Tidewater Custom Modular Homes Blog

You have probably heard that building a new home is very stressful. Tidewater Custom Modular Homes would like to change that idea. Modular homes are more easily built, more efficiently built and more consistently built.

But more than that, there are no hidden surprises. During the design process, we want you to have fun. Create the home you want, with the floor plan you have dreamed about, with a budget that makes you happy and won’t change part way through the process. The only surprise you will get when you build a modular home with us is our level of customer service.

Tidewater Custom Modular Homes offers a superior product, unparalleled service, and competitive pricing. We know lasting relationships are earned through complete customer satisfaction. Let Tidewater Custom Modular Homes build your next home; contact us.

You want to know what type of construction is of higher quality, modular construction or stick built? Modular homes are built in factories to very specific specifications, with quality checks regularly on the assembly line. Of course the modules have to be sturdily built, they are transported via truck and put in place via crane.  

We could tell you all this or you could go into a modular home factory and then walk onto a stick built construction site. There you would see the difference.  On stick-built sites, builders are using air guns and nails to assemble walls, floors, and ceilings.    You may even see construction materials, the future walls and ceilings in the rain or snow.

In a Modular home factory and construction site modular home walls, floors, and ceilings are screwed and lag-bolted together.  They are also glued.  All of this adds another level of construction integrity and strength.  

Contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes and we will be more than glad to give you a personal demonstration of the differences.

Many people have a misconception that modular homes are cookie cutter in style. But, did you know that modular homes can be custom designed? In fact, at Tidewater Custom Modular Homes, custom designed homes are what we do.

We do have floor plans available for all types of homes, and they are not limited in design and can range from 1000 square feet to 4000 sq feet and up. These home plans are designed by builders and architects

However, if there is something you would like to add, change, or omit, Tidewater Custom Modular Homes can make that adjustment. We can also custom design a floor plan for you and your family, from Ranches and Capes to Vacation homes.

Have you gotten so far in your home planning process that you have a floor plan or blue print already, but you just haven’t committed? If so, let us help.  Many floor plans can be modified to accommodate modular home construction.

Tidewater Custom Modular Homes can custom build your affordable, luxury, dream home.

Are you in the market for a new home. If you live on a piece of land  you really enjoy it, but want a new home, consider building a custom designed modular home.

Modular construction is a green and energy-saving form of construction when compared to typical stick-built.

Tidewater Custom Modular Homes recently built a custom modular home with loads of new home amenities. The house offers quartz counters, hardwood floors, a gas fireplace, ceramic tile floors in the baths with floor heater strips, a tankless hot water heater, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems and 50-year architectural shingles. Elevated front and rear screened porches offer scenic views.

The home is a three-story house with 2,700 square feet of modular-built living space on two floors.

The price per square foot was $110 which is significantly less money than a stick built custom home which can start around $125 per square foot and can easily reach $200 per square foot.

Contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes, we can design a home on the spot, by modifying a standard plan or start from scratch.

If you are in the market for a new home, consider building a new home; but not just any new home, build a modular home. There are many pros to consider when contemplating whether to buy or build a new home.

Even though building your dream house may seem a lot more difficult than looking for a house that is already built and ready to live in, it can actually be very rewarding.

Consider the following when thinking about building a new modular home:

• You can customize
• Your home may be more resalable in the future
• The most up to date building codes
• You can hire a professional to oversee the day to day issues of building a new home.
• With a modular home you can move into a new home in a couple months.
• Choose the modular floor plan that works for you and your family

Contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes for more information.

Happy new year in advance from all of us at Tidewater Custom Modular Homes!  We hope you have a safe and relaxing holiday break.

We want to take this opportunity to remind all of you that our offer to customize your new modular home with $1,000 towards options and/or upgrades remains in effect through January 15, 2012. This offer applies to any and all of our modular home designs to include ranch style modular homes, cape code style modular homes, two-story modular homes, estate modular homes, and all others.

We also want to remind you that when you visit our manufacturer (Henderson, NC) and take a tour of their plant, not only will you then know the distinct advantages of modular home construction, you earn an instant $1000 rebate on the purchase of your new home.

In addition, we never forget our military veterans, both present and past.  Any past or present member of the United States Military gets a $2,000 credit towards options or upgrades as a thank you for serving our country.

Again, Happy New Year, best wishes, and our sincere thanks to you all. 

It’s cold and rainy here in Tidewater Virginia. Not the best time to plan for your vacation or dream estate home, right?  Not so fast my friend.  When could possibly be a better time to plan for the future than when locked inside during the cold winter months?

Your  dream "cottage Home" or "vacation style dream home” will not fully fulfill your dream without significant planning.  So take your winter months to “dream and scheme” and put your thoughts down on paper.  Your friends at Tidewater Custom Modular Homes are award winning modular home builders because we embrace and are rewarded by supporting you in every stage of the process, and that includes the planning stage.  

Whether you’re in the “Where do we start” phase or deep into final planning, know that our years of experience will add value and reward to your dream modular home. 

Happy planning, Happy Holidays, and we hope to talk to you soon.  

Today's "mobile homes" are called "manufactured homes," by housing experts. Manufactured homes are built to HUD, or U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development standards. Modular Homes are built to state and local building codes with high standards and very consistent quality controls.

