In just 2 short weeks Westchester Modular and Squash Meadow will be having a "Behind the Scenes Party" on Martha's Vineyard. Click here for details.
» Builder now assembles modular homes to survive
Newsday, January 6, 2012
January 6, 2012
During the housing boom, Howard Kipnes, president of Cedar Knolls, a residential builder in Ronkonkoma, would purchase land on speculation and build homes when he got a buyer's contract.
That business model took a hit with the Great Recession and the housing bust that still holds Long Island in its grip. The number of permits for construction of single-family homes on Long Island fell to 90 in November, compared to 160 in November 2007, according to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau provided by the New York State Builders Association in Albany.
To stay in business, Kipnes had to find a new approach, one that would reduce the demands on his finances and shrink the time it would take to build homes.
"It was pretty much adapt and survive," said Kipnes, who sold off all the land he owned about four years ago.
Economy forces changes
It's not uncommon these days for businesses to have to adjust to a radically different environment.
"The economy has forced some companies to have to re-evaluate what they do and retool their businesses for the growth opportunities ahead," said Thomas Shinick. He is a professor of entrepreneurship and small business at Adelphi University in Garden City and president of Corporate Development Partners, a Merrick business advisory. "The companies that are doing well today are studying the market and anticipating new trends."
For Kipnes, buying land on spec and building single-family homes over many months would no longer work in a time of plunging demand, tight financing and falling prices.
The solution he came up with: building modular homes on clients' property, and doing more renovation work.
In New York, modular homes have been on the rise, with 421 shipped in the third quarter of 2011 compared to 338 in the year-earlier period, according to the National Modular Housing Council. Long Island statistics were unavailable.
Part of the appeal is price: Modulars tend to cost 5 percent to 10 percent less to construct than traditional homes.
But an even bigger appeal, Kipnes said, is how quickly they can be constructed, as they come in pre-assembled pieces. Depending on size, they take about half the time to complete: typically three to six months, compared to six to 12 for traditional homes.
About two years ago, Kipnes created an alliance with Westchester Modular Homes in Wingdale, N.Y., which manufactures custom-designed, factory-built homes that are sent to Long Island for Kipnes to assemble.
And recently, he said, he landed a $480,000 Small Business Administration loan to renovate an 8,000-square-foot facility in Ronkonkoma as a showroom for his modular and renovation work. He's sharing the space with two other family-related businesses.
The new showroom has a 46-inch, flat-panel monitor that homeowners can view as they design their modular home with a representative from Westchester Modular.
"The showroom will showcase our capabilities and increase sales dramatically," Kipnes said. The alliance with Westchester also helps him tap into the company's national marketing reach.
Quick construction time is one of the big selling points for Jean and Michael Hourihane of Franklin Square, who are having Kipnes build a $250,000 three-bedroom, two-bath modular in Sound Beach.
"We didn't want it to stretch out over a long period of time," said Jean, 48. The home will take about three months from start to finish, she said.
More proposals for sales
Still, buyers are very cautious, said Kipnes. He's been getting more inquiries for modular work over the past year, he said, and has more than 30 proposals he hopes will turn into sales.
He's building his fifth modular home right now and expects to deliver another one shortly. About 75 percent of his $400,000-plus revenue comes from modular builds; the other 25 percent is from renovations.
As part of his efforts to build the business, Kipnes said, Cedar Knolls has launched a Google ad campaign and is expanding its social-media presence to include a Facebook page.
"We're optimistic that with the new year and with interest rates where they are and a little more buyer confidence," Kipnes said, "we'll start to see" an improving housing market.
» Assembly is Required for These Kit Homes
CNBC, December 23, 2011
December 23, 2011
Despite seemingly endless interest in decorating, landscaping, buying, staging and selling houses, actually building a house is a mysterious process that is mostly left to professionals. But for some homeowners, buying and in some cases assembling, a prefabricated home holds appeal.
A kit home can streamline the process of custom-building a house. While the prices aren’t bargain-basement, kit homes can cost less. Keep in mind that these homes cost more to build than just the sticker price on the kit. Buyers might have to pony up for windows, cabinets, fixtures, contractors, subcontractors and other features and services, in addition to purchasing the land where the house is located. The total cost to build the house, minus cost of land is called the turnkey price.
In the first decades of the last century, aspiring homeowners could order their house from a Sears catalog. The tradition is still alive, although not as widespread. Consumers in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany and Britain can order homes from another major retailer, IKEA, whose BoKlok branch sells terraced houses and apartment buildings.
After so much expansion resulting in a glut of empty McMansions, some home buyers think kit homes could be an answer to their desire to return to simpler, more energy efficient housing —especially because today’s kit homes are often very green. What follows is a selection of prefabricated houses in a range of styles — from modern and futuristic to rustic to historic reproductions — nearly all which have energy efficient and sustainable options.
Check out five of the coolest kit homes:
Colonial 1 by Westchester Modular
This Colonial 1 by Westchester Modular can be built in 45 days.
The New York-based builder Westchester Modular offers custom homes in colonial, ranch, cape, and other designs. They look like familiar and traditional house styles but are modular, meaning they are built in cubes and pieces in a factory, on assembly lines. The manufacturer includes all the drywall, electric, plumbing, cabinets, sinks, and fixtures. Then the house is delivered to the job site, where it is set in place by a crane on a foundation. Later, a contractor connects it and does all the site work, including driveway and landscaping.
John Colucci, vice president of sales and marketing, says it’s a misconception that modular homes are of lesser quality than conventionally built homes, citing materials he uses like Andersen windows and all-plywood construction. “It can save a customer money because of our purchasing power. I’m building three houses here a week, so I don’t go through middlemen.” There’s also the time advantage gained when an entire home can be built in 45 days.
Luminhaus by Rocio Romero
This Luminhaus, located in Virginia, costs under $100,000 to construct.
Chilean-American architect Rocio Romero brought the modernist prefab to acclaim with her LV Series of energy efficient habitations. The LV models are highly customizable and environmentally friendly. The home arrives as a kit of parts, and should be assembled onsite by a general contractor. Windows are not included, since requirements vary by location; Romero’s website cites estimates for window packages ranging from $15,000 to $30,000. Cabinetry and interior walls and finishes are not included with the kit.
Caroline from Gastineau Log Homes
This Gastineau-modified Caroline residence is in Missouri.
This particular Gastineau modified Caroline residence is in Eldon, Mo. It has a two-story great room space that includes the living room, kitchen, and dining area, with grand windows. A lofted second story offers views through those windows to the Osage River at the bottom of a bluff. In addition to the 2,086 square feet of living space, there's 1,072 square feet of deck, porch and balcony space.
weeHouse by Alchemy Architecture
weeHouse by Alchemy Architecture says it is built with sustainable materials.
The weeHouse line of modular homes from Alchemy Architecture is built to withstand the strains of winds and earthquakes. They’re made with sustainable materials like bamboo flooring and energy efficient features like passive solar design.
K1 by KitHAUS
This model K1 by KitHAUS was constructed for a Southern California client.
Pictured here is a onetime model K1 aluminum house when it was located at KitHAUS’ former fabrication facility. The California-based modernist company has since relocated facilities, and this module was reconstructed for a client in Southern California.
» Making a Prefab Home Their Own
New York Times, September 21, 2011
September 21, 2011
LAKEVILLE, CONNETICUT -- Pilar Proffitt and Robert Bristow are partners in Poesis, a Connecticut firm known for its residential, interior and furniture design. So two years ago, when the couple decided they wanted a loftlike home for themselves and their three children, they drew up the plans themselves and sent them out to builders for estimates.
But they weren’t expecting the bids to come in at almost $1 million. So they went with the next-best option: a prefabricated home.
They bought the house, “a skeleton that had all the wiring, outlets, plumbing, pipes and electrical,” from Segalla’s TurnKey Housing in Canaan, Conn., said Mr. Bristow, 49. “We then built out the remaining parts of the house: windows, doors, lighting, built-ins, bathrooms, kitchen, flooring, baseboard, trim, window and door details, roofing, overhang details, carport and landscaping.”
The total cost was $493,422, including $250,625 for the modular shell. (The price per square foot was about $137, a figure that does not include the kitchen, which Mr. Bristow built himself, or their furniture, a mix of their own designs, refurbished hand-me-downs and vintage store finds.)
As Ms. Proffitt, 44, observed, “The modular house has advantages: 120 workers will build your house in five days in a factory,” and it arrives “at its appointed hour, or there will be penalties.”
Sure enough, at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 15, 2010, four trailers pulled up to the site, each carrying a box 12 feet wide and 60 feet long. By 5 p.m., the house was set up, and the workers were gone.
Advantages aside, the couple didn’t want the house to look prefabricated. They wanted it to sit comfortably beside the dairy barn and the two silos on the property, which they bought in 2005.
So they took care to erase the telltale signs, beginning with the foundation. A custom house can be fitted to the land, while most modular houses look as if they were dropped from a crane (which they were). Mr. Bristow and Ms. Proffitt created a base of aged granite curbstone that made their house look like it was part of the landscape.
They rejected claddings like vinyl or cedar siding, choosing horizontal pine siding, “for a smooth look like the really old houses,” said Ms. Proffitt, referring to nearby homes built in the 19th century.
For the roof, they used standing-seam metal that matched that of the silos and dairy barn. And instead of sash windows, they chose French casement windows they could “throw open,” Ms. Proffitt said, for an unobstructed view.
Inside, Mr. Bristow, who calls himself the “materials and process” part of the design team, built a kitchen on the ground floor and laid white oak floorboards, while Ms. Proffitt, who is “into color and lighting,” scattered silver-tipped light bulbs across the ceilings in the hallways.
In each child’s bedroom, one wall is chalkboard; the girls chose the color of another wall, in consultation with their mother. Grace, now 11, asked for chartreuse. Ellis, who is 8, picked lavender, but recently she asked her mother to add red polka dots. (“How about red polka dots on the ceiling and working down on the end of the wall?” asked Ms. Proffitt, in an effort to confine the dots to a corner.)
Sam, who is 5, has a blue wall in his bedroom, a color that was chosen for him. As his parents explained, they do not collaborate on design with clients under the age of 7.
» Seven easy pieces: Oak Bluffs home an overnight success
mvtimes.com, August 3, 2011
August 3, 2011
OAK BLUFFS, MA--The housewarming began before Renee and Bruce Balter's new home in Oak Bluffs was even built. At noon last Wednesday, the Balters and onlookers watched as a giant crane carefully lifted the second story of a 2,400-square foot modular design home manufactured by Westchester Modular Homes, swung it past a telephone pole and prepared to set it in place on top of the first floor, which had been set in place hours earlier.
About a dozen enthralled friends and neighbors had gathered in front of the Balter's 10,000-square foot lot at 8 Gorham Avenue at the corner of School street just down the street from Oak Bluffs town hall. The well-wishers were there because the Balters have lots of friends on the Island and many of them had never seen a modular home set up in one day.
"That's our bedroom. This is unbelievable," Ms. Balter, an artist, said. She laughed as she watched the crew guide the second floor section gently to its resting place on the first floor, which had been anchored to the foundation earlier that morning.
Paula Catanese, playing hooky from Craftworks, her store in Oak Bluffs, stood next to her friend. "Yikes! Don't drop it," she counseled the "set crew," as the assembly crew of modular homes are called.
"Paula, see that little bump out on the first floor? That's the living room," Ms. Balter said. Her new home has seven rooms in all, including four bedrooms and two baths.
"Does it have electrical outlets in the walls?" Ms. Catanese asked general contractor Bill Potter of Squash Meadow Construction. "Yep, it's fully-wired, just needs to be plugged in. the walls are primed and ready for painting and the cabinets are already in," Mr. Potter said.
