The National Association of Home Builder’s Building Systems Council showcase took place last week in New Orleans.  Each year, the Building Systems Councils honors industry leaders through its Excellence in Marketing and Home Design awards program. The awards honor those excelling in building with systems in the categories of exceptional home design and marketing materials. Applicants include manufacturers, builders, and associate members.

The Building Systems Councils (BSC) is the leading resource for the concrete, log, modular, and panelized home building industries.  The BSC aims to educate and inspire through consumer-friendly documents and interactive learning tools. All members of the BSC are active members of NAHB via their local HBA or NAHB International.

Shoot us an email – info@vestadevelopmentgroup.com or call us at 914 517-5100.

If you can’t make it – make sure to check back here for updates.  Let us know if you have any questions or comments…

Some benefits of using a Superior Walls system:

• DRY: using a special low water/cement ratio concrete that requires no additional dampproofing (See ESRs-1553 & 1662).
• WARM: with full-length insulation built in to increase energy efficiency.  Research indicates that over 33% of the heat loss through the basement occurs at the top 24 inches. That’s why Superior Walls foundations feature a continuous layer of insulation bonded directly to the concrete, resulting in high energy efficiency to help you reduce energy costs. 
• STRONG: 5000+ psi concrete is reinforced with steel rebar and polypropylene fibers for added strength and performance. The wall panels also feature convenient features like built-in accesses for wiring and stud facings for easy drywall installation with screws.  The purpose of any wall footing is to distribute the wall’s load over a sufficiently large area of soil so that the soil bearing capacity is not exceeded. Superior Walls utilizes a crushed stone footing to accomplish this. This properly prepared layer of clean crushed stone transfers the load from our wall system to the soil.  Superior Walls panels are bolted together at the top and the bottom of each panel and a one-part polyurethane sealant is used to seal the panel joints of the foundation system. This one-part polyurethane sealant is specifically manufactured for use with precast concrete products
• SPEED: A typical home foundation can be installed in less than one day. The walls can then be built upon or a modular home may be set on the walls immediately after installation.

Similar to the construction & setting of a modular home – a SW foundation saved the homeowner time & money. SW’s certified trained crew completed this foundation in one day.

This particular project is for a 3,000 sq ft single family home in a subdivision in Long Island, NY.  As you can tell from the surrounding vegetation this site was lightly wooded & needed to be cleared prior to excavating for the foundation.

 Once the hole for the foundation is complete & all measurements are verified - the foundation crew can begin their prep work for the installation of the foundation.  We’re using a prefabricated foundation system on this house called Superior Walls.

Utilizing Modular Construction, we can reduce construction costs by 40% and construction time by 50% on average. The major benefits of using the modular construction process are:

            *Speed of construction

            *Quality Control

            *Cost Control

            *Design Flexibility

            *Energy Efficiency

In addition, Modular Construction is inherently Green:

•  Controlled Environment. Structures are built indoors & materials are protected from weather on site which reduces the risk of warping, mold and moisture problems. This creates healthier living conditions and clean non-toxic air.
• Reduced Waste. Quality Engineering and factory construction significantly reduces material waste & allows for recycling of materials. Structures are delivered 80% complete which minimizes environmental impact & site disruption.
• Energy Efficiency. Tightly constructed & sealed building envelope maximizes energy efficiency, improves air quality & reduces the amount of carbons released into our environment.  Every home we build is approximately 15% more energy-efficient than a standard home, with the potential to be at least 20-30% more efficient.

Vesta understands the importance of creating environmentally conscious and sustainable developments and is committed to reducing the environmental impact during the sitework, construction and over the lifespan of a project.   Investors, tenants, and homeowners also benefit from lower operating costs, reduced maintenance, improved quality & durability, rebates and tax incentives.

Materials:

Modular homes are built in assembly line factory production and only the highest quality kiln dried lumber will be accepted.  Green, warped, badly knotted or splintered pieces will not work with precision equipment in the assembly line and are therefore rejected.  This is important to the overall quality of the home because poor quality lumber is more likely to dry unevenly causing it to warp, twist and split. Additionally, all other materials including electircal, plumbing, drywall, insulation, and finish materials are choosen because of their quality and realibility which has been proven in thousands of homes.

Climate Control:

Modular homes are constructed in a climate controlled factory.  This prevents weather related damage & delays.  Once a modular home is completed in the factory it is weather wrapped for delivery & it only exposed during the set.  Typically a home is set & weathered in within a few hours & at most a few days. Homes built on site are exposed to the weather until the home is completely closed in, which can be several weeks.  In addition, it avoids weather related delays or poor workmanship due to extreme weather.  

 Quality Control:

 Modular homes are inspected throughout the entire process from framing to plumbing to electrical & so on. There are both planned & unannounced inspections.  It’s important to note that inspections are for quality control and code compliance.  Site-built home inspections are only for local code compliance.  This means that if a home is poorly built, but meets code, the inspector must pass it.  Modular home plans are approved by the state before construction begins and after construction is complete a third party state inspector completes an additional inspection before the home is approved for delivery. 

