Modular Homes VA Blog

Modular Homes, Prefab Homes, Manufactured Homes - What's the Difference?

In the building industry, "prefab" is short for "pre-fabricated" homes and this means homes that are built offsite, either whole or in parts. The buildings are then assembled at the final building site. — Prefabs break down into four categories:

Modular homes: These homes are built in modules in an indoor factory, then delivered and assembled onsite. They must conform to local and state building codes for that particular site. These homes can be custom designed or one can order already designed modular floor plans. Modular homes are very similar to site built homes and can be as humble or as grand as the homeowner would like. Modular homes offer multiple design and options.

Panelized homes: These are modular homes made of premade wall panels and pieces that are assembled onsite. Because there are more pieces, more time and effort are required for assembly.

Pre-cut homes: With a "house in a box" concept, these kits can be assembled by do-it-yourselfers or local construction crews. Log-home kits are a popular example.

Manufactured homes: This is the group commonly called "mobile homes." Constructed almost entirely in a factory, the finished unit is placed on a steel chassis and towed to the building site. By law, the chassis stays in place after delivery. These homes are built under special federal guidelines. Some communities do not permit manufactured homes.

For more information on modular homes, contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes.

The Republic

Some Modular Home Facts

Modular homes are constructed in an environmentally protected factory. There are no reasons for weather delays or for production to stop because of bad weather. The weather proof manufacturing process also ensures that your homes skeleton will remain free from any weather induced damage.

Once your new home arrives to the site the final assembly can be performed at record speeds. Most of the work has already been completed; the home just needs to be secured. Being able to work fast, as opposed to building the home from the ground up, ensures that the home will become weather tight in a very quick time frame.

Winter time is the off season and this could result in even faster construction times. It is already a common fact that you will be able to purchase a larger home with more home amenities when you buy a modular home. On average a modular home can cost almost 30% less than a stick built homes.

Modular homes are not mobile homes. They do not have wheels, they cannot be moved once secured to the site and they do not fall apart when the first wind comes through. What modular homes do offer is a way to build, even during inclement weather when all other construction has stopped. With interest rates so incredibly low, and the slow season approaching for builders, no one should pass up the opportunity to build their dream home.

For more information on building a modular home, contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes.

SB Wire

Modular Homes Have Quicker Construction Times and Cost Less

Modular homes make up a growing segment of the housing market. They are homes that are manufactured in sections in a factory and hauled by truck to the construction site, where they are assembled. Compared to traditional stick-built homes, or those built on-site, modular builders say their product costs less, takes less time to construct and has a reputation for sturdiness.

Those who had new homes built with modular construction say they liked the faster turnaround time and quality.

Modular homes are custom homes, meaning that the homes are designed according to the owner’s style choices. They can be up to three stories high.

A typical three-story house is delivered on special carriers in six sections, and each section is hoisted into place with a crane.

Modular homes have a faster turnaround time than site building, typically three to four months compared to about seven for on-site construction. When delivered, they are about 85% complete. The crews set the units using a crane, attach the sections, connect utilities, lay carpet and flooring, and add exterior siding and roofing, which are delivered with the home, to the areas where the units are joined.

Modular homes appreciate in value and are treated the same as traditional houses by banks and insurance companies.

“We look at a modular house as exactly the same as a site-built house for lending purposes,” said Michael White, senior vice president of residential mortgages. “We think of them as stick-built off-site.”

Steve Rizzo, an independent insurance adjuster, said in his experience, modular homes are issued a typical homeowner’s policy for replacement value.

That’s because they’re well-built.

“For most building codes, the houses would be considered overbuilt,” Templin said. “Could you ever imagine a site-built house being able to withstand being lifted by a crane?”

For information on modular construction in Virginia, contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes.

Reading Eagle Business Weekly

TC Custom Modular Homes Does Much More Than Build Your Home

Did you know that TC Modular Homes offers so much more than the most beautiful, functional, and strongest homes on the market?  We work closely with our customers to consult them on lot availability, home orientation options for the lot, county permitting, and much more.  You will not go it alone when you team with John, Tammy, and the professional staff at TC Modular.

Customer service to us means that not only did the final product exceed your every expectation, but that the entire process was completed stress free.   We invite you to browse the multitude of modular home floor plans that we offer and can customize to your specific tastes.

Learn the latest trends in interior home design trends and feel free to call us and discuss them.

We are Tidewater Virginia's leader in modular construction.  We invite you to call (or request information) and shortly thereafter, you'll quickly learn why.

Modular Homes are the Better Greener Option

Leaders within the modular, or pre-fabricated homes industry have recently shown construction professionals, businesses and homeowners just how effective this type of property can be. A recent article from Jetson Green discusses some of the latest innovations in modular housing. Across the nation homeowners have discovered these new solutions in design and construction and are impressed by the latest developments in modular construction.

The article set out to showcase the creative design possibilities that could be accomplished through pre-fabricated modular homes. It states that modular homes are proving to be sustainable, functional and relatively cost-effective.

While the costs of modular homes are a great benefit to many consumers, it is also important to consider how modular construction can benefit the environment.

According to the article, such features as improved insulation, energy efficient appliances and quality materials have made these types of homes a formidable option in face of today's environmental concerns. The construction waste created by modular home installation is also considerably less than that associated with traditional home construction. Paving the way for the future, modular homes continue to provide innovations.

For information on modular construction, contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes.

Sacramento Bee

Modular Homes - The Advantages

As modular home construction gets more and more popular, those considering building a new home are trying to become educated in the process. Tidewater Custom Modular Homes would like to introduce you to some of the Advantages of modular home construction:

Affordability

Modular homes are an affordable option for Americans to purchase their own homes. Modular homes cost 10 to 35 percent less per square foot to build than site-built homes.

Control over the Building Process

Traditional construction projects always have cost overruns and delayed construction. These problems do not exist in the Modular home industry because the homes are built in factories under strict rules and tight federal regulations. The factories build the homes on assembly lines, which leaves little room for error. Moreover, Modular homes are built in a controlled environment that is not impacted by bad weather, vandalism, and the potential unreliability of contractors and subcontractors.

This allows homeowners to reap the benefits of money saved during construction. In addition, factories can purchase massive amounts of materials, products and appliances at a cheaper rate than a typical on-site home builder, and pass the cost savings on to the homeowner.

Speed of Construction

Modular homes factories can build a typical Modular home in about one-third of the time it takes to build a site-built home. When the house gets to your property, it is nearly 90 percent complete, which allows you to move into your new home much faster.

Design Flexibility

Many modular homes have more than one story. They have porches, garages and decks, and vaulted ceilings. Builders can also customize houses to customer's specific needs -- want stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors and granite countertops? No problem.

Energy Efficiency

The new generations of Modular homes are energy efficient. Factories now outfit Modular homes with ENERGY STAR appliances. Builders take great care in making sure each home is tightly constructed with efficient heating and cooling systems, water heaters, and high-performance windows.

Amenities

Wall-to-wall carpet, hardwood floors, ENERGY STAR appliances, top-of-the line fixtures, 10-foot ceilings, ceramic tile. Actually, all the amenities you can find in a site-built home can also be added to Modular homes.

Green

Builders of Modular homes generally don't waste a lot of building materials, and whatever scraps they do end up with are often recycled. Modular construction allows builders to use less material without compromising a building's structure.

Appreciate in value

A Modular home is just like any other home. When it's properly built and maintained, Modular homes appreciate just like site-built homes. But, as with all housing, the value of a Modular home depends on a variety of market factors like the community, local housing market, inflation, and the condition of the home.

For more information on building a modular home, contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes.

How Stuff Works

Modular Homes are Gaining in Popularity in VA

If you are considering building a new home, consider building a modular home. Save time building, save money building and save on energy bills after you move in.

The construction of modular homes can provide homebuyers with considerable cost and time savings, and a superior home. Today, with heating and cooling prices on the rise, modular homes are more popular than ever; and they can be 65% more efficient than an average new construction home.

With modular construction there are fewer on-site construction days, which can get families into their new homes faster.  Families do not need to be displaced from school, church and neighbors for long periods.

Did you know that when the modular home arrives on-site, it is 80% complete.  From the end of the design phase until you move in takes only 2-3 months! Once construction of the modular begins in the factory, a modular home can be completed and ready to move into in a month or two.  

Construction cost savings is another reason modular homes are becoming increasingly more popular. On average, modular homes are 15% more affordable than a traditional new construction, depending on the added amenities an design details. When comparing costs, buyers need to be sure they are comparing apples to apples. But, there is always a time savings and time is money when building a new home.  

The construction of a modular home is quicker and it’s better built. The outside walls are thicker, there is better insulation, and it’s more efficient to heat and cool.

Homeowners can choose between Colonials, Ranches, Capes and vacation homes. And modular houses are more customizable than ever before which is another reason more and more people are choosing modular homes.

For more information on modular construction, contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes.

Newport Patch

Build an Energy Efficient Home

“If you’re going to build a house, why not build it as intelligently as possible.”

Prefabricated homes are inherently energy-efficient, and are manufactured off-site in advance, usually in standard sections that can be easily assembled, and comprise a combination of panelized and modular building systems.

Incorporating a vast variety of both green and energy-efficient methods of construction, modular construction is a comprehensive way to creating healthier living conditions and saving money while allowing homeowners to “preserve our natural resources for future generations.”

A perfect solution to the challenge of energy bills and energy consumption is to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel.

Today, modular home technologies have evolved and there are many options available for the construction of energy-independent homes and other buildings. With the heavy cost we pay for energy, environmentally, politically and financially, the hope is to embrace the new and reduced cost of natural energy.

Modular homes can be built today with reduced energy use, healthy products and more sustainable materials.

Modular home builders have varying incomes and style preferences, so it is important to see all the options. Even those with no knowledge of prefabricated home can understand the concept and its benefits.

Considering that nearly 40% of energy in the United States is used to heat and cool homes, getting “almost off the grid,” or requiring minimal energy from utility companies, is crucial.

The goal is to construct homes that not only create their own energy but give some back during off-peak times, when energy is least being used.

The small added cost of installing energy-saving systems is quickly recouped in the first few years of operating the modular home. Moreover, when homeowners eventually decide to sell their energy-efficient home, the low utility records will allow them to put a higher price on it, thus profiting further.

Most modular homes contain a wide assortment of green and energy-efficient aspects.

The benefits of building modular homes are nearly endless. Who doesn’t want to do something more environmentally good? There’s no downside to building healthier and more efficiently.

For more information on energy efficient modular construction, contact Tidewater Homes.

Greenwich Post

Pros of Modular Homes

The modular home industry has grown as more and more home buyers understand the benefits of modular home construction. As smart home buyers do research they understand the advantages of modular construction.

Pro: Controlled Manufacturing Environment

When a home is built on site, it’s exposed to the elements during all of the construction, and the building materials used to create it are also stored outside. This can expose an on-site built home to moisture, and may cause construction delays during patches of inclement weather. Built and stored indoors modular homes don’t face these issues.

Pro: Building Cost

Although costs vary by builder and the distance homes must be transported before installing them on land, because of the controlled building conditions, factory built homes is usually less expensive than a similarly sized on-site built home. Buyers can expect to save about 20% on costs.

Pro: Construction Advantages

Modular homes must be constructed solidly enough to withstand transportation, and manufacturers typically build them to be more sturdy than a similar, site-built home. Modular homes are often built using jigs and other tools unavailable to workers in the field, increasing their quality, and feature additional structural improvements, such as using lag bolts instead of nails and reinforcement straps, many on-site builders skip.

For more information on modular construction, contact Tidewater Modular Homes.

San Francisco Chronicle

Modular Homes are the Future of New Home Construction

You may think you have only two choices when buying a home. You can buy a home someone else has lived in or a new home built by a developer.

But you have another choice, prefabricated homes or modular homes.

Modular homes are built in the forms of modules. Modular homes can save you about 50% on energy consumption, and will provide a less toxic indoor air environment and is built to last for centuries rather than decades.

First you need land. Then you need a construction loan. Tidewater Custom Modular Homes is a custom home builder, so new homeowners go through the same process when building a modular home as anyone building a new home for themselves.

One of our main market advantages lies in the build time. From a time perspective, a modular home takes a few weeks to build and a couple months to finish once the modules are delivered to the building site.

Nothing else in America is built outside in the elements, your home should not be either. Modular construction is the wave of the future. Contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes for more information on modular homes.