Ms. Catanese's wonder was understandable. On Tuesday, 8 Gorham Avenue was a vacant lot awaiting the arrival of seven pre-built "boxes" or pieces of the home, journeying from New York to New Bedford and barged to the Island. In five and one-half hours on Wednesday morning, the set crew had put five of the seven modules in place.
"People are fascinated with the speed of the process, a fully-completed home erected in a day and one-half or two days," Mr. Potter said. "It's a lot more interesting than standing here for a year watching construction of a stick-built home and a lot more neighborhood-friendly." He said the house would be move-in ready in a few months once the on-Island crew installs exterior shake shingles (the roof arrived with asphalt shingles in place), interior wood floors, a heart pine counter top in the kitchen, and an outdoor deck.
"We sold our house in East Chop in Oak Bluffs and leased it back while we looked for a downsized house," Ms. Balter said. "We couldn't find anything we liked and this lot came on the market so we bought it and decided to build," Bruce Balter, a therapist, added. In consulting with Mr. Potter regarding their plans, the Balters asked whether they could save time and money with a modular construction build.
Mr. Potter credits Westchester Modular Homes, his modular design and build partner, with a design that met the Balter's needs. "Renee and Bruce insisted that the design be consistent with the character of Island architecture and fit their new neighborhood," he said. They wanted it to look like it had always been there." The goal was to build a house on a tight budget with 2,000 square foot of living space that included a screened porch that would epitomize the architecture and charm of Oak Bluffs.
"Originally, we were planning to build the home on-site, given their design ideas," Mr. Potter said. "As you can see, there are a ton of dormers, cathedral ceilings, hips, gables, and exposed rafters. The house totally fits Oak Bluffs and it's not boxy, just the opposite of the popular conception of modular design. Honestly, we didn't think Westchester could build a home that had such an un-modular friendly design. For the heck of it, I sent the plans to Westchester to get their input and the bottom line is that they figured out how to make it work."
The resulting "non-modular" design includes dormers, a studio for Ms. Balter's art, and custom-designed windows. Noting that buyer choices and options can create a wide range of comparable savings from modular versus stick-built construction, Mr. Potter said a modular house like the Balter's would average about $200 a square foot, including everything: freight, foundation, finish work, architectural fees, even appliances.
The stick-built square foot rate on-Island is about $250 per square foot, he said, though buyers can find ways to shave the price, such as providing their own appliances. "I'd say this house provided about 10 per cent in savings rather than 20 per cent, because of its customized design features," he said. The numbers Mr. Potter provided indicate that the Balters will spend about $400,000 and save about $40,000, as well as eight months of waiting for their new home to be completed.
Mr. Potter said that technology has helped the design and modular build process. He said that Westchester sends an architect who works with clients to design their home in real-time on a computer. The design can literally be accomplished in a day. The images are three-dimensional and can be changed and viewed from all aspects so the look of the finished house is easy to see.
"We interviewed seven companies and Westchester won hands down. They build green and they do what they say they're going to do," Mr. Potter said. Mr. Potter has been building houses for nearly 25 years. He said modular design and construction now accounts for about 20 per cent of his business.
The Westchester design/build facility is in Wingdale, in Dutchess County, N.Y. near the southwest corner of Massachusetts. Shipping pre-built homes to an island doesn't present a particular challenge, John Colucci, vice president-sales at Westchester Modular said Tuesday in a telephone conversation.
"We've shipped a very few to Nantucket but we've shipped 10 homes to the Vineyard, including four this year for Bill Potter. It takes a little more coordination with the barges, of course, but we've never had any problems or serious delays," Mr. Colucci said. Mr. Colucci deferred questions on home costs to individual builders because of the wide range of options and choices available. "We know from experience that we can save 15-20 per cent in hard costs compared with site-built homes and there are soft cost benefits, including architectural fees and usually four months of interest on a construction loan, for example, that benefit modular customers," he said.
The Balters were committed to having their new home be part of the neighborhood from the get-go. "We visited each of the neighbors and told them exactly what was going on. We printed flyers with the construction schedule for everybody," she said.
School street was blocked to allow the flatbed trucks to bring the house pieces to the lot. At 5:15 am, Wednesday, the roadblocks were down and a single pickup truck was in front of the Balters' new home. Public fascination with the instant house brought more than 130 people through it on Thursday for tours and lunch provided by Squash Meadow Construction.
"We got a lot of interest from people planning their own projects," Mr. Potter said. Any concerns? "The only thing I worried about was the barge tipping over on the way from New Bedford," Ms. Balter said.
» What do you know about Modular Homes Today?
Rhode Island Real Estate, July 19, 2011
July 19, 2011
RHODE ISLAND REAL ESTATE, RI--At Eldred Farm in Kingston RI, a RI builder, Paul Schurman, is stepping it up a notch with an eight home development of modular homes from Westchester Modular Homes in New York. Eldred Farm is located at the corner of Old North Road and Flagg Roads in Kingston, RI.
In fact, part of this development is the antique, historic Henry Eldred house which is also for sale.
At present, he is putting one home up on a 8.5 acre parcel of land that borders the University of Rhode Island. A choice location and South Kingstown neighborhood for any buyer who wants to be close to all the events happening in Kingston RI. This home came in two pieces at the end of June and is expected to be finished and completed by the end of July (finish work and additional items added by the builder). I missed the modular set the day it arrived but stopped by to see how it is coming together and I am impressed.
The home’s upgrades are Large Andersen windows, tile kitchen and bathroom floors, kitchen has maple cabinets, high ceilings, crown moldings, granite counters, etc. The home itself is in keeping with the traditional style of the Kingston community but each home built will vary in colonial design. About 1800 square feet of living space with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, dining room, eat in kitchen, living room & the master bedroom has a side sitting area with walk in closet. Central air is included right now as well as tie in to town sewers and gas heat.
The builder is planning to put one home up and rent it ($2100/month) but it will be available to be purchased probably in the low $400ks but no definitive selling cost as of yet. This will be forthcoming. An open house is scheduled for August 7th from 1-3 pm for interested buyers and/or renters- so stop by for more information. I will do another post shortly to show the finished house product.
It has been awhile since I have seen a modular home of this caliber and I am pleasantly impressed. Costs can run as much as 20% cheaper then from scratch. Obviously, budget considerations are something any buyer needs to consider…but I would consider a modular home if I were thinking of building right now. How about you? What do you know about Modular Homes Today?
» Scott Jones takes reins as Westchester Modular Homes of Greater Boston (WMHGB) Chief Executive Officer
Boston/SF.com, March 14, 2011
March 14, 2011
LYNNFIELD AND SAUGUS, MA--Westchester Modular Homes of Greater Boston (WMHGB), a firm specializing in the design, planning and construction of high-quality modular residences, announced that Scott Jones of Saugus will serve the new company as its Chief Executive Officer.
Jones, one of the founders of WMHGB, will oversee the growth, direction and day-to-day activities of the new company, which was founded in August 2010. He retains his role, also, as President/CEO of sister company James V. Caggiano and Son, a 90-year old firm that specializes in residential, traditional construction. Jones and his partner formed WMHGB to deal with the specific niche of modular home construction within the industry, in response to a growing demand for the product.
One of his immediate priorities is overseeing the design, construction and siting of an all-new modular building, an office/showroom to be located on/showroom to be located on Route 1 in Saugus, which will also result in the relocation of the firm from its present Lynnfield location.
Jones and his team have worked with Westchester Modular Homes in Wingdale, NY to design and market a new modular model, “The Bostonian,” which will serve as headquarters for the new company.
Jones is a native of Danvers, MA and is a graduate of Salem State College, MA. He has worked in the construction industry for more than three decades. He is a member of the Builders Association of Greater Boston (BAGB), the Saugus Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of Home Builders. He enjoys golf, working out and traveling in his spare time. Jones resides in Saugus, MA with his wife, Lisa.
» WMHGB works with Dorchester couple for unique modular construction project
Boston/SF.com, March 9, 2011
March 9, 2011
(Boston) are witnessing a first-of-its-kind event in the neighborhood, as construction got underway on a three-story modular home at 81 Brent Street.
From the "set day" in January through completion, the new home of residents Cynthia Loesch and Ivan Liriano will be a one-of-a-kind project for Boston's Dorchester section.
Under the supervision of Westchester Modular Homes of Greater Boston (WMHGB), trucks delivered six large modules, which had been constructed at a factory per specifications of WMHGB and homeowners Cynthia Loesch and Ivan Liriano. Construction workers, with the help of cranes, "set" the modules together to complete the exterior of this historic building in less than a day.
This project is believed to be the first three-story modular residence in the neighborhood, and it is further unique because of its energy-efficient design. It will be the first LEED-H Platinum certified home in Dorchester.
The 3360 square foot building will sit on a 3380 square foot lot in Codman Square. When completed, the owners will apply for Leed H (home) Platinum certification, a designation from the U.S. Green Building Council that sets high energy-efficiency and environmental standards for the design and construction of high - performance green homes.
The house is designed to have solar hot water PV panels and a rainwater harvesting system.
Loesch is no stranger to the neighborhood. She has lived next door to the site of the new home in a house that was her father's. The lot at 81 Brent Street has been vacant for a number of years. As the president of the Codman Square Neighborhood Council, she said that there is a strong move toward green building and development in the area. They are adjacent to Cronin Park and she and others have long worked toward the "greening" of the area.
"This home will be a showcase and example to others," she said, noting that many steps have been taken to make the exterior as well as the interior of the house healthier and greener.
"When we began considering the direction we sought for this house, we did some research into modular, and really liked what WHMGB and the Westchester factory had to offer," said Loesch. "Modular makes sense for sustainability purposes as well as a number of other reasons." She added, "We are active in the community and are always asking developers to bring in greener housing."
Loesch and Liriano will rent two of the three floors of the new building. Their plan is to make an educational showcase out of the home, showing off the energy-saving components. From design to landscaping, all elements were planned to energy-efficient use.
"The city has been wonderfully supportive of our efforts to build greener, healthier housing," said Loesch. She said they anticipate that the house will be completed by April and plan an Open House later this year.
Rainwater harvesting will ensure that the lot is permeable. There is no runoff; all water is captured in gutters, to a system that stores water underground in a 1000 gallon tank, so that the water can be used for landscaping. The rainwater harvesting system and solar will be educational installations allowing the community to take part in learning the benefits of the technology through a hands on experience.
Liriano added, "We plan to provide devices to monitor energy consumption; we will set up online sites where the tenants can view their power usage as well as the energy we are generating. We will develop a website (www.81brent.org) to tell the history of the house and educate people as to what we can all do to improve the health of the neighborhood and live green."
There were logistical considerations in the project, said Scott Jones, President/CEO of WMHGB, who noted that the blizzard presented challenges for navigating through narrow streets and offered diminished storage potential. "However, even in weather-adverse conditions, the modular advantages stand out," he said, adding that the one-day completion of the exterior of the project means no weather-related damage to the construction. He said, "We have built modular homes since 1982 and have seen a number of different styles and uses, but this one is perhaps the most unique. With a limited lot size in an urban setting, these homeowners have maximized their living space." He continued, "And, modular construction is in keeping with the homeowners' desire for energy efficiency. The factory that we work with exclusively specializes in energy-efficient construction, making modular a superior choice."
» FM Properties to Erect Energy Star-Rated Home in Little Compton, RI
FM Properties Inc., September 17, 2010
September 17, 2010
(Little Compton, RI) Austin Lane will welcome a new custom modular home next Wednesday, September 22nd. The home will arrive on several tractor-trailers, straight from its climate-controlled factory in upstate New York. This Cape Cod styled home has received one of the most prestigious awards any newly constructed home can earn: the ENERGY STAR rating. To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.
The new owners of this “Green” home will enjoy numerous energy-efficient features, such as high-performance windows, tight construction and ducts, efficient heating and cooling equipment and ENERGY STAR Qualified Lighting and Appliances. FM Properties worked closely with the owners to construct a large roof design that will allow them to add a solar hot water heating system in the future months. In addition, the front of the house features direct, unobstructed Southern exposure, making solar possible. The construction process will take a total of three months, allowing the owners to enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday in their new home.
The home is a Westchester Modular Home, a renowned home manufacturer headquartered in Wingdale, NY. With the concrete foundation complete, the new Westchester Modular home is to be erected on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 from 9am-1pm. This will take place on the site at Austin Lane (just off of Burchard Avenue) in Little Compton, RI. We invite the public to the erecting of this new home and to learn more about the progression of modular construction.
Mike Hill, President of FM Properties has over thirty years of professional experience in the Real Estate Industry and has been recognized by the National Association of Home Builders as a Certified Green Professional (CGP). Mike has built over 50 Modular Homes in the Rhode Island region and is currently building a custom modular home in Newport, RI that will go for the Gold Certification of the National Home Builders Association Green Building Standard – the first of its kind in Newport. In addition, Mike Hill serves as a member on the Middletown Economic Development Advisory Committee, the Sail Newport Board of Directors and is a RI Builders Association Member. For more information about this project, please contact FM Properties directly: 401. 619. 5707 or fmproperties@aol.com
» Middletown Contractor's Green Home Lands in Newport
MiddletownPatch.com, September 10, 2010
September 8, 2010
F.M. Properties, a Middletown-based modular home builder, had its first custom modular home for which it will seek a Gold Star rating from the National Association of Home Builders put into place on Wednesday in Newport. If the home achieves this rating, it will be the first in Newport to do so, althougth there is a home at 485 Spring Street that is pursuing U.S. Green Building Council's LEED certification, a highly esteemed rating.
The modular home, located on Champlin Place, was built by Westchester Modular Homes in Wingdale, NY, and transported to Newport on flatbed trucks. Westchester Modular Homes is the only east coast manufacturer of Energy Star rated modular homes, according to its website.
Mike Hill, owner of F.M. Properties, says that he has Energy Star come in and check all of his homes for efficiency, but that he has never done one this high-end. He expects the efficiency rating to come in at 90 to 95 percent on this home, whereas his other homes would typically come in at about 80-percent efficiency. Some of the "green" features this home features are lycene foam insulation, Anderson energy-efficient windows and doors, two tank-less water heaters and an optimal heating and cooling system, all of which are energy-star rated. A total of six "boxes" will be used for this 3,000 square foot home, which includes three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, granite countertops, an open floor plan and a two car garage.
Crews worked all day to get the home properly installed onto the previously poured foundation. By 4 p.m., all of the "boxes" had been put into place and were being secured.
Modular homes are often considered to be more environmentally friendly because they create less waste and are built in climate controlled spaces so there tends to be less damage to the structure in the building process and things don't have to be replaced or rebuilt as a result. The building site on Wednesday had two dumpsters, one for wood and one for trash, as well as a small bin for metal waste. All excess materials and waste will be recycled where possible to reduce the environmental impact.
"There has been a shift in the way people approach buying a home these days," Hill said. "Energy efficiency has become one of their top priorities. You wouldn't have necessarily seen that 10 or 15 years ago. The cost for taking these initiatives towards optimal energy efficiency doesn't cost much more, however the return can be dramatic and remarkably rewarding."
Hill is building this home as a spec house. Even though the home comes with a kitchen and bathrooms already installed, there are still a few more months of work to do to finish the exterior and finalize the interior.
» Green Homes...Delivered
Newport-now.com, September 8, 2010
September 8, 2010
NEWPORT, R.I. – I find Mike Hill, President of Middletown-based F.M. Properties, standing just across the street from an as-yet numbered lot on Champlin Place early on Wednesday morning. Hanging precariously above him is the kitchen, staircase, and entryway to a home he hopes will set a new standard of green home building in Newport.
If all goes well, the new custom modular home at 9 Champlin will be the first such house to be certified Gold by the National Home Builders Association Green Building Standard.
According to Hill, the objective behind this project is simple: combine the highest level of energy-efficiency with custom home building, all within the residential allure Newport offers.
“There has been a shift in the way people approach buying a home these days,” Hill says. “Energy efficiency has become one of their top priorities. You wouldn’t have necessarily seen that ten or fifteen years ago.”
This roughly 3,000 square foot home boasts of “Green” features such as Icynene foam insulation, Anderson energy-efficient windows and doors, 2 tank-less water heaters and an optimal heating and cooling system, all energy-star rated. Not to mention, the 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home offers an open floor plan, a 2 car garage and upscale features such as granite countertops, a fireplace and crown moldings. “The cost for taking these initiatives towards optimal energy-efficiency doesn’t cost much more, however the return can be dramatic and remarkably rewarding,” he says.
The home is a Westchester Modular Home, a noted home manufacturer headquartered in Wingdale, NY. With the foundation complete, the new home was custom built in sections on an assembly line in New York and trucked up to Newport where it was expected to be complete within only hours.
Brushing the tree tops and being settled into place with a surprisingly soft touch, the first two sections – or boxes – were off-loaded safely by just after 9 a.m.
Hill, who assists clients through the design-build process, says that the quality of construction along with the time and cost savings that can be realized through the process, has resulted in an uptick in interest for these types of modular homes. In fact, he’s overseeing the installation of another house in Little Compton in about two weeks.
Hill has over 30 years of professional experience in the real estate industry and has been recognized by the National Association of Home Builders as a Certified Green Professional (CGP). He currently serves as a member on the Middletown Economic Development Advisory Committee, the Sail Newport Board of Directors and is a RI Builders Association Member.
» What's new on the business scene
PoughkeepsieJournal.com, May 20, 2010
May 20, 2010
Rep gets Allstate accolade — Tim Berryhill, owner of the Allstate agency at 1488 Route 9, Wappingers Falls, was designated a Premier Service Agent for 2010 by Allstate. This is awarded to agents who meet qualifications in excellence in "delivering an accessible, knowledgeable and personal customer experience," a press release from Allstate said. For info, contact Berryhill at 845-298-3600 or tberryhill@allstate.com.
» Westchester Modular Homes becomes first modular manufacturing
plant in Northeast to achieve Energy Star Plant Certification
Press Release, March 24, 2010
March 24, 2010
Westchester Modular Homes, Inc., a premier manufacturer of quality custom modular homes serving a nine-state area in the Northeast, has become the first modular home manufacturing plant in the Northeastern United States to obtain Energy Star certification.
This Energy Star Certification is obtained through the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and places Westchester Modular Homes in an elite class of manufacturing facilities. To become plant-certified, it was necessary for Westchester to undertake a rigorous, seven-month process which included a series of on-site inspections by federal EPA inspectors, who reviewed and evaluated construction procedures and tested the energy efficiency of homes built at the Wingdale, NY plant. In addition to the series of EPA inspections at the Wingdale, NY facility, inspectors visited three final destination sites, where each Westchester-constructed modular home was evaluated via the HERS Index (Home Energy Rating System).
The HERS Index is a scoring system established by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). The benchmark for evaluation is specifications of the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code, and the more energy-efficient a home is, the lower the score. Energy Star requirements are a 70 to 85 HERS score, and the Westchester units received scores in the range of 50, making them 50% more energy efficient than homes built per the standard codes, and far exceeding the Energy Star requirements.
John George, Sales Manager of Projects for Westchester Modular Homes, is the person who navigated his company through the process. Plant certification, he says, saves time and money both for the independent authorized builders who contract with Westchester to build their homes, and for the end-users, the homebuyers.
With the Wingdale plant having successfully completed all certification requirements, this means that the HERS independent inspectors and raters do not need to travel to Wingdale to inspect the homes before they are delivered to the site. Westchester's Quality Control and Third Party inspectors verify the installation of the required items per the approved checklist, sign off the checklist, and send it to the HERS raters, assuring them that the Energy Star standards have been met. The home leaves the factory Energy Star ready. The independent authorized builder is then required to complete the house per the Energy Star guidelines so the HERS rater can complete the required Energy Star testing for the end user to qualify for Energy Star credits.
"This saves the consumer anywhere between $500 and $1000, depending how far they are located from our Wingdale, NY plant," said George. "It also saves the builders who work with us both time and money, and in return, our end users get the most energy-efficient products on the market today."
Benefits to the consumer of an Energy Star rated home include:
"One of the differences with a Westchester product is that there is independent verification that these are energy-efficient products," he said. In addition to the cost savings for homeowners, most states have tax credits and/or rebates for products that are Energy Star certified.
There are over 60 plants in the United States which manufacture modular homes, and Westchester is one of a handful that have completed this rigorous certification, and the first in the Northeast.
George noted that this is a first in a series of steps that Westchester Modular Homes has implemented to expand its leadership role in the marketplace. In addition to Energy Star certification, Westchester has built several LEED certified homes and is working toward being a certified "GREEN" plant, while continuing its dedication to undertake other environmentally friendly, "green" initiatives.<
A pioneer in systems-built housing, Westchester Modular Homes evolved into an industry leader through innovation in design, customization, superior craftsmanship and green building practices. The company markets homes through a network of independent builders in a nine-state area including New England, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Westchester Modular Homes conducts free tours of its factory at 30 Reagans Mill Road in Wingdale, New York on the first Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Homebuyers are invited to come and discover first-hand how modular homes and additions are designed and built. Visitors must be at least 18 years old to tour the factory.
For further information, call Westchester Modular Homes toll-free at 800-832-3888 or visit www.westchestermodular.com.
» Westchester on Curtis Sliwa's Show - 770 WABC
Curtis Sliwa's Show, 770 WABC, April 12, 2010
April 12, 2010
Listen to clips from the Curtis Sliwa show on 770 WABC, and be sure to check out our future factory tours!
» May Look Like Any Other, But This House Is All Green
Vineyard Magazine, March 19, 2010
March 19, 2010
At first glance, the recently completed new home at 15 Green avenue in Oak Bluffs looks like many others you might find in this quiet and scenic East Chop neighborhood.
It has a wraparound porch, a perfectly manicured lawn, an outdoor shower and plenty of space; there is a large kitchen and five spacious bedrooms, not counting the open third floor that would be perfect for bunk beds or a pool table.
But look closer and you will find this isn’t your average three-story, three-and-a-half-bath Vineyard dream house.
The stones in the first-floor fireplace, for example, were all reclaimed from Island sources. The brick on the outside chimney was recycled from various Vineyard buildings, while the faded wood mantel was once part of a barn in Chilmark. All the wood floorboards were harvested within a 500-mile radius of the Vineyard, and there is an added layer of blown-in insulation hidden behind each wall.
You might think the home has all the earmarks of a fair exhibit or an attraction at Epcot Center: the amazing Home of the Future, complete with energy efficient appliances in the kitchen and an on-demand water heater in the basement.
And in one sense, you’d be right. The home built by Bill Potter of Squash Meadow Construction and his wife Kerry Quinlan-Potter is the first home on the Vineyard to achieve the gold certification standard of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.
It is a marvel of efficiency, from the Energy Star lighting right down to the special drought-resistant grass.
But in another sense, Mr. Potter explained this week, this green home on Green avenue — aptly enough nicknamed Green on Green — really isn’t that revolutionary. All the so-called cutting edge appliances and construction techniques are by now commonplace, he explained, and can be incorporated into most new construction with relative ease.
“You hear contractors use the term green construction all the time now, it’s like the new talking point,” he said while he and his wife gave the Gazette a tour of the house this week. “But I use another term, green washing. They say: okay, I will put bamboo floors in my home and call it a green house, but to me that’s not green construction; it takes a lot more than that.”
Not that Mr. Potter is criticizing his fellow contractors.
Although he is the only Island’s only LEED accredited contractor, he admits his decision to build the Island’s first LEED gold certified home was more the result of improvisation than inspiration. He was planning to sell the Green avenue lot last fall, just around the time the stock market crashed and the potential buyer pulled out of the deal.
“So there we were left with a piece of land and no agreement, and the market has totally crashed. And we were like, ‘What are we going to do now?’ So my wife had this idea: what if we built a totally green house on Green avenue and call it Green on Green? And it sort of made sense,” he said.
“It’s genius, right?” Ms. Quinlan-Potter piped in excitedly.
But once the couple began the LEED certification process about a year ago, it became clear the benefits of achieving the high environmental standard easily outweighed the detriments. The new home will be between 48 and 52 per cent more energy efficient than conventional homes, and will make up for the added construction costs in a relatively short period of time, Mr. Potter said.
And achieving the gold standard did not cost much more than conventional construction. The home cost less than $200 a square foot to build, and is now on the market for $1.425 million, a fair price for a home of this quality in the Vineyard market.
“In the end it really doesn’t cost that much more, not as much as you would think,” Mr. Potter said. “And it pays for itself over time. I don’t know why more builders aren’t doing this,” he added.
It begs the question: why isn’t everyone building green homes?
“That’s the question, right: if this is so cost effective and easy why isn’t everyone doing this? And the simple answer is, I don’t know,” said Mark Price, the sustainability specialist who verifies LEED certification for new homes.
“I can sit here and talk to you for three hours about the rating system, and nothing I say will sound illogical. Most people will say to themselves, why aren’t we doing that already? I think there is a disconnect between the buyers and the builders. People know how and what to ask when they go to buy a fuel-efficient car, but they don’t know what to ask when they buy an energy-efficient home.”
Mr. Price was on the Vineyard Tuesday to perform a series of tests on the Green on Green home to make sure it met the gold standard, including one that used a giant fan to measure how much air leaked through the window frames and under the door.
And although these tests would seem to indicate that LEED certification is difficult, Mr. Price said that is not the case.
The certification process is based on a system that awards points for reaching a variety of criteria. Points are awarded if a project uses only local materials, or a sustainable landscaping design, or enhanced insulation. Points are even awarded if the home is located near public transportation or a park, Mr. Price said.
“If you lose credits in one category you can make them up in another . . . this is not meant to be complicated,” he said.
Mrs. Quinlan-Potter said there has been a large educational component to building the Green on Green home. A large sign in front of the home describes the LEED process, and there are pamphlets people can take with them.
She works for Lighthouse Properties and is the listing agent for the home, and recently held an open house attended by more than 70 people — most of whom were just as interested in the LEED program as in purchasing the home. She started a blog on the Squash Meadow Construction Web site which has chronicled the Green on Green project from the start.
She said the process taught her that many people have misconceptions about green construction.
“People will tell me they are interested in making their homes energy efficient,” she said. “But when I tell them this is a LEED certified home they can’t believe it. For some reason they think it’s too big to be an energy efficient home. They look at the nice cabinets and the marble counters and they say: this is a green home?”
Mr. Price said there are many reasons for people to go green on the Vineyard.
“You can literally pick your anxiety. Whether someone is worried about national security, or peak oil, or they want a durable and comfortable home, or they want a high resale value, or they worry about their carbon footprint, or they lower your energy bills . . . you can address all of that [with an energy efficient home],” he said, adding:
“One question is why isn’t everyone doing this now. But another question is, why weren’t we doing this already?”
» Beyond the Box
Southview Homes Modular Plus, March 18, 2010
» Modular homes make energy efficiency easy
North Jersey.com, March 7, 2010
March 7, 2010
But this was not your ordinary modular home. It was built with energy-efficiency in mind, designed to qualify for Energy Star certification from the New Jersey Clean Energy Program, which may earn Arnold a rebate of about $1,500. Energy Star buildings cost about 3 to 5 percent more than conventional building; energy savings are estimated at 15 to 30 percent, said contractor Robert Caruso, owner of Big Sky Associates in Ridgewood.
"I wanted an energy-efficient house where my utility bills would be as low as possible. It turned out to be easy to do by going modular," Arnold said as workmen crawled over the roof, guiding crane-loads of planks — collar ties for supporting the peak — into the attic. He confessed that concern for the environment was not his motivation. "All the decisions came down to dollars. I'm civic-minded, but if it was going to cost me more, I wouldn't have done it."
When shopping for a contractor, Arnold talked to builders of standard stick-built homes and modular houses. He wanted a house framed with 2-by-6 boards to accommodate deeper insulation. "The stick-built guys would say, 'Aw, you don't need that, it'll make problems, it'll be too deep for the windows. Two-by-four is just as good for insulation.' When I asked Rob Caruso for 2-by-6's, he just said, 'OK.' "
After the main boxes went up on that frigid Saturday, Caruso warned observers to step aside as a truck backed up the dead-end road. The driver skillfully maneuvered a flatbed of wood, insulation and the house's front gable up the hill. Caruso pointed to the green walls of the house, imprinted with the words "Zip System."
The system, he explained, "is a new sheathing product that eliminates the need for Tyvek," the waterproof, windproof barrier wrapped around most stick-built houses.
"Zip walls are already impregnated with a waterproof membrane. After they're put in place, the seams are taped, which makes a tight building envelope," he said.
Siding is put on without any additional sheathing. Caruso considers the Zip product superior to Tyvek in preventing leakage of air and maintaining energy efficiency, and he says it allows more flexibility in the modular design.
Modular construction facilitates many features that contribute to the Energy Star rating, said Caruso. "Because the modules are put together indoors, they can place Sheetrock on the wall before putting on the outside covering. That way, they can insulate around every outlet box, since the electrical system is already in. Because they're out of the weather, they can take more time to seal between the sill plates and walls." In the factory, all the boards are cut at one time, using a computerized saw that creates minimal waste.
Another environmental — and social — benefit is that the building site is impacted for such a short period of time. "There aren't delivery trucks coming in and out all year, and there's no material stored on site," Caruso said. "It's better for the neighbors."
Big Sky has built two Energy Star duplexes in Hackensack, listed by Nekije Rizvani-Tunc of Weichert Realtors in Wyckoff at $399,000 per unit. One of the homes serves as a model for Big Sky customers who are considering whether to build modular. "People come in not really sure what to expect," said Rizvani-Tunc, "and they're pleasantly surprised by the custom, upgraded features of this home. They're impressed by how it looks and what it has to offer in terms of energy-efficiency."
"Twenty years ago, when they built the first modulars, there were a few designs and no customization," Caruso said. "You could choose the colors, and that was about it. Our houses are totally customized." Westchester Modular Homes, the firm that manufactures and installs the modules, has several standard floor plans that can be modified. They can also work from an architect's plans or from layouts downloaded from home design Web sites such as eplans.com. "Or," said Caruso, "even from a photo of a house on a cellphone."
Arnold, an accountant currently living in Fort Lee, came up with his own design, which he drew on a sheet of paper. He refined it with Westchester Modular's Tom Stufano, using Go-To-Meeting conferencing software to display the design on their computer screens as they discussed ideas.
"I'd be at home, and Tom would be somewhere else," said Arnold. "I'd say, 'Let's put a bump-out here, a wall here, a closet here.' We could get a view of the outside, or what it would look like standing in a room. It was a very fast process."
With buyers like Arnold, who knew just what he wanted, the design process can take as little as a week, said Caruso, although most people spend more time mulling their options. Getting a full set of architectural drawings takes another week or two, and then they have to be submitted to the town building department, which can take up to a month to grant approval.
Next, a production order is put in to Westchester Modular's factory in Wingdale, N.Y. Within four to six weeks, the materials have been procured. Construction of the modules in the factory takes five to seven days. Meanwhile, the contractor has been putting in the foundation, the sewers and the gas lines.
In one day, the modules are trucked to the site and assembled. Finishing inside and out takes around eight weeks. Total time from start to end is four to six months, as opposed to eight to 12 months for a stick-built home.
Arnold offered a caveat: "One thing to be careful of is that the house is built so fast, and they build exactly to plans, without one deviation. If you did something stupid, no one in the factory is going to notice, 'Hey this is wrong.'
"In hindsight, there are things I would've changed, small things that Rob will change on site. I put a cable outlet in the wrong place, and I'm going to need another light in the bathroom. I'm saving a lot of money, since I didn't have to hire an architect, which would have been thousands of dollars. On other hand, you have to be part of the process and review plans and make sure everything makes sense."
The price tag on the four-bedroom house is about $265,000.
It seems as though the opportunities for building a new home are limited in Bergen County, with most of the usable land already built up. But Caruso said, "With the foreclosure glut, houses are left empty for a long period of time, and they get covered with mold inside. People are knocking them down and building new."
The previous house on Arnold's land burned down in 2008.
» Home Buyer Tax Credit, New NOL Rules Signed Into Law
Nation's Building News, November 9, 2009
November 9, 2009
The legislation, which was signed into law by President Obama on Nov. 6, will extend the $8,000 credit for first-time home buyers for sales contracts entered into by April 30, 2010 and closed on by June 30. It has been expanded to include a new $6,500 credit for owners of existing homes who are purchasing a new principal residence. Existing home owners can claim the $6,500 tax credit if they have been residing in their principal residence for five consecutive years out of the last eight.
In more good news, the income eligibility limits to claim the full credit amount for both groups of home buyers have been raised from $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return to $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for married couples.
NAHB’s consumer-oriented Web site, www.FederalHousingTaxCredit.com, provides complete details on the enhanced home buyer tax credit.
NAHB has launched a set of resources at www.nahb.org/taxcreditresources to help association members understand and promote the new tax credit.
For NOLs, the new law will allow all businesses — regardless of size — with operating losses in 2008 or 2009, not both, to claim refunds on taxes paid up to five years ago. Businesses can offset 100% of taxable income with NOLs carried back in years one through four and offset 50% of income in year five. Small businesses with less than $15 million in gross receipts would be able to claim a five-year carryback for 2008 losses under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and for 2009 losses under the new law. The new net operating loss rules will throw a lifeline to struggling businesses, allowing them to continue making payrolls, paying business loans and otherwise keep their doors open until the economic recovery takes hold.
Even as Congress neared completion last week on legislation to extend and enhance the home buyer tax credit, proponents of the tax credit made it perfectly clear that the extension would have a limited shelf life and not be extended again when it expires next year.
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), a long-time champion of the home buyer tax credit, said:
On Nov. 5, the House approved the legislation by a vote of 403 to 12, less than 24 hours after it sailed through the Senate by a unanimous 98 to 0 vote. Prior to the congressional votes, NAHB sent letters to leaders in each chamber designating passage as a “key vote” due to its importance to the housing industry. In addition, NAHB issued a Legislative Alert earlier last week urging association members to call their senators and representatives immediately and tell them to support the tax credit and NOL carryback because they will preserve and create jobs, stabilize the housing market and provide critical stimulus to the nation’s economy.
Immediately following congressional passage, NAHB Chairman Joe Robson sent a memo to the entire federation citing the importance of this legislation to the housing industry and how NAHB was instrumental in helping to get the bill passed. The communiqu� was also delivered to the Executive Officers via the PRx Exchange. Additionally, NAHB issued a press release applauding Congress on extending and enhancing the home buyer tax credit.
“This legislation is the result of months of determined effort by the entire NAHB federation,” said Robson, who noted that the association’s grassroots membership first banded together this summer in a “Revive Housing, Restore America” campaign calling on Congress to focus on housing in order to create jobs and provide the impetus for a full-scaled economic recovery.
