Housing Crisis- Williston North Dakota

In these uncertain economic times, people are searching far and wide to find good-paying jobs. One of the areas of the country that has recently been immune to the financial troubles found elsewhere is North Dakota. In fact, the oil boom centered in Williston, North Dakota is creating so many jobs that people from all over the country are flooding the area to find work. With so many people invading a small town like Williston, housing is at a premium.

Although people coming to work the oil jobs in Williston are able to find work right away, they sometimes have trouble finding a place to live. Some people are forced to live in campers and cars, and others find themselves living in tents. This is an especially dire situation when the temperature drops below freezing as it does for several months out of the year in this northern state.

Even those able to find places to live are often forced to live in less than ideal conditions. Some people live in motels for months at a time. Others share space in cramped conditions. They all are willing to face the harsh living situations they encounter to earn the lucrative paychecks they receive working in North Dakota’s booming oil industry.

Luckily, this housing situation is not as dire as it once was. The key to improving the housing in North Dakota is the creation of many new homes that are built with modular construction. Modular homes can be constructed very quickly because they are built in off-site climate controlled factories. This avoids any construction delays due to poor weather conditions.

For people who are looking for housing in North Dakota, modular construction proves a great solution; offering both permanent and temporary housing options suitable for North Dakota’s growing workforce.

Find suitable housing today! Click here for more information.

The Modular Solution to Senior Housing

In recent years, modular homes have proven to be a great resource to nursing homes, assisted-living homes, community centers, and other living and gathering places for senior citizens. That’s because modular senior living homes offer so many unique advantages. They are safe, easy to build and offer residents an array of amenities and all the comforts of home.

Modular construction is a process by which sections of a building are assembled at a climate controlled factory, moved to a building site, and fitted together like massive toy blocks. This system thus allows for simple and inexpensive construction; developers of senior housing can open a new facility or expand an existing one quickly and efficiently.

Prefab senior living communities are often comprised of one floor. Even so, they usually contain a variety of rooms: living quarters, dining areas, spaces for games and recreation, administrative offices, and even medical clinics. Furthermore, when it comes to their design and decor, these structures can be opulent and grand or modest and cozy.

More importantly, these structures can be custom-made to meet all municipal and state building codes and suit a variety of budgets. They can incorporate the latest in energy-efficient technologies and can accommodate the individual needs of each senior resident: For instance, they might include wide doorways for wheelchairs.

The new-found popularity of these senior housing apartments comes at a crucial moment for our society. By 2030, the number of senior citizens living in the U.S. should be twice as large as it is today. By 2050, that population will be even larger. What’s more, in the immediate future, many baby boomers will require senior housing. Modular construction looks to be a growing trend in the senior housing industry.

If you or someone you know is in need of senior housing please click here.

Modular Home Survived Sandy

Photo credit: Resolution: 4 Architecture-Bronx Box

New York City-based Resolution: 4 Architecture has built over 60 custom modular homes, saying, “Rather than invent a new manufacturing process, our research focused on existing commercial methods of residential prefabrication.” Their only boundaries being the laws governing transfer of the modules along state roads and the abilities of the factories where they are built, the firm has come up with some unique designs. 

As treehugger.com informs MHProNews, their homes are built for a specific client and site, and quite beyond affordable housing. However, their Bronx Box, built on stilts in accordance with the flood line set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) survived Hurricane Sandy with residents intact inside the home, while neighboring homes were devastated and destroyed. 

Contact us today for more information on our Modular Home Solutions.

Source: Daily Business News. Modular Home Survived Sandy [Web log post]. Retrieved November 14, 2013, from http://www.mhmarketingsalesmanagement.com/blogs/daily-business-news/modular-home-survived-sandy/

Dramatic Video of a Manufactured Home Hit by a Tornado and High Winds

This three and a half minute video should be an eye opener for millions of Americans.





As you can see in the raw footage, commentary and text in the video above, this manufactured home was first hit by a tornado and then was subjected to high sustained winds for over half an hour. We captured the best parts of that raw footage for the video above. This is dramatic visual evidence of just how structurally strong a manufactured home is when it is properly installed.

You’ll actually see two factory built homes that were hit in the video above.

The contrast that follows is not apples to apples, But the video below is example of how a conventionally constructed site-built house is destroyed by a tornado in just seconds.

The Des Moines Register posted this video above of a conventional house blown apart by a strong tornado (estimated at an EF5). An ATM surveillance camera at the First State Bank in Parkersburg, Iowa, captured this raw video footage of the house across, as it was hit and destroyed in under 30 seconds.

Please share this video webpage with others. The link for this page is:

http://www.MHLivingNews.com/articles/31-dramatic-video-of-a-manufactured-home-hit-by-a-tornado-and-high-winds

Let your friends, family and associates see for themselves how strong and durable today’s manufactured homes are. As the first video vividly proves, proper installation is a smart idea.

Lower The Construction Costs of your Home with Modular Construction

Modular Home Construction

Modular construction is described by many as having the potential to become the future of construction. The process of building a modular house takes place primarily within a factory setting. Here, modular home construction is completed in sections and later, the sections are transported to the construction site nearly complete. Once the modules have arrived at the site, the portions are assembled and utilities are connected.

How does modular home construction lower the costs of building a home?

Modular construction saves the homeowner time and money in several key areas. Building materials are protected until ready for use. This practice protects the integrity of the materials and promotes longevity with the structure of the building. It also guarantees a timeline and helps keep costs within budget. For example, a project underway could run into budget problems that result from inclement weather, material delivery delays or labor issues. Since most of the construction is done within the factory, there are fewer construction delays that can occur and construction is independent of weather conditions. This promotes predictability, efficiency and stability in pricing.

Labor is also used more effectively in this setting and technicians are highly skilled craftsman with advanced training in the latest modular design and construction techniques. After the home has been built, it continues to produce additional savings in the area of energy efficiency. Insulation techniques used in modular home building lowers energy costs for the homeowner such as lower heating and cooling costs because of the high quality insulation that is used in building the home.

What are some additional benefits for the consumer?

Reliability in using this production technique ensures that the customer is getting value in the long run. The customer can be certain that they are investing in quality when working with a modular building team. The customer can be certain that in purchasing a modular house, he or she is investing in the highly-skilled technicians, state of the art technologies and quality materials. At every turn, quality assurance and quality control testing is performed as the home is manufactured.

The key advantages to modular buildings are greater energy efficiency, reliable methodologies, sturdier materials and shorter production time. These things contribute to the home value and cuts construction costs for the customer.

After Sandy, Modular Homes Hit the Beach

Factory-Built Housing Is Popping Up Since Superstorm

Emile Wamsteker for The Wall Street Journal
A summer resident of Seaside Heights, Margaret Organ, walks her two beagles, Samantha and Mimi, near one of Westrum Development Co.'s model homes. The company says it can build the homes in 28 days.

Builders of modular homes have long battled a perception in New Jersey and New York that their products were aimed at trailer parks, not charming beachfront communities. But since super storm Sandy smashed homes along the coast, some see an opening.

In the past few months, modular builders say they are seeing an uptick in demand that they hope will translate to long-term business, especially as new federal flood maps and insurance rates force more homeowners to elevate structures. Because many older beach bungalows won't survive being raised, those owners may choose to replace them with new, easy-to-produce modular homes that are fabricated in factories and shipped in sections to the building site.

Two days after Sandy struck, John Westrum, who has built modular homes primarily in Pennsylvania suburbs, took a helicopter ride to survey the devastation along the Jersey Shore and had an idea: He would take his prefab houses and put them on stilts.

Westrum Development's first elevated modular home is scheduled to open Saturday in Seaside Heights. The two-story, Cape Cod was assembled in 28 days after the local permits were secured and the land was cleared. Former telephone poles were used to lift the first floor about 10 feet above the ground.

Emile Wamsteker for The Wall Street Journal

Brian Warwick works in one of the elevated prefabricated model homes in Seaside Heights, N.J., that were built by Westrum Development.

