How can a whole house be built in a factory, then transported on a truck to my land?
It seems impossible that an entire house can be built in a factory and then transported to your building site. It’s even more hard to believe that once this type of home is installed onsite, it’s impossible to tell it’s any different from a home that was built using the old, traditional process onsite.
Hard to believe…but true. How does it happen?
Interestingly, these homes are built as complete houses in our factory, very similarly to the way homes are built onsite. The major differences are that they are built on a steel chassis (which gives them massive strength that enables them to be transported) and their frames are laid out in sizes that enables them to be broken up into modules for transport.
Broken up???….sounds like the house will look like a mess!
No need to worry. When the homes are built in the factory, special joints are allowed for that makes pulling them apart for transport easy. These modules are then joined together onsite. Once joined, it’s not possible to tell where the joints were. The home’s interiors looks exactly like a house that has been built onsite from the ground up.
Why would you build a modular home?
Modular Homes are built undercover, in a quality-controlled environment that’s not affected by rain. This type of construction is the way of the future.
They are typically built much faster than site-built homes.
They are more economical…so you get more bang for your buck.
Site works are kept to a minimum. Yes, some concrete footings need to be poured in place but once your new home arrives it’s mostly complete with only a few finishing touches to go.
Your houses frame is never left exposed to the elements because it’s already way past “lock-up” stage when it arrives.
Now that you know how it’s done, perhaps a modular home is something you might like to consider.
One of the great things about choosing a Hunter Valley Modular Home, is that you get a huge range of pre-drawn plans to choose from. These designs are based on years of experience. They are plans that really work in terms of flow, practical room layouts, handy storage and a creating a home that feels great to live in.
These are a fantastic starting point. In fact, we find most of our clients find a design that really works for them, and only make a small tweak or two.
So, how do you choose which designs to start from? Here is a quick list to help you.
Think about your site and the orientation of your house
A good place to start is deciding where the main living area should go? Think about where north is – this is where most of the sun will come from. If possible, it’s ideal to choose a design that allows for your main living area to be facing north.
It’s important to also think about where the best views would be. It’s great if these two things coincide, with the northern side of the house also having the best views, but it’s rare that you can be so lucky.
Another key issue is where the bedrooms should be located. Ideally these should be facing away from the biggest source of noise – normally the road. It’s also a good idea to position them on the most shaded side. Normally this is the south, but it depends on the location, and things like surrounding homes, trees etc
Think about how you live (now and in the future)
If you’re empty nesters, having a bedroom that works well for when your kids come back home to visit from out of town might be important. If you work from home, a study is obviously important.
If your kids are teenagers, a master bedroom that’s positioned away from the others might be important. It’s also important to think a few years ahead. For example, your kids might be 10 and 12 right now, but in a few short years they will be teenagers and your needs will change.
Think about your budget
One of the big advantages to modular homes is that they can grow with your needs. You might fall in love with a larger home but don’t have the budget to suit. With Hunter Valley Modular Homes, you can build a home with one or two bedrooms (plus kitchen and living/dining) now, then add more bedrooms at a later date as your available budget increases.
These are just some introductory ideas. Our Team are on hand to help you consider all the issues that go into choosing the best design to suit your needs.
A lot of people think a Modular Home is some sort of pod structure that’s made in China from some sort of exotic plastic materials, then shipped to Australia and plonked on a site.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The reality is that Hunter Valley Modular Homes are built right here in our factory on the Central Coast. Our homes are built using the exact same techniques and materials as homes that are built “on-site”. (Except for boring old bricks of course). This means timber or steel frames, fibre cement or timber cladding, good quality insulation, plasterboard internal linings, ceramic tiles and even stone benchtops. Everything you’d expect in your home is available.
The main differences are:
Modular Homes are built undercover, in a quality-controlled environment that’s not affected by rain. This type of construction is the way of the future.
They are typically built much faster than site-built homes.
They are more economical…so you get more bang for your buck.
Site works are kept to a minimum. Yes, some concrete footings need to be poured in place but once your new home arrives it’s mostly complete with only a few finishing touches to go.
Your houses frame is never left exposed to the elements because it’s already way past “lock-up” stage when it arrives.
So, if it’s important to you that your new home is built to suit your custom requirements, to your budget, and in a reasonable time period…maybe you should consider stepping into the future of building and selecting a Modular Home!
If you’re looking to build a new home, a factory-built home (also called a modular home) could be a great option. Here are the top five reasons why a factory-built house can provide many advantages over traditional site-built construction.
Factory-built, modular homes, are built in a more controlled environment
You won’t have delays due to bad weather. With the usual site-built process, the construction materials used in your home are exposed to rain and sun until “lock-up” is reached. When building in a factory there’s always a roof protecting your building from the elements.
When you have a house built on your site you can have lots of noise, dirt and dust. Building in a factory means you’ll have fewer issues with neighbours.
Because your home is built in a highly controlled environment, it’s far easier to have tight quality controls. This means every element that goes into your home is closely inspected and monitored for quality control.
Your new home arrives at your site almost complete and ready to connect to utilities
Most of the hard work has been done in the factory. There’s only a short amount of site preparation to install the footings that your new home will be placed on. Then there’s the job of “complexing” which means joining the individual modules together. After that, the services (water, electrical and gas) are connected. Some small paint, plaster, and other touch ups as well as installation of any decks and other external fixtures follows.
In a few short weeks, your home is ready to move into.
Factory-built, modular home construction takes less time than traditional site-built construction methods
Factory-built home construction takes less time than traditional site-built construction methods. This allows you to start living in your new home much sooner than with traditional methods!
If you’re knocking down and rebuilding, this means you don’t have to move out for the entire duration of the build. You can wait until a week or two before the footings need to be installed, and a few short weeks later you can move back in to your new home.
4. You can customize many details of your home
Although there’s a wide range of plans available to suit almost any site, there are always some things that are unique to the way you live. With the factory-built process it’s often easier to make changes to the “off the shelf” designs to perfectly suit your way of living.
Your home can be customised to how you want it. From layouts to fixtures and colours, you can customize many details of your modular home.
5. Modular building is more cost effective than site-built construction
Modular homes are built in a factory, which means less time onsite. This saves trades travel time because they are driving to the same site every day and working on multiple homes. This means cost savings which ultimately flow onto you, the homeowner.
Having your home built in a factory means the builder has more control over the quality of construction and there are fewer chances for mistakes to be made…and again, that means cost savings.
Building in a factory means less waste during manufacture. For example, small timber offcuts from one house under construction get used for noggings in another being built next to it in the factory. With site building these offcuts would normally lie around on a muddy site in the rain, until they were thrown away. Wasting precious resources and costing the homeowner more.
Conclusion
With all the benefits of factory-built housing, it’s no wonder so many people are choosing modular construction over conventional methods. If you want to learn more about the benefits of prefab homes, contact us today! We’ll be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have about this method of home building
There are a lot of misconceptions about what a “modular” home is. In some ways it’s simpler to first explain what a modular home isn’t.
What a Modular Home isn’t:
A modular home isn’t a “kit” home. A kit home arrives on your site in bundles of construction materials that need to be put together on your site.
A modular home isn’t a ”mobile home”. A mobile home is a bit like an oversized caravan that gets wheeled to your site…it’s the sort of thing you’d find in a trailer park.
A modular home isn’t a cabin. A cabin is as small structure for holiday parks – typically made up of only 1 or 2 rooms.
What a Modular Home is:
Once it’s been installed, a modular home is indistinguishable from a home that’s been built onsite. It’s built from traditional building materials, timber or steel frames, externally clad in the same way a site-built home is, with insulation in the wall cavity and plasterboard on the inside. The kitchens are built in exactly the same way as a site-built home with any type of cupboard doors, benchtops or appliances you like. The bathrooms are built with tiles, vanities and benchtops of your choice, just like a site-built home.
A modular home is a factory-built home. Your home is built in a quality-controlled environment under a roof where weather doesn’t negatively affect the quality or construction times. It’s then transported to your site in “modules”. These modules are joined back together on your site, utilities are connected, and the finishing touches are made in a matter of weeks.
in short, a modular home is one that’s built to a high level of quality, in a controlled environment, that looks no different (or looks better) than a site-built home. Modular homes are built faster and often more cost effectively than homes that are built on-site.
Modular homes (also known as “prefabricated” or “factory built” homes) have been around for more than 100 years, but they aren’t just for people who live in remote areas or can’t afford traditional building methods.
Today’s modular homes are stylish and modern, and provide many benefits over conventional construction methods. Here are some reasons why building a modular home might be just right for you:
Speed of Construction
A modular home is built with the same materials as a site-built home. This means that you can expect the same quality material, craftsmanship and standard features. The difference between a modular home and one built on site is that it arrives in modules, transported by truck to your property. The assembly of the house takes place in just days reducing construction times significantly
Modular homes are also built to meet all local building codes, council requirements, zoning laws and energy efficiency standards set forth by your council or the building code of Australia.
The speed of construction is a major advantage. Building a house onsite takes many months and in today’s environment could take a year or longer. If you are re-building your home this could mean you have to move out and rent somewhere else for all this time. Noise and mess onsite are also major issues and can often lead to having unhappy neighbors from the moment you move in. A Modular Home can commence being built in the factory as soon as Council Approval has been granted. Construction in the factory takes approximately 16 weeks. Normally site works to prepare for the delivering of the factory-built modules only need to start a couple of weeks before delivery and installation. Then there’s only a few jobs that need to happen onsite before you can move in a few weeks after delivery.
Value for Money
When it comes to modular homes, the price is right. Modular homes are an excellent option for you and your family because they offer value for money.
Modular homes often cost less than site-built homes:
Building in the factory saves wastage and pilferage that can happen onsite
You can save money on the construction time
You can save money on rent waiting for your new home to be built
The controlled nature of a factory build leads to labour time savings which get passed onto you
Quality Control
The quality control that a factory environment gives a builder is a major advantage of choosing a modular home. You’ve probably driven past lots of building sites that have stood idle in the rain for days (or weeks) on end, while their frames are getting wet, flooring timbers are swelling, and the site is a quagmire of mud.
The factory environment enables all materials to be fitted under ideal, dry conditions. This environment also allows strict quality control processes and checks to be undertaken throughout the construction.
Flexibility of Design
If you’ve ever built a home before, then you know that designing the perfect house can be a challenge. Contrary to popular belief modular homes can be designed to fit your specific site constraints. If a budget doesn’t quite fit with your desires or if there are other factors that need to be considered (such as an existing house on the property), then the design can be changed as needed.
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
Modular homes are built with the same high standards as site-built homes using industry-standard building materials and methods. However, the factory environment is ideal for adding energy efficient design components like extra insulation, sheathing, high quality weather resistant barriers and installation practices. This means it’s often easier to achieve a more energy efficient house through building in the factory rather than onsite.
Conclusion
Modular homes are a great way to build your dream home in a short amount of time and with minimal disruption making them an excellent choice for those who want their new home built as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.
With so many building options available in the marketplace, you may be wondering how to choose what option is best for you.
Modular homes are one of the best kept secrets in the building industry at the moment, but many people may not be fully aware of the benefits of a modular build. A modular or prefabricated home is one that is constructed off site in a factory and transported and assembled on site.
Prefabrication has come a long way since its inception centuries ago. They are becoming the most innovative and progressive builds and evolving into state of the art architectural designs.
So why modular homes and more importantly why should you build with Hunter Valley Modular Homes?
Shorter construction time
Modular homes usually take less time than a traditional build due to a few factors.
A team of dedicated builders are constructing your home in a factory offsite, limiting interruptions from bad weather or site issues. Whilst the home is being built offsite, work can also continue with site preparation so everything is ready to go when the home is ready to be delivered. Working simultaneously in factory and onsite saves time in the overall build and usually equates to approximately 15 weeks from start to finish.*
The factory is on a tight schedule ensuring that all deadlines are met and your home is delivered during the agreed timeframe.
Modular goes where other builders won’t
If you are in a rural or remote location you might find it hard getting a builder to build onsite. As the major part of modular construction takes place off site in a factory setting, the need to access the remote location on a daily basis is reduced.
Flexible and less intrusive
As the majority of the construction phase occurs off site in a factory, modular companies do not need to access the site until 2-3 weeks before installation to prepare footings etc. This means less intrusion to your site, especially if you are living in a home on site that will need to be demolished before installation. This flexibility also saves costs on having to find accommodation across the whole construction period.
Versatile and Customisable
Just like traditional builds, modular homes can be added upon as your life stage changes without the builder intrusion. As your family grows, you can add another module, which once again will be built offsite in a factory and only brought to your home for installation. This planning for future modules can happen as early as the initial discussions with the modular company. Many of the modular designs are created with future additions in mind.
Sustainable options
Renovation and construction waste accounts for around 40% of landfills so it’s important to consider this when building.
The modular home construction process is more sustainable than a traditional build with less wastage being built in a factory under strict building processes.
In addition to this, your home can be very eco-friendly by choosing environmentally friendly building materials, positioning your home for the best natural elements and adding water efficiency and reducing energy consumption options.
Why build with Hunter Valley Modular Homes?
Onsite Draftsman
At Hunter Valley Modular Homes, we have an onsite draftsman who will be on hand to make any alterations to your plans to create the perfect home. Our draftsman will be able to guide you when you are out of ideas and let you know what is possible when it comes to your home layout.
Innovative and affordable designs
We have a large range of classic and contemporary designs to choose from at Hunter Valley Modular Homes, however if you can’t find something to suit your style and budget, you can work with our draftsman to achieve something you can afford and suits your living requirements. We pride ourselves on the quality of craftsmanship, construction standards and turnaround times of all our homes.
We are local
Hunter Valley Modular Homes has been building in Newcastle and the Hunter since 1973 and continues to work with customers to create their dream home. Hunter Valley Modular Homes travels to anywhere in New South Wales and with our sales office and display homes in Heatherbrae
We are with you every step of the way
Your journey of building your Hunter Valley Modular Homes will be closely managed by the friendly and supportive staff who will guide you through every step. From the moment you sit down with our staff you become family, and they will ensure that the process you are about to embark on runs as smooth as possible. From liaising with council to having the services connected to your finished home, Hunter Valley Modular Homes staff will be there from start to finish.
We look forward to being on this journey with you when the time is right!
Understanding the process of building a modular home may assist your decision in choosing a modular home over a standard build. The biggest difference is most modular homes are built in a factory and transported to your land but they also have the capabilities of building on site. The modular homes process takes place in 10 easy steps.
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Step 1-Do your research
If you are unfamiliar with modular homes, the first step is to do your research. Call, email, or drop in to our display homes in Heatherbrae to speak directly to one of the sales staff who can set you on the right path. This is a great opportunity to look at some of our designs on offer or talk about a custom designed option.
Step 2- Organise a site inspection
Once you have spoken to our sales staff, a site investigation will be required to ensure that an accurate quote can be given. We need to ensure that access is easily obtainable and if anything is going to obstruct or hold up the building process. The site could also determine the design and what is achievable.
Step 3- Design consultation
You may have some ideas of what you would like your home to look like or you may have no ideas and are happy to look at our range of designs. This is the step where the magic happens. Designing your home is the exciting part and our sales consultants and onsite draftsman are on hand to discuss all possible options. You may like one of our designs but would like to customize it to suit your living style. This is all possible when you sit down with our onsite draftsman.
Step 4- Project estimate & quote acceptance
After the initial consultation, design consultation, and site inspection has occurred, a detailed quote can be put together based on your unique vision, chosen design, and site requirements. Any changes to the design during the process or upgrades may add an additional cost to your quote. Once you’re happy with the design and inclusions of your new modular home, we can sign the paperwork once your deposit is paid and start bringing your dream home to life.
Step 5- Plans are drawn up
Once the quote is accepted, surveys will be obtained and detailed plans are done. Our team will complete all applications and reports, ready to submit.
Step 6- Colour Consultation
This is the opportunity to meet with one of our friendly team to choose your new modular home colour palette for your internal and external finishes. You will have the opportunity to see the home in 3D for the first time and check out the options for fixtures and fittings in our colour room.
Step 7- Council Approval
At this stage, the final plans are submitted to council for approval. This can take between 8-12 weeks on average. (NB: Hunter Valley Modular Homes have no control over how long the council process takes. The stated time of 8 to 12 weeks is an estimate only and depending on council workload and requirement, this could take longer.)
Step 8- Contracts are signed
Once finance has been secured and all the details of your build are confirmed and ready, contracts can be signed.
Step 9- Building work commences
Now everything has been signed off, we can get started building your dream home. The majority of your build will take place in our factory limiting interruptions from bad weather or site issues. Whilst the home is being built offsite, work can also continue with site preparation so everything is ready to go when the home is ready to be delivered. This usually takes around 10 weeks in the factory plus an additional 5 weeks on-site with full installation.
Step 10- Home Installation
When the build and final checks have been completed, it’s time to transport your finished home on a truck to the site and install it on your block. Full installation and connections of services can take up to 5 weeks after delivery. Once this is complete, you are ready to move into your new modular home and enjoy.
The 10 step process is really as simple as it looks and is definitely a benefit of choosing a modular home over a standard build. If there are any hurdles during the process, our sales staff will be there with you every step of the way to sort it out.
