Century Builders teamed with Nationwide Custom Homes to be able to provide a high quality modular house to its customers. We feel that system built housing is the way of the future: better product, lower cost and faster build time.
Nationwide offers over 70 floor plans. In addition, most plans can be made as modular housing. These houses feature high quality features found in our "stick built" housing. The per square foot building cost is much less using the system built approach.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers About Systems-Built Houses
What is Systems-Built Housing?
Systems-Built Housing refers to a type of home construction where certain components of the home are manufactured and assembled in a plant before arriving at a home site. Components are manufactured in a controlled environment with minimal exposure to inclement weather.
Who Uses Building systems?
Systems-building techniques are prevalent in residential and commercial construction. From one-story houses to high-rise apartment buildings and offices, more and more builders are implementing building systems technology into their structures.
What is the difference between a Modular Home and a Panelized Home?
While modular and panelized homes employ similar construction technology, the main difference is that modular homes are shipped to a home site nearly complete while panelized homes require more assembly by the homebuilder. A module is up to 90% complete with walls, floorings, ceilings, and even wall and floor coverings complete before being shipped from the factory.
Panelization is the most widely used form of systems-built housing. It refers to a construction method where housing components are assembled in a climate-controlled facility before being shipped to a home site. Component panel types include simple pre-cut floor and roof trusses and strong, efficient insulated panels.
How Are Modular and Panelized Homes Built?
Modular and panelized homes begin as components that are designed, engineered and assembled in the controlled environment of a modern manufacturing facility. After assembly in the factory, the modules or panels are shipped via ground transport to the home site where the local builder takes over. Your homebuilder will arrange and assemble the home's components on a foundation. After the components are set and assembled, the builder can customize the home with decks, patios, masonry and more.
How Long Does it Take to Build a Modular Home?
Because of the manufacturing process and ease of assembly, Modular homes can be completed in a short period of time. Typically, a two-story, 2500-square-foot home can be constructed in a factory in under a week, and an experienced systems builder can complete a home in just a few weeks. A study conducted by the Building Systems Council of the National Home Builders Association found that construction of a 2600-square-foot home with trusses and panels:
- Uses 26% less lumber
- Generates 76% less waste
- Is Constructed in 37% of the man-hours
of a similar "stick-built" home.
Does Using a Building System Affect the Quality of a Home?
Not only are log, modular and panelizeed built to the same national, state and local building codes as stick-built homes, these type of building systems often exceed building codes. Log, modular and panelized homes must withstand the rigors of ground transportation, so manufacturers routinely reinforce walls, ceilings and other components to ensure the highest quality product reaches its destination. Century Builders has partnered with Nationwide Custom Homes, the nation's premier provider of systems-built homes, which sends its components through a three-step quality control procedure involving 279 individual inspections. The engineering of each floor plan is third-party certiified for construction in every state where nationwide markets its homes, including South Carolina.
Is a Modular Home the Same as a Manufactured Home?
No. Manufactured homes, sometimes called mobile homes or trailer homes, are a different type of building system than log, modular or panelized homes. Hanufactured homes are constructed to the Federal Construction Safety Standards Act (HUD/CODE). Unlike conventional building codes, this standard requires manufactured homes to be constructed on a non-removable steel chassis. Log, modular and panelized homes are built on a foundation to the building code required by your state, county and specific locality.
What do Modular and Panelized Homes Look Like?
Modular and panelized homes are often indistinguishable from a stick-built home. Today's building technology allows systems-built manufacturers to build most any style home from a simple ranch to a customized contemporary. Modular and panelized construction also is prevalent in commercial construction including banks, schools, office buildings and hotels.
How Much Design Flexibility Comes with Modular or Panelized Homes?
A great deal. Most manufacturers have a portfolio of standardized floor plans with a variety of personalization options for customization. Computer Assisted Design (CAD) allows homebuyers to work closely with a manufacturer to design a customized home. However, engineering capabilities and product specifications will vary from company to company.
What Are the Cost Benefits of Systems Building?
An efficient construction process that minimizes excess waste and labor generally reduces the cost of systems-built construction. When homes are deliverd to a home site, they are assembled in less time than a stick-built home, greatly reducing the potential for inclement weather, theft and workplace vandalism. Over the life of the home, systems-built construction saves money because the homes are more energy efficient.
