Posted on January 27, 2012

The delivery of the Carlsbad home went very well today. The news crew from San Diego Fox 5 news was there doing a feature story on the craning of the home. It was an awesome story!

Click on the picture to watch the video

San Diego Fox 5 News

This 2-story modern masterpiece designed by Allan Teta of Teta Architecture, Inc out of Carlsbad. With a rooftop deck, garden, floor to ceiling windows and spiral staircase it will be perfect for entertaining. The modern design will feature custom built soft closing cabinetry, recessed can lighting, Kohler fixtures, level 5 smooth wall finishes and bamboo flooring. Other features include a sauna, a media room and a tranquility patio, even the basement is modular! The great room will feature a 16’ high volume ceiling showing the versatility of modular construction.

Irontown performed the full turnkey services on this home by providing the site work and foundation install. We will also complete the home to the finished occupancy stage.

Posted on January 1, 2012

Irontown’s recent delivery was featured on the nightly news. Check it out.

Posted on December 6, 2011

Posted on November 18, 2011

Video of Recent Delivery to Half Moon Bay, CA This custom two story home features a beautiful coastal design with a wrap around porch and beautiful woodworking throughout. The proud homeowner was very involved in customizing every detail of their dream home. We were able to deliver this custom home 95% complete. This home featured a panelized garage and the porch designed into the modules to speed up the finishing time on site. With minimal interior work and siding to complete this home will be completed by Irontown’s crews in a few short weeks.

Posted on October 11, 2011

Posted on September 12, 2011

Irontown Homes successfully delivers another prefab cabin. This custom cabin was delivered to the beautiful Uintah Mountains of Utah. This family cabin is perfect for any site. It features Irontown’s exclusive double folding roof to allow for an open bonus loft area without the added cost of an additional module. Saving our customer additional cost from transportation and craning. Placed over a full basement this will total just under 3,000 square feet of living space. It’s a very cost effective way to get that dream cabin your family has always wanted.

Here’s a little message from the homeowners.

“Hi Irontown, Thanks for making our family cabin. We are looking forward to many years of memories made within these walls. The crew had many challenges but Jason went from Plan A to Plan B without hesitation. I know many wives went without their husbands that night. We did not hear any cursing or swearing from the team. I particularly appreciate their optimistic attitude and work ethic along with their moral standards. Mike was our sales agent that sat with us to pick out floor plans and colors.  He was also at the “set” which gave me a lot of confidence that what I selected was actually delivered, because he knew what I wanted. Bryant was amazing working out our plans.  He is very easy to work with. I watched them hustle all day long. It’s a good team, and you should be proud of their efforts.”

Posted on July 19, 2011

Irontown Homes is scheduled to deliver another modern prefab home to Martis Camp, Truckee, California in mid August. This SageModern home was designed with significant consideration of the Lake Tahoe areas natural setting to blend in with the gradual slope, forest and adjacent putting park. SageModern has built other projects with Irontown Homes and has chosen the modular home building process as a refreshing alternative to a long on-site building process.

This 3,250 sf modern prefab home has 5 bedrooms and 4 ½ bathrooms. The elegant modern home features handscraped hickory alongside rich Brazilian Slate flooring. The bathrooms and kitchen are adorned by Walker Zanger Limestone, porcelain, basalt and marble tiles with a unique blend of styles and colors. The kitchen boasts Thermador Professional Series appliances including a 42” refrigerator and 48” gas range. With 95% efficient heating radiant floor heat systems and electronic air cleaner, the efficiency and fresh mountain surroundings will be welcomed. The exterior was designed with cedar siding, Falls Creek ledge stone, board formed concrete and heavy timber to blend with its surroundings and blur the boundary between indoor and outdoor living.

Martis Camp is an exclusive mountain retreat area midway between historic Truckee, California, and the shores of North Lake Tahoe, Martis Camp unfolds across 2,177 acres of pristine Lake Tahoe real estate high in Martis Valley. More than a mile above sea level, this mountain paradise stands above all others with the immense blue waters of Lake Tahoe and the quiet majesty of the Sierra Nevadas.

After 25 years in the business, Irontown Homes has evolved and molded the new building process of taking prefab and modular home construction to a higher standard. Within the walls of their new state of the art 60,000 sf facility, Irontown Homes approaches each home with two main focuses; customization and quality. Each home gets customized right at the beginning from plan design to material selections. The customer can truly build a custom home with every detail fit for their family and lifestyle.

