-crafted and
customized home – and one
that’s greener, too.
You may know these homes by many names – modular,
panelized, prefabricated, systems-built – and some carry better connotations
than others, but across the board it’s now time to open up your mind to the new
age of modular residential construction. According to the National Association
of Home Builders (NAHB), from 1992-2002, modular housing production increased 48
percent, and North Carolina is one of the most popular states for modular
construction. As these homeowners already know, today’s systems-built homes are
truly high-performance homes that are attractive, customizable and extremely
well-built. Plus, they have both some inherent qualities, as well as available
options, that make them the perfect foundation for a green home.
For the unfamiliar: In traditional, stick-built construction, a home is erected,
board by nail by board, on its homesite. Systems-built methods call for the
majority of that construction to take place off-site, within a factory. There,
the components of the home – whether smaller panels or whole modules containing
several rooms – are assembled, up to 90 percent complete, with plumbing and
cabinetry and fixtures. Then, when ready, the components are delivered to the
homesite and assembled like a 3-D puzzle, quickly transforming an empty site
into a recognizable home. The whole structure is dried-in within a matter of
days, rather than weeks or months, and then finish work begins.
One of the more prominent benefits is easily apparent – that the home is built
indoors, within a protective, state-of-the art manufacturing plant. There is no
wind or rain or humidity to contend with, or dirt or debris, which maintains the
quality and integrity of the building materials and saving homeowners from
expensive losses when moldy or warped materials have to be replaced (which
hinders both your budget and timeline). In this way, the materials are also
safeguarded from other unfortunate circumstances, such as theft or vandalism.
In addition to keeping all the building materials protected from the elements,
the workers and craftsman charged with bringing your dream home to life are also
protected from the elements. In the Carolinas, where the weather is beautiful
and mild so much of the year, this is not as vital, but still very much
appreciated, and happy, healthy workers can more easily focus on their tasks at
hand. There are no weather delays, and with a skilled team of workers in place,
no delays due to waiting on various sub-contractors who may or may not be up to
your desired workmanship standards.
Sounds heavenly, right? There’s more.
In the controlled factory, there is less material waste, which is an important
facet of building green. According to New World Home, only 2 percent of
materials are typically wasted in modular plants, versus up to 30 or 40 percent
with site-built homes. This is due to precision work, and the fact that unused
materials can quickly be repurposed for the next home “in line.” At the same
time, the construction work is extremely high-quality and durable, as it is made
to withstand transportation and installation (often by crane, in the case of
modular) at a homesite. This visual reminds us that with so much being
fabricated pre-installation, there is far less disruption to the homesite in a
modular build.
While there is often additional planning time required with a systems-built home
(which is not unlike designing a green home), actual construction time is
shortened, particularly onsite, where the difference is drastic. George Watt,
the architect behind The Ridge at Chukker Creek, a sustainable community
brimming with gorgeous green homes in Aiken, SC, also promotes systems-built
homes. A recent home that he designed using SIPs (structured insulated panels)
took approximately an extra month of design time, but the house was erected
onsite in four days, eliminating nearly two months of construction time. This
can shorten construction loans and interest payments and, as previously stated,
makes the home weather-tight very quickly.
The finished home is well-built and durable, meets or exceeds state building
codes, and is in line with green standards. As the NAHB Panelized Building
Systems Council states, “With such a low margin of error and high amount of
precision, panelized homes are known for increased energy efficiency.” Finally,
the home’s high-quality construction and green attributes will help it to retain
and grow in value as the years go by, protecting your investment.
This all comes about by working with a manufacturer and local builder – the
manufacturer to build and (typically) assemble the modules, and the builder to
do the site preparation and finish work. Some manufacturers can recommend local
builders, but it can work the other way around as well. Some well-known
manufacturers servicing the Carolinas include Deltec Homes, Handcrafted Homes,
Haven Homes, Homes by Vanderbuilt and New World Home. With these and other
manufacturers, homeowners can work from a pre-determined house plan or go
completely custom. Engineering capabilities differ among manufacturers, but in
general, the flexibility is vast – and vastly improving.
Like any growing industry, modular residential construction is still developing,
and thus has various kinks to work out. But many agree that the potential for
improving feasibility and reducing environmental impact is great … and there are
already many happy homeowners who agree.
To continue reading this article, please click here:
Learn more
about the green attributes of a systems-built home.
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