The New Wave of Prefabricated Houses
The New Wave of Prefabricated Houses
So you're ready for your own home, but thanks to the economy and/or a few bumps on your financial road, you think you can't afford one. Perhaps it's time to look outside the box...or just at a bigger box than you imagined. Prefabricated homes have been around for years as an affordable alternative to traditional housing, but these structures have not been known for their style and taste. Nowadays, however, future homeowners have many varieties and styles of prefabricated homes to choose from - ranging from traditional to rustic to modern. You can even choose to go with an environmentally friendly prefabricated home to cut back your expenses even more. Check out the following samples of beautifully designed homes and see if prefabrication is the right choice for you. Photo credit: Michelle Kaufman Designs.
Modern Green Living: Kieran Timberlake Prefabricated Home
This Kieran Timberlake prefabricated home is beautifully and thoughtfully built. It is made with recycled steel, timber-efficient engineered lumber, biocomposite wood siding, recycled glass tiles, windows with recycled frames and water-saving fixtures. It is part of the company's "comprehensive environment program,” which includes single-family models and multi-family townhouses with varying floor plans ranging from approximately 1,000 square feet to upwards of 2,500 square feet, starting at about $185 per square foot. Photo credit: Kieran Timberlake.
HOM Sweet Home: HOM Prefabricated House
HOM (pronounced "home”) is a new line of prefabricated green homes and accessories designed for homeowners who want to live in style, as well as gracefully blending in with the landscape through rustic décor and sustainable materials. HOM houses range in size from 1,000 square feet to 3,600 square feet and cost about $200 per square foot. HOMs are delivered with the axle and wheels permanently attached so that you can always move your home to a new location if need be. Photo credit: HOM.
The Georgia
Hard to believe a home this beautiful was built and assembled in a factory, right? Well, it was - and it only took 35 days of factory construction time! After completion, it was transported in pieces (or modules) to the foundation site on flat bed trucks. Britco, the manufacturer, takes pride in the blend of Georgian colonial and Southern plantation styles in this prefabricated home. It has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and more than 3000 square feet, priced at $150 to $175 per square foot. Photo credit: Business Week.
Sunset Breezehouse
Michelle Kaufmann designed and named this stunning prefab home the "Sunset Breezehouse” after the "BreezeSpace” in the center. This open area was created under the distinctive butterfly-shaped roof to open up the house to nature outside, while simultaneously increasing functional living space inside. The home is perfect for eco-activists with its Energy Star certification and highly efficient insulation. The house also has water-saving plumbing fixtures and a mechanical ventilation system that is 30% more efficient than traditional forced-air systems. Photo credit: Michelle Kaufman Designs.
The i-House
The I-House is a great fit for small seeking a home that is both affordable and extremely energy efficient. Designed by Clayton Homes, this stylish prefabricated home comes in two sizes and each model can be configured seven different ways. The smaller I-Home costs under $75,000 and the larger is around $94,000. Monthly energy bills can be kept to under $70 a month thanks to solar panels on the roof that cut energy consumption in half, plus a full range of energy-efficient appliances and building materials. Photo credit: Clayton Homes.
