Secrets of Fabulous Prefab Homes

• 

  Courtesy Hearthstone, Inc. by Rich Frutchey

  Order Your Dream Home From the Factory?

  For many, the journey of a custom-built dream house quickly becomes a nightmare. Reports of sloppy, unreliable and overextended subcontractors; builders who cut corners; unexpected delays and incomprehensible invoices have become the norm not the exception.
  
  But what if you could order a custom-built house that's assembled over a weekend?
  And what if your dream house were also a super house: capable of withstanding cold, heat, fire, hurricanes and earthquakes?
  
  Explore these trends from Sheri Koones' new book, 'Prefabulous.'
  
  Next: Discover the Fab in Prefab

• setting a roof

  Courtesy American Timbercraft

  Roofing the Prefab Way

  In prefabrication, individual sections are built in the factory and delivered to the homesite on flatbed trucks.
  
  For this 2,600 sq.-ft. modular log cabin, manufactured by American Timbercraft, the roof is set with a crane.
  
  Factory machines cut with more precision (and less waste) than hand assembled, giving this prefabricated roof a tighter, more insulating fit.
  
  Next: See Finished House

  First Steps to Building Prefab

  See Prefabs & Prices

  Look for 'Prefabulous'

• modular log cabin

  Courtesy America Timbercraft

  Moose Creek Lodge

  This completed log cabin nostalgically mimics the children's Lincoln Log set.
  
  Located in Breckinridge, Colo., the homeowners ordered their custom specifications in May; the modules arrived three months later with many finishing components already installed, including windows, green asphalt roofing, kitchen cabinetry and appliances. Once the modules were delivered, on-site assembly was completed in a weekend.
  
  Next: Modular Home

  First Steps to Building Prefab

  See Prefabs & Prices

  Look for 'Prefabulous'

• Chez Poupon -- modular prefab process

  Sheri Koones

  Chez Poupon -- Modular

  Anyone skeptical of prefabricated and modular construction should learn more about Chez Poupon, home to a seasoned builder with more than 20 years of experience.
  
  Acting as general contractor, the builder chose to complete much of the finishing work on his own. Haven Homes delivered and assembled 15 bare-bone modules comprised of framings, insulation and drywall with only some wiring and plumbing completed.
  
  Next: See Finished Home

  First Steps to Building Prefab

  See Prefabs & Prices

  Look for 'Prefabulous'

• Chez Poupon - front finished prefabrication

  Ron Papageorge

  Chez Poupon

  
  
  After cutting windows and framing, finishing flooring and walling, adding railing, cabinetry and electrical wiring among other elements, this 8,000-sq.-ft. stucco home was ready for its owners in 10 short months.
  
  To construct the entire house on-site would have required two years for completion.
  
  Next: See Rear View

  First Steps to Building Prefab

  See Prefabs & Prices

  Look for 'Prefabulous'

• Chez Poupon -- rear prefabrication

  Ron Papageorge

  Chez Poupon

  
  
  This rear view of Chez Poupon proves that building modular can deliver an interesting and complex structure, breaking the boring and boxy stereotype.
  
  Custom design elements accent the home's multi-modular base with mahogany-framed windows, mahogany doors and custom-made wrought iron railings (as seen on the balcony).
  
  Next: Panelized System

  First Steps to Building Prefab

  See Prefabs & Prices

  Look for 'Prefabulous'

• Prefabricated with SIPS - Greenridge House

  Courtesy Sterling Building Systems

  Greenridge House -- Panelized

  Panelized systems such as this 7,100 sq.-ft. home reduce labor cost and construction time.
  
  The frames are assembled in the factory on specialized framing tables for a straighter and tighter product. Afterward windows, such as these pictured, can be pre-installed within the panels.
  
  Panelized systems also provide better insulation than traditional fiberglass and 2x4 framing.
  
  Next: See Finished Home

  First Steps to Building Prefab

  See Prefabs & Prices

  Look for 'Prefabulous'

• Prefabricated with SIPs, Greenridge House

  Courtesy Vetter Windows and Doors

  Greenridge House

  This four-floor custom prefab home finished in a Cape Cod shingle style borders Wisconsin's pristine Lake Geneva.
  
  The panelized systems and double-paned argon glass windows from Vetter Windows & Doors made it possible to maximize light and lake views in an environment known for harsh winters with minus 30 F windchill factor.
  
  This system also reduced the framing time by several months.
  
  Next: Peek Inside

  First Steps to Building Prefab

  See Prefabs & Prices

  Look for 'Prefabulous'

• Greenridge House, interior prefrab

  Courtesy Vetter Windows and Doors

  Inside Greenridge House

  Prefabricated homes are as beautiful inside as any other custom- designed house.
  
  Nature has her own wall in this living room, becoming a part of the design; exposed beams and a faux stone fireplace complete the idyllic picture of a cozy lake house.
  