The home buyer tax credit and NOL provisions were the two legislative priorities in that campaign. The NAHB leadership continues to work with Congress and various organizations in Washington to urge regulators to adopt policies that will restore the flow of credit builders need to finish projects in the pipeline and begin new ones and end faulty appraisals.
Robson said that NAHB has been “working tirelessly” to build upon the small gains the industry has seen in the marketplace in recent months and has been in continuous contact with the House and Senate.
“During key stages of the campaign, we activated our grassroots network to meet with their lawmakers when they were in their home districts and to visit them on Capitol Hill,” he said. “We have inundated congressional offices with e-mails and phone calls urging senators and representatives from both parties to extend and expand the home buyer tax credit to create jobs, spur home sales, reduce foreclosures, stabilize home values and push housing and the economy to higher ground.”
Robson noted that NAHB had joined with the National Association of Realtors® and Mortgage Bankers Association in the past few months to help get the vital housing legislation across the finish line.
» Norton home center gives customers look from ground up
Sun Chronicle, July 21, 2009
July 21, 2009
Business
SOUTHEAST - Construction is expected to begin on a Best Western hotel in the next month.
By MICHAEL GELBWASSER, SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
NORTON - A Cape Cod modular home firm's new Norton showroom-design center will be a work in progress.
Areas within Realty Development Associates' 3,000-square-foot Colonial have exposed plumbing, sheet rock and the like, enabling customers to check out the construction, company President Don Shulman said.
The partially unfinished model home may be the first of its kind, Shulman said. It opened June 13 on three acres at 312 Taunton Ave., which is Route 140.
"This is a unique thing for a model home," Shulman said.
"When you get out to a modular home, a lot of people get distracted by the furnishings. Here, you really get to see how the house is put together." The Norton facility will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays for now, moving to a seven-day schedule this fall.
The place will have four sales consultants, including some new hires, Shulman said.
Some of them also will work at Realty's other showroom-design center, in Sagamore, which is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all week.
The Sagamore facility is a 3,000-square-foot single-story home with 3,000 square feet of office space, plus an in-law apartment, Shulman said.
Realty is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and that old real estate adage, "location, location, location," prompted the expansion to Norton, on the Taunton line.
"We've had quite a few clients over the years from that area," Shulman explained.
"To come to our Sagamore model, it's a 30-minute ride. It just seemed a natural place for us to go."
Realty also will host free open houses, and seminars, on a quarterly basis.
The seminars will be 90-minute introductions to modular construction.
"It's not a sales pitch. It's strictly informative," Shulman said.
» Hanson church built in a day
Enterprise News, July 29, 2009
July 29, 2009
NEWS
Thirty members of United Church of the First Born set up lawn chairs on the congregation's Monponsett Road property in Hanson on Wednesday morning and watched a new sanctuary go up in a single day.
The original church, which was built by nine adult congregation members and their children in 1974, was destroyed in an electrical fire on Nov. 10, 2007. There were no injuries, but the congregation was left without a home.
Assistant Pastor John Miranda, who helped build the original church as a child, said congregation members soon realized building a new church will be expensive.
"The cost would have been a whole lot more than we can afford," he said.
Then Pastor Loretta Gomes realized the modular home design company that built her home in Middleboro three years earlier may be able to help.
"When the church burnt, they had spent a year looking at their options, looking at permitting and ended up totally frustrated with whole process," said Don Shulman, president of Realty Development Associates, a modular home design company with offices in Bourne and Norton.
Church members raised money though collections and cookie dough sales, Miranda said. But Realty Development Associates, which works primarily in residential construction, had never designed a church, Shulman said.
"As far as anybody is aware, this is the only modular church in New England," he said. "Everything we do ... is all custom-designed. While the task was a little different, the technique was already in place."
By Wednesday afternoon, construction workers had assembled the exterior walls of the sanctuary complete with insulation, Sheetrock and wiring.
Modular construction, in which sections of a home are built in a factory, trucked to the building site and assembled on the field, accounts for about one of 10 new homes built in the northeast, according to the National Association of Home builders.
The homes are typically less expensive and easier to build quickly. Some critics question their structural integrity, but Shulman said the company builds parts that are 30 percent stronger than regular homes to help weather the trip from the factory to the work site.
The United Church of the First Born was built in a Westchester Modular Homes factory in Wingdale, N.Y., then loaded onto a truck for the ride to Hanson on Tuesday, Shulman said.
Unlike the old church, the new structure is up to modern fire and accessibility codes.
Miranda said his mother, who helped build the original church, was happy to see it go up a second time.
"She cried and everything else," he said. "It was a very special moment.
» Grand Avenue rebuild an example of newest trends in architecture
The Saratogian, July 8, 2009
July 8, 2009
NEWS
SARATOGA SPRINGS - Helena Frost ushered in a new era in local architecture on Tuesday by showing off her new three-unit modular home, the Spa City's first ever.
The 4,200-square-foot structure at 153 Grand Ave. replaces her former 120-year-old house that was destroyed by fire in January 2008.
"It turned out pretty nicely," Frost said, while showing guests around during a formal open house. "Response from the community has been phenomenal. There's been a lot of positive energy and 'I'm-glad-you-did-it-green.' "
Site work for the new home began in February and huge cranes lifted sections - six boxes, two gables and two cupolas - into place on March 6. Grand Avenue was closed to traffic during the job.
Two boxes were placed side by side on the first floor with another in back, perpendicular to the first two. The same process was repeated on the second floor.
Each dwelling unit has two master suites with walk-in closets and a full bath. Each one also has a computer/office loft, laundry room, half-bath and formal dining room. At least one room in every suite has an 18-foot ceiling.
"This is totally custom made in the factory," Frost said. "It really helped cut down on the cost, about $40 less per square foot."
Frost hopes to live in the rear unit and rent the other two, one of which is already accounted for, she said. The neighborhood is zoned for two-family houses. She had to get a variance from the city to have three units.
Saratoga Springs contractor Larry Bain previously lived in the old house, but moved out about a year before the blaze. Frost hired his firm, David Lawrence LLC, to build her new home, a product of Westchester Modular Homes in Wingdale, distributed by Saratoga Modular Homes.
Phinney Design Group of Saratoga Springs did the architectural work.
Modular construction is environmentally friendly because there's less waste in the factory, Bain said.
"Every beam that's cut off is recycled," he said. "They chip up scrap and send it to farms for animal bedding."
Jim Waters Corp. did exterior siding work.
"This is really unusual for Saratoga," Frost said.
» Construction to begin on Modular Fox Ridge Hotel and Suites
Journal News Article, April 23, 2009
April 23, 2009
Putnam County
SOUTHEAST - Construction is expected to begin on a Best Western hotel in the next month.
The $3 million project will be built on Route 121 near the intersection of Route 6 where the Fox Ridge Motor Inn and Keltie's Bum Steer restaurant once stood before a deadly explosion destroyed the building more than a decade ago.
"We went with Best Western because they are the largest and most recognized in the world," said developer John Gillen Jr. "Putnam County has been underserved in the hospitality industry. We're very excited to bring this to the community."
Gillen, the principal of Fox Ridge Hotel and Suites LLC, said he took out a 49-year lease on the property from a company, Fox Ridge Motor Inn Inc., that is owned by his father, John Gillen Sr.
The Putnam County Industrial Development Agency recently approved the project for tax abatements, said its chief executive officer, Burt B. Houseworth. The quasi-public agency, which works to entice businesses to locate or expand in Putnam, offered a "conservative" state incentive package - a mortgage recording tax waiver; a sales-tax waiver on building materials and equipment delivered to Putnam; and a 50 percent reduction in school, town and county taxes for the first year and then sliding-scale reductions for nine additional years, IDA Chairman Kevin Bailey explained.
"I think it's desperately needed," Houseworth said of the hotel. "Right now, our residents go to the Garden Inn in Danbury. We don't have a major hotel-suite complex in Putnam County."
The 48-room hotel will be built on the same footprint as the previous inn-restaurant, Gillen said. Because of that, it did not have to go through traditional site-plan approvals, he said.
Southeast Building Inspector Michael Levine said a building permit for the property that was renewed last year is valid until July 10.
Levine said his department is expected to receive revised building plans on the project, but he was unclear when they would arrive.
"They have the ability to go on site and start foundation work," Levine said.
Gillen said he expects to open the hotel, a modular building by Westchester Modular of Wingdale, in late fall. He explained that as a cooperative member of the Best Western chain, he will pay membership fees for use of their reservation service.
He said he expects to cater to the business and weekend recreational traveler.
The 8.4-acre property, which sits at Exit 21 on Interstate 84, has been vacant since 1997, when a propane blast leveled the 5,000-square-foot Keltie's restaurant, killed two workers and damaged the 30-room inn.
Officials blamed a faulty underground pipe that allowed propane to build up until a spark from a vacuum cleaner in the restaurant ignited the gas.
The IDA also recently approved tax benefits for a Staybridge Suites complex with 123 rooms plus a banquet hall in Carmel. Construction is expected to begin in the next year, said Bailey, the IDA chairman.
Southeast Town Councilman Paul Johnson said he's looking forward to having a Best Western in Southeast. Currently, there are about 18 motels, inns and lodges in Putnam, county officials said. Six of them are in Southeast.
"I think Putnam County is sorely lacking in hotel space," Johnson said. "I welcome clean, commercial growth in our town."
» Modular home builder to add second site
New England Business Bulletin, March 27, 2009
March 27, 2009
SAGAMORE, Mass. - Sagamore-based Realty Development Associates, an area builder of custom designed modular homes, has announced expansion plans that include opening a second showroom/sales center in Norton.
The company's new location, at 312 Taunton Ave (Route 140) in Norton, is scheduled for a May 2009 opening, timing which coincides with the company's 20th anniversary.
Realty Development Associates operates from a 6,600-square-foot model/sales office in Sagamore, where it hosts ongoing open houses and seminars on the values of modular, or factory construction.
The new Norton location will be modular construction, just as the Sagamore location is. The 3,000-square-foot building will serve as a model home, and will be constructed via the modular process. The building will be delivered, in packages, to the Norton site and assembled by the Realty Development Associates crew. An open house for the new site is planned for the spring. Realty Development Associates will also offer a series of seminars "The Modular Advantage," from the new location.
Continued growth in modular construction has led to the company's decision to expand with this second location, according to Don Shulman, president of Realty Development Associates. The firm is the only company in the region that handles all aspects of modular or factory construction, from permitting the site through the final finishing touches.
"There has been considerable interest in modular construction even in a tight real estate market," said Shulman.
Realty Development Associates is reporting an increase in sales at a time when the housing market and building has been declining. The trend is appealing on the South Shore and Cape Cod where valuable land is often difficult to find. The tear down-rebuild is popular with the newly retired age group who are converting vacation cottages into year-round residences as well as first time home builders.
"We are very optimistic about what 2009 and 2010 holds in store here in Massachusetts for the housing market," said Shulman, adding, "Modular construction is a very appealing option for homeowners, whether it is for a teardown/rebuild, an addition, or new construction on a vacant lot."
Founded in 1989, RDA, Inc.'s main service area includes Barnstable, Bristol and Plymouth Counties offering all services related to building, including engineering studies, permitting, real estate, financing, and construction services.
Gillen said he expects to open the hotel, a modular building by Westchester Modular of Wingdale, in late fall. He explained that as a cooperative member of the Best Western chain, he will pay membership fees for use of their reservation service.
He said he expects to cater to the business and weekend recreational traveler.
The 8.4-acre property, which sits at Exit 21 on Interstate 84, has been vacant since 1997, when a propane blast leveled the 5,000-square-foot Keltie's restaurant, killed two workers and damaged the 30-room inn.
