Modular Homes
Modular homes are made of units called modules, shipped to a building site and assembled. They are of different types, structures, designs and budgets.
The modular home method combines the benefits of engineering and shop floor manufacturing to produce high quality homes. Compared to traditional, stick-built homes, the method yields considerable savings in time, cost, waste generation, etc.
As modular home sale dealer Andrew Gianino points out, modular homes have the advantages of a trained and experienced work force, large and sophisticated production machinery, precision jig assembly, high-quality kiln-dried lumber, and construction done indoors in climate-protected facilities. There is adherence to local building codes, superior energy efficiency, and strict quality control systems.
As modular homes first became popular in the 1060s, they were considered low-quality, affordable substitutes for stick-built homes. But today they are available in very high-quality and varying, luxurious and creative designs.
All manufacturers have some standard and traditional designs. But they also supplement these designs with many architect-designed variations. Many architects have now begun to design modular homes. Manufacturers have learned to use wood and steel beams in their floor plans, and they have borrowed from both classical and contemporary designs to give their homes beautiful exteriors. Modular homes today are embellished by Cathedral ceilings, reversed gables and other exciting designs.
Many manufacturers allow the customer to custom-design their own modular homes. Computer aided design (CAD) has made it possible to prepare custom floor plans accurately. Manufacturers routinely customize the modular homes according to a customer’s choice. Luxury features like skylights, central vacuum cleaning, whirlpool tubs, and bay and bow windows are added on by designers.
Modular home sale today can be built to any specification or size. From a one-and-a-half split level ranch to a grand 4000 sq. ft. luxury condo, the modular industry has a wide range of options. Amenities like granite-topped kitchen counter tops and hardwood floors are also available. In sum, modular-built houses can be every bit as luxurious as stick-built houses.
Most people think that log cabins and houses are always weekend getaways situated in woody, forest areas. But the fact is that ninety percent of log homes (homes made fully of wood) are primary residences of owners - with over eighty percent situated in and around metropolitan regions.
Wood is an excellent natural resource for building homes. It is self-renewing, and harvesting wood causes less damage to the environment than extracting minerals and metals. It is easy to work with compared to brick, stone, concrete, glass, steel or aluminum.
The average log homebuilder takes five times longer than a traditional homebuilder to research and build his home. Log homebuilders must decide about budget, finance, where to build and how to build - and especially about log species, size, profile and so on.
Log homes are of two types - hand crafted or manufactured. Handcrafted log homes are done by expert craftsmen who strip, shape and custom fit each log in its place. This is usually very expensive and time consuming.
Modular or manufactured log homes are prefabricated homes made of smooth, uniform milled logs that come numbered and packaged. These are easy-to-assemble modular log homes. A milled log is one which has been put through a saw mill. In milled logs, the wood has traditionally been pine, spruce, fir, or cedar, with pine being the cheapest and cedar being the costliest.
Modular log homes keep insects and bad weather away. A well designed log home will not let humidity accumulate, attract insects, or decay. Log’s ability to absorb heat keeps the weather outside from coming inside.
The choice for species of log is based on personal preference. White pine is abundant, easy to work with, has excellent insulation properties and is light on the wallet. Western red cedar is highly valued because of its longevity and resistance to insects and decay.
The cost of a modular log home is much lower than a handcrafted log home. It also compares favorably with a traditional, “stick-built” home. Modular log homes can be altered, and additions are easy to make. In all, log homes beat concrete stick-built homes in beauty and character.