Although made in Scranton and trucked to New Jersey in four parts, the homes looked typically suburban and had custom features, such as a deck and large windows. At least 40 people are interested in buying one, Mr. Westrum said. He hopes to build 3,000 on the Jersey Shore and "up and down the East Coast."

Architects said the modular-construction industry's improved quality control and ability to use materials in different ways have helped bring its buildings up to design standards in the city. "The day of modular housing is dawning in New York," said Rick Bell, executive director of the American Institute of Architects New York.

As money trickles in from insurance companies and government, a handful of modular homes on stilts are popping up in some communities in New Jersey, Long Island and Staten Island. Many can be made to evoke beachside bungalows or modernist vacation homes. That has helped allay concerns about identical rows of new, cheap-looking homes.

"It looks beautiful," said Anthony Rusciano, a local 51-year-old utility worker in Seaside Heights who is buying a three-bedroom modular home from Westrum for $179,000. "It went up so fast. I don't have the time or patience to deal with any of this stuff anymore.

Modular single-family homes aren't necessarily less expensive than traditional construction, but may save time because they can be built in the factory while owners are waiting for demolition and foundation work. Once the modules are built and transported to the city, it takes a day or two to bolt the pieces into place.

Emile Wamsteker for The Wall Street Journal

A worker at a home under stick-built construction in Seaside Heights.

Most of those who lost their home in New York City and Staten Island have yet to start rebuilding, so it is too early to tell if modular homes will be an important part of the rebuilding. New York City has been a tough market to crack because streets are too narrow to maneuver 14-foot wide homes, developers are unfamiliar with the method, and labor unions have resisted because their members are paid less for factory work.

At least 10 homeowners in Breezy Point are applying for permits for modular construction, according to Arthur Lighthall, general manager of the community co-op in Queens. One house was delivered this week.

"This is not a trailer park home. This is a well-designed manufactured home. Side by side to a stick-built home, unless you knew, it'd be hard pressed to figure out which one was which," Mr. Lighthall said.

But Gerry Romski, who was recently selected by the city to help residents of Breezy and the Rockaways develop new homes said he won't use modular construction due to concerns about quality, fire-resistance and sacrificing interior space to bulkier construction. "We're doing a typical stick-built construction, which we have been doing for the last 25 years," he said.

John Colucci, vice president of sales and marketing, Westchester Modular Homes Inc., said while New York remains a tough market, he had been building one to two houses a week since the spring for Sandy victims primarily in New Jersey and Long Island. Sales are up 80% over last year, he said, mostly due to Sandy.

Mr. Colucci, who lived many years ago on the Jersey Shore, said he had a "soft spot" for the wooden bungalows that passed between generations, but he hadn't seen demand to re-create the old.

"There's a certain nostalgia that in my opinion is going to be lost because of the storm. We've only had a select few come through and ask for bungalow-type housing. Now it's all about how much can I put into my beach home," he said, including roof decks, outside showers and vinyl siding that resembles cedar shakes.

Michael Fehling, a 55-year-old Island Park resident, and his wife, decided to build a modular home seven feet in the air after docks smashed into their 90-year-old wooden house. Their new home took about a week to build in the factory and was delivered from Pennsylvania a month ago. They plan to move in at the end of August, after contractors finish with touches such as radiant heat and fireplaces. He doesn't miss the old place.

"A house that's almost 90 years old, it's not going to have the insulation.It's not going to be built as strong. The house was always cold. The house wasn't level," he said. "With the breeze going through the whole house, I don't miss that."

—Josh Dawsey and Joe Jackson contributed to this article.

Souce: Kusisto, Laura & Haddon Heather (2013, August 16). After Sandy, Modular Homes Hit the Beach [Web log post]. Retrieved August 21, 2013, from http://online.wsj.com

A Modular Solution for the North Dakota Housing Shortage

There is a growing housing shortage in North Dakota that is affecting individuals, families, workers and corporations looking for adequate housing. Traditional construction is struggling to keep up with the population growth as projects typically take long to complete and cannot be mass produced. This means those looking for a traditional home may have to live far from their workplace or some are being forced to live in their vehicles until a housing solution is found. With this shortage, it is very important to provide the necessary housing for these individuals in a quick and efficient way.

One solution is found in modular construction. Modular homes are built off-site in a climate controlled factory environment and then assembled together in the final location. Unique to modular construction, as homes are being built, site work commences to install the foundation and utilities, resulting in earlier occupancy and savings. Traditional construction often takes far too long to complete.

Since a modular home is built off-site, it can be worked on as often as needed, independent from weather delays. Modular homes also give a large number of options when it comes to construction such as single or multi-family homes with dozens of style variations.

A modular housing solution improves the North Dakota housing shortage and gives residents a place they are proud to call home.

The Possibilities of Modular Home Design

When it comes to finding the perfect home, chances are you have spent a majority of time shopping around only to find that none of the houses actually meet your needs. This is a rather common issue and one that could become frustrating. Modular home construction is often chosen to eliminate lengthy construction timelines and increase flexibility.

There are many different features available in a modular home. A modular home can be designed to meet your exact floor plan and layout requirements and a variety of interior and exterior finishes are available. A modular home offers you the freedom to tailor design your house to fit your unique needs. Modular homes can be permanent structures or they can be designed to be relocated, should the need arise.

A modular home is mostly fabricated off-site in a climate controlled factory environment, so when it arrives to the final site, it only has to be connected and assembled. This reduces the construction time and environmental impact. Choose modular construction for your next home and get exactly what you want.

Going Green With Modular Homes

There are more products in the marketplace that allow consumers to be environmentally responsible than ever before. These products range from cleaning products to modular homes. Homes can actually be constructed with a green initiative in mind. This includes everything from the construction of the panels to the energy efficiency of the finished home.

Many of the modern modular homes are built to use less energy. There may be solar panels on the roof or thicker layers of insulation on the sides of the home. When there is less heat being absorbed into the home, the AC doesn’t have to work as hard. As a result, the electricity bills are considerably less. This has a direct result on the environment in a positive way.

Builders are creating green modular homes that use sustainable materials. In a standard construction home, a lot of materials are being taken directly from natural resources. This includes lumber and many other items. It’s not good for the planet, yet they are used anyway. The use of sustainable materials in construction is much more environmentally friendly. When these products are used, it creates a smaller environmental impact than traditional building materials. For example, a roof may be constructed of metal, slate shingles, or some other sustainable product instead of traditional asphalt shingles.

With modular homes, a homeowner often has more control over certain aspects of the home. There are endless floor plans available. Adjustments can be made to the floor plan based on individual preferences. Once the panels are constructed off site, they are then brought to where the home will reside. As the construction crew assembles the panels, other decisions and changes can be made.

The piping, hardware, and appliances will need to be selected. Many homes going green are built specifically to be energy efficient. There are faucets and shower heads that will reduce water flow. In addition, energy efficient appliances can be selected that will use less energy in their operation throughout the home.

Modern modular homes are being decorated with the green initiative in mind as well. Instead of carpet or tile, the flooring may be bamboo or cork. The walls will be painted with organic paints. Even the curtains on the windows may be made of organically-produced fabrics.

A standard construction home is expensive to build. Add green initiatives to it and it may be cost prohibitive for the average homeowner to build. Green modular homes are typically more affordable for home buyers because in general, they are less expensive to build. Those who are looking to embrace the green initiative in every way now have an affordable way to own an environmentally friendly home.

There are many companies that offer modular home specs. Choosing one should be based on the available floor plans, the materials used in construction, as well as the cost. Every company has a different way of doing business and a different set of offerings. Do your research and speak to a variety of companies before making your final decision on which company to purchase your new home from.

Choose Modular for your Vacation Home

When it comes to buying a vacation home you might find that you can't always find a home that will give you the necessary amenities and features you desire.  After all, when buying a second home you want it to have very specific attributes that is going to make your life that much more comfortable when on vacation.  With a modular vacation home you are going to save time and have the exact style you want, without having to deal with the hassle of endless searching or new home construction.