Officials blamed a faulty underground pipe that allowed propane to build up until a spark from a vacuum cleaner in the restaurant ignited the gas.
The IDA also recently approved tax benefits for a Staybridge Suites complex with 123 rooms plus a banquet hall in Carmel. Construction is expected to begin in the next year, said Bailey, the IDA chairman.
Southeast Town Councilman Paul Johnson said he's looking forward to having a Best Western in Southeast. Currently, there are about 18 motels, inns and lodges in Putnam, county officials said. Six of them are in Southeast.
"I think Putnam County is sorely lacking in hotel space," Johnson said. "I welcome clean, commercial growth in our town."
» Spa City opens door to modular home
Times-Union, March 5, 2009
March 5, 2009
Grand Ave. prefab is meant to fit in, but some residents are leery
By DENNIS YUSKO
SARATOGA SPRINGS Helena Frost is playing a leading role in "Extreme Makeover: Saratoga Springs Home Edition."
The New York City woman was in town Wednesday to oversee the construction of a three-unit building at 153 Grand Ave. that will be one of the city's first prefabricated modular dwellings. The new building will replace an apartment house that burned on a cold night in January 2008, leaving 10 tenants homeless.
Frost has spent much of the past year working with city officials to demolish the old building near the city's art district and plan its replacement.
This week, the sections of the 4,200-square-foot, two-story home arrived in six boxes, and workers assembled the units Wednesday. Contractors expect to have the assembled shell and roof complete by this weekend.
"By tomorrow, I would challenge anybody to go that home and tell me it's a modular," said John Colucci, vice president of Westchester Modular Homes, which built the custom home in eight days at its factory in Dutchess County.
But Frost's choice to build a modular home in this design-obsessed downtown has generated attacks as well as praise. One anonymous online blogger recently likened the model to a trailer park.
"Just what the beautiful Victorian setting of Saratoga needs," they wrote.
"Typical downstater," another replied.
But Frost and others say modular homes have come a long way from such stereotypes and save money and time during tough economic times. Over the next few months, workers will add custom porches, cupolas and other features to make the home fit into the area's Victorian streetscape, said contractor Larry Bain, who lived at the address just before the fire.
"I don't think the exterior did justice to the interior," Bain said of the old home, which Frost had redone.
The fire that destroyed the more-than-100-year-old building was sparked by a cigarette set down by a tenant in an enclosed porch. Frost held a benefit for the former tenants that raised more than $12,000.
The new home was designed by Phinney Design Group, located just down the street. L.A. Bain Construction excavated the site and put in the foundation last week. All framing, wiring, painting and more was done at the Dutchess County factory. Frost saved 20 percent on building and loan costs by going prefab, Colucci said.
Frost hopes to have tenants in by spring.
"Once it's finished, they'll accept it fine," Bain said. "People have a preconceived notion of the modular, and they are way off base as far as this one is concerned."
» Former Grand Ave. apartment site to see new life
The Saratogian, March 1, 2009
March 1, 2009
NEW
By PAUL POST, The Saratogian
SARATOGA SPRINGS - Helena Frost's retirement dreams went up in smoke last year when her 153 Grand Ave. apartment building was totally destroyed by fire.
This week, she's rebuilding on the site with a construction style that's unique to the city.
On Wednesday and Thursday, crews will install six modular boxes with large cranes, creating a new three-unit apartment building at a place that was nothing but rubble and ashes just over a year ago.
"I fell in love with the neighborhood because it's an arts district," said Frost, of New York City, who retired from the publishing and home furniture design fields. "I was going to have a studio there and rent the other apartments."
That all changed on Jan. 23, 2008, when a cigarette-ignited fire started outside on a rear porch, going undetected through the night for more than five hours until someone finally noticed it.
"People were going to work and they saw these huge flames," Frost said. "Everybody started calling it in."
Contacted in New York City, she immediately headed upstate with no idea what to expect. Meanwhile, relatives she called saw the fire live thanks to live video streaming on The Saratogian's Web site.
"My whole family across the country watched the fire while I was driving the Northway," Frost said.
What she found wasn't pretty - a total loss, including all of her son's childhood toys she'd stored in the basement.
Saratoga Springs contractor Larry Bain previously lived in the roughly 120-year-old house, but had moved out about a year before the blaze.
"I was in Schenectady working and heard about the fire on the news," he said. "On the way home I decided to stop by. I couldn't believe what I was seeing."
Devastation.
Down but not out, Frost soon began thinking of ways to turn her misfortune into something positive and chose Phinney Design Group of Saratoga Springs to draw up plans for a two-story structure. Bain's firm, L.A. Bain Construction, will put it together with cooperation from Saratoga Modular Homes.
"It's a nice-looking building," Bain said. "The advantage is that it's quick. It's built in a factory. Once the foundation's in, the building will be set in about two days."
The foundation was installed two weeks ago.
It's possible that Grand Avenue will be closed both Wednesday and Thursday while cranes put modular boxes in place. Manufactured by Westchester Modular Homes in Wingdale, the boxes will start arriving in Saratoga Springs on Tuesday and will be staged at the Italian-American Community Center in preparation for actual construction, Bain said.
Two boxes will be placed side by side on the first floor with another in back, perpendicular to the first two. The same process will be repeated on the second floor. Each apartment will have two bedrooms and two stories, and the rear unit will have a full basement.
Frost said she's unsure if she'll live in one of the apartments or have to rent all three to recoup losses from last year's fire. Either way, she's re-established a presence in Saratoga Springs with a building style that she said is both cheaper and greener than traditional stick-built construction.
"There's a lot less waste," she said. "It is exciting. It's rebuilding at a time when nobody's rebuilding."
» Zarrilli Homes wins Best Design Center
Asbury Park Press, February 27, 2009
February 27, 2009
Zarrilli Homes, LLC, the Brick, NJ-based custom modular homebuilder, was recently honored with Best Corporate Design Center Under 1,500 square feet at The Fabulous Achievement in Marketing Excellence (FAME) Awards, presented by the Shore Builders Association of Central New Jersey. The FAME Awards celebrate homebuilders and their sales and marketing accomplishments.
"We are thrilled to have received this award," said Anthony Zarrilli, founder of Zarrilli Homes LLC. "Since the beginning stages of planning, we intended for our Design Center to be convenient for the client. We wanted buyers to be able to easily design their home from start to finish at one location. After all of our efforts, it is a great feeling to be awarded by our peers."
The Zarrilli Homes Design Center, which celebrated its Grand Opening last summer, features state-of-the-art products for the home ranging from lighting and plumbing fixtures to siding and roofing materials, flooring and trim, as well as kitchen countertops and cabinets. The most impressive feature is the company's 3-D Walkthrough which shows buyers on a 42" flat-screen television what their homes will look like before construction begins.
Along with the award for the Design Center, Zarrilli Homes also took home honors for Best Builder Logo and Best Builder Member Brochure.
For more than 35 years, Zarrilli Homes LLC has been building high-quality homes for families throughout New Jersey. Specializing in custom modular designs, Zarrilli Homes has teamed up with Westchester Modular Homes to promote the advantages of modular homes.
According to Zarrilli, today's modular homes are beautifully crafted, well-designed and built in a climate-controlled facility. The indoor facility ensures that construction materials are not subject to inclement weather, which enhances quality control and craftsmanship.
Zarrilli Homes LLC modular homes are built faster than a standard home, taking only five days to build at the indoor facility then 60 to 120 days to finish on-site.
Modular homes are environmentally responsible as well, using recycled materials and producing minimal waste. Zarrilli Homes LLC and Westchester Modular Homes Inc. take part in the Energy Star and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) programs that support the continued development of "green" building.
For more information about Zarrilli Homes LLC, Westchester Modular Homes Inc. and the new Design Center, please call (732) 262-4848 or visit ZarrilliHomes.com on the Web.
» Home manufacturer "raises the roof" with second story modular additions
Professional Builder, February 25, 2009
February 25, 2009
Westchester Modular Homes says: "We'll turn your ranch into a colonial in one month!"
Westchester Modular Homes, Inc., a leading manufacturer of energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly modular homes, has launched an information campaign to educate homeowners about second story modular additions and the many advantages they offer families reeling from the downturn in the national economy and housing markets.
"Families needing a larger home face difficult choices," said John Colucci, vice president of sales and marketing for Westchester Modular Homes. "Many homeowners are finding they no longer have enough equity in their home to afford a bigger one. This is often the case in affluent communities where land is scarce and homes are expensive. Many families prefer to remain in their communities, to be close to friends and to continue attending the same schools and churches."
Fortunately, Westchester Modular Homes can help these families by quickly and conveniently adding an affordable second story modular addition to their existing home. Employing the "everyday magic" of modular home construction and building techniques, Westchester Modular Homes can double the size of a house in just one month.
Here's how it works: Westchester Modular Homes custom-designs the addition to the homeowner's exact specifications with the latest architectural software. Using computer-aided building techniques, the addition is meticulously constructed as individual modules in Westchester Modular Homes' climate-controlled factory. The finished units include cabinets and fixtures, flooring, painted walls and ceilings and electrical wiring and plumbing. Once the modules have been completed, the roof of the existing house is removed and the modules are transported to the home site. Here they are carefully "set" on the existing structure with a crane, a process generally begun in the morning and completed that afternoon. The addition is then sealed and finished over the next few weeks. A full-service company, Westchester Modular Homes "does it all," handling every step of the process.
"Using advanced modular construction," said Colucci, "a family can covert their 1,200 square-foot ranch into a 2,400 square-foot colonial in one month, and begin enjoying a brand new second floor addition in the next several weeks. It would take six to 12 months to build a comparable addition using traditional 'stick-built' construction."
A customer-focused, employee-owned business, Westchester Modular Homes goes "above and beyond" to provide busy, time-strapped families with an impressive array of time-saving services. With interest rates at historic lows, the company will work with qualified homebuyers to obtain construction loan financing at attractive rates, if requested.
For those families who need an entirely new home and prefer to stay in their community, Westchester Modular Homes will remove their existing home and replace it with a brand new modular home on the same site. This "tear-down and rebuild" approach is growing rapidly in popularity and offers the considerable advantages of all-new construction on an already developed lot.
Westchester Modular Homes conducts free tours of its factory at 30 Reagans Mill Road in Wingdale, New York on the first Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Tours are scheduled for March 7 and April 4. Homebuyers are invited to come and discover first-hand how modular homes and additions are designed and built. Visitors must be at least 18 years old to tour the factory.
For further information, call Westchester Modular Homes toll-free at 800-832-3888 or visit www.westchestermodular.com.
About Westchester Modular Homes
Westchester Modular Homes, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of custom-built, energy-efficient modular homes. Headquartered in Wingdale, New York, the company was established in 1986 and became an Employee Owned Company in January 2000. Westchester Modular Homes employs about 175 people full-time in a specialized manufacturing facility.
A pioneer in systems-built housing, Westchester Modular Homes evolved into an industry leader through innovation in design, customization, superior craftsmanship and green building practices. The company markets homes through a network of independent builders in a nine-state area including New England, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
» Well-appointed, yes – and modular, too
Cape Cod Times, January 25, 2009
January 25, 2009
Developer offers free heat for buyers
By KATHY SHARP FRISBEE
Navigating around the storms in the home market and the economy, Realty Development Associates offers a year of free heat with its new energy-efficient modular homes.
RDA's Energy Star-certified custom modular homes follow the Environmental Protection Agency's guidelines.
Those who buy an RDA custom home before March and take delivery by June will qualify for the free-heat program.
Leading the new wave of innovative modular homes, RDA has been in business for over 20 years, building 25 to 30 homes across southeastern Massachusetts yearly. In-house design work with clients has replaced blueprints with sophisticated computer modeling and virtual walkthroughs.
