Thinking about having a home designed this winter and built next summer? Did you know you have some options to deliver it and get it done? There are three major ways to do it. Custom-built, Pre-fab and modular. Depending on your level of need for design and development of your design, your budget and schedule for building all are valid ways to deliver your new home or addition. We have learned over the years there is no right way to build. It is an important conversation to have fairly early in your process though.
Prefabricated homes
Pre-fabricated homes fall under two categories, modular and panel built. Both methods utilize factory-built processes of construction under controlled conditions with end products shipped to the site. They differ a bit in how turn-key the total system is and how much site assembly time and buttoning up is required. Both offer a high degree of control over the quality of construction, durability, and attention to energy efficiency details such as air-sealing and insulating the building enclosure.
Modular homes
Modular homes are built in individual boxes manufactured in a factory under controlled conditions and brought onto the site prepared in advance with roughed in site work, foundations and or concrete floor slabs. The boxes are positioned into place, connected and then finished inside and out with final trim, interior finishes, roofing and specialized interior features. Often there a wide variety of home plans and designs available but if a homeowner desires more personal attention and developing a more customized design working with an architect is essential, especially one familiar with the modular home design and construction process. If large vaulted ceilings are desirable in the design, the modular box fabrication in the factor must be adapted and sometimes there are limitations which sometimes makes penalized construction more desirable. There usually is a 12 day to 14 day production cycle for each home, so if unusual custom features are desired they usually happen on site if they don't fit into the regular cycle.
Panelized Homes
Panelized homes are also built in factories, but instead of boxes comprising of walls, floors and roofs like in modular homes, individual panel sections are built to exacting specifications of these elements off-site and delivered onsite for assembly and finishing by builders familiar with these techniques. The factory produced components are just in smaller sizes and more numerous than what is shipped on site with the boxes from Modular home manufacturers.In this article further clarifying the differences "panelized homes can be useful in building houses that don’t work neatly as modules and it can be just as structurally sound as other types of prefabricated building. Commercial prefabricated building is often done this way as it allows for wide open spaces and high ceilings. It is also much less expensive to transport a building in panels than in modules if it is large enough."
Custom Stick-built Homes
Custom-build homes unlike the prefabricated variety get built entirely onsite usually overseen by a home builder or contractor or in some cases, the homeowners them selves, The highest degree of customization is possible with this delivery method and opportunity for homeowner interaction throughout the building process. Since all portions will be built on site, the length of time is longer and more prone to being impacted by weather and seasons of the year. Where in the prefab route there's a lot of interaction in the beginning with architects, designers and factory personnel, and less so on site, there's a greater opportunity for interaction and collaboration between the homeowner, builder and architect with the custom-built approach.
Figuring out the best home construction delivery option?
Depending on the ability for owner pre-visualization in conjunction with architects and designers design stage use of advance 3D-design software such as AutoDesk Revit, SketchUp custom site built may have advantages. If there is less pre-visualization available the custom-built approach allows homeowners to experience and see their home emerge out of the ground. They see the various stages of work including site work, concrete work, framing assembled for roofs, walls and floors providing more and continuous interaction opportunities with builders to make changes along the way. While adjusting the design in this way may prove expensive and set back schedules, the customization helps ensure client satisfaction when it's the desired route to go.
Other factors such as cost, size, location and convenience features may impact your delivery approach. We like to ask you to consider thinking smaller is beautiful, less impacting the environment, easier to live-in, operate and manage over the long term. If seeking a home site, think empty lot in or close to town, not far out of town if possible to reduce your transportation costs and carbon footprint as well as boosting your convenience. Surprisingly privacy and remoteness can be designed into the details of your home layout and construction. Another factor to think about is planning for multi-generational living, ease of accessibility along with your home design process.
However, regardless of your delivery path its important to incorporate comfort and money saving energy efficiency features into your project building envelope, building systems and site design. While we have low energy prices today we all know tomorrow maybe another story. You can mange the volatility of long term energy costs by designing in operational predictability today by creating a high performing low energy using home fitting your budge and sustainability goals. That way you can focus on living well, not living poorly with doubt about future affordability. Peace of mind is important.
Contact us to learn more. We know of a variety of pre-fab, modular and custom-builders in Vermont and beyond we can recommend.
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