Manufactured and Modular Homes have come long way, baby!
History Lesson
A Mobile Home park in the early 50's was probably a lot of fun compared to previous sub-standard housing offered to farm and factory workers. These mass produced affordable homes were a fact of life where I grew up. They meant a lot more room for your buck. People lived in closer proximity to each other ...In many ways they created a sense of community that felt more like a village where people looked out for each other, actually knowing and caring for their children and elderly.
Modular is Better
So-called Modular Homes were the first major upgrade on this model. Built in sections similar to a manufactured or mobile home, they are constructed on wooden floor joists just like a stick built home (not a steel chassis) and once installed on their foundations, they are classified as stick built. This is a real advantage for the homeowner as they do not tend to lose value over time in the same way a Manufactured or Mobile Home does. Assuming a Modular Home is correctly built and installed it should last as long if not longer than a traditional stick built home.
The Modular factory built and Kit or Panelized Homes offer both speed of installation and resource efficiency. Often built to Energy Star standards and many such homes feature "green label" design standards. For more on these trends visit the US Greenbuilding site: www.usgbc.org and search their database for Modular Homes.
Cost and Efficiency
These days, the costs of true custom construction elude most of us. Architects and builders are looking more closely at modular methods that can offer the options of mass production, clean factory (under roof) environments paired with higher quality design and materials. For one thing, being built under cover means you don't get your materials wet...a very good thing!
Factory built structures consume far less energy than standard buildings. In many ways, they deliver a cleaner product with less toxic materials due to modern prefinishing of floors and cabinets prior to installation. Common flooring and cabinetry emit VOC's (volatile organic compounds) including formaldehyde-laced particle board and dioxin off-gassing vinyl flooring which create health risks for residents, especially young children and the elderly.
Homes consume a vast portion of our energy...with heating and cooling using 20% of our national energy resources. Insulation is a big factor in saving energy. High performance green homes are 30 to 50% more energy efficient than "standard" homes built to code. They use less water and because are constructed without toxic building materials they are more pleasant and healthy to live in.
Enter the Glide House
A 'Glidehouse', designed by architect Michelle Kaufmann, has been selling throughout the USA and Canada in a range of floor plans and sizes from 672 to 2,016 square feet. The home has glass curtain walls, bamboo flooring, features nontoxic paints and uses carpet tiles and counter tops made from recycled materials. It features natural ventilation and maximized daylight, water conserving plumbing fixtures and offers consumers a choice of high efficiency energy appliances and heating/energy generating systems. The cost? From $120 to $160 per square foot!
Traditional home building can easily cost much more depending on your area and resources. We seldom see homes built for under $160 per square foot in our area. I know one very effiicient green builder reporting $135 per square foot-- but this is rare.
I have noticed that Modular or Glide Home companies don't address in their sales pitches is foundation methods. Foundations are the very bedrock of any home and methods will vary with your soil grade (slope) and climate. True green homes should take into account Low Impact methods of foundation design....and there are many! After all, why cause more harm to the land than is necessary...we are only visitors here!
Hint: Enterprising builders who become familiar with Low Impact and Modular installation will enjoy a great end result and very happy clients. Endorse and support this worthwhile sustainable trend!
Go forth and prosper! Loannetter
© 2008 susan templeton
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