US MODULAR OFFERS UNIQUE HOME

This USModular, Inc. project is an excellent example of the versatility and flexibility of modular design. The general perception is that the only advantage to modular construction is in repetition. But here, bold sweeping design elements prove that the possibilities are virtually limitless.

Drawing on the homeowner’s background of working on exotic cars, the sweeping lines of this home mimic design elements of Ferrari sports cars from the 1950’s, considered by many as the golden age of sports cars. Trespa panels are shaped to evoke images of the vent panel on a ’56 Ferrari 410 Superamerica. The unique zinc ‘clouds’ floating over the garages and onto the home add the curves, shape, and color of the ’57 Ferrari Testa Rossa test car. The architect was able to incorporate every feature he had in mind without being concerned about the style of construction. This modular design blends the style and movement of a sports car with the functionality of a home.

Modular construction is so much more than just the convenience of building in a controlled environment, isolated from the delays and associated problems imposed by the weather. It is also the ability to limit heavy site activity to a much shorter period of time, an advantage appreciated by not only the homeowner but by the entire neighborhood. The various parts of the design, here represented by not only the modules themselves, but by some of the design elements like the ‘clouds’, are being assembled at the same time that the foundation is being built. The neighbors go to work one morning and see a bare foundation. That afternoon, the house has magically appeared. A project that would normally take 18 to 24 months is completed in half the time, or, in many cases even quicker.

Both the Architect and homeowner have had issues in the past with site built construction. Out of control schedules, consistency of workmanship, and material theft affected the timeline and the finished product. These issues virtually disappear with modular construction. The day the home is erected, it is able to be closed and locked up. Factory assembly is by its very nature schedule driven. Quality control is monitored constantly.

USModular, Inc. is excited by this unique home and prospects of other unique projects that reflect the personality and history of the homeowner. We congratulate Architect Brad McDonald at Reveal Studio, Inc., on his inspired design and his willingness to be a part of what USModular, Inc. considers the natural next step in construction.

APEX HOMES FILES CHAPTER 11

Apex Homes in Middleburg, PA filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on January 31, 2012. No further information is available at this time but we will keep you informed as things develop.

Apex Homes factory near Middleburg, PA

WESTCHESTER HOMES FEATURED IN CNBC ARTICLE

In a great article about "Kit Homes", CNBC featured Westchester Homes as one of the best modular home companies in the East. The only thing that I did find a little off was that the reporter called these "kit" homes. I guess we now have another term for modular housing.

From CNBC:

Assembly is Required for These Kit Homes

Despite seemingly endless interest in decorating, landscaping, buying, staging and selling houses, actually building a house is a mysterious process that is mostly left to professionals. But for some homeowners, buying and in some cases assembling, a prefabricated home holds appeal.

A kit home can streamline the process of custom-building a house. While the prices aren’t bargain-basement, kit homes can cost less. Keep in mind that these homes cost more to build than just the sticker price on the kit. Buyers might have to pony up for windows, cabinets, fixtures, contractors, subcontractors and other features and services, in addition to purchasing the land where the house is located. The total cost to build the house, minus cost of land is called the turnkey price.

Colonial 1 by Westchester Modular
Kit cost: $70- $100 per square foot
Turnkey cost: $110 - $185 per square foot
Bedrooms: varies
Bathrooms: varies
Square Footage: varies

The New York-based builder Westchester Modular offers custom homes in colonial, ranch, cape, and other designs. They look like familiar and traditional house styles but are modular, meaning they are built in cubes and pieces in a factory, on assembly lines. The manufacturer includes all the drywall, electric, plumbing, cabinets, sinks, and fixtures. Then the house is delivered to the job site, where it is set in place by a crane on a foundation. Later, a contractor connects it and does all the site work, including driveway and landscaping.

John Colucci, vice president of sales and marketing, says it’s a misconception that modular homes are of lesser quality than conventionally built homes, citing materials he uses like Andersen windows and all-plywood construction. “It can save a customer money because of our purchasing power. I’m building three houses here a week, so I don’t go through middlemen.” There’s also the time advantage gained when an entire home can be built in 45 days.

CLICK HERE to read the entire article.

OREGON REVOKES LICENSE OF FUQUA HOMES

Oregon State regulators have revoked licenses to sell and produce manufactured homes from Fuqua Homes Inc. and imposed a $155,000 civil fine, saying the company, which operated a factory and dealership in Bend, took deposits but failed to deliver some homes, according to an order released Thursday.

The Fuqua website has been removed from the Internet!

The order from the Department of Consumer and Business Services' Division of Finance and Corporate Securities states that the Texas-based company took 26 deposits totaling more than $500,000 for manufactured homes that were not built and did not give refunds.

The division's acting director also ordered that Fuqua's president, Phillip R. Daniels, be disqualified from being licensed as a manufactured-structure dealer or from working for such a company for five years.

Phillip R. Daniels, President of Fuqua Homes

Neither Daniels nor an attorney representing him responded to requests for comment.

In August, Daniels told a state employee that a flooring supplier had sued Fuqua and that all inventory at Fuqua's Eugene and Coburg dealerships had been seized, according to the order, which states Fuqua has 60 days to appeal to the state Court of Appeals.

The enforcement action represents only some of the complaints against Fuqua. The state Department of Justice received complaints from 15 people about Fuqua giving nothing for payments on homes or ignoring home defects. The complaints come from three states and one Canadian province.