  Next: SIPs Home Construction

  First Steps to Building Prefab

  See Prefabs & Prices

  Look for 'Prefabulous'

• Villa Kaki - SIPs

  Courtesy Kahki & Max Mehlburger

  Villa Kaki -- SIPs

  A third prefabrication home system that offers benefits over traditional on-site construction uses structural insulated panels (SIPs), which comprise of two outer panels bonded to an insulating foam core.
  
  Working with SIPs, architects can specify custom-cut sizes and pre-install windows.
  
  SIPs benefit homeowners by providing a continuous protection barrier against weather, unwanted pests and noise pollution.
  
  Next: See Finished Home

  First Steps to Building Prefab

  See Prefabs & Prices

  Look for 'Prefabulous'

• Villa Kaki -- prefabricated finale

  Courtesy Kaki & Max Mehlburger

  Villa Kaki

  
  
  It's impossible to detect that this picturesque old-style Italian villa is constructed with modern foam-insulated panels.
  
  Yet, for a house of this size to be sitting under the Arkansas sun, the owners win big over expensive cooling costs.
  
  Next: Villa Kaki's Courtyard

  First Steps to Building Prefab

  See Prefabs & Prices

  Look for 'Prefabulous'

• Villa Kaki -- prefabricated finale

  Courtesy Kaki & Max Mehlburger

  Villa Kaki Courtyard

  
  
  Villa Kaki wraps around a Mediterranean style courtyard replete with an inset pond that flows into a water fountain below.
  
  The courtyard also offers modern amenities such as an outdoor kitchen for entertaining.
  
  Next: Multi-System Home

  First Steps to Building Prefab

  See Prefabs & Prices

  Look for 'Prefabulous'

• House on Saltwater

  Courtesy Hearthstone, Inc. by Rich Frutchey

  House on Saltwater Marsh -- Multi-System

  The owners of this South Carolina retirement dream home set out to build an ecologically friendly and sound home that supported their design wish list.
  
  The result is a timber frame home (for vaulted ceilings and exposed beams) insulated with SIPs and enclosed with fiber-cement siding to protect against impact, fire and moisture.
  
  Next: Peek Inside

  First Steps to Building Prefab

  See Prefabs & Prices

  Look for 'Prefabulous'

• House on Saltwater

  Courtesy Hearthstone, Inc. by Rich Frutchey

  House on Saltwater Marsh

  From the timber beam construction, these homeowners get solid structure with an open, airy feel and lofty ceilings.
  
  The columns surrounding the fireplace cleverly hide plumbing pipes which run vertically through the house.
  
  Next: Steel Frame Home

  First Steps to Building Prefab

  See Prefabs & Prices

  Look for 'Prefabulous'

• Steel-frame prefab house

  Phillip Jensen-Carter

  House on Patuxent River --
  Steel Frame

  The idea of steel frames conjures images of sleek, impersonal modern office buildings. However, it should not be overlooked as raw material for home construction. Steel is not only easily recycled but can withstand most hurricanes, earthquakes and fire.
  
  This iron frame was fabricated in Chicago at Excalibur Steel Structures, primed with red oxide to prevent rust and shipped with studs and fasteners for assembly.
  
  Next: See Finished House

  First Steps to Building Prefab

  See Prefabs & Prices

  Look for 'Prefabulous'

• House on Patuxent -- Finished steel frame

  Phillip Jensen-Carter

  House on Patuxent River

  
  
  The steel framing took three weeks to complete (six months for the factory to fabricate components), after which this 7,200 sq.-ft. Maryland house was completed with traditional on-site construction methods.
  
  Notable building choices include fiber-cement siding for longevity and weather-resistance.
  
  Next: More Prefabulous Homes

  First Steps to Building Prefab

  See Prefabs & Prices

  Look for 'Prefabulous'

• Prefabulous -- Book

  'Prefabulous'
  By Sheri Koones

  
  Inside you'll find:
  -- More homes
  -- Behind-the-scene information
  -- Floor plans
  -- Resources
  
  Author and columnist Sheri Koones reviews 25 prefab homes that represent the major types of prefabricated home systems along with flexible variations.
  
  Koones designed her prefab home several years ago.
  Visit her Web site
  
  

  First Steps to Building Prefab

  See Prefabs & Prices

  Look for 'Prefabulous'

• rustic prefab house

  Ameri-Log Homes

  See More Prefab Homes

  
  
  These are a far cry from structures most folks associate with modular homes.
  
  See the house, the price and how long it took to move in!
  
  Prefab Real Estate

  First Steps to Building Prefab

  See Prefabs & Prices

• Inside a $35 Million Dollar House

  BusinessWeek

  Inside a $35 Million Dollar House

  Ever wondered what makes a dream house worth $35 million? Decide for yourself by touring the most expensive home ever listed in California's Sonoma Valley.
  
  Dream Home Tour

• 

   

  
  
  
  There's something big happening every day on AOL's Money & Finance Channel.
  
  Don't miss another day. Bookmark your favorite Money Web site.