All of Irontown’s prefab homes are constructed through a rigorous quality control process. With all of the resources at one controlled location, efforts focus on the precision of each home reducing material overages, waste, time delays, subcontractor problems, vandalism and weather delays. With custom designs, limitless materials selections, energy efficient standards, time savings and fixed pricing, Irontown Homes defines modular building as a smarter choice for building.

Watch the video from the last SageModern delivery to Martis Camp.

Posted on July 12, 2011

The beautiful 2 story spanish style home with stucco and roof tiles is completed in Santa Barbara, CA. With Irontown’s own crew the home was set on the foundation in one day and completed within weeks.

Click here to view the video of the home being set on the foundation

Posted on June 13, 2011

Contemporary home across the beach in coastal Carlsbad located in San Diego’s north county. This location is spectacular with breathtaking ocean views to the west and northwest with “the flower fields” to the east. This home was designed by Teta Architecture to enhance an active family lifestyle. Enjoy the ocean with rooftop decks, a rooftop garden, floor to ceiling windows and views that take in the clear Pacific Ocean. This home also features bamboo flooring, a 3 stop elevator, a modular basement and a modular garage.

Posted on May 23, 2011

Joining many other prefab homes in the Santa Barbara area Irontown is excited to build a Clever Homes custom design by Toby Long Architects. This beautiful two story modern design offers sleek style with large open view windows. The interior includes bamboo flooring throughout, translucent counters atop custom cabinetry and Viking appliances. A covered porch with open trellis and stainless steel cable railings brings in Santa Barbara’s amazing sunsets and beautiful year round weather. Keep checking back to our website for more pictures as this home is constructed in our factory.

Posted on April 12, 2011

Irontown Homes set crew was in Santa Barbara, CA setting a home on Thursday April 7th. This home was set in only one day and will be finished by Irontown’s own site crew in the next few weeks. Continue reading “Irontown Homes delivered another high end prefab to Santa Barbara, CA” »

Posted on April 5, 2011

Below is a video from Irontown Homes of a high end custom prefab home going to Half Moon Bay in California.

Watch the video! Continue reading “Prefab Home going to Half Moon Bay, CA” »

Posted on March 29, 2011

We recieve many phone calls and emails asking how we are different and why you should trust Irontown to build your dream home and the biggest investment of your life?

Continue reading “WHAT MAKES IRONTOWN HOMES DIFFERENT FROM OTHER FACTORIES?” »

Posted on November 23, 2010

Irontown Homes delivered a high end prefab home expected to receive a LEED Platinum certification into Los Altos, CA on November 19th. Irontown Housing Company, Inc., a 25 year old Utah factory built housing company, has changed the face of construction by providing customers with custom, quality built, and energy efficient modular homes. This project designed by LivingHomes encompasses each of these details with a custom designed home by world class Architect Ray Kappe, FAIA. This home not only reaches the highest LEED Platinum Certification by the US Green Building Council but it exceeds the point requirement for the ranking. Continue reading “Los Altos Welcomes One More Success Story for Modular Homes in California” »

Posted on September 21, 2010

This Beverly Hills home is filled with beautiful woodwork. Below you will see some finished pictures with wood beams, the stone fireplace, custom cabinetry, wood clad doors, radius windows and custom paint.

Posted on August 27, 2010

Modular homes can be confusing at first because there are many different names for them.  They are labeled prefabricated, modular, prefab, and even incorrectly called manufactured.  Putting names aside, what is a modular home?  Is it different from a traditionally built home?  Yes.  There are quite a few differences between these two types of homes that are important for every prospective homeowner to know.

Their planning stages are often different.  With traditional homes a prospective homeowner may need to draft plans with an independent architect or possibly pick a style from a book.  Modular homes are usually planned with the company that will build the home.  Some companies, such as Irontown homes, will work with customers during every step of the planning process to create plans that fit the customer’s style while remaining functional.

When the building process begins the two types of homes split even more.  Modular homes are built inside a factory while traditional homes are built at the construction site.  Factories will often use an assembly line style process to build a home, but Irontown Homes approaches the building process differently.  We give each home a designated space where it is built instead of passing it along a line.  This process is more efficient than an assembly line, so construction time is reduced.

It usually takes eight to ten weeks to build a modular home once the planning process is completed.  A traditional home can take several months to complete due to unforeseen delays.  Modular homes do not have this problem because the environment they are built in is controlled.  The temperature is controlled to keep the quality materials in their original state.  Building inside also protects the construction area from the elements, so there are no delays due to weather.  Traditional homes are at the mercy of the environment and subject to quite a few delays.  These delays may range from weather to waiting for materials.  Having a shorter building process also means a modular home will be less expensive, because a customer will use less of their construction loan.

Once a modular home is completed it is then transported in pieