When you’re building your dream home, you want to be able to customize it with everything that you and your family needs.
This is why choosing the proper building system or method to allow for ample customization is of paramount importance when embarking on your home building journey.
Some home building systems and builders enable configurable building, but not truly customizable. We put together this guide to explore common limitations with some home building methods, and explore how much they are custom versus configurable.
3 Common Building Methods
1. Modular Homes
A modular home is built entirely in a factory complete with windows, roofing, siding, and interior fixtures. The completed home is then delivered to the building site where finishing touches are completed before it is move-in ready.
This is what we refer to as configurable building. Prospective homeowners are able to choose from pre-set options and configure them how they like for their home. They are not, however, able to design their own layout and interior from scratch.
Layout and design options for customization are limited based on the modular manufacturer’s capabilities.
Modular building is a great option when building a customized home is not an important consideration to the homeowner; it is speedy, cost effective, and efficient to build modular. However, for homeowners who are interested in designing a home and making it totally their own, modular is not considered a good fit.
2. Stick Building
When most homeowners think about building their home, their minds automatically jump to stick building-- as it is the most common form of home building. Stick building is a great option for customization, as homeowners are only limited by the capabilities of the home builder they select and their team of contractors.
While stick building is a great option for customizing, there are some downsides. For example, your custom selected materials are left exposed to the elements while the home is being built. Additionally, the quality of the home is only as good as the skills of the workers who are building it.
3. Panelized Manufacturing
Panelized home construction is often referred to as the hybrid of modular and stick building since this method offers the best of both worlds: extensive customization opportunities paired with an efficient, quality building system.
Panelized homes are built in a factory using state of the art engineering software and technology to ensure quality is not left to chance.
The panelized method of building offers the similar ease of picking a floor plan for a home, but allows the homeowner to customize this floor plan in any way they see fit so it perfectly suits their needs.
It’s a great option for homeowners looking to take the reins on designing and building their home without any limitations.
Want to Learn More About Custom Building Systems?
If you’re interested in building a custom home, but not quite sure where to start, reach out to our team.
We’re happy to answer any questions you might have about custom building or panelized manufacturing, and help point you in the direction of the right building method for your needs.
