So, please read on to get a deeper understanding of how to build a sustainable modular home!

What does ‘Sustainable’ actually mean?

Firstly, let’s define sustainability.

We believe that sustainability in the modular home space is the coalescence of three vital principles. The environmental, the economic and the social or practical impact of the home.

So, when looking at making a new home more sustainable, we need to consider each of these principles as a whole. For instance, a home with a low environmental impact, that is very expensive to build and isn’t practical for your social needs is not a sustainable house. It is just a building that is very environmentally friendly.

> Environmental

This is how the home affects the environment. This not only considers the materials used to build the home but also how the installation of the house will change the local setting as well as the ongoing effect of living in the home.

> Economic

Basically – we want to look at the cost of the building. Is it affordable? Does it make good investment sense? Is it of value to the client? You could also consider things like building local or supporting local businesses.

> Social

The Social impacts of your new home are more practical. Firstly, let’s consider if it is practical and easy to use? Also, look at whether you’re going actually to use all the features.

As we can see from the above points, looking at the three principles as a whole is what actually makes a home more sustainable.

The 5 practical ways of making your home more sustainable

1. Sustainable Planning

So, let’s go down the road of building your new home sustainable. You’ve considered it, and it is a no brainer! And, if you’re making such significant investment, yes, it’s the single biggest investment most people will make in their lives, it makes sense to do it right the first time!

And to get your home right and ensure it is sustainable we firstly need to put a lot of effort into planning your home. However, preparing your home goes way beyond just drafting a floor plan. So, we find most builders will only focus on the floorplan of your house and overlook the site situation, the solar orientation of the home, your lifestyle, to name just a few.

2. Potential for Change vs Cost to Change equation

Now, one of the reasons planning is so important is that in the early stages it so easy to make a difference. A simple change on paper in the planning stage may not cost you a cent, but that same change at the end of the process is costly.

3. Long term sustainability

Ok, so another consideration when you’re planning your home is to consider not just the short term benefits and uses but to look into the long term. Start thinking about where you’re hoping to be in 20 years? Is this home likely to still suit your needs? Is it easy to move? Can it be re-sold or recycled?

Modular homes are ideally suited to sustainable building in this regard as the house can relatively easily split into the separate modules again and shipped to a new site or sold as a second-hand home very quickly.

4. Sustainable Windows & Glazing

Windows are quite often the most overlooked design feature when considering the sustainability of a new home. Yes, we want lots of light, but what about heat or cold?

We would recommend you consider putting thermal glass such as Viridian ComfortPlus Low-E glass or even put Double Glazed glass in your home.

The reason for this is that windows are the items that are going to make the most difference to how efficiently you are going to have to heat or cool your home, how much airflow you get in your home and how much light you get.

Get your windows right, and you’ve gone a long way to making your home more sustainable.

5. Consider your Solar Orientation

So, this means how the house is situated on the site to take advantage of the travel of the sun to minimise heating and cooling costs. Because of this, consideration of it is intimately entwined with considering your windows.

For instance, you may want your living areas to face West so you can take advantage of a beautiful view. But from a solar orientation point of view, this is also the side that will get the hottest. In the early planning stage, you’re going to realise that either we have to put better performing windows on this side or increase shading.

6. Energy Use

Lastly, let’s think about what you’re going to use for energy in your new home. So, when looking at reducing your energy use, you need to start by looking at the primary sources of energy.

So, we find that most clients end up realising that they get most of their power from electricity companies. Because of this, we recommend you investigate solar power options thoroughly. Now, depending on the location of your site you may find that a completely off-grid solar power system is also cost effective.

Also, to minimise energy use, make sure you go with solar hot water, LED lights, and 5+ Energy Star rated appliances.

Getting More Help

As we’ve stated above, this list of 5 ways of making your home sustainable is not necessarily exhaustive or limited.

Hey, we get it, it’s not easy to make a house genuinely sustainable. Because of this, we recommend you get expert help! And that’s what building designers are for.

Sustainable Building Design for Modular Homes

We recommend you consider using a building designer who is prepared to help you design a sustainable home.

If your struggling to find a building designer who gets modular, why not consider using our in-house design team. We’re working with modular homes every day. And because of this, we can help combine all aspects of design into one package and help ensure your new home is sustainable!

Click here to contact us and ask us about our design service.

The post 5 ways to make your new home more sustainable. appeared first on Westbuilt Homes.

So, in this article, we’re going to try to de-mystify the whole ‘fixed’ pricing topic and look at some of the main issues with this terminology. You’ll be able to easily understand WHAT fixed pricing means and what you can do to minimise unexpected extras.

Read on to find out more about fixed pricing, the pitfalls and how to ensure you don’t get any surprises!

QUOTES & CONTRACTS

Ok, so depending on the situation and the process each builder follows, every building company will offer their clients some form of fixed price quote or contract. This type of contract is standard and, in most cases, required by law.

But firstly, let’s look at the two primary documents or agreements that are used in the building industry today.

THE QUOTE?

Usually, if you’re agreeable with the quote, the builder will encourage you to get started by signing a contract.

AND THE CONTRACT?

A contract is a formal and binding document. It is an agreement between the builder and a client to have their house constructed following a set of plans and a specification for a nominated figure. The client is required to pay a minimum deposit – typically about 5% of the contract value.

Listed on your contract will be two significant variables. They are Prime Cost Allowances and Provisional Cost Allowances.

