Pre-Fab homes

[elessar78]

Saw that Warren Buffet recently bought this company that builds pre-fabricated homes. Not trailer homes, but more like architect designed modular homes.

Clayton Homes introduces the i-house, the new Revolutionary thought in home building.

What do y'all think about this? Would you ever consider it as a primary residence? It's crossed my mind more than once. We have a lot of open land around us and it seems like an interesting option (compared to the more traditional "stick built" homes).

[EEinNJ]

I have an interest in what the design crowd calls "Pre-Fab Modern", which this i-House is an example of. The general idea is these kind of houses are better built and less expensive because it's done in a factory. There's also an emphasis on interesting, "green" design. "Dwell" Magazine covers this kind of architecture.

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA, NYC) had an exhibition of the various attempts at pre-fab in the last century. Most were not successful. Unless you build a lot of them all the same (Levittown), modulars are not cheaper. Then, they're not individual and interesting anymore, so people don't accept them.

[elessar78]

I have an interest in what the design crowd calls "Pre-Fab Modern", which this i-House is an example of. The general idea is these kind of houses are better built and less expensive because it's done in a factory. There's also an emphasis on interesting, "green" design. "Dwell" Magazine covers this kind of architecture.

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA, NYC) had an exhibition of the various attempts at pre-fab in the last century. Most were not successful. Unless you build a lot of them all the same (Levittown), modulars are not cheaper. Then, they're not individual and interesting anymore, so people don't accept them.

Interesting. Can you tell me more about why they are not cheaper? I mean I know they aren't but you seem to know more than I do about it. A comparable home(square footage) that is stick built is only marginally more expensive.

Yeah, I keep seeing them pop up in Dwell. I do find it interesting. I also heard, which I thought would be the main interest from the frugal crowd, is that they are much more energy efficient than they're traditional counterparts. No dice though.

[elessar78]

More, awesome, examples of prefab modern

fablist

[EEinNJ]

I think there are several reasons pre-fabs are not cheaper. They are low volume, so the overhead of the design firm, and a manufacturing facility, add to the cost. Then there's the cost of delivery, and the site prep and finishing.
But probably the biggest cost increases I've seen in the custom houses I've seen built (stick/panelized/adobe, etc.) or read about is, because of the homeowners themselves. Move a wall here, bigger window there, granite countertops, etc. When you build a house yourself, it's very easy to go beyond the basics.

[wincrasher]

What you are saving is time in the field, supposedly improved quality, and of course lowered risk for change orders due to weather and other issues.

All these things carry a premium. So what is moving into a new house in 2 months instead of 8 worth to you?

[rob62521]

Funny you should ask...my folks had one when they were relocated because of a highway going through and it was great -- good insulation, well built. What was ironic was my husband's folks did the same thing about 10 years previous and they were happy with theirs as well. (I didn't know dh at the time any of this was going on.) I think they are a good route if you need a decent home quickly.