Modular Homes VA Blog

Modular Homes are Green Homes

Architects, designers and home buyers are interested in creating and buying new, environmentally green homes. Green is chic, and modular homes are green. Their designs offer so much versatility and appeal that their popularity is on the rise. With new methods of construction and transportation, designers and builders are cutting waste and energy consumption, and cutting production costs while achieving greater methods of sustainability.

Modular Homes are built from modules that are assembled in a factory to exact specifications. Everything is cut with more exactness and everything is applied and assembled more accurately, saving time, materials and energy. These standards extend the life and cuts down on upkeep of the home over time. Modular home factories also produce less waste than onsite construction. Where modular home production generates around 2% waste, stick built homes generate 30-40%. Also, less time is spent constructing modular homes, so production costs are lower. Ultimately, modular homes allow eco-friendly construction at a fraction of the cost, to a larger consumer base.

Because modular homes are prefabricated, the modules allow you to design a home that will complement the space you are placing it on. You can change the design and make it fit the space rather than make the space fit the home; again saving energy and material costs.

For eco-friendly construction, and a customized, newly built home that is energy star qualified, contact Tidewater Modular Homes.

Modular Homes are One of the Fastest Growing Forms of Home Construction Today

Modular construction is one of the fastest growing forms of home building in the market today. Increased efficiency and our ability to apply modern technology to the needs of the market place are what make it so desirable. Tidewater Custom Modular Homes offers designs that encompass the entire spectrum of the market; from affordable single-family designs to high end luxury homes to vacation getaways. The combination of reduced construction time, more efficient construction and unlimited customization are the primary reasons why many home buyers are switching from traditional stick-building to modular home construction.

One question always seems to come up in our conversation with people as they contemplate their choice between a stick built home and a modular home.  “Which type of home is stronger, modular or traditional?” The general consensus is that modular homes are stronger. They are built in a controlled environment where outside elements cannot add wear and tear. Modular home builders also use screws instead of nails and add glue to all the joints to increase the strength of the home.

Today’s modular homes rival any site-built home in design and functionality. Advancements in computer design and factory technology allows almost any custom home plan to be constructed as a modular home. For buyers interested in a fine-crafted home that can be built and completed in a fraction of the time of a conventional home, modular homes have become the preferred type of construction by many.

Your Custom Built and Custom Designed New Home in Much Less Time Than You Thought

There are many different home styles and floor plans to consider when you are building a new modular home. You have the option of a standard floor plan or you can have your house customized however you would like, in the actual layout, or in the interior set up. Further customization can be done as well. In the kitchen an island or wine rack could be added, columns could be added to the living or dining area and transoms and side lights could be added to the front door. Perhaps you are interested in entertaining, a rock surround can be added to the fireplace and an opening for the television could be added to the wall above. There are so many special features to add to your new modular home, inside and out, we can’t even discuss them all here. But rest assured that your new home will be personal, and built just the way you dreamed it.

With Modular homes, the construction process is dramatically shortened. Your new home arrives to your property in the form of modules, which are then assembled on site. The on-site construction process itself is a wonder to watch as modules for your new home are removed from flat beds and erected with a crane. The process takes weeks instead of months, and sooner, rather than later, you are moving into your new home.
 
Prior to this process, you meet with Tidewater Custom Modular Homes and discuss floor plans and design. You have unlimited options, from colonials to cottages, and ranch homes to Cape Cod style, and each style home has their own individual flare. You get to decide everything you would with a traditionally built home such as cabinet styles and finishes, hard wood flooring and recessed lighting. In the end, you have a custom built, custom designed home of your dreams in much less time.

Five Reasons Modular Homes are Better Than Stick Built Homes

1. State-of-the-art home building– Modular home companies are able to produce custom modules for custom homes. They have the ability to take any design and build it in pieces in a factory, to be assembled into a custom home in the field. Look at a stick built job site in the rain and you will appreciate that modular homes are built in climate controlled plants monitored by quality control.

2. ENERGY STAR- This does not just mean appliances.  In order for a home to have the ENERGY STAR logo and certification, it has to pass a series of inspections to prove that it was built to certain tolerances, AND performs well. The certification ultimately tells you that the home consumes 15% less energy than a home built to today's building code. Tidewater Custom Modular Homes is energy star certified.

3. Shorter, more predictable time line-The modular process allows the home to go from foundation to 80% complete in one day. While a stick-built home might go through rain, snow, wind, and heat stages, a modular home is built in about 2 weeks in the factory, and you could be living in your new home in a couple of months.

4. Built stronger- Because modules are transported and placed by a crane onto the foundation, they are built as six-sided structures, 4 walls, 1 ceiling and 1 floor. The home is then made of all the stacked boxes, which is stronger and more stable than stick built house.

5. Reliable Quality Control-The only way homes are built to exacting standards is by having a QC system in place. Modular homes are built in factory settings with quality control checks. Each modular production plant is inspected by third party inspectors and  the modules are inspected in the field once they are set.

Modular Homes Are Sturdy Built Homes At A Fraction of The Time it Takes for Traditionally Built Homes

Building a home will probably be the biggest investment most homeowners will ever make. For that reason, most homeowners take their time with the process, making sure that every detail is considered and every option is explored. A home is an investment that is literally built to last a lifetime, and it’s not an undertaking to rush into.

However, there are situations when housing is needed immediately, without the time or opportunity to belabor the process. Whether housing is needed due to a natural disaster, such as a flood or hurricane, fire or severe water damage, or for other reasons, such as additions to the family or relocation, there are times when the need to build a home is urgent.

If you are considering building a home, but need one right away, then you probably think your options are limited to mobile homes. Think again. A modular home can be constructed in much less time than a traditionally built home – often in a matter of weeks – while providing all the benefits of traditionally built homes, including initial quality and appreciation over time.

