Modular Home Trends in Today's Housing Market

Unlimited design options and flexibility are available with today’s modular homes. These homes are not only aesthetically appealing but are easier to heat, cool and maintain. As people become more concerned about the environment, many seek to reduce their environmental impact and carbon footprint. Modular housing gives consumer’s unparalleled choices in design and function, while remaining environmentally friendly. Modular homes can be constructed with a wood or steel frame. Here’s a look at the similarities and differences between steel frame construction and wood frame construction.

Over 50 years ago (after WWII,) steel framing became popular when returning GI’s needed homes for their families. During the last 20 years, the housing market has shown a renewed interest in steel framing. The same techniques that were used with wood were used with steel, and construction costs were about the same until recently. In the last few years wood has become more expensive and steel more affordable. Wood and steel are both highly recyclable, with wood products (including paper and paper board,) being recycled at a rate of 65 percent. Steel products have an overall recycling rate of 63 percent.

Although the same principles of building with wood apply to steel construction, they use different types of fasteners. Wood frames are nailed together while steel frames are fastened with sheet metal screws. Energy use is slightly higher in steel frame buildings because metal transfers cold and heat more readily than wood. However, steel framing is lighter yet stronger and more resistant to earthquakes, fire and pests. Ceiling joists made of steel can cover longer distances than wooden ones, but wood is easier to cut and install.

Because of the lighter weight of the material, modular housing built with steel frame construction is generally completed faster than housing built with wood. However, it is easier and less expensive to incorporate design details like higher pitched roofs, overhangs, interesting roof lines and dormers on wood frame buildings. The overall material costs for a steel frame building can be substantially more than wood frame costs but insurance and maintenance costs may be lower.

Choose a home in a style that you and your family will love, using either steel or wood frame construction. In today’s market, modular homes suit many tastes with their limitless design options, flexibility and affordability. Building a home is easy and fun when choices include the most contemporary and unique options.

Modular Barracks for Today's Military

When it comes to military housing and facilities, you may think of standard, open spaced living quarters with few amenities. To provide a high quality, customized and welcoming living environment, army facilities are looking away from traditional construction and going towards modular building. There are many benefits of modular construction including shorter construction timelines and earlier occupancy, with a bit more design flexibility.

Often times the Army, Coast Guard and other armed forces have to immediately relocate to a certain location and set up temporary space for on-site personnel. This may include a command center, barracks or offices.  For this purpose, the military is now moving towards modular construction.

Prefabricated buildings can be delivered and occupied 30-50 percent faster than traditional construction. The time saving benefits of modular construction is particularly beneficial to the military allowing personnel to move in, set up forces and complete their tasks much faster.

Modular buildings can also be relocated to the next location, if needed. Modular barracks are designed, constructed and nearly complete before leaving the factory. Finishing touches such as connecting utilities are done on-site before the buildings are ready for occupancy. Modular construction helps make military life a little easier for all service members.

Workforce Housing for the Bakken Region

The oil industry is booming in the United States and with that comes more employment opportunities. The Bakken region in particular stands out for its fast oil industry growth, leading to an increase in the workforce population. With the additional workforce in the area, there comes a greater need for Bakken housing.

There are numerous benefits to choosing modular homes for workforce housing in the Bakken region. With the increase of workers, families and businesses to the area, there is a shortage of appropriate housing. With modular construction, homes can often be built more efficiently and faster to satisfy the housing demand. Modular homes are built off-site in a large factory environment. This helps to minimize delays in the homes construction such as poor weather conditions.

Another benefit of modular construction is how well homes are built. Modular construction is held to the same building codes and standards that traditional construction is. Often times, modular construction goes beyond the codes and standards in order to ensure the highest quality method of construction.

The mobility of modular constructed homes is another benefit for the Bakken region. Because of the nature of modular construction, homes can be built to be relocatable so that they can be transported from one work site to another as needed.

When there is a population boom and need for housing, such as in Bakken ND, modular construction is the right choice.