PRIME COST ALLOWANCES

Prime costs are usually an ‘allowance’ for different items in your home — for example, cabinetry, floor covering, kitchen appliances. If you go over the allowance listed, you will be required to pay the extra cost.

PROVISIONAL SUM ALLOWANCES

Provisional sum allowances are typically used to cover onsite works that the builder needs to clarify. For example, this could include onsite excavation works, septic systems etc. Again, if the cost goes over the allowance, the client is required to pay the extra.

Check out this article on Domain.com for more info.

FIXED PRICING

So, now we understand the difference between a quote and contract. We need to look at what the term FIXED pricing means. As we mentioned earlier, most builders will use this term somewhere in their marketing materials.

But, what does it mean? The answer to the question depends on which side of the home-buying fence you’re on. If you’re on the new home buyers’ side, it means that the figure stated on the quote is the TOTAL amount you will be paying and not a dollar more. But, on the home BUILDERS side, it means what the builder thinks the house is going to cost the client, EXCLUDING variations for things the builder doesn’t know about or has no control over.

This concept of ‘fixed pricing’ is reasonably easy to understand, and most clients will have a basic expectation of a small variation or two.

SO WHAT’S THE CATCH!

Ok – so now we understand the basics of a quote, contract and what fixed pricing is. And you may well ask, what’s the big deal?

So, let’s look at what we find the biggest complaints from clients about their supposed ‘fixed pricing’ they have got from their builder!

• By the time we finalised the ACTUAL price with everything we wanted in it the price had risen over $100,000
• We got a lot of unexpected variations, especially for site works.
• We got charged extra’s for silly little changes during construction
• The provisional and prime cost allowances didn’t cover the actual cost nearly enough.

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY VARIATIONS?

Why a significant discrepancy between the quote or contract prices and what you end up paying? Are all builders’ sharks and are trying to rip clients off?

The answer is no. The issue is that most builders and clients fixate on the PRICE of the home. Understandably, the builder wants to make sure his price is as low as possible, so it is attractive as possible to the customer.

The problem with this approach is that by focusing purely on price, there is minimal emphasis placed on inclusions, the design or the site.

In the building industry today, we find that there is a lot of responsibility placed on the new home-owner to identify and let the builder know the potential issues very early on in the process.

OK, HOW DO I GET A TRULY FIXED PRICE?

All this is very daunting and mystifying. You well may ask –  what is the use of using a builder if they aren’t going to tell me upfront what it’s going to cost! And, it’s a very valid question. We believe that home sales methods in Australia are stuck in the dark ages!

So, how can you fix the price of your new home and ensure that what you sign up for is what you end up paying?

Well firstly, we recommend you follow the below rules to ensure you minimise the chance of any nasty surprises.

1. DON’T sign anything that promises a fixed price unless;
   • The builder has checked the site in person and done a soil test.
   • Do a thorough analysis of your requirements.
   • The builder has investigated any potential council issues.
   • Spoken over their INCLUSIONS in detail and ensured you understand them.
   • Talked over the EXCLUSIONS in detail and assured you know the potential costs involved in them.
2. Ask the builders what other people have ended up spending.
3. Don’t focus on the price until later in the process. Get a general ballpark to start with then build it out from there.

THE WESTBUILT PROCESS

Well, you may now be saying. What’s the Westbuilt process? The team here follow a fairly rigid process that ensures our building contracts are TRULY fixed price and we recommend our clients use the following steps. Along the way, our clients experience one of the best, hassle-free and simple building process available today.

1. Get a ballpark idea of cost. Speak with our design consultants to discuss what you’re looking for, what’s important to you, etc. The design consultant will provide an approximate idea of what total cost is likely to be. Check out this article to see the main cost centres of building modular.
2. Analyse the site and design. If it appears that the price is within your budget, the design consultant will start drilling into your requirements. This process will involve sketching plans, visiting the site and filling in some checklists to ensure we’ve considered everything. The price will be narrowed down to generally within $10-$25,000 depending on your situation.
3. The initial investment. If your still comfortable with the price and design at this point we recommend our clients make the Initial Investment. This investment is a small deposit amount of between $2,000 and $3,000 that will allow us to complete the following items.
   • Soil test.
   • Footing design
   • Plumbing design
   • Preliminary plans with a VR walkthrough
   • Colour Selection and specifications
   • Energy efficiency report
   • Initial council checks
   • Onsite quotes for additional site works
4. The Contract Price. Once we have completed all these steps, it is now, and only now, that we can give you a FIXED price. And we mean a guaranteed fixed rate. If you choose to accept this price, we will proceed to sign the contract and lodging your home into the council.

Conclusion

We hope you’ve found this article informative & helpful. As a company, we have set ourselves to provide our clients with an open, honest building experience.

If you’d like to know a bit more about this, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with the team.

The post What actually is a ‘fixed’ price quote or contract? (Plus, how to minimise unexpected extras.) appeared first on Westbuilt Homes.

Many clients, (and even builders) will focus solely on just the total m²  price as a guide to the cost of the home. This, at best, can only give you’re an approximate guide and, at worst, will mislead you completely. Our design consultants will work with you through the process to help you MAXIMISE the value in your new modular home while MINIMISING the cost!

So, after studying the homes our clients choose to build, we’ve come up with a bit of a list of the main items that will affect the price of your home. This will give you a fair idea of where the most ‘value’ is in your home and what you need to focus on to minimise cost.

Value vs Price IN MODULAR HOMES

I think it’s important to state here that this list we’ve created is just the main cost centres in your new home. It is where the majority of the money you will be paying will be spent. They are the items that increase (or decrease) the PRICE the most.

BUT – on the flip side they are generally also the items that add the most VALUE to your home. Not only are they valuable from a resale perspective, but they are also valuable to you on a practical level. For example, your kitchen. It’s one of the most used areas in your home. Most clients want to spend a lot of time getting this right.

So, its really important that you understand that you may wish to spend a little more on some of these items. An extra $5,000 spent on your kitchen, for instance, may just increase the value of your home by double that!

In view of allowing you to MAXIMISE the value of your home while MINIMISING the cost of the home, we’ve taken a look at some of the main cost centres for you to focus on.

CUSTOM Kitchens

Ah, the kitchen. This is quite often the most used, and most important, area in a home. It’s where quite literally you will spend a fair proportion of your home time. Its also the heart of your home – where many a major decision is made!

Some of the options that will affect the cost of the kitchen are:

• The overall size of the kitchen
• Butler’s pantries
• Stone Benches
• Decorative cupboard doors
• How many drawers you put in.
• Ovens, cookers, etc
• Sinks, taps, handles.
• This list goes on!

As you can see from the options listed above, the price of your kitchen can easily sky-rocket.  If you are trying to keep your budget down, we’d recommend you look at the essential features you need first before getting into some of your ‘wishlist’ items!

Wet Areas (EG.: Bathrooms, Ensuites & Laundries)

The next main feature that costs a lot in a new modular home is the wet areas. These are areas like your bathrooms, ensuites and laundries. The main reason your wet areas are a major cost centre is due to the fact that there are so many items in fairly small areas. Things like tiles, baths, shower screens, vanities and toilets.

In particular with tiling – the cost and style of the tile are critical. For instance, rectified edge or porcelain tiles will cost more. Also adding tiles to the ceiling will increase the cost.

The number of options in your bathrooms is also very large. We’ve seen clients spend over $3,000 just for a shower rose! Then add your shower screens, wall hung vanities, free-standing baths and the price has risen considerably.

VALUE ADDING Floorcoverings

Another really important thing to consider! Your floor coverings need to look lovely, stand up to wear and tear and not cost the earth!

Thankfully, there are a lot of options now-days for floorcoverings. We recommend ‘vinyl plank’ flooring for the durability and look, especially if you are looking for alternatives to timber flooring. Also, remember that carpet is normally more cost-effective than any other floorcovering so try to ‘sensibly’ maximise the use of carpet over against other floor covering options.

Verandahs & HARDWOOD DECKS

This size and the total area of your outdoor area is another major cost item. With verandah’s its important to remember that, while the m2 price will be less than the main house, it still costs.

To maximise verandah size, we recommend our clients aim to build wider verandah rather than a long and skinny verandah. This means that, while a 6ft wide verandah down the side of the home looks great, a 8m x 4m wide deck is going to be more cost-effective and far more practical.

You can check out our article on verandahs here

MODULAR HOME Transport

So – transport. This does only apply to modular homes.

When looking at maximising the value in your home but minimising the cost of your home you need to think about the transport of the modules to your site. Obviously, you can’t change where your site is! What we really need to look at here is the number of trips the transport team will need to make to ship you house to site.

We’ve got a really helpful article on transport here.

THE COST OF Site Works

And lastly – the site works. This consists of your power, water, sewerage, sheds and any other major costs. The perfect, and the most cost-effective site is a flat site with M type soil, close connection to power, town water and town sewer. Unfortunately – it’s most likely not yours! (Or mine!)

So – what are the main things to watch out for with site works?

• Most importantly – is power connection accessible? If you block has power already your fine. If not, you need to speak with an electrician to find out the cost of getting it connected.
• Check the sewerage and water connections. A sewerage system and water tanks can add at least $20,000 to the building cost of your home.
• And lastly, find out if your local council has any planning overlays or conditions on your site. This includes things like flood area, bush fire, landslip, heritage, bio-diversity, ecology, koala, etc.

Check out this article on site costs and things to consider when looking for land for more info!

Conclusion

Ok, so that’s a lot of information for you to take in. and really, we don’t expect you to understand it all, I mean, it’s our job anyway!

The design consultants here at Westbuilt are here to help every one of our clients maximise the value of their home and minimise the cost. If we can see a better, more cost-effective way of doing something in your home, we’ll recommend it to you! Check out our mission and vision here!

Just give the team a call on 1800 688 044 or email us at *protected email* with any questions or queries!

The post What are the main cost centres when building a modular home? (And how they affect your price!) appeared first on Westbuilt Homes.

The short answer to the question is, yes, banks do home loans for relocatable homes! Each lender has different rules and everyone’s situation is different. Our experience is that most lenders will provide finance on relocatable home just the same as any conventional home.

So, read on to find out more about getting finance on relocatable homes.

What sort of offsite home are you wanting to finance?

So, you would prefer to build a modular home and are now wanting to find out if you can get finance. You firstly need to identify the ‘type’ of the offsite building you are doing.

You will find that there is a huge range of different terms and types of building for offsite construction. From prefabricated, manufactured, relocatable, transportable, kit homes, pods, tiny homes the list just goes on.

But what is the difference?

There are a number of terms commonly used to describe relocatable or kit homes. You will find that each building company will label their own style of modular home building differently. This is generally based on their marketing and preferences. Check out our post on the differences between offsite and onsite building here.

after studying the market we have found that all these terms actually fall into two main categories of building:

MODULAR HOMES (also known as Transportable, Modular, Manufactured and Prefabricated)

The main feature with this type of home is that at least 80% of the building work is completed in a factory. The new modular home is then transported in a number of sections to your site almost fully completed. It is then permanently installed on the site and completed like a normal onsite build home.

The other important feature with a modular home is that the modular home builder will normally take full responsibility for the home from start to finish. Some builders, like ourselves, will even offer a turnkey package the same as any other conventional builder.

Modular homes, once established on site, are considered to be a permanent fixture just like an onsite built conventional home. The only difference from an onsite built home is that 80% of the building work was done in a factory.

KIT HOMES (sometimes known as Shed Homes, Flat Pack Homes, etc.)

The key difference between a kit home and relocatable home is that the kit home is supplied in a flat pack and is delivered to site already for the owner to assemble.

With a kit home, the owner will be required to obtain an owner builders certificate and then organise the assembling and erection of the home on their site. The owner is completely responsible for the home during erection. There are very limited warranties or protections available during this time.

If you are looking to build a kit style home you can expect that, unless you have other assets you can leverage, it will be close to impossible to obtain a bank loan.

Don’t get us wrong – there really isn’t anything wrong with a kit style home. We find that the clients that choose to go this way have the time and expertise to completed the home how and when they want to.

So, what’s this got to do with bank finance?

Understanding what type of construction your new modular home will be is critical. If you’re building a kit home then you are going to find it difficult to get a bank loan.

But if you’re going the modular way – the possibilities are endless!

Bank Security for Modular Homes

For a bank to loan money to you, they need some form of security for the Loan whilst the home is under construction. In the case of a conventional home, this is normally a mortgage on the land plus the portion of the home that has been constructed to date.

With offsite building, the bank ONLY has your land as security during construction. As the main portion of the home is not built on different premises to the mortgaged block of land. This means that the bank has no mortgage, and therefore no security, on the home whilst under construction.

In the case of the modular building method, we find that most banks will not release progress payments until the home is permanently fixed onsite or until the final completion of the project.

So, how do I get my relocatable home financed?

To overcome the issue as to a lack of security most modular builders negotiate with the bank to amend the standard payment terms.

From experience, we recommend that you approach your bank or credit union as early as possible in the building process and indicate your proposal and how much you are needing to loan. Depending on your equity and overall situation, the financial institution will advise how they can assist you.

It is important to understand that Westbuilt will negotiate with your bank to provide suitable payment terms that overcome the security issue.

Check out our finance page on the website for some recommend brokers and banks!

How does bank finance affect the modular building process?

The effect of bank finance to the overall building process by getting a bank to finance your new home is limited. The main effects are:

Slower Timeframe

Yes, banks are large institutions and they do move slowly. One of the main effects with bank finance is that it does slow down the building process.

 We find that most home loan applications take 4 – 6 weeks to approve. There will generally be another 1-2 weeks added at the end of the process while you wait for the bank to complete the valuation.

Bank Finance Surcharge

To allow us to negotiate with the banks and modify the payment terms we do have to include a bank finance surcharge with the price of your home. This surcharge, which is normally about 1% of the value of your home, will cover the cost of Westbuilt providing debtor finance for the home while in the factory.

Conclusion

So, we hope you’ve found this article helpful. If you do have any questions about whether you can get bank finance, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our team to discuss your particular situation.

You can also check out our Finance Page for more information!

The post WILL BANKS PROVIDE FINANCE ON MODULAR HOMES? (The short answer is yes!) appeared first on Westbuilt Homes.

The home also incorporated a large 3 bay shed, open decks and an above ground pool. Please follow our Facebook page here or subscribe to our newsletter by downloading the Look Book here.

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Eco-friendly building ideas, smart and green features and renewable energy systems can help you reduce your energy consumption, lower your household’s carbon footprint and create a healthier living environment for your family.

However, one of the most important questions that you need to consider is whether such upgrades can actually increase the value of your home, especially if you’re planning to put it on the market.

So, read on to find out how to increase the value of your home by installing renewable energy systems and smart upgrades.

Smart and green improvements for resale

Selling your existing home requires you to undertake certain home improvement projects that will help you enhance its general condition. Although there are numerous remodelling ideas available, not all of them are worth the investment. Green and smart improvements have become one of the most popular renovation options because they actually bring a high return on investment.

And if your preparing to build a new modular home, it pays to really think about these ideas. Including green and smart improvements in your new home from the very start can really increase the return on your investment quickly!

Owing to a great number of benefits that they bring, prospective buyers are actually willing to pay more for energy-efficient, sustainable properties. So, yes, investing in these home systems and upgrades will definitely make your property more valuable and popular among buyers and there’s actually more than a few good reasons behind this.

Improved energy efficiency and increased savings

One of the most valuable benefits of smart and green improvements is improved energy efficiency. Buyers are ready to pay a bit more for energy-efficient homes because they bring long-term opportunities for increased savings. Even if they invest more initially, energy-saving features and renewable energy systems will help them reduce their electricity bills in the long run, which will reflect positively onto their savings. Renewable energy systems, in particular, can increase the value of your property substantially because they will enable the new owners to start saving on electricity from day one. Therefore, purchasing an energy-efficient home is a wise investment, so it’s no wonder that such a property has greater value.

When it comes to smart upgrades, most of them are now designed to boost the energy efficiency of a property. Automated home systems and smart devices can actually help homeowners manage their energy consumption more efficiently, which, in return, brings different savings opportunities.

The homes of the future

The homes of the future are already available in the real estate market. As we continue to incorporate technology into our lives, we expect to have it in our homes, as well. A smart, green home will soon become the ideal model of a living space and it’s only a matter of time when energy-saving and smart features will be present in every home across the globe. Until then, homes with smart systems and energy-saving appliances are considered to be a symbol of prestige and social status to some extent. Of course, this cannot but affect the value of a property.

Available technologies

When it comes to available technologies that you can introduce into your home, you can rest assured that there are numerous solutions at your disposal. Solar panels, like Skylight Energy 5kW ones, are still the most popular renewable energy system for residential use, followed by geothermal energy systems. Hydropower systems and wind turbines also have their own advantages, but they are still not as popular as solar systems.

Energy-saving appliances are also a common feature of smart and green homes. In fact, some of the models are actually both state-of-the-art and energy efficient. For instance, the reliable and innovative Bosch dryer is a stunning example that incorporates advanced technologies and has great Energy Star ratings. Investing in such a model will provide you with long-term quality, exceptional performance and reduced electricity use.

As for smart devices, smart thermostats have become extremely popular because they help reduce households’ energy consumption and improve their thermal comfort. Automated lighting systems and other remote-access features are also popular smart upgrades that many modular homeowners choose to implement in their residences. Check out our post on how to lower the power bills in your new home.

Not all features are created equal

When building your new modular home, it’s essential that you keep in mind that not every upgrade is worth the cost. For instance, installing a smart security camera is certainly useful, but homebuyers won’t spend thousands for dollars for something they can install themselves at a much more affordable price. In addition, you should avoid installing features that suit your lifestyle and preferences if you’re planning to sell your home. You should stick to improvements that can meet everyone’s needs.

Green and smart homes are definitely one of the most valuable types of property in the real estate market. Investing in energy-saving and smart upgrades can provide both you and prospective buyers with valuable benefits that will pay off in the long run.

Author: Lucas Bergmann

The post CAN YOU INCREASE YOUR MODULAR HOME’S VALUE BY INSTALLING RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AND SMART UPGRADES? appeared first on Westbuilt Homes.

We’ve compiled a list of the top 3 most requested facades that our clients ask about. From the Hamptons, QLDER and Nordic facades you can make sure your new modular home will look stunning plus suit you exactly.

So, read on to find out what the top 3 most requested facades for modular homes.

Queenslander Facade

This home façade is our number one request and is inspired by the traditional Queenslander home. With the octagonal pergola off the side and stately front entry porch, the Queenslander façade is beautiful. Kitted out with French doors, QLDer style trims, finials and arches this style is simply stunning.

Not only does this façade look great it is also a great way to add value to your home. This style is timeless and doesn’t date. It will look as at home on an acreage in rural QLD to the suburbs of South East Queensland.

You can be sure that, in comparison to some more modern styles, the home will not date. And, if done properly, your new modular home will still look great in many years’ time, thus increasing your home and property value.

Verandahs

To create the QLDer façade style on a modular home you need to start with verandahs. Stick with at least 2.4m wide and have the verandahs on at least two sides. Next, if your budget allows, you need to add a pergola or some sort of entertainment deck off the verandahs. Find out about some of our most requested verandah features.

French Doors

Another feature of traditional Queenslander style homes is to have French style doors opening out from every room onto the verandahs. Add timber French doors instead of windows to your modular home facade and your set. Just imagine a sea breeze drifting through your home on a sticky QLD evening!

Trims

This is what really makes the design pop. Add double posts to the verandahs plus verandah features. If you really want to take it the whole way add dowel handrails and final features to the gables. Check out the Finlayson’s website for some real Queenslander inspiration.

Hamptons Style

This style has a distinctly American touch with a touch of the beach but also very sophisticated and classic touch. The Hampton’s style takes its inspiration for the homes in beachside Hamptons district of northeastern USA.

By adding traditional style weatherboard cladding such as Weathertex Primelok and colonial bars to the windows you can easily make your home look stunning!

Do it right, and the Hamptons style will make your house really stand out, plus make it a nice place to live!

Windows & Doors

One of the main features of the Hamptons style is the use of large doors and windows. Make sure you add window trims and colonial bars and your all set.

The plus side of this is that with larger windows and doors comes added light and airflow. This means that your home will be easier to keep cool in the summer months as well as making it a really nice homely place to live!

Colouring

Choosing the right external colouring can really make your Hamptons style modular home pop! We’d recommend you use white for all your trims, windows and roof. Then use a medium grey or a sky blue on the cladding.

Stepped Ceilings

Internally, if you wish to keep the look of your home going we suggest you consider stepped ceiling in your living areas. Not only do they look great, but it really adds a touch of class to your home.

Nordic Façade

And finally, the Nordic façade. This façade is sophisticated, minimalist and decidedly trendy. With a boxier look on the outside, floor to ceiling windows and doors and dark colours this style is sure to please.

The clean & square external look

You want to keep a very square look on the outside. The Nordic façade does away with the traditional gable style and hides the roof behind parapet walls.

To complete the Nordic look, we recommend you consider adding stained timber cladding to the walling in the verandah and patio areas.

Windows and Doors

In keeping with the minimalist style, you need to ensure all the doors and windows are full height. This means that they run from the floor to the ceiling creating a very open and clean feel to the home. They also have the added benefit of helping airflow, increasing light and making it easier to move furniture into your rooms. No more banging the bed on the door sill!!!!

You could also consider doing away with hinged doors altogether and go with cavity sliding doors. Yes, cavity doors have improved no end since the good old days of having a door off its rollers. We use the Hume Evolution system with works really well!

Clean Lines

Now to keep those clean lines and minimalist look you need to do away with traditional skirting boards and cornice. With the cornice, this means that rather than a traditional cornice you will have a square set corner. And instead of skirting you can have an un-rebated plasterboard sheet that runs to the floor.

Want to know more?

So, this is not an exhaustive or comprehensive list by any means. We hope that you have found it helpful and its opened your mind as to the possibilities available with modular building!

If you would like help to apply a specific façade to your home or would like help with designing your home to suit your exact needs we’re here to help. Just give one of our Design Consultants a call on 1800 688 044 or complete a price request by clicking here.

Alternatively, you can always download our Look Book here for more inspiration!

The post Top 3 most requested facades for modular homes. (And how to achieve the looks) appeared first on Westbuilt Homes.

We’ve gone out and spoken to some of our clients and looked at what our clients have been choosing to come up with this list of most popular design trends.

This list is what our clients are actually putting in their modular homes and we think that they have practical and useful ‘real world’ benefits! (Plus not break the bank!)

So, please read on to see the top 8 most useful design trends for prefab modular homes in QLD & NSW.

Wet Areas

Tiled Niches

A tiled niche in your wet area is a really practical inclusion to your shower. Rather than having a shelf sticking out of the wall the tiled niche is recessed into the wall creating a clean, clutter-free shower space. Just think – no chance of hitting your head, knocking the shampoo off or even breaking the shower shelf (Yes, it does happen!). They also bring the added benefit of being easier to clean as well – no soap scum on glass shelves or rusty wire soap baskets!

Walk-in Showers / Wet Rooms

Who wants to clean shower screens? Even a frameless screen can end up looking a bit tacky in a few years’ time. If you have the room in your bathroom you can ditch the screens altogether and re-design your bathroom to include a walk-in wet room with no shower screens.

You also get a bigger shower to ensure that minimal overspray spreads into your bathroom. We recommend that you keep your wet room no smaller than 1.5m x 1.0m. The perfect size is 1.8m x 1.0m wide. And because of the larger shower, you can really go to town with a strip grate, overhead shower heads or even 2 separate shower heads. Whatever suits you best!

Wall Hung Vanities

Continuing with the bathroom theme, another really popular design trend for modular homes at the moment is wall hung vanities. Wall-hung vanities really add a ‘wow’ factor to your bathroom and are one of the most affordable features you can add to your bathroom. And, with fewer corners to mop around, it also makes your bathroom that little bit easier to clean!

Kitchens

Walk-in-Pantry

Need more space in your Kitchen? Many of our clients choose to put a separate walk-in butlers pantry on to their Kitchen. With full shelving and additional space, it’s a great way to add more storage into the home and still keep your kitchen functional. Some of our clients have even combined the butler’s pantry with a walk-in linen cupboard and linked it to the laundry! 

Drawers

Adding drawers to the kitchen instead of the old cupboards is another way to not only make your kitchen space more functional but to save your back. Using drawers instead of cupboards means that you don’t have to bend down and reach to the back of the cupboard but you can pull ALL the storage space out and access what you need quickly and easily. 

Stone Tops

Stone benchtops are one of the most requested Kitchen features our clients ask for. There is a multitude of different benchtop options to choose from. We use Caesarstone, essastone and Smartstone most commonly. So, if you’re wanting to make a statement with your kitchen, go with a stone benchtop!

Raked Ceilings

Raked ceiling (or cathedral ceilings as they are sometimes known) have been a staple design feature in Westbuilt modular homes for years. In a compact space, they can add a beautifully open, airy feel.

Some other ideas clients consider with raked ceilings are to have exposed timber rafters or even a stained timber ceiling. Cedar Sales have some really innovative and impressive products you could potentially use as a feature to make your modular home really pop!

COMPOSITE DECKING

Composite decking is a real hit at the moment. While it doesn’t look quite as great as a well-maintained timber it definitely is easier to look after. Clients are choosing this for their verandahs due to the following;

1. Ease of maintenance – no more re-coating.
2. Ease of Cleaning – just hose it down or even use a water blaster!
3. Longevity – you don’t have to worry about the boards rotting or splitting. Apart from a little bit of fade don’t have to worry about it at all!

Read this article to find what the top 4 most requested verandah features are.

Conclusion

So, we hope you’ve found this article on the design trends for modular homes helpful. We don’t pretend that this is a comprehensive or exhaustive list of what is trending at the moment. The top 10 design features in modular homes for you will more than likely be a totally different list to what we’ve done here. You can get more inspiration by downloading our Look Book

Would you like to find out how to incorporate some of these features into your new home? Westbuilt specialises in custom designing modular homes. You can start from scratch with your own design or just amend one of our standard designs.

At Westbuilt, we believe that the best modular home design is your design!

The post The Top 8 most useful design trends for modular homes in QLD and NSW. appeared first on Westbuilt Homes.

As a company, we believe that offsite construction is the way of the future for residential homes in QLD and northern NSW. We believe that our clients can really benefit from an easy, hassle free & effortless method of building and still achieve the home they dream off.

So, read on to find out a bit more about offsite and onsite building, the pros and cons of each method and how to find out if you can build offsite.

First of all – what are the two methods?

Onsite Building

An onsite built home is the traditional method of constructing new homes. The home is built in-situ on the site starting from the foundations and finishing with the roof. All the raw materials and supplies are brought to the site, unloaded and installed as they are needed.

Offsite Building

The main feature of the offsite building method is that the majority of the work is completed offsite in a factory environment. All the raw materials are transported to one specific location, (usually a factory) and converted into a new home. Once the new offsite building is fully completed it is shifted from the factory to the final site location.

But doesn’t an offsite building still need to be installed onsite?

Yes, definitely it does! Every modular builder is different but at Westbuilt we work on the rough guide of 80% Offsite and 20% Onsite. The whole point of the offsite building is to minimise onsite work and improve the efficiency of the offsite process.

So, what are the pros and cons of each method?

Yes – each building method has definite pros and cons. And there are almost and an endless array of different methods in each category which again have their own pros and cons. But to keep it simple we’ve looked at the advantages and disadvantages of each building method generally.

This is in no way an exhaustive list – we’ve tried to stick to the main general points of each category!

Onsite Building Advantage

• The flexibility of Design – you are able to build the home exactly how you want it. There are very few constraints on what you can build and quite honestly the sky, (and your boundaries) is the limit!
• The flexibility of Style – just as you can modify the design of your home, you can modify the style or architectural look of your home. This is especially true in relation to roof pitch.
• Volume – if you are building “off the plan” then there are considerable cost savings as large onsite builders have massive scalability!

The main Onsite building disadvantages

• Timeframe – an onsite building is generally slow and ponderous.
• Quality – the onsite building method is inherently disjointed. Quality issues tend to multiply quickly as it’s very difficult for builders to manage multiple building in multiple locations. Issues get out of hand quickly if the builder isn’t on-top as they present themselves.
• Lack of control – an offsite built home is inherently hard to manage. Generally, each builder will employ different subcontractors and trades across different jobs. As most builders can’t be at every job site every day it’s just very hard to see if a project is going slow or a ready hasn’t turned up. This means that you end up with a much slower build time and quality issues can drop up and not be noticed till it’s too late.
• Communication – again this can present a real problem unless managed properly by good builders. The other issue is unless you have a good builders mistakes made on buildings might not be learnt by other trades as communication between trades and job-sites is difficult.
• The Weather – due to the method of building rainy days can really present a nightmare. A new home build can be delayed by weeks from a simple rainy day as all trades have to be re-scheduled and the whole job re-organised.
• Onsite Mud & Mess – Yep, we can put it down to the weather, but a rainy day can turn a really efficient and tidy site into a nightmare in one fell swoop. Let alone the mud being trudged through your new home and muddy tire tracks up and down the street.

Offsite Building Advantages

• Alternative designs and building methods – one of the main advantages for offsite builds is when a client is looking to custom design a building. As the home is constructed in a single location from modules, like Lego, the cost doesn’t necessarily go through the roof when you custom design!
• Timeframe – due to the highly efficient nature of the factory environments maximum time savings can be achieved. This ensures that as much wait time and wasted time is eliminated and quality value adding time is only spent on the job.
• Quality – again, this is really a carry-over from the above points. Mistakes or defects picked up can be rectified quickly. It is a lot easier to communicate design or methodology changes to the workforce as the main management team is always in the same location.
• Fewer Waste Materials – due to the factory environment waste materials are handled a lot easier.
• Due to the way offsite homes are built all the details need to be ironed out BEFORE the job starts. This, in turn, leads to a lot of efficiencies and no variations.

Offsite Building Disadvantages

• Less flexibility of design – Each offsite built home is normally constructed using a strict process in a factory. The main method used in QLD and NSW for offsite homes is to construct the home in sections. Due to transportation constraints, this does limit module size and needless to say, the more modules the more expensive.
• No Concrete Slab and Bricks – if you’re looking for a home that is on the ground on a concrete slab we’re sorry to say that there isn’t really any main-stream options for offsite building in this regard.
• Transportation Limitations – access and transport regulations can limit the availability of offsite homes. Check out our article on this here.

So, what’s better?

We’re going to leave that up to you! Of course, we say offsite!!!! All the same, it really depends on the client’s priorities, the design, and the site and your budget. In many cases an onsite built home is really the only way to go and our design consultants will make sure you are aware of this.

When On-site is better:

• New estates in built-up areas
• Homes that have been designed purely to be built onsite.
• Areas with covenants on brick and tile
• If you require a slab and a brick façade.

When offsite is better:

• Acreage blocks and in established built up areas
• Contemporary or QLDer façade style
• Narrow frontage sites
• Steep sites

How do I find out if my project can be built offsite?

 Take a look at your project and ask yourself the following questions. If you can answer YES to at least 3 of them then offsite building potentially could be an option for you.

1. Is your design flexible? (I.E. Can it be modified to suit modules?)
2. The home, or part of it, can to be built off the ground?
3. Is the new home site sloping?
4. I want my building project to be quick and easy for me?

Now, simply fill in the below form to have one of our design consultants go over your project with you and investigate if the project could potentially be constructed offsite.

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The post What’s better? Offsite or Onsite Construction? Plus find out if your home can be built offsite. appeared first on Westbuilt Homes.

In this article we go over some of the main points you will need to look at when considering whether to your site is suitable for a modular build. And yes – it does sound complicated. The good news is that there are actually very few sites that we aren’t able to get a modular home onto.

So, read on to check out the main points to consider for modular site access…

How do we move our homes?

Ok – so first things first. Before we go into great detail in regard to the finer points of access and transport regulations you need to understand HOW we move our off-site prefabricated homes.

Each modular building company differs in some way as to the methods and procedures in transport. So, in a nutshell, the two main methods Westbuilt Homes uses to transport and place our homes onsite are:

1. Tractor Push

This modular home installation method is the most cost effective & easy. The transport company has a custom-made low-loader trailer with a folding goose-neck. The home is fitted with an axle assembly and drawbar. A 4WD tractor hooks onto the drawbar and maneuvers each module on and off the trailer as well as positions it on site over the piers.

The real beauty of this modular transport system is when we have to access sites off-road. Once the module is unloaded it is able to negotiate some really tight situations!

2. Crane Lift

While the tractor push method for modular home installation is very versatile it does have its limitations. These are on sloping and small sites. For these sites, we have to crane each home module straight off the truck and onto the foundations of the modular home.

What are the 3 main issues to look out for with modular home site access?

Now we have an understanding of how Westbuilt modular homes are transported. Once you have a grasp of the concept it does really open out the possible solutions and also highlight the issues.

It’s important to know that, while there are constraints, they are by no means insurmountable. Generally speaking, the more constraints we need to overcome, the greater the cost.

We find that you can generally break site access issues down to the following 3 categories.

Steep Access Roads

Problem

So, the first one is steep access roads and tight corners. Roads like the Bunya Mountain access road, Mt Tambourine and the Eungella range crossing near Mackay are examples of roads that limit modular building options.

Solution

How we overcome this on these roads is by ensuring that we minimise the module size. Ideal module sizes for these sorts of roads are around 12-14m in length and no more than 4.0m wide. This ensures that the truck won’t lose traction due to weight and is far more maneuverable for tight corners.

Narrow Bridges

Problem

Now for narrow bridges and weight restrictions. Check the access road as most bridges and are signed with weight and height restrictions. If a bridge is narrower than 4.5m it needs to be checked to ensure there is a solution.

Also, while it is not a frequent problem, bridges which have a load limit of less than 20t are impassable for most semi-trailers, let alone modular homes.

Solution

So, how to overcome narrow bridges when transporting modular prefab homes? It does depend on each case, but some bridges do have removable handrails or low guardrails which are is an easy fix.

If this is not the case, we need to ensure the module size is smaller than the bridge width. This will mean you have more loads to transport but due to the narrow width, there will be savings per load we can realise.

Height Restrictions

For the final issue, we need to look at out height restrictions. There is no actual restriction on height – it is really governed by your budget! In saying that, we find that if you can keep your building height under 5.0m this is the most cost-effective way to transport – more on that below.

Problems to look out for

So, check out for low bridges and overpasses. If they are below 5.0m they may present a challenge. Another one we look at is low hanging branches and trees.

Solutions

If there are low bridges or over-passes we do need to think about alternative routes. If there aren’t any viable alternative routes we will either have to design the home to keep under the required height – the new Nordic style is good for this!

What are the regulations?

Transport regulations really do differ from state to state. In the states we work in, QLD & NSW, there are few differences. Check out the following website for more details on transport regulations.

QLD Department of Main Road Excess Mass & Dimension information page 

NSW Department of Transport, Roads & Maritime Servies Loads and height restrictions (Mass, dimension and loading) information page.

Escorts & Police

Ok – so escorts and police. When are they required, how many and how often? Check out the table below which describes how we work out how many or when police and escorts are required. This is an excerpt from the “Guideline for Excess Dimension” from the  QLD TMR

NSW regulations are more or less similar except they do have length restrictions as well. Check out the following Notice from the NSW TMS.

Traffic Control

Another regulation which can add cost to the home is traffic control requirements. This, normally speaking, comes into effect if to transport or unload the home, at least part of the road will be closed for a period of time. This means that a traffic management plan will be created and priced to ensure motorist and pedestrians are kept safe. Also, we need to ensure that on busier roads traffic flow is not disturbed too much.

The Ideal Module or Section Sizes for Prefab Homes in QLD & NSW

So what is the most cost-effective module size to use? If you’re looking to custom design your new home, it can be really helpful to understand what the ideal module or section size is. Check out the guide below to help understand the benefits of different module sizes.

Module Width

3.0m & under module width – No Escorts. The cheapest to transport but requires more loads.

3.0m to 4.0m module width – 1 Escort in most cases. This is the most cost-effective module width.

Over 4.0m module width – the least cost-effective width. Can increase the cost of the home significantly.

Module Length

The max module length for a Westbuilt Homes module is 18.0m. in saying that in NSW we find a max module length of 16.5m is more cost effective as there are additional transport requirements for home sections longer than 16.5m.

Conclusion

So – fear not! We do realise that there is an awful lot of jargon and technical stuff we’ve just gone over! And the team here at Westbuilt do NOT expect our clients to know every last thing about transport regulations, load limits and module sizes! After all – what would be the use of us if we couldn’t solve our client’s problems for them?!

All we ask our clients to do is two things:

1. Fill in the below form with your details, plus details of the site and the team here can have a quick look and let you know if there are any major issues that present themselves.
2. Download and complete the Site Access Checklist.

So – we hope you’ve found this information informative and helpful. As always, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out to our team with any questions or queries!

The post HOW TO FIND OUT IF I CAN PUT A MODULAR HOME ON MY SITE – PLUS GET THE FREE SITE ACCESS CHECKLIST. appeared first on Westbuilt Homes.