A modular home is mostly built off-site at an environmentally controlled factory and transported to its permanent location in order to give you the desired home you have been looking for. With a modular home you are going to be able to choose from dozens of different designs and finishes.  A modular vacation home can be custom built to your liking.

One key aspect regarding a modular home that is often overlooked is that it is built protected from exposure to outdoor elements including wind, rain and freezing conditions (depending where and when you decide to build the home).  This allows the modular home to be worked on at all times, so you can have your vacation home finished on time. 

How Green Modular Homes Are Built

Green modular homes are homes that are primarily built at a factory using green construction methods. Modular homes are not only energy efficient, but they provide families a healthier indoor living environment.

At the factory the homes are built in a climate controlled environment. The assembly lines are very efficient and the quality control procedures helps to make sure that the homes are built to last. Because the houses are built in a factory costs are reduced, therefore making them more affordable.

The windows and doors of a green modular home can be constructed with high grade insulation. Where traditional homes are built from the exterior in, modular homes are built from the inside out. This makes it possible for the penetrations that occur when installing the mechanical systems to be completely sealed. There is also the benefit of reduced waste, the ability to reuse entire buildings or major components, less impact on the environment, less noise and air pollution and reduced operational costs.

Green modular homes are built tighter so that it makes the environment inside the house healthier. This is accomplished by installing ventilation systems that replaces the stale indoor air with fresh air from the outside.

Green modular homes may also been designed with energy efficient features such as increased day lighting, programmable HVAC units, recycled carpet squares, energy efficient appliances and energy saving lighting. Materials that are used in building modular homes are precut so that there is less waste, as well as being recyclable.

Hurricane Resistant Modular Homes

When living in a hurricane prone area, it is necessary to make sure your home is designed to withstand heavy winds and rain. A prefabricated or hurricane resistant modular home is a durable solution for residents in these areas. A modular home is designed from the ground up to withstand storms, so you do not have to worry about possible damage.

Modular homes are primarily constructed off site from the very best materials. Factory construction allows modular homes to be constructed much faster than traditional construction because materials are protected from outdoor elements, ensuring quality and eliminating delays from poor weather conditions. As homes are being built, site work occurs simultaneously to install foundation, utilities and initial site grading. The home is then transported to the job site and installed before applying final finishes and connecting utilities.

This concurrent schedules results in a shorter construction timeline and earlier occupancy. The high quality materials and finishes used in the factory allow the modular home to withstand heavy wind loads.

Areas where homes have been affected by hurricanes can benefit from modular construction as well. When a devastating disaster displaces individuals and families, it can create an urgent need for permanent or temporary housing. Modular construction can provide homes to hurricane victims significantly faster than traditional construction methods and help victims quickly recover.

The Benefits of Modular Home Construction: Safety, Quality & Speed

There are many benefits to choosing a modular home instead of a traditionally built home. From the speed with which the homes are built, to the craftsmanship that goes into each home, there is no better option available.

In today's fast paced world, modular home construction is quickly becoming the preferred building method. This is because modular construction is the fastest method by which to build homes and is the safest way to construct. Each modular home is constructed off-site, in a climate controlled factory setting. With modular construction the weather will never affect the time frame in which buildings are built or the quality of materials. 

Additional Benefits of Modular Home Construction Include:

Safety – Because modular construction is primarily done inside, there are fewer weather related illnesses and injuries and a reduced risk of accidents and damages to the building. Additionally, there are less on-site traffic and site disturbances.

Quality - Modular homes are primarily constructed indoors therefore materials are protected from adverse weather conditions such as rain and snow that may otherwise compromise its quality. Every detail of the home is checked and rechecked before leaving the factory, ensuring quality.

Speed – Factory construction and site work occur simultaneously, resulting in a reduced construction timeline by 30-50 percent and earlier occupancy.

Modular housing results in faster occupancy for tenants. There is no limit to the style and design that can be incorporated into modular homes. Modular is the way of the future, both commercial and residential builders are quickly turning to the safer, high quality and faster way to build.