Modular homes and manufactured homes are all built in factories under controlled environments. There is no moisture, wind or hot sun to interfere with the building schedule or to damage materials. Construction methods and materials vary, and modular homes can be customized to meet energy efficiency, accessibility and lifestyle needs.

Modular homes, prefabricated homes or factory-built homes are pretty much the same as ones built on site. Whatever can be done design wise on a site built home can be done in a modular home. Modular floor plans can be custom designed to meet your needs. It can certainly be argued that Modular homes are built to higher standards and better specifications.

Daily Press

Modular homes are all built in factories under controlled environments. Therefore, there are no weather issues to interfere with the building schedule or to damage building materials. Modular home floor plans can be customized in many respects to meet energy efficiency, accessibility and lifestyle needs.

Modular homes (or factory-built homes) are pretty much the same as ones built on site.

Modular home building tips

• When you begin your research, know the difference between modular homes and mobile homes. Today's "mobile homes" are called "manufactured homes.”Modular homes" are built to state and local building codes.
• Figure out if you want a custom modular home or if you can buy "off the rack" and use a factory standard.
• Visit some modular home factories and learn about the construction and the quality controls.
• Do your planning, Then do it again. You can't change later.
• Better Homes and Gardens-Home Designer Suite software is great for planning — and inexpensive at $60.
• Visit you modular home under construction at the factory
• Set a realistic timetable tied to the payment schedule.
• Shop around; there are many deals but, most importantly, be sure you are comparing apples to apples.
• Get a builder that is familiar with your building jurisdiction because you still have local code issues.

Daily Press

Homes built as boxes in factories and assembled on site never subjected to construction delays or bad weather problems.

When Jack and Gina Sheehan wanted to demolish and replace their 1952 built waterfront home in York County, they didn't choose the custom-built route.  Instead, they went with a modular home.

"I did a lot of research online, looking at modular homes, the pros and cons, and visiting a couple of factories in Virginia and North Carolina," says Sheehan, a retired aeronautical engineer who is now a business development consultant.

"When you look at the construction methods, you found out the basic factories are all about the same. The difference is what is put into the engineering and quality controls."

By Thanksgiving, the Sheehans hope to have moved into their three-story house with 2,700 square feet of modular-built living space on two floors. They hired John Glover of Tidewater Custom Modular Homes in Smithfield to oversee the construction site. The first level is a custom-built, above-ground basement with garage space and full bath designed by local architect Mike Henry.

Accustomed to damaging storms, the Sheehans are also building their home to withstand 130 mile-an-hour winds; any flooding will be limited to the garage level. Instead of the standard 2-by-6 framing studs, basement walls are done with 2-by-8s, placed closer together, or on 12-inch centers instead of 24-inch centers. Bolts, larger-than-usual hurricane clips and threaded rods that go into the concrete footers help tie the house and foundation together. To access the second- and third-floor modular spaces, the Sheehans installed an elevator.

"The brick mason set the cinder blocks so the rods run through the cavities into the footers," says Jack.

"There's more strength in the first floor of this house than in most whole homes.

"We were lucky, we had earthquake and hurricane tests the same week and the house never even moved."

For home amenities, the house offers quartz counters, hardwood floors, gas fireplace, ceramic tile floors in baths with floor heater strips, tankless hot water heater, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems and 50-year architectural shingles. Elevated front and rear screened porches offer scenic views.

Price to build the entire house: $110 per square foot.

That's considerably lower than many custom homes which usually start about $125 per square foot and can easily reach $200 per square foot.

"All areas vary," says Glover. He has a mechanical engineering degree from Virginia Military Institute, has been refurbishing and remodeling homes since 1998 and has been in new residential and commercial construction since 2003.

"In our area, we find that there is typically a 10-20% savings versus comparable site-built construction. This savings can vary from plan to plan. We have a 3,000 square plan we provide turnkey, excluding site activities like well, septic, clearing, driveway to our published standards for $77 per square foot."

Glover and his wife Tammy, an interior decorator and real estate agent, live in a modular home they built in 2004. Since that time, they have built more than 50 modular homes from Virginia Beach to Richmond.

"Modular homes contain 30% more material because they are built as individual boxes. When the boxes come together, they create interior walls of 2-by-8s versus standard 2-by-4s and add extra insulation qualities.

"Construction is quicker, meaning you move in faster, and you eliminate any exposure to weather or moisture problems in the process.

"Nowadays we can virtually design the modular home on the spot, whether we modify a standard plan, or start from scratch. You can build totally modular or partially modular and customize the rest, it's your choice," Glover adds.

Modular, by definition, is a green and energy-saving form of construction when compared to typical stick-built, according to Dan Goodin of Nationwide Homes. The company built modulars for the Extreme Makeover house in Virginia Beach earlier this year.

"Every home we build comes out of the factory both EnergyStar and green 'ready' (some simple on-site items and certification are required for full compliance)," says Goodin.

"We build to meet the wind speeds necessary where the home will be placed, and can build up to 175-mph wind speed requirements for coastal construction.

"Modular offers the same features as stick-built. We partner with the same brands — Merillat cabinets, Pella windows and Whirlpool appliances, so when a customer selects features to put in their home, they can use the same menu as used in stick-built counterparts."

"Our modular homes are bolted, nailed and screwed, built to code for each city or county and made to travel down the road without any damage. Modular homes are the future of home construction in this country."

Original article- The Daily Press