"Thanks to the Internet, modular home perceptions have changed and buyers are more educated to their quality features," said RDA president Don Shulman.
Dedicated players in today's green revolution, RDA's custom energy-efficient homes have also gone upscale - as well as handicap-friendly. Blended classic and contemporary designs sport all-weather features, from textured wood-image shingles to dentil moldings and fluted pilasters.
A model home in Sagamore reveals how a modular home's two-car garage can be transformed into an enticing and efficient in-law or guest wing. Modular home buyers now have a wide choice of fine features that rival those in stick-built homes, from tray and vaulted ceilings, to granite and marble tiles, carpet to wood flooring, maple or cherry cabinets, beadboard and paneled wainscoting and highgrade insulated windows.
RDA modular homes are produced by an employee-owned factory in New York.
» Bus Tour Featured for November 1 Factory Open House
November 1, 2008
November 1, 2008
WINDALE, NY - On Saturday, November 1, a bus tour arranged by Westchester Modular Homes and Saratoga Modular Homes in Saratoga, NY, visited the Factory Open House in Wingdale where thirty seven guests toured the factory and learned first hand how modular homes are built.
After the factory tour, the enthusiastic group enjoyed lunch and a presentation on Chief Architect software which showed them how their new custom Westchester Home can be designed right in the builder's office.
Visit our Factory Tour page for more information or to contact us to arrange a factory tour. Looking forward to seeing you in Wingdale, NY. (Must be 18 to tour).
» Tear Down-Rebuild Modular Home Construction Trend Continues to Grow
RISMedia, September 19, 2008
September 19, 2008
RISMEDIA - Realty Development Associates, a builder specializing in modular or factory-constructed homes, is experiencing growing sales in the tear down-rebuild market.
Realty Development Associates is reporting a 35% increase in sales at a time when the housing market and building has been declining. This trend is very appealing on the South Shore and Cape Cod where valuable land is often difficult to find. The tear down-rebuild is popular with the newly retired age group who are converting vacation cottages into year-round residences as well as first time homebuilders.
Realty Development Associates is currently completing the construction of a tear down-rebuild home at Winter Street in Norwell, MA. The owner purchased the piece of land in Norwell where he wanted to build. He contracted with Realty Development Associates to tear down a small log home on the property and handle the construction of his new custom designed modular home being put together on site.
This 2900 square foot customized, Energy Star Compliant, modular model is a traditional colonial with a two car garage and a full farmer's porch in front. The house was constructed at the Wingdale, NY Westchester factory and shipped to the Norwell site. According to Don Shulman, president of Realty Development Associates, the home represents a customized design that showcases the modular advantage. The four bedroom, two and a half bathroom home features cathedral ceilings in the family room and master bedroom.
It has an unfinished bonus room above the garage and a Jacuzzi tub in the master bathroom. The kitchen features a built in desk and high wall cabinets with crown molding. It also features the Realty Development Associates standard features that include architectural shingles, Anderson windows and 200 AMP electrical.
"We are excited about the growing interest in modular housing and how the public is reacting to the trend," said Shulman. "The number of people attending our open houses has grown and this has helped people understand the superior construction and the customization that goes into each individual home."
Houses are assembled at the factory in six days and shipped to Realty Development Associates. They in turn can assemble a modular house and make it weather-tight in a day or two, then bring the project to completion within 8 to 10 weeks.
According to the company, Realty Development handles everything from the tear down, engineering, permitting to the final finishing touches on the homes. Modular construction is becoming more popular as a means of accomplishing a teardown-rebuild, or replacing a smaller obsolete house on the same lot with one that is more functional. Modular or factory-built homes use 20% more wood in the framing process than traditional or "stick-built" products.
For more information, visit http://www.rdamodularhomes.com/ or call (508) 888-4212.
» Energy-Efficient, Green Building Approaching Critical Mass
Danbury News-Times, June, 2008
June, 2008
INSIDE BUSINESS
By Scott R. Price, Price Communications
Resource-efficiency is now a way of life in America and consumers are demanding more energy-efficient buildings to check rapidly rising energy expenses, and for other reasons that often include a desire to contribute to energy independence and environmental preservation.
New home builders, contractors and remodelers are responding vigorously to this consumer-driven trend in building design and construction practices, in anticipation of stricter and more environmentally-conscious building codes. Energy-efficient building is also a central component in the much larger societal trend toward so-called "green" or "sustainable" building and living.
Nurturing this grass roots cultural movement, government agencies, trade organizations and environmental groups during the last decade have been developing and promoting rating systems and standards for energy efficiency and sustainability.
Paul Scalzo is president of The Scalzo Group Real Estate Services, a full-service real estate firm in Bethel, and has been engaged in building both conventional and modular homes for many years. Scalzo says the construction industry has definitely "turned the corner" toward sustainability.
The Scalzo Group builds modular homes through Westchester Modular Homes of Fairfield County, its modular division, with modular units manufactured by Westchester Modular Homes at its factory in Wingdale, New York. Through Empire Development, another division, Scalzo's organization also constructs custom-built homes, residential communities and commercial buildings.
"People became more aware of energy efficiency and green building when fuel costs went up dramatically last year and electric power producers raised their rates," Scalzo says. "I think this is causing people to turn more and more toward green building. Consumers are demanding energy-efficient homes."
According to Scalzo, this trend will have a profound and permanent effect on the industry. "If you aren't looking seriously at green building now," he says, "you may not be in the building industry in five years' time." Scalzo's organization has been "thinking green" for some time, even building a number of solar and geothermal homes recently.
Dick Woodford is president of Scalzo Construction Group, overseeing the conventional residential and commercial construction activities of Empire Development. "I think we're at a point now where green building is reaching critical mass," says Woodford. "We've been talking about it for years. Now there is such a high level of governmental and individual awareness that I believe we're going to see a very dramatic shift in short order."
Contractors in the region are responding to the green building movement in a variety of ways.
Modular home builders are capitalizing on the efficiencies inherent in modular design, like a tighter building envelope, better overall insulation qualities and far less waste in the construction process. These and other characteristics give modular homes a tremendous head start in meeting new standards for energy efficiency and sustainability.
John Colucci is vice president, sales and marketing of Westchester Modular Homes, the company that manufactures modular homes for Scalzo's modular building division. Westchester Modular Home's factory in Wingdale produces roughly 400 modular homes annually, each of them constructed on the factory floor with a level of energy efficiency that far exceeds most conventionally built homes.
"We have always built a very energy-efficient home," says Colucci, "and we can build a home at any level of green design that our customer desires."
In response to the interest in green building, Westchester Modular Homes offers a variety of optional packages from which homebuyers can chose to increase the level of resource efficiency in their home. These include energy-efficient fluorescent lighting fixtures and water-efficient toilets and faucets.
Colucci points out that significantly reduced waste is another way in which a modular home is a green home. Computer-controlled lumber cutting in the factory keeps waste to a minimum and modular homes are about 80-percent complete when delivered, which greatly reduces jobsite waste.
"A tremendous amount of time is saved erecting a modular home at the jobsite versus a conventional home and this also equates to significant energy and fuel savings," observes Mike Koproski, general manager of Westchester Modular Homes of Fairfield County.
Achieving high levels of energy efficiency in a home - conventional or modular - requires a careful and knowledgeable contractor. "The manner in which heating and cooling systems and associated ductwork are assembled and installed at the jobsite is critical," says Woodford, "since inadequate sealing where HVAC ductwork passes through ceilings and walls can be a major source of heat loss."
Although not yet on a grand scale, builders are sometimes designing and constructing homes that respond to a customer's desire to live in a home that is as energy self-sufficient and as environmentally friendly as possible. This might include building a home with solar power generation elements or geothermal heating and cooling capacity.
John Gallagher, owner of Western Hills Homes in Brookfield, designs and builds both conventional and modular homes and additions and his company does a lot of home remodeling work. Gallagher, who is affiliated with Haven Homes in Beech Creek, Pennsylvania, another manufacturer of high-end, energy-efficient modular homes, also touts the green qualities inherent in modular design.
Gallagher is a self-described solar power and green building enthusiast who owns and operates an all-electric vehicle that he uses for running local errands and seeing customers.
"Green building is going to have a huge impact on residential and commercial building," Gallagher says. "It's ridiculous what it costs to run a home these days. I believe we need to think smarter about the future."
Scalzo, Gallagher and other builders are assisting customers in obtaining state grants that can defray as much as 50 percent of the cost of installing solar power generation equipment, which even for a small home can cost from $40,000 to $45,000. Gallagher praises Connecticut for being one of the leaders in making alternate energy systems more affordable.
Gallagher recently constructed a highly energy-efficient home in Washington that features passive solar design elements, floor and wall foundation insulation and ceiling fans in every room. It is heated by a gas-fired, computer-controlled furnace that functions in an energy efficiency range of from 87 to 94 percent, depending on operating conditions. The compact unit mounts on a wall in the basement. According to Gallagher, appliances of this type cost two to four times more than a conventional furnace, with a payback time of about five years.
Gallagher says he and the Washington homeowner have been discussing installation of solar power generation equipment on the property that would produce about 10 kilowatts of electricity. He is also researching solar devices for his own home in the near future. Gallagher estimates there are roughly 250 homes in the state at this time featuring some kind of solar equipment, although he expects this number to triple within a year's time.
Builders report that most homebuyers today are interested in a home with some degree of energy efficiency, but don't fully understand the concept of green building.
"Green building is about the whole building process," Colucci explains. "It encompasses nearly every aspect of a building's design and construction: location, energy and water efficiency, indoor air quality, as well as appliance and material selection and waste management."
"Westchester Modular Homes is an Energy Star partner in every state we deliver to," says Colucci, "and we have the ability to label every modular home built in Connecticut as an Energy Star home."
Many consumers are familiar already with Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The program began in 1992 when EPA introduced it as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In 1996, EPA formed a partnership with DOE for particular product categories. The program has expanded over time to include major appliances, office equipment, lighting and home electronics; today it extends to new homes and commercial and industrial buildings. Using various assessment tools, homes may be rated based on their overall energy efficiency and are certified at Base, Bronze, Silver or Gold levels.
In recent years a number of organizations have been established to promote and support green building, and most make use of the Energy Star program.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding sustainable building practices. USGBC is comprised of 13,500 organizations from throughout the building industry that share the goal of building "environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work."
USGBC developed the widely-used LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System. The LEED system addresses critical areas of building design and is used by home builders and owners as a practical rating tool. LEED-certified third-party inspectors have visited the Westchester Modular Homes factory and inspect individual job sites to certify the company's products.
Karla Donnelly is a LEED for Homes rater at Steven Winter Associates (SWA), a Norwalk-based architectural, engineering, research and consulting firm specializing in sustainable building systems design, and a LEED provider. Donnelly is working with the architects and contractors of the new 5,200 square-foot headmaster's house at the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury.
This expansive, 5-bedroom structure is being built by Segalla Turnkey Housing from modular units manufactured by Westchester Modular Homes. "Due to the careful installation of fiberglass insulation bats, low-e windows and advanced framing measures," Donnelly says, "this home was well on its way toward LEED certification even before leaving the factory."
In addition to energy-efficient modular construction, the home will employ added foundation wall insulation, a high-efficiency furnace and hot water heater, SEER 14 central air conditioning and energy recovery ventilators. SWA anticipates that as a result of these and other features the home will use 25 percent less energy than a code-built structure. Actual certification will take place after construction is finished.
Founded in 1942, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association promoting the housing industry. In February, NAHB launched its National Green Building Program. Westchester Modular Homes' Colucci participated on the task force developing the association's Green Home Building Guidelines. Like LEED, the Energy Star program is integrated into the new guidelines.
» Thinking Outside the Box; Advances take modular homes beyond square designs
Cape Cod Times, April 1, 2008
April 1, 2008
BUSINESS TUESDAY
SAGAMORE - The house on Bluff Road does not look all that different from any other small business building trying to blend in with the Cape's typical architecture.
It has gray shingles and white shutters and several gables. Stone steps lead from the parking area to the shrub-flanked front walkway.
However, unlike the majority of the houses on the Cape which grew from their foundations on a skeleton of two-by-fours, this building was assembled from pre-made pieces like a giant, three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle.
"You'd never know it was modular," said Don Shulman, president of Realty Development Associates, the modular home building company that occupies the building, as he challenges visitors to find the seams where the individual components of the building were joined together.
Traditionally, modular homes have a certain reputation: low on price, but even lower on quality and individual character.
Today, however, Shulman and other modular builders, manufacturers and dealers, are doing their best to chip away at these perceptions and introduce home buyers to what they say is a superior approach to owning a custom home.
"The challenge that we've had over the years is trying to distinguish the modular home from the manufactured home or the mobile home," said Steve Snyder, executive director of the Modular Building Systems Association. "Our industry has spent a lot of time trying to educate home buyers and builders and state and local officials."
Modular homes are built in a factory as a series of large component pieces known as "boxes."
The floor is built first, then wall framing is added. Drywall, cabinetry, flooring, fixtures and rough plumbing and electrical are all installed during the manufacturing process.
The roof is built on hinges and folds down for shipping..
Throughout the process, extra materials are used to reinforce the structure and make it sturdy enough to withstand the rigors of transportation. A modular home can use as much as 20 percent more wood than a conventionally built home of similar size, said John Colucci, vice president of sales and marketing for Westchester Modular Homes, the manufacturer with which Shulman works.
She likes the floor plan and openness of the model house in Sagamore and, she said, modular building fits her budget.
"We could do the same and even a little more at our price range," she said. "We are really considering it."
Some builders who do not specialize in modular construction expressed respect for how far the technique has come, but pointed to times when traditional stick-building still has an advantage.
Conventional building allows for a higher degree of detail work, said Trevor Kurz, the founder of Kurzhaus Design, an Orleans-based builder.
"The level of details on the homes we're building - there's no way you could duplicate that in a factory," he said.
Despite this reservation, however, Kurzhaus would still be willing to work on a modular project, if it fit the needs of the client.
Art Hultin, the owner of Truro building company A.F. Hultin and Co., has worked on both modular and stick-built homes.
"The modular homes are fine," he said, "as long as you stay within the experience range of the maunfcturer."
Buyers who push for designs more complex than what a given manufacturer has previously built could be asking for trouble, he said. Because the boxes are pre-built then shipped to the site, he explained, the customer could be stuck with any mistakes that were made in the factory.
"That's the advantage of stick building," Hultin said. "You recognize your mistakes as you go along."
He added, however, that there are certainly home designs for which modular is an appropriate choice.
"It really just depends on what you're looking for in a house," he said.
Stick-built: Homes in this category are constructed on wood frames, on the site where the building is to remain. Buyer has a high degree of input about the final design.
Modular: A modular home is built at a factory as a series of boxes that are assembled at the building site to form the final house. Offers a high level of customization. Must meet the same building codes as a stick-built home.
Mobile: Mobile homes are purchased fully built; buyers have little to no input on the design. Manufactured to different building standards than modular or stick-built homes.
Panelized: Panel homes are constructured from pre-built panels that are assembled on-site to create the finished home. Must meet the same building codes as a stick-built home.
» Green Building Initiative: WMH provides LEEDS certified residence for Ethel Walker School head, students and faculty
ALLGreen Magazine, 2007
2007
PREMIER ISSUE
Lessons in Green
By Tara M. Cantore
Since the early 1990s, the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury has blazed the trail toward sustainability and fostered a sense of environmental stewardship. The all-girl school's implementation of clean energy technology, cutting-edge LEED-certified building techniques and progressive environmental curriculum are only a few examples that have garnered national media attention, and the unwavering support of students, faculty and the local community.
Talking the Talk
Unlike many organizations that establish policy to inf luence collective action toward a common goal, Ethel Walker's environmental policy, developed by its board of trustees, is reflective of its longstanding commitment to the environment. Progressive and holistic, the campus-wide policy seeks to "protect and enhance the environment through education, research, community service and responsible administration. [The school] seeks to foster a community that teaches environmental awareness, local action, global responsibility, and the necessity of sustaining ecological systems. Environmentally sound practices are a core value of the school, and we endorse principles which will enhance health, comfort and productivity, while enhancing the Earth for future generations."
That's no small feat.
Walking the Walk
Adhering to the principles of smart growth-such as holistic and efficient planning for new construction and development that carefully considers the short- and longterm impact on the environment-takes forethought and careful planning. So far, the school has been careful to avoid vulnerable wetlands and protect native wildlife habitats, and has worked hard to secure the permanent conservation of 300 acres that surround the school. Those efforts were met with resounding support from the Town of Simsbury and The Trust for Public Land, as well as students, family, faculty and alumnae.
What makes Ethel Walker truly innovative is its commitment to teaching students about environmental stewardship through interactive activities. In 1992, physics students built a solar car and participated in the Tour de Sol, a race for alternative fuel vehicles. In 1996, the students helped design a photovoltaic installation to power a dorm room. During the 2003-2004 school year, science teacher Lee Zalinger challenged members of his ninth grade honors Conceptual Physics class to create solar powered projects for Flamig Farm, a local eco-tourism farm. Today, the landmark farm and community education center in West Simsbury uses large-scale solar power.
Last year in the classroom, middle school students cultivated an organic garden with the help of art teacher Grace Epstein. The students enjoyed the fruits of their labor-which included a wide assortment of vegetables and herbs that were used in the school kitchen. Other eco-conscious projects integrating student involvement run the gamut, and head of school Bessie Speers says, "integrating environmental stewardship into our curriculum is a primary goal for the school."
The latest green buzz circulating around campus surrounds the Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED) certified, modular residence for Speers as head of school. While the home will be occupied by Speers, it will also have a large community living area to be enjoyed by students and faculty.
Once again, Ethel Walker is ahead of the curve with its choice to build a modular home. Modular homes consist of units that are manufactured in-house and shipped to the building site in enormous boxes, where they are assembled. LEED certified modular homes (also called pre-fabricated homes), are produced using eco-friendly building materials, are extremely energy efficient, and produce a fraction of the construction waste that is typically generated by traditional building.
The Ethel Walker green home project team is made of locally based businesses and includes Steven Winter and Associates, based in Norwalk, Segalla's Turnkey Housing in Canaan and Westchester Modular Homes in Wingdale, N.Y. The construction of the new home is projected to take only a few days.
Leading by Example
In 2008, students will participate in the Green Cup Challenge, a nationwide energy conservat ion competit ion for schools hosted by Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H. The dual mission of the challenge is to help schools reduce their carbon emissions, while educating students and faculty about how their individual actions contribute to positive change.
That positive change is likely to spread from teacher to student to parent to the local community-and well beyond.
» MODULAR MASTERPIECE: Couple's Retirement Home Has Custom Design, Elegant Feel
New London Day, March 23, 2007
March 23, 2007
Couple's Retirement Home Has Custom Design, Elegant Feel
By Rick Koster
To Ed and Addie Hogan's way of thinking, you get one chance to do retirement the right way - and that the recipe might include a modular home had never entered their minds.
The thing is, if you're standing on the second floor balcony, just off the master bedroom in their lovely Waterford dwelling overlooking Parker Beach on Niantic Bay, the last thing you'd think about was that you were in a modular home.
With its landscaped terrace and yard, a wraparound downstairs porch fairly clamoring for nonstop barbecues, and a welcoming, unique and modern Colonial design, the Hogan's retirement palace actually rejects any thoughts of its origin - by the very nature of its natural elegance
What's more impressive is that the original structure on the property was a tiny, seasonal cottage - charming in its fashion but not particularly suited for year-round and/or retirement purposes.
"We realized we had to make a decision about whether to stay in our home or come to the shore - and I think we were both a little surprised that we decided to make the move," Ed says. "The problem was, what do we do with the cottage?"
Indeed. Though quaint, the cottage wasn't insulated or practically sized for year-round occupancy. The Hogans - Ed was an engineer and Addie a commercial pilot - lived for 39 years in East Longmeadow, Mass., just outside Springfield. They inherited the cottage from Addie's parents years ago and fell in love with the area and the cottage.
When it came time to retire, the comfort and familiarity of their East Longmeadow home suddenly had competition: the more they thought about the Waterford cottage, the more the idea of relocating there was intriguing and exciting.
It also presented problems. Should they add-on for more living space - and by necessity insulate for winter climate? Or tear down the cottage and hire builders to construct a new home? Neither was particularly attractive.
"We had no idea what to do or what was possible," says Addie. "We were kicking ideas around with friends and one of them brought up modular homes. So we went to the Net and started doing our homework. What we found out just made more and more sense."
What they discovered is that modular homes are no longer - in any fashion - to be confused with the mobile homes of yesteryear from which the concept sprang. Or even the boxing ring-shaped, clearly aluminum-constructs that came later. They're also typically much cheaper than building a stick home.
"Modular homes have come a long way," Ed says. "What people don't perhaps realize is that you can have whatever you want. It's not just the same design over and over."
For example, the Hogan's home was completely custom designed to meet the requirements of property and existing landscape.
There are several area companies that work with designers and builders to conceptualize modular home projects for customers. The Hogans selected Ricon Homes, a business that works with Westchester Modular Homes in Wingdale, N. Y.
"They definitely wanted to accentuate the possibilities of the water views," says Attila Keller of Ricon. "Because there was the existing cottage, we had to think beyond that in our design. We knew we'd have to demo the cottage, but we ended up tearing out the whole foundation and starting over."
"It was a bit emotional to get rid of the cottage, but it was the right way to go," Addie says. "We thought, every day could be like a vacation in this place. Particularly if we do it right. Attila was a huge help."
"The more clients read and are educated, they understand that modular homes are a good deal and a realistic option," Keller says. "Many times people drive by modular homes and they have no idea that's what they're looking at. We've built some that are 800,000 square feet - and you'd never know what you were looking at."
In the pursuit of optimizing the Hogan's location, one issue is that a neighbor's home intrudes on some of the seacoast panorama. The Hogans and Ricon simply angled walls and the setting of the house so the walls would block some of the next-door structure. Large windows, then, on two sides of the Hogan house open directly onto the water from both the open living and dining quarters and the upstairs master bedroom.
The main floor comprises an open living area segueing into a kitchen area with spectacular granite counter tops and wooden cabinetry. On the opposite side is a comfortable area that serves as either a den or guest bedroom, with a neat office tucked in a back corner. This space extends beyond the original parameters of the cottage and pushes the square footage of the home to over 16.
The whole house is finished in a soft cream with white accents and a bamboo wood floor that in itself is worth studying like an art exhibit.
A drive-in garage opens directly into the house so that winter grocery trips can be facilitated without having to be exposed to the elements.
The Hogans were also able to memorialize the old cottage. The tri-level landscaping utilizes rock from the cottage's original foundation. And local mason Dennis O'Sullivan integrated a tile from the cottage fireplace into a new stone fireplace in the side living room.
In the end, part of the magic of the Hogan's situation was the ease with which it all came together. A modular home arrives in pre-constructed boxes, which then interlock when delivered to the property. The entire assembly process took a few days. "The house was up in a week," Addie says, "and we've still got boxes we haven't unpacked 10 months later."
"We do not tire of this place," Ed says. "It's a lovely home and it's worked out for us. If we were going to retire and live on a fixed income, we had to consider all the options. This was the right way to go."
