Modular Homes VA Blog
Tidewater Custom Modular Homes Explains How Modular Homes Are Built
How are modular homes constructed? Most people know how standard stick-built homes are built; slowly and costly. And people know about modular homes, but how are they built? What are the tools needed? Well modular components are typically constructed within a large indoor facility on assembly lines much like Henry Ford originally began with his automobile company. Facilities such as these use an assembly line track to move the module components from one workstation to the next. This is a quick and cost effective way to get many module components together. However it’s not just modules by themselves, there are independent building inspectors on site to supervise the construction and ensure that all building codes are taken care of during assembly. The modules that will combine to form the house are assembled on site with your supervision.
The construction of these modules can take one to three months to be completed but only take as little as 10 days actually to construct when they are first started. Afterward, the modules are transported to the building site where a crane is brought in to assemble the modules together. The placement of the modules generally takes several hours or days to do so. A great thing about modular homes, once assembled, are that they are essentially indistinguishable from typical stick-built homes. While mobile manufactured buildings often decrease in value over time, our modular built homes have the same longevity as its stick-built counterpart, increasing in value over time.
Want to see more about how our Virginia Modular Homes? Check out this video from our manufacturer, HandCrafted Homes:
Green Seal Certified -- Good For The Environment and the Wallet
Some of you are wondering what the "Green Seal Certified" logo on our home page means. Great question.
The Green Seal™ is awarded to products that have less impact on the environment and work well. To earn the Green Seal™ a product must meet the Green Seal™ environmental standard for the category as demonstrated by rigorous evaluation and testing. Green Seal™ standards are set so that they identify the most environmentally preferable products currently available; thus, they are leadership standards. All of our products are "Green Seal Certified".
We consider environmental care as a top priority. The modular home construction process produces a fraction of the waste as compared to the stick-built construction process. As you might image, less waste equals less cost...another major advantage of modular home construction.
But beyond the cost of construction benefit to you, "Green Seal Certified" means our homes are better insulated which directly translates to money back in your pocket each and every month by way of lower utility costs.
Consider the Word "Custom" In our Business Name
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.
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.
Financing and Insuring Modular Homes--No Different Than Stick Built
Input from banks and insurance agencies is universally consistent…..There is no difference between stick-built and custom modular homes in terms of both availability, approval ratings, and cost.
Financiers and insurers are well aware that modular home construction strength and building standards exceed that of traditional “stick built” homes. In fact, some insurers predict that the cost of insuring modular construction will become more affordable in time as actuaries continue to compile statistical evidence of the modular home’s structural superiority. This is yet another reason the new home construction pendulum continues to swing in favor of modular home construction.
We Know the Steps to Take Steps Out of Your Life
It's high school and college graduation season. Once the tears related to "empty nest" have dried, tears turn to cheers at the thought of getting rid of those darn steps and the possibility of a complete first-floor lifestyle. As expected, calls regarding our Ranch-style floor plans are starting to "shoot through the roof".
Ranch Style homes offer extreme home living comfort and are cost effective models to build. Huge decks, ground-level laundries, and complete handicap customization are all features perfectly adapted to Ranch-style construction. Take a look at our wide selection of Ranch plans and remember each of them are customizable to your specific needs and desires.
The single best "step" you can take is to call and discuss how we can build your dream Ranch-style retirement home...... and take steps out of your life forever.
Modular Home Industry Is Growing At 10 percent Annually
A previous blog post addressed the potential cost savings associated with modular home construction and the rapid pace at which Americans are now choosing modular homes. That blog generated a new "frequently asked question": "Exactly how much are Americans turning to modular homes vs traditional stick-built homes"?
The modular home construction market has grown at a 10% rate over the last five years. Industry growth forecast models has that number rising to 12% annually for the foreseeable future. Because high demand is being driven by the self-evident superiority of the modular home product, industry architects are working frantically to deliver upon an explosion of new style requests, most notably for commercial applications for modular home construction.
We update our "Selection of Homes" page to ensure you are exposed to the latest in modular home design offerings.
A Practical Explaination Why Modular Homes Are Stronger
Knowing that the modular home frames are built in a factory to exacting design specifications, then one's thought might logically turn to how those frames are transported to the building site. They of course are trucked and then erected on site via industrial cranes.
This stage of construction is the perfect time for you to conduct an "apples-to-apples" comparison of stick-built vs modular construction. Walk on to any stick-built construction site and watch the stick-builders use air guns to to nail the walls, floors, and ceilings. Now, walk on to a modular construction site and note that your new modular home's walls, floors, and ceilings are screwed and lag-bolted together. Maybe you'll notice the special adhesives that are also used to add yet another level of construction integrity and strength.
During the framing stage of home construction, even the casual observer will note the clear superior difference between the two building styles. Contact Us and we will be more than glad to give you a personal demonstration of the differences.
Modular Construction Offers Multiple Potential Cost Savings
There are multiple reasons that building and maintaining a modular home if most often less expensive than building and maintaining traditional stick-built homes:
1) Less Material Waste: There is MUCH less material waste in modular construction. The large volume of stick-built construction waste is money down the drain.
2) Energy Efficiency: The precision construction standards of modular home construction translates directly to extreme energy efficiency.
3) Much faster home move-in: You'll be in your new modular home months faster than a stick-built homes. You therefore save months of household goods storage costs, alternative living expenses (rental home, apartments, etc), construction finance costs, etc.
Better quality home, faster, and for less money......the main reasons that Americans are increasingly turning to modular home construction. Read more reasons on our "Why Modular" page.
Definitions: Modular Home Vs Stick-Built Home
Throughout our blog, we will repeatedly refer to two different industry terms: 1) Modular Home Construction and 2) Stick-Built Home Construction. We feel it is very important that you understand the fundamental definitions before we go one step further.
Site Stick Built Home Construction: Very simply, this is the traditional method of home construction. It is a structure that is constructed on the building site, piece by piece. The term "stick-built" is often confused with being built on piers (beach house) style construction. Again, it is any home construction that is COMPLETELY built on site.
Modular (or "Systems Built") Home Construction: This is the latest and most advanced form of construction as the home is constructed in a factory (to exacting construction standards) then transported to the construction site. Modular homes are stick built they are just built in a factory setting, contain 30 percent more material, are third party inspected before even leaving the factory and are never exposed to the elements while being built.
There are different types of Modulars, make sure you know the difference if you want to use any type of financing. Tidewater Custom Modular Homes only builds off-frame modular, that means we never permanently attach our houses on steel frames or chassis. There are some builders out there that call their home a Modular but if you look under the house, there is a steel frame which will cut funding from several lenders. Your home in most of these cases is truly considered Manufactured and will not be compared with other site built stick construction when you have to obtain an appraisal. Most homes built on a steel frame are built to Hud code where a true Modular off frame is built to Residential code, thus the capability to compare side by side with site built homes.
You can learn more about the Modular Home construction process on our website at the "Why Modular" page.
Welcome to Tidewater Custom Modular Homes New Blog
Welcome to our new website and our new blog forum. We started this blog with the intent to source regular reoccurring information and advice to our existing customers, to those actively seeking new modular home construction, and to those who simply wish to get educated about the modular home industry.
We will cover a wide-range of topics designed to make you both a more educated consumer and to serve your best interest as a business or residential home buyer and/or owner. We'll not only get you educated on the modular home industry, but we'll keep you updated on finance, insurance, home maintenance tips, home safety, tax law, and of course any and all topics that you nominate as new blog topics.
To all of our existing clients reading this, we want to thank you for the continued opportunity to serve you. All of us at Tidewater Custom Modular Homes appreciate how you've enabled us to earn continued industry recognition for excellence. Together we have realized an ability to offer the best value for new construction across greater Hampton Road's and beyond.
This bog is our way of giving back. Please enjoy it and feel free to comment and/or call us with comments on any given topic. Thanks and Best Regards.....
P.S. If you're looking for pages from our old site and can't find them, please check out our sitemap page.