For those who need to construct a home, but do not have the several months to a year that it can take to build a traditional home, there is no need to resort to mobile homes. A modular home can be built in a fraction of the time it takes to construct a traditionally built home, while still giving the homeowner the peace of mind that comes with knowing he or she has invested in a home that will not only last for many years to come, but that will also continue to accrue equity. What’s more, a modular home, just like a traditional home, can be modified and remodeled in the future, if the need arises. Contact us today to learn more about the modular process and how we can help build your dream home.

Tidewater Custom Homes Provides Professional Custom Models

Custom means you are NOT locked into any architectural design. It appears that it is going to be a long time before the general public discards the misconception that modular homes are restricted in design.  Nothing could be farther from the truth. Most everyone wants to be able to customize their home to suit their needs and lifestyle. Tidewater Custom Modular Homes supports that desire as the floor-plans and options for each home that we build remain open for you to customize to fit your needs even to the extent of designing and building to your custom plans. We will ask questions and do a lot of listening to ensure your hopes and expectations are exceeded and your house will feel like a home.

Our goal is your complete satisfaction with the whole building process. We and our manufacturer’s staff of designers and engineers stand ready to make your dream home come to life. We enjoy the professional satisfaction of building dream homes.  Dream homes by design are products of very specific personal preferences.  Rarely can a building plan be pulled off the shelf and converted into a dream home.  Dream homes only START with a basic plan and then is CUSTOMIZED to turn the plan into a dream.  This is what we do and why the word "Custom" is such an important pat of our business name and business model.

Whether you've been planning your dream home for a day or a decade, bring your thoughts to us and we'll be glad to demonstrate how we can surround that dream with the strength and quality of modular design. Contact us today to learn more about our modular construction process and how we can turn your dream home into a reality.

2011 WInter Stimulus Package Offer from Tidewater Custom Modular

To show our gratitude and appreciation for our clients we are offering a 2011 winter stimulus package just for you. We have 6 incredible incentives for you to choose from, each having their own unique and person touch from TC Modular. But not only are we offering incentives for our clients but we are throwing in an added bonus: You are welcome to come to one of our Saturday morning factory tours and receive a $1,000 rebate! This is a limited time offer and will only be valid until 3/31/2011. Be sure to order your home today and get the dream home and deal of a lifetime!

Tidewater Custom Answers: Are Custom Modular Homes Safe? How Are They Safe?

Tidewater Modular Construction is safe and sturdy, and are more resistant to natural forces  because of precision cuts that are fit and fastened in the factory. The construction technology for modular homes calls for glue-nailed sheathing and decking plus additional framing members which makes modular homes most likely to endure nature's onslaughts. The structure has to withstand being hoisted by crane and hauled on carriers over roads. The motion and forces that the structure is put under during these processes exceeds that of healthy earthquakes.

We ensure that our modular homes are built with high safety standards in accordance with federal laws requiring smoke detectors, escape windows and incombustible materials around furnaces and kitchen ranges. Our modular homes assure the buyer that all electrical, plumbing, mechanical and structures are built to a HUD national code, which exceeds any local standards.

Stick- built homes are sometimes constructed in areas where local building codes may be less, and the safety of the homeowner and family may be compromised. We make sure our modular homes are built in a safe environment and according to HUD standards. We go above and beyond to make sure you have the home of your dreams. Tidewater Custom Modular Homes researched modular construction for several years to ensure we offered the highest quality homes from a manufacturer with a history of quality construction, experience, potential for growth and, most importantly, a solid reputation. Contact us today to learn more about modular homes and how you can get your custom built dream home today.

Look No Further than TC Modular for Your Dream Home Construction

Today, the educated consumers that are seeking to have a new home built to their specifications are increasingly turning to modular construction to achieve a higher quality of construction without sacrificing architectural style, open floor planning and quality finishes. Invariably, when clients initially call us, one of their first questions is "how do I get started?"

If your interest is having your new dream home built with modern modular technology and you, too, want to know "how to get started", we offer here the most important element to insure a successful project: selecting the right manufacturer of the modular housing components.

The modular components of your new home will be manufactured in a factory and those components will be shipped to your home site and finished to turnkey by the builder. Be sure to check out our selection of custom floor plans here. In addition to having floors plan readily available to our customers you can specify which kind of additions you would like to have added on. In our design gallery we show some popular additions such as our kitchen and bathroom ideas. As you can see we are very committed to the modular home industry and to helping out our customers in any way possible, so if you have any other questions feel free to contact us.

Making Your Modular Home More Energy Efficient During the Winter Months

Winter is here and you will be using a lot more energy in your modular home, from having lights on longer to a furnace working overtime.  Here is an easy check list to follow when you are trying to reduce your monthly energy bills. You should seek professional assistance in each of these areas to assure the proper corrections have been made.

• Have an energy audit- can be conducted by your local electric co-op or a private party.
• Seal air leaks- check around windows, doors, and any other seams/joints in your home.
• Check mechanical systems- change furnace filters regularly and systems for proper working order.
• Heat efficiently- replace old systems with new efficient ones.
• Use a programmable thermostat- this helps heat only when you need it.
• Control hot water use- change to a low flow shower head and lower the temperature on your water heater.
• Replace light bulbs-  use CFL’s (Compact Fluorescent Lights) as they will save you a considerable amount on your bills over time.
• Use outlet switches-  this is where you have a way of shutting power of to small appliances, televisions, etc.
• Install timers/motion light-  these work well for frequently used lights and others that are in hard to reach areas.
• Buy ENERGY STAR products- these products are there to save you money.