Modular Homes VA Blog
Modular Homes are More Energy Efficient Homes
Energy-efficient modular homes can save consumers $4.6 billion in energy costs over the next 20 years according to a new study released today. The study highlights the economic benefits of energy savings for the 17 million people living in modular homes across the country.
In modular homes, energy efficiency not only cuts energy waste, but it can also dramatically improve the modular homeowners’ economic stability. Energy efficiency can alleviate onerous utility bills, particularly among those living in extreme climates.
"We found that energy costs are salient for residents of modular homes especially retirees living on fixed incomes. For these residents, energy savings yield immediately tangible benefits by freeing up cash for other uses," said ACEEE Buildings Program Director Jennifer Amann.
In the manufactured housing industry, it was found that "By using building techniques like higher insulation values, energy-efficient windows, and improved duct sealing, we can build modular homes with energy performance exceeding that of site-built homes. We found that high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment, lighting, and appliances can save substantial amounts of energy as well."
For information on greener modular homes, contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes.
Excerpts from ProudGreenHome
Modular Homes of All Shapes and Sizes
These days, there are many modular construction options available that are green, beautiful, well-made, and often lower-cost. Modular homes can be homes or cabins/cottages, modular additions, a backyard studios, offices, or in-law house.
Modular homes come in a wide range of sizes, from one bedroom spaces and small units to larger sized homes. They are also available in a wide variety of styles from traditional designs to modern to completely custom designed. Most of the modular floor plans can be modified or customized.
Prefab (factory-built) homes have many benefits. They can be built more efficiently (e.g., less material waste), more quickly, with more precision and durability (i.e., higher quality), and they typically have more predictable costs (and often cost less) than site-built homes.
The levels of greenness vary among the following options, but all of them tout some green features.
For information on building a greener home, contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes.
Mother Earth News
Green Construction with Modular Construction
Modular homes are gaining in popularity because of their various benefits. Cost efficient, time efficient, energy efficient and arguably more durable than traditional construction.
Modular houses are those houses that are built off site. Modules are constructed and assembled in factories and are transported to the site to be assembled on the foundation. Kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms are fully assembled, complete with arrangements for electrical wiring and plumbing then transported.
Modular homes are an environment-friendly way of life. Modular homes are constructed with as much as 90% lesser waste than traditional onsite construction. This is because of the efficiency of factory construction. There is no compromise in the quality of construction or in the design of homes. Those who build a modular home can choose from 100’s of interior designs or they can custom design a floor plan.
Another feature that makes modular homes environment friendly is its recyclable and reusable nature. Modules that together form a house can be dismantled to be transported elsewhere, which is something a traditionally constructed home can never offer. You can literally relocate your house if you move.
Modular homes are highly energy efficient and cost-effective. Modular homes are also much stronger than stick built homes. The parts that together constitute a house are constructed such that they survive the rigors of shipping and transportation.
Contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes for more information.
Greener Ideal
Modular Homes to Meet Your Needs and Your Budget
With today’s housing market, low housing lot prices and low interest rates, many people are contemplating building a new home. While contractors who build traditional stick built homes have seen a downturn in business over the years, modular construction at Tidewater Custom Modular Homes has remained steady. Why? Because we build high-quality, attractive homes, in less time, that meet your needs and your budget.
At TCM we have had many conversations with homebuyers who are building a home for the first time. We have learned a few things. While the temptation is to build larger, you can build a modular home that meets your needs, your design style and your budget.
Here are a few things to think about when considering the design and floor plan of your new modular home:
Sit down with your spouse and talk about what you really need in a house. There may be some neat things you want, but what do you need; perhaps three or four bedrooms, a nice sized kitchen, a single modestly-sized family room.
Calculate your home expenses. With a larger home, insurance is much higher. Property taxes and utility bills increase as does your cost of living.
After you decide on a true budget that includes monthly mortgage and the additional expenses, Tidewater Custom Modular Homes can help you design a beautiful floor plan with the design amenities that you want, need and can afford. Contact us.
Create your Home with Modular Construction
Finally, it seems like people are beginning to realize that modular homes may be a better way to build their dream home. More and more people are asking us if the homes they want to build might be more efficient if they do it through modular construction instead of traditional.
Many people have the misconception that modular construction is very limiting; it is always surprising to hear how many people think you can only do one story. Really there are limitations with all construction, but with modular you can build multi-story homes just as you can with site built.
See our list of various modular floor plans, which can be used exactly as is or modified, as examples of what can be accomplished using modular construction. Build a 2 story family room with a rock fireplace, add a deck, have a vaulted ceiling, or heated garage.
If you want construction design ideas or more information on modular homes, contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes.
Excerpts from About Modular Housing
Modular Homes - Efficient and Custom Designed
Modular homes have many advantages and benefits over traditionally built homes. Modular homes have also become much more environmentally friendly.
Some people think that you don’t have any flexibility when it comes to modular homes, but the opposite is true. Tidewater Custom Modular Homes is flexible and able to tailor your modular home floor plan to meet family’s needs. We also provide special design features to personalize and customize your dream home such as wood flooring, recessed lighting, fireplaces, wine racks and kitchen islands.
Quality engineering and modular construction significantly increase the energy efficiency of your house and the quality control process provides assurance that your home has been inspected for code compliance and workmanship prior to ever leaving the plant.
