Pages Menu
Categories Menu

Posted by on Nov 28, 2016 in Blog |

Why FEMA Says Prefab Homes are Built Stronger

Why FEMA Says Prefab Homes are Built Stronger

While no manufacturer would ever be so bold as to say that their homes are hurricane-proof, it has been proved time and again that prefab homes stand up to extreme conditions much better than their site-built counterparts. When Hurricane Sandy hit the northeast and homeowners went to tally up the damage, modular homes fared significantly better. FEMA has continually praised prefab construction for sound workmanship dating all the way back to a report they issued back in 1993 about Hurricane Andrew hitting Florida. When winds are blowing at 155mph, you want to know that the workers who built your roof knew exactly what they were doing. Imagine if airplanes weren’t built with standard parts in factories by career technicians. Would you want to fly in that plane? Modular manufacturing is subject to the same rigorous quality-control as other high end manufacturing. Since parts and homes are factory-made, there’s no worry that they’ll be subpar. The seals on roofs are done by a factory worker whose job it is to...

Read More

Posted by on Nov 22, 2016 in Blog |

Modular Construction Builds Green Classrooms

With college enrollment rates continuing to rise, the need for student housing may be at an all-time high. Build the cost of new dorms into already steep student fees and the equation can be unsettling, to say the least. Enter modular dorms, an alternative form of construction that offers colleges and universities an option that is “greener” and more cost effective than traditional construction. Modular construction differs from traditional or “stick-built” in that it is built in a factory, under climate controlled conditions. Factory construction allows for superior quality control, an aspect that is sometimes overlooked – particularly at some off- campus housing units that are often overcrowded, creating unsafe living conditions.This type of “slap dash” housing often does not meet safety regulations and isin non-compliance with building codes. In addition to outstanding quality control, the off-site modular construction process provides numerous benefits, chief among being that 75% to 95% of modular projects can be prefabricated in the factory while the site is being prepared, translating into a tremendous...

Read More

Posted by on Nov 8, 2016 in Blog |

Modular Farming Compound Topped with Sustainable Green Roof

Want to get away from the city hustle bustle? This tranquil farm retreat in the subtropics of Argentina may be just what you’re looking for. Buenos Aires-based architecture studio IR arquitectura designed Yerbas del Paraiso, an organic farming hostel with a cozy and calming environment. Built from timber, the modular structure is raised on stilts and topped with a green roof to minimize its visual and physical impact on the landscape. IR arquitectura designed Yerbas del Paraiso with triangular modules in order to lessen the building’s impact on the landscape. The modular architecture gave the architects the freedom to build around existing trees rather than cut them down. The resulting building formation takes on an unconventional and modular organic farming shape that sprawls out on the land like an expanding web. Local building techniques were used in construction. Each of the structural axes are spaced three meters apart to allow for easy modification. The Yerbas del Paraiso comprises a series of flexible spaces including living areas and multipurpose rooms....

Read More

Posted by on Oct 31, 2016 in Blog |

Tesla Launches Groundbreaking Solar Roof Product

CEO Elon Musk just announced a brand new product for the no-longer-just-a-motor-company: a groundbreaking new type of building integrated photovoltaic shingle with the goal of making rooftop solar more affordable, better looking, and longer lasting than a regular shingled roof. This is the first jointly branded product with Tesla and SolarCity. Unlike a traditional roof-mounted solar panel array, which is bolted on top of an existing roofing system (such as composite shingles or ceramic tiles), the just-launched Tesla/SolarCity solar roof is an integrated system that eliminates the need for separate roofing materials and solar panels. Instead, the new elegant glass roofing tiles have photovoltaics embedded right into the material, creating a completely seamless look with great curb appeal that is also an emissions-free source of renewable electricity to power nearly all of a home’s energy needs. Musk said weeks ago that the solar roof was designed to target homeowners who have been putting off solar power installs due to the expense of upgrading or replacing their existing roof surfaces,...

Read More

Posted by on Oct 13, 2016 in Blog |

Prefab “Lego” Hotels Attractive Option for Developers

Modular building is an attractive option for property developers, and especially for hotel developers and operators it can provide significant benefits in cost and time saving and consistency of product. However, there are legal considerations to keep in mind. For the delivery of turnkey hotels, modular allows the hotel to be designed and fitted out quickly and consistently after the completion and approval of a prototype or model room. Aiming to considerably reduce construction time, modular technology is billed as safe, quiet and cleaner than traditional methods of construction. It offers designers and architects flexibility and can offer developers and operators certainty. Compared to traditional construction, modular construction time can be reduced by 30 per cent – 60 per cent.  On-site labour can be reduced providing benefits on site for access, storage of materials and Health & Safety issues. As a result, modular building companies offer reductions in the overall capital costs of development of 10 per cent – 30 per ent, through greater efficiencies of design, delivery and onsite management. Bristol Airport...

Read More

Posted by on Oct 11, 2016 in Blog |

Commercial Modular Building Trends in 2016

Here are a few of the top trends to watch in 2016, according to the experts and why Modular/PreFab construction will continue to grow: Skilled labor shortage will continue to plague construction companies The most commonly mentioned trend for 2016 was the continued effects of the skilled worker shortage. A significant portion of employees who left the industry during the recession never returned, and companies are still struggling to find workers at all levels to properly staff their teams. The labor crisis is not a new issue, and most experts predict it will continue well into 2016 and beyond, as the talent deficit will require multiple years to fill up again. Another significant concern: The slowdown in immigration has contributed to the already existing labor shortage, as reports have found many workers who returned to Mexico during the recession have not come back to the U.S. due to increased immigration controls and more job opportunities in Mexico. Politically, the environment against immigration has changed some of the workforce dynamics and made it difficult to staff a lot of the trades. Prefab/offsite...

Read More
Call Now Button