 Energy Efficiency:

Reducing air infiltration is the best way to increase energy efficiency.  The biggest factor in how much energy is used to heat & cool a house is air leakage (cracks & holes).  This is even more important than poorly insulated windows, doors, walls, floors, etc.  Standard modular construction techniques such as caulking along exterior sheathing seams & windows flanges, insulating around electrical fixtures & plumbing pipes at wall openings effectively reduce air infiltration.  In fact, all of our modular homes can easily be built to meet the requirements of the US EPA’s Energy Star program to ensure energy efficiency.

 Construction Specifications:

Modular homes must be designed & constructed to be transported over long distances at high speeds & well as be lifted by cranes into place on the foundation.  Modular manufacturers use several techniques in order to ensure the structure can withstand these conditions.  A sprayed on adhesive that is considered stronger than screws or nails is used to bond drywall to the walls and ceilings.  Floor systems are built with a double perimeter band which makes the floors exceptionally strong and rigid.  Floor and ceiling joists are installed on all two-story homes so that the ceiling of one story is independent of the floor of the second story.  In addition to making it a stronger home, this also reduces noise between floors.
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• ACQUIRE LAND - If you already own a piece of land, the next step is to determine what you can and cannot build on your building lot.  We can help you navigate the zoning and planning approval process in order to understand all of your options and to acquire the necessary permits and approvals.  We have extensive experience in zoning & planning.  If you do not own a piece of land, we can guide you through the purchase of land that fits the needs of your desired home.

• CUSTOM DESIGN PLANS – Working with our team design and construction team and the engineering team at the modular factory, we can custom design a house with you.  We also have the ability to work with the outside architect of your choice and adapt his plans into a structure that can be built by modular construction.  Once you have decided on a basic layout of the home you can choose from limitless options in construction materials and finish items.  If you want the house delivered with finished carpentry, floors, tile work, carpet, etc is entirely up to you.  All of these items can be installed in the factory or on-site depending on your preference & what is most cost-effective based on your project.

• GUARANTEED PRICING – After we finalize your plans & specifications we can give you a firm guaranteed price for the cost of the house & the foundation to set it on.  Unlike site-built houses this price will not be subject to numerous change-orders & increases in price along the way.  You can decide if you want to complete the remaining site-work on your own or with us.  We can provide turn-key projects or just build the foundation & set the house.  The choice is yours.

• PERMITS & PREP - Once the layout and various construction options are finalized, a final set of fully engineering plans are produced and submitted to the local building department for approval.  Once the building permit is obtained, construction on-site and at the factory begins.  This simultaneous process saves both time and money. As we clear the lot, excavate for the foundation and build the foundation, your home is being built in the factory. 

• HOME DELIVERY & SET - The most exciting part of the process!  After the foundation is built & the modular home is constructed in the factory it is time to deliver & set the house.  The modular home consists of “boxes” that are delivered by tractor trailers to your site.  Generally, the boxes will be delivered to your site or a holding area the day before the set.  During the set, a crane is used to lift the modular components into place on the foundation with the help of an experienced set crew.  After all of the components are set the roof is lifted by the crane and features such as dormers, gables and chimmneys are put into place.  Depending on the size of the project a set can be completed in as little as one day or up to a week.  Your home is already complete with electrical, plumbing, windows, doors, cabinets, fixtures, etc. 

• BUTTON-UP & CO - After the modular is set interior and exterior finish work begins.  Depending on the project the “button-up” work may include:

Air sealing the boxes

Installing the siding, shutters, etc.

Installation of staircases

Water Connections

Electrical Connections

Installation or completion of the heat and air conditioning systems

Finish work at all mating wall sections

Spackling and painting as necessary

Building additional structures on site, such as garages, porches, decks, sunrooms, finished basements, and the second story of unfinished Cape Cods

Final inspections are completed and a Certificate of Occupancy is issued.  Time to move in!

• Material

Modular factories build numerous structures at one time.  Therefore the factory buys large quantities of materials &  benefits from volume discounts which are passed on to the consumer.

• Labor

Local labor forces, especially in the northeast, demand high wages that raise the cost of the homes.  Our homes are built in factories where the total labor rates are lower & the cost savings are passed on to the consumer.

•  Assembly Line

It is well established that assembly line production is more efficient than other methods of production.  Systems built homes can be constructed in as little as 5-10 days.  In addition, while the home is being built in the factory the site work can be completed simultaneously.  The shorter the construction, the less money spent on construction loans, insurance, etc.

•  Material Waste

Because of the efficiency & precision in modular construction there is little waste.  In addition, because the homes are built in a climate controlled factory there is less material loss from inclement weather.

• Theft

Another benefit of building a home in a climate controlled & secure facility is that there is no security risk.  Site built homes are subject to theft, vandalism, etc.

•  Guaranteed Price

Once your design is complete – you will approve plans & specs and agree upon a guaranteed price.  The only change orders that will occur are ones that you approve.  With the exception of site conditions, there are no surprises in the cost of the actual modular structure.   

•  Financing

Modular homes can built built significantly faster than a site-built home.  This means less payments on a construction loan, allowing more features & options within the same budget.  Modular homes appraise and are financed the same as stick-built homes.

• Insurance

Because a modular home can be set onto the foundation and secured faster than site-built homes the consumer lessons the risk of accidents, theft and vandalism. Because of the the shorter construction time the consumer also saves money on the construction insurance.

•  Design

Although we have many stock plans, we custom design every project with our customer.  Using a 3rd party architect is the customer’s choice, but you can save a signficant amount of money designing directly with out team.