By year 2020 homes in the US can be built in 20 days. These will be modular constructions in which 85 per cent of the work is completed in the factory and then transported to the site for completion.
Though in India this feat can’t be achieved by 2020, the first steps towards building modular construction processes have been taken.
First set of modular homes
The first set of modular homes launched by Lockwood International, a leading New Zealand-based wood construction company, has been made to cater to the high end segment, designing it specifically for farm houses and second homes. But plans are in the offing to extend this concept to the middle housing segment. The Indian Forest Research Institute has tested pinewood for its suitability in Indian conditions, and the structures are also resistant to earthquakes and termite attacks. As modular homes have to withstand transportation from factory to location, they are usually stronger and more energy efficient than traditionally built homes.
However, in India, in the absence of any dimensional standards, the development of prefabricated construction products has not yet taken place in a big way. Houses are still made to order.
Eco-friendly homes
Modular homes are different from manufactured homes. They are built in pieces, but have no standard shape. The different modules are brought to the site and assembled and finished by a licensed contractor. Value of modular homes increase over time, just like on site construction.
As most of the work is completed in factories it is possible to make modular homes as much eco-friendly as one wants them to be. During the building stage itself eco-friendly features such as bamboo flooring, recycled countertops, energy efficient windows, and other custom features can be incorporated. The houses can also be made small in size for low impact living.
More and more people in India are going the modular way to build a home because of many factors. One of the factors is quick build time. Watch video:
