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Posted by usm-admin on Jun 10, 2016 in Blog |

Modular Construction and Small Lot Subdivisions in Los Angeles

The City of Los Angeles has enacted the Small Lot Ordinance (No. 176354) to allow the construction of fee simple, infill housing on small lots in multi-family and commercial zones. While home ownership options have traditionally been limited to single-family homes on 5,000 square foot lots or condominiums, the passage of the Small Lot Ordinance extends these options to include townhomes, row houses, and other types of infill housing typically only available for rent. Modular Construction also known as Prefab Construction is an ideal solution for building homes for small lot subdivisions as there will be a significant TIME savings in the design, permitting and construction of the project. Modular Construction is a green alternative to traditional site construction as the majority of the home is built in an indoor factory that utilizes extensive recycling to minimize waste in local landfills. The homes built with modular construction are built with up to 30 % more lumber than a traditional site built home to increase the stability and insulating values...

Posted by usm-admin on May 31, 2016 in Blog |

Ways a Modular Home Can Save You Money in Los Angeles

So you are in the market for a new home and heard that a modular home might be a less expensive option? Given that modular homes are built with the same materials and built to the same codes as conventional site built homes it would seem that the costs would also be the same. Generally speaking, the costs are comparable, but there are a few ways that a modular home can save you money. Construction Loan – During the construction phase of your home, typically you will have a construction loan. Payments (or draws) are taken from this loan to pay contractors, subcontractors and materials, with the borrower (home owner) paying the monthly interest payment. Once construction is completed, the construction loan will be paid off with your permanent mortgage loan. One of the key advantages of modular construction is the shorter construction schedule. Construction of your home is occurring at the same time as the foundation work. When the foundation is completed, it is generally only a matter...

Posted by usm-admin on May 24, 2016 in Blog |

Green Building Trends: An Architect’s Perspective on Prefab Construction

By Kathy Werder In October 2000 a massive flood in Uckfield, England, put parts of the town under 6 feet of water severely damaging a McDonald’s restaurant. Just two weeks later, that same McDonald’s was up and running again. How? With speed, quality and efficiency, modular construction has become the ideal solution for both temporary and permanent space required in sectors such as healthcare, higher education and low-rise offices. Today McDonald’s is at the forefront of prefab or modular construction technology in the United Kingdom and has set up several franchises using the sustainable prefab construction model. Each structure took just four weeks to build, and a reduced impact on the environment and the improvement of whole-life performance are among the many benefits. Advancement of technology in the 21st century has given rise to this faster, more cost-efficient method of building construction. It is so named because each individual unit (module) of the building is prefabricated in a factory while the foundation is prepared at the actual construction site. After the modules...

Posted by usm-admin on May 18, 2016 in Blog |

Prefab Construction: Keeping Waste Out of Landfills

When we think about the overflow of our nation’s landfills, we probably picture limiting our food waste; recycling plastics, glass and paper; and keeping out potentially harmful hazardous waste. What we probably don’t consider is one of the largest sources of waste generation, construction and demolition (C&D) waste. It is estimated that anywhere from 25 to 40 percent of the national solid waste stream is building-related waste, with only 20 percent of C&D waste being recycled. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated, in 2003, that 164 million tons of building-related waste was generated in the United States annually. Those are pretty staggering numbers. But, how can we scale these down to understand the amount of construction and demolition waste generated in a typical building project? A standard new building project produces an average of 3.9 pounds of waste per square foot. To put this in perspective, a mid-sized 50,000 sq. ft. office building will produce 195,000 pounds of waste. That’s almost 100 tons! If that project first includes building...

Posted by usm-admin on Feb 23, 2016 in Blog, Featured |

Pharrell Williams Banks on Prefab Housing Project

Grammy-Award winning musician Pharrell Williams is partnering with an acclaimed New York architect on a potential major housing development in Detroit. Residents in North Corktown say a swath of city-owned empty land is the possible location. The project is being described as a working plan that has not yet secured the necessary land or city permission to make the project reality. Williams and the Detroit project were mentioned in the December edition of Architectural Digest magazine. It’s part of a brief profile of Alexander Gorlin, whom the publication recognized as among the top 100 architects and designers working today. Here is what Gorlin said about his current projects: “Teaming with musician Pharrell Williams on prefab housing in Detroit.” The term “prefab” is short for prefabricated housing, a broad term referring to any home that has sections of the structure built in a factory and then assembled on site. Telephone calls and emails to Gorlin’s Manhattan office and Williams’ publicist on Friday were not returned. Some in North Corktown have...

Posted by usm-admin on Feb 19, 2016 in Blog |

Finding the Perfect Prefab Floor Plan

Finding the Right Fit While just about any floor plan that can be built by conventional stick built means can be built using modular construction, having a house plan that is drawn up with modular building in mind will usually allow for less expensive and more efficient construction. If you want to start designing with modular in mind, you can start with a standard home floor plan (browse our database) and make alterations from there. The changes don’t have to be small either. We’re not just talking about moving a window here or there. It is absolutely possible – and very common – to rearrange rooms, add features, or even add entire floors to a standard home plan. A modular house plan is like a set of Legos. Sure, you can build what’s in the instructions, but you’re also free to mix and match, make changes, and create anything your heart desires. Contact the experts in Los Angeles Modular Construction: http://www.usmodularinc.com info@usmodularinc.com...

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