Modular homes are very energy efficient. The homes at Tidewater Custom Modular Homes are energy star rated as a result of the products and materials they use in addition to their energy efficiency after construction. Double glazing, good insulation and energy star appliances help them achieve their energy ratings.
For more information on flexible and energy efficient modular homes contact us.
Modular Construction Makes it Easier for Families to Build Homes
Building your own home is a challenging task. The amount of time it takes, the design challenges, trusting the builder, and the cost of paying for two residences have all kept traditional construction out of reach for many.
Manufactured homes, or modular homes, have changed that. Modular homes have a unique way of being built. The modules, or sections, or the home are manufactured in a factory. After the modules are built, they are taken to the actual site to be assembled.
The cost-effectiveness, strength and energy efficiency of modular homes have led to their increase in popularity over the years.
Manufactured homes can be custom designed as well. Customers can use the existing floor plans, create their own floor plan with a designer, or they can use one of the hundreds of existing floor plans and recreate it to meet their family’s needs.
One of the great benefits of modular homes is the ease of adding an addition in time. With modular additions, increasing space requirements, for in-laws for example, is easy. In fact, a new floor can be added without changing the existing structure.
For information on building your own dream home in Virginia through modular construction, contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes.
Cost of Modular Homes Compared to Traditionally Built Homes
Modern modular homes are indistinguishable from traditional stick-built homes. They also cost less to construct than traditionally built homes. Modular home prices are generally lower than stick-built houses, too.
Construction Costs
The cost of building a modular home runs about 10% to 20% less than stick-built. Modular homes take far less time to build than stick-built homes. With modular homes, all parts are pre-cut, pre-cast and ready for assembly. The sections are delivered to the site and the crew puts the house together, and the entire process from beginning to move-in readiness might take little more than a month.
Stick-built homes require a lot more for the builders to do. The longer building process means stick-built construction is more prone to bad weather delays. Additionally, modular homes must meet the same building codes as their stick-built cousins.
Cost Comparison
Costs for stick-built versus modular homes depend on the region. In 2007, generally the cost of a finished modular house in the Northeast is $90 to $125 per square foot, compared to $150 to $200 a square foot for stick-built construction. Prices in the South, Midwest and Southwest are lower than the Northeast, with a comparable difference in square footage costs.
For information on building a modular home in Virginia, contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes.
The Nest
Modular Homes are More Energy Efficient from Start to Finish
Modular Homes are one of the fastest growing types of housing today. Manufactured in a factory setting and then constructed on site, modular Homes have the great advantages of being both affordable, attractive, and up-to-date. But best of all, they are also more energy efficient. But, they are more energy efficient from start to finish.
As technology improves the energy efficiency of modular homes is enhanced which in turn lowers energy expenses. Even the building process is more energy efficient for modular construction than for stick built construction. The manufacturing process of Modular Homes saves energy because they are produced in volume and with greater quality control. This translates into using less energy overall. By building indoors in a factory, rather than building outdoors, where weather and other factors can cause delays and lower productivity.
In modular homes all of the appliances used are energy star certified. The windows are insulated as are all of the wall, ceiling and floor panels. Because they are built modular style, they are insulated better and the insulation does not stop at the wall stud. This reduces home energy costs.
If you want to "go green" with your home from start to finish, contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes.
Modular Construction Cuts New Home Construction Costs
With the cost of goods increasing, many would-be home-owners are having a rethink how they are going to build their new home. They want a less expensive means of building houses but with equal quality. They are choosing Modular construction, it is less expensive and houses can be completed in 30 days.
For most considering new construction, what comes to their minds first is the cost. People can still build their dream homes without investing the amount of time or money to build a traditionally built home. Modular homes can be constructed without following the conventional way of building a house.
Modular construction is an innovative home building process with rapid and accurate design fabrication and installation. It is built in sections in a factory setting, where it is subjected to weather conditions.
The sections move through the factory, with the company’s quality control department checking on every step. Finished modules are transported to home sites where they are placed on a foundation, joined, and completed by a builder.
Modular houses are affordable, durable, energy efficient and meet or exceed the standards or the city and state. Depending on the preferred design, size and manufacturer, it can be finished in one or two weeks in the factory.
Since modular panels are built indoors, are no weather delays. It usually takes another two-four weeks for a builder to complete the home once it’s delivered to the building site.
Unless people are there to see the house delivered and assembled, they may not guess it’s a modular home. Modular home manufacturers can draw floor plans to the owner’s specifications, or to modify one of their standard plans to suit the owner’s needs, so nearly any home plan can be turned into a modular home.
Consumers in search of a custom-built home are giving modular home designs thought. Sometimes they turn to modular houses because they cannot get a conventional builder to respond in time.
More frequently, superior quality, faster completion time, and better prices are the inducements, along with greater energy efficiency, extended warranties, and flexible design options. Customers who want high-quality finishes as well as high-quality construction increasingly understand that they can get both with a modular home.
Modular housing is most cost-effective in design and delivery and has the potential to grow the economy.
An advantage of modular homes is that it’s construction reduces material waste and is built with speed and efficiency because it is factory produced. They are easy to build, have low capital cost, low risk, and speedy construction and utilization of local labor.
For information on modular home designs and construction in Virginia, contact Tidewater Custom Modular Homes.
The Nation