At least four lawsuits are pending against Fuqua, three in Deschutes County and one in Lane County circuit courts.

One open lawsuit in Deschutes County Circuit Court against Fuqua seeks to make the company return about $29,000 to a couple in Christmas Valley who paid the money for a modular home.

CLICK HERE to read more

PROBUILT GEARS UP FOR A GREAT 2012

Probuilt Homes, Mifflintown, PA, is getting ready for housing to make a comeback. They are opening another office, this time in Selinsgrove, PA. The satellite office will be staffed and ready to serve builders and retail customers throughout the Mid-Atlantic area.

2011 Solar Decathlon winner built by Probuilt Homes

This year, a home designed by The University of Maryland and built by Probuilt Homes in their PA factory won the 2011 Solar Decathlon in Washington, DC. Just more proof that modular housing is the best way to build.

BLU HOMES MAKES DESIGNING A NEW HOME EASIER

It’s getting a lot easier to design your own home with a computer. A case in point is the Blu 3-D Configurator from Blu Homes, which simplifies home design to the point where regular non-architects can design their own homes with online tools.

The Blu 3-D Configurator is just the latest example of 3D graphics technologies developed for games finding new uses beyond the entertainment market. Blu Homes is announcing at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that a Massachusetts couple, Cathy and Walter Pearlman, designed their own two-bedroom home entirely by using the Blu 3-D Configurator. Once the design is complete, Blu Homes assembles the parts and ships them to the customer for assembly into a house.

The company turns the 3D designs created by users into actual homes. You can create your own or personalize a model made by Blu Homes’ architects and then fly through the home to get a feel for the actual layout. The hope is to revolutionize the way homes are built. You can go hang out in your home or redecorate it — before you ever set foot in the real thing. You can also get a real-time view of the costs that result when you make changes to the design — a feature that will be available in a few months.

Blu Homes 3-D Configurator

Blu Homes builds a home based on the client’s 3D custom model, using precision tooling and trained craftsmen in a climate-controlled factory in Vallejo, Calif. Blu Homes was founded in 2008 by Bill Haney, an environmental engineer, and Maura McCarthy, a venture capitalist with a background in modular housing. Blu Homes has seven eco-friendly architect-designed homes dubbed Elements. The Pearlmans chose one model for their home in Pembroke, Mass., with everything from exterior siding and kitchen appliances. After one meeting confirming the selections and a minor change to the bathroom title, they were ready to purchase their home at a fixed, pre-agreed upon price. The homes generally use 50 percent less energy than traditional homes.

“At first, designing our home online seemed so high-tech that it felt more like something our kids’ generation would do. Once we tried it ourselves, we realized how fun and easy it is,” said Cathy Pearlman. “It turns out designing your home online — and then having it built straight from the online designs — is something anyone can do.”

Haney, president and co-founder, says the Configurator takes a lot of the uncertainty and stress out of the home-building process for all parties. Since the tool became available in October, more than 6,000 home designs have been created and saved with the Configurator. The software is proprietary and similar to tools used by automotive and aeronautical engineers, and it takes into account complex requirements such as the kind of stress that snow could put on materials. But Blu Homes worked with user interface experts and game developers to make the designs consumer friendly.

ARE MEN HOLDING BACK THE GREEN BUILDING MOVEMENT?

Are Men Holding Back the Green Building Movement? 

GreenspirationHome Explores the Question in an Interview with Builders of Both Sexes

By Trish Holder

Trish Holder, Greenspiration Home

Could a male dominated construction industry be holding back the green building movement?  I’ve wondered about this a lot lately, so I decided to confront a couple of builders (one male, one female) with some research as well as some of my own observations of the home construction industry.
 


Nicole Goolsby of Rion Homes in Cornelius, NC and Clark Wilson of Clark Wilson Builders, Inc. in Austin Texas were willing to indulge my questions. Both are experienced green builders and have worked within the home construction/real estate industry for multiple decades. Their answers shed some much-needed light on a subject I believe builders and homeowners struggle with:  cross gender communication.  

Trish:  Let’s start with a little bit of research.  A December 2010 study found men half as likely to buy into the environmentally friendly green movement as women.  Now since men own about 90% of construction companies in America, I’m thinking this does not bode well for the green building industry.  What do you think?

Nicole: Men may own 90% of the companies but more and more women are a part of the team, which includes sales, marketing, design, materials specifications and construction.  That’s making a difference.  Additionally, I see a trend not only with custom builders but production companies and remodelers to put at least some focus on energy efficiency.  Collectively men may not be as motivated by the “save the planet” mantra but saving energy and lowering the bills are just common sense.

Nicole Goolsby, Rion Homes

Clark: The research is not surprising if the question was posed as  "green movement". We found that consumers were and are skeptical of the generic green movement costs. It looks like by the research men are even more so. Owners of construction companies are driven by the market to produce what the customer is willing to pay for. 

Clark Wilson, Clark Wilson Builders

 Trish:  Let me bring up another little factoid from the NAHB:  Women directly purchase or have controlling influence in the purchase of 91% of all new homes.   So women (who are twice as likely to want green products) are dependent upon men (who largely don’t buy into green) to build their homes.  Are the odds are stacked against a woman getting the green home of her dreams?