Grown from a husband/wife team to an $18.5M contractor with over 30 employees, Transform, has set its mission on enhancing communities by supplying quality, cost effective structures with an emphasis on sustainability. Transform uses state-of-the-art technologies and world-class manufacturing processes to produce homes, classrooms, offices, apartments, condos and other structures in a climate-controlled production environment.

Quality
A common misconception is that a "modular" home is the same as a "manufactured" home. In fact, they are very different. A manufactured home (commonly called a "mobile" home) is built under the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) standards. This federal code differs from locally adopted codes in several areas. Most notably, HUD code homes have a permanent chassis, with removable axles, wheels and hitches to transport it to the installation site. Transform will design and build to current IBC code; the same code as site-built construction.

Cost
Home prices in recent years have soared, outpacing wage increases while families see more single-parent households and increased health care costs. In many areas, teachers, firefighters and police officers can't afford to live in the communities where they work. Homeownership is the most important investment a person will make. Modular construction is typically 5-20% cheaper than traditional site-built homes.

Process
Modular homes are constructed in modules (three-dimensional sections measuring up to 16'x68'x12.5') and are up to 85% complete when they leave the factory. Modules are shipped to the site and are attached to a foundation and each other. Minor finish work, plumbing and gas connections, and decks are some of the items finished on the building site.

As a member of Built Green, Energy Star & the USGBC, Transform employees its own Sustainability Coordinator, who ensures that the design, building process and building materials are as green as possible. To learn more visit Transform.

Another great site for learning more about the world of prefabs is Fabprefab which provides a forum for exploring developments in the modernist prefab marketplace.