Avalon Building Systems Blog

This is the perfect time to build a new modular home. Why? Because there is no backlog. The wait time is much less. Spring and summer are busy building seasons, but fall and winter are also a great time to consider building a new home. And with modular construction, you can be in your home before the real winter hits.

In every season it takes much less time to build a modular home than it does to build a stick-built home.  From start to finish, a modular home can take as few as three months. But right now, our time is your time.

Your new modular home is usually delivered within 4 to 6 weeks after details are finalized and your order is placed. Compare this to conventionally built projects, which may take a year or more to complete. The uncertain nature of scheduling most "stick-built" projects can cause coordination problems and financial nightmares for buyers.

When the home is delivered, it will arrive more than 90% complete with only a small amount of finish and connection work remaining to be done. Working with Avalon Building Systems, you can be certain that your home or building will be delivered as promised without any unforeseen delays or scheduling problems. We take pride in satisfying our customers.

Contact Avalon Building Systems to start the process of building your dream home.

Modular construction is confusing for new home buyers and for people in the construction industry. Modular construction has been around awhile, but has been increasing dramatically therefore,  the concept seems relatively new. It is also confusing trying to discern the information you do come across about modular homes and modular home manufacturers.

This blog is to help clarify these myths and to help you make a good educated decision for your personal situation.

MYTH: Modular homes are far less expensive
FACT: Modular homes are still quite an investment; and the price increases obviously as the square footage increases.  Usually, they cost 10-35% less than stick built homes, or $20- $30 per square foot. In making your decision between traditional and modular construction, be sure you are comparing the same type of house.

MYTH: Modular homes are stronger
FACT: Yes, this is true. Modular homes are built to be shipped on a truck. So, rather than using nails, modular homes are built with screws and glue. 

MYTH: Modular homes don't last
FACT: Many of the modular homes  that were constructed in the 50's are still around. With the proper maintenance and repairs, modular homes last just like stick built homes, and they also appreciate over time.

MYTH: Modular buildings all look alike
FACT: Modular homes can all be customized. You can choose from many different floor plans of modular home from the manufacturer. Those floor plan designs can be further customized. With modular homes you can have a custom home at an affordable price.

Source:  Modular Today

Modular homes are built using an engineered approach to produce buildings more efficiently and cost effectively that can deliver lower home prices per square foot. Rather than built with traditional construction methods, sections of the home are pre-fabricated at an off-site climate controlled factory. As the modules are finished they are brought to the construction site and assembled. The GC then completes the finishing touches which create a beautiful, custom designed home that match and often exceed the quality and appearance of stick built homes.

According to industry statistics, homes built by modular construction has more than doubled in the last ten years. This is because the modular building process saves time and money. They are built similar to an assembly line, to deliver more efficiency and quality. Also because they are built indoors in a factory, the weather does not cause delays or defects which greatly reduces labor and materials costs. With the fabrication for all homes done in one place, the factories can buy bulk quantities of supplies at lower rates.

Modular home prices will vary depending where you live but a general guide is that modular homes pricing will be about $20-$30 less per sq. ft. than stick built homes which can really add up on a 2000 square foot home.

Avalon Building Systems would like to help rebuild Joplin, MO.  We can put those devastated by the disaster in a brand new home, in as little as 3 months.

The massive twister of three-quarters of a mile struck Joplin, MO just weeks after several tornadoes struck southern states. National Weather Service said the twister,  an EF5, the strongest rating assigned to tornadoes, had winds of more than 200 mph.  An estimated 8,000 homes and apartments, and more than 500 commercial properties, were damaged or destroyed in the Joplin Missouri tornado.

Avalon Building Systems, a modular home construction company, has set out to help victims displaced from their homes in Joplin to rebuild. Modular homes are every bit as strong, often stronger than site built homes. Meeting or exceeding state home construction standards, you will feel comfortable and safe in a modular home.

Modular homes are built in much less time than traditionally built homes. The modules are built in factories to exacting standards and then brought to your property. From the time the modules are set on the home’s foundation to the time you can move in to your new home is about 4-6 weeks.  These modular homes are also highly customizable. Replicate your old home, make those changes to your floor plan that you had been thinking about, or start with a fresh design.

Contact Avalon Building Systems today, and let us help you get into your new home faster and easier than you had thought was possible. Avalon would like to help rebuild Joplin, MO.

There is better, faster way to do your home addition. Rather than the long process of traditional, stick built construction, think about a modular home addition. Regardless of how your existing home was built, you can upgrade or expand your existing home with a modular addition.

Oftentimes, after meeting with the contractor and planning out your home addition you can get disheartened about the length of time it will take for the project to come together. With modular home additions your home renovation will be completed much faster, and you will be enjoying your new space much sooner.

Not only are modular home additions more economical, with no sudden cost surprises, but they are more energy efficient as well.  Modular construction is the answer. Contact Avalon Building Systems to discuss the option of a modular addition on your existing home. With the right plan most homes can be expanded modularly. Avalon is more than happy to work with an existing home owner. We can turn your existing home into your dream home.

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are prefabricated insulated structural elements for use in building walls, ceilings, floors, and roofs. Avalon Building Systems, Inc. was the designer and builder of the very first "modular SIPS" home in the United States. Potential home owners often have the initial perception that SIP modular homes are “kits” that you buy out of a catalog with predetermined floor plans. This is not the case. Modular home floor plans can be and are most often custom designed.

In doing research regarding building a new home, a homeowner will try to seek out ways to speed up the building process while lowering labor costs and energy bills. Structural insulated panels are the answer to this search.
Avalon Building Systems and the homeowner design the plans. Those plans then go to the SIP manufacturer who custom builds all the SIP components needed to build the home. So the home is a modular home, but a custom one. However, you can purchase actual predesigned homes where speed is increased and the costs are even lower.

SIP’s provide superior and uniform insulation compared to stick built homes, offering energy savings of 12%–14%. When installed properly, SIPs also provide a more airtight dwelling, which makes a house more comfortable and quiet. A home built using SIPs are typically airtight. Therefore families are not affected by seasonal allergens. Additionally, in the summer cool air stays in, in the winter, cold air stays out with no cold or drafty spots.

For a new modular home which is custom designed and energy efficient, contact Avalon Building Systems.

Modular construction is one of the fastest growing forms of home building in the market today. Increased efficiency and our ability to apply modern technology to the needs of the market place are what make modular homes so desirable. Avalon Building Systems offers designs that encompass the entire spectrum of the market; from affordable single-family designs to high end luxury homes to vacation getaways. The combination of more efficient construction with reduced construction time, and unlimited customizations are the primary reasons why many home buyers are switching from traditional stick-building to modular home construction.

There is one question that always seems to come up in our conversations with people as they contemplate their construction choices. “Which type of home is stronger, modular or traditional?” The consensual answer is that modular homes are stronger. They are built in a controlled environment where outside elements cannot add wear and tear to the process or materials. Modular home builders also use screws instead of nails and add glue to all the joints to increase the strength of the home.

Today’s modular homes rival any site-built home in design and functionality. Advancements in computer design and factory technology allows almost any custom home plan to be constructed as a modular home. For those interested in a finely crafted home that can be built and completed in a fraction of the time of a conventional home, modular homes have become the preferred type of construction by many.

How much do modular homes cost?
As with stick built construction the cost of a modular home will vary depending on what you put in the home and the style of home you choose. Modular homes prices compare favorably with an equivalent site-built home.

How long does it take to build a modular home?
Generally, it is approximately 4 months to complete the typical modular home, from the time of final plans. This is, of course, a rough estimate. However, the timeframe can be shortened with various alterations.

Are modular homes built as well as stick built homes?
Talk with homeowners, inspectors and do the research and you will see that the answer to this question is a "YES!" Modular homes have around 30% more lumber which makes them strong enough to be lifted and moved by a crane. Modular homes are far more square and level than site built homes. There are numerous inspections during the construction process to ensure a quality finished home.

Can modular floor plans be customized?
Yes. There are standard floor plans of course, however, floor plans of each style home can be customized, as well as the amenities inside the home.

Is it hard to finance a modular home?
No. In fact, it's quite simple. Modular homes generally qualify for the same rates as site-built homes.

Does it cost more to insure a modular home?
No. A modular home will usually get the same insurance rates as a traditional site-built home.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to call Avalon Building Systems. We are happy to help.

Modular “SIPs” or Structural Insulated Panels were first designed by Avalon Building Systems. These panels are used in their modular homes. SIPs are prefabricated insulated sides of the modules which make up the walls, ceilings, floors, and roofs. They provide more superior and uniform insulation than stud or "stick frame" construction, with energy savings of 12%–14%. Because of their insulating qualities, SIPs also make the home quieter. These modular homes easily exceed "Energy Star Standards" and are certified to meet LEEDS platinum standards for new residential construction. LEED certification is based on a point system in which a building can obtain a Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum level certification and is an internationally recognized certification system that measures how well a building performs in energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor air quality, and more.
 
Structural Insulated Panels are made in a factory and shipped to the manufacturing facilities. Manufacturers then connect them together to construct a house. When using SIPs, the speed of construction is much faster than stick built residential construction. Shells can be erected quickly, saving labor time and money, without compromising quality. These savings help compensate for the fact that SIPs usually cost more than other construction systems, but through the modular manufacturing process which is far more efficient than traditional construction, the overall costs are much lower, so the higher costs of SIPs are negated.