Why I Love Modular Home Building by Tracen Gardner

Modular cabins in Texas? Yes, they work great for remote living needs. Site building can take forever to complete while modular cabins can be built quickly and relatively pain-free. Compared to site building, modular building is much quicker, requires a lot less energy, often times they are built better with more controls and oversight, and they are more flexible.

Modular Home by Reclaimed Space

Modular Home by Reclaimed Space

Building in remote locations can be difficult. The never-ending drive back and forth to the site. Every sub-contractor needs directions and possibly needs to be lead onto the ranch to find the actual build site. Every time the electrician has a question someone, usually the home owner, will have to drive to the site to discuss. Driving to the lumber yard for the forgotten 2x4 takes more time, more fuel, and personal energy. I started to build a cabin on my ranch, I had all the material in a container, and the site picked. Then I began to worry about how many weekends it would take me to "dry-in", how many times to meet sub-contractors, how many trips to the store, and realized it would be so much easier to make the trip once, with a complete cabin, built close to home.

Inside our build facility, loading a 14x28 model for delivery.

Inside our build facility, loading a 14x28 model for delivery.

When we build a modular home/cabin we typically visit the site 2 times before delivery, once for the initial consultation and site selection, and another time for final location and delivery route. All of our sub-contractors know where our build facility is located, they can easily send crews out to work without worrying about someone getting lost or stuck in a pasture.

All sub-contractors are supervised in a controlled environment. We are available for all design and building questions, our office is within shouting distance of our build facility, we can consult within minutes, in person, at the building. This saves innumerable mistakes and time. Because we are on site, we are able to do more quality inspections and make quicker design changes with better understanding.

A typical modular build takes 1 month to design (if needed) and under 2 months to complete. A site built home may take 6+ months to build, it will be exposed to all weather elements, and will have minimal oversight. We are able to build our homes on a clean concrete slab with a roof to shade and protect our men and materials. Ask any sub-contractor and they will assuredly tell you they would prefer to build under a roof than on an open field. The home would prefer to be built in a protected area as well, less environmental damage, and less concern about theft.

Reclaimed Space delivers a home to Marfa, Texas

Reclaimed Space delivers a home to Marfa, Texas

Modular building prevents damage to your site. The facility can easily handle all the trash and construction debris and dispose or recycle it properly. Because there is minimal site work associated with modular building, there will not be a huge mud pit around your home full of nails and plastic. Another advantage, much less traffic on your land, you will not have to repair your roads after the construction is finished.  There is no concern about who is on your property and when they may be out there.

The biggest advantage of a modular home over a site built home is it can be re-located. There are several reasons to move one, if it is a guest home that is sitting on the best location for the main house, if you change hunting leases, if you want sell it and keep the land, if you want to check out different potential building sites, and if you want to give it to your next generation. I also love not having all the concrete to worry about; removing concrete is costly. Our modular homes are pier and beam, wooden floors, and have a crawl space big enough for a person to do any needed mechanical, electrical, or plumbing repairs or additions.

When it comes to remote living needs, modular building seems to check off all the needs, wants, and requirements. It may cost a little more than a site built home, that is if you can find a qualified builder in your area, but the time that you save not having to drive so much, and the superior quality of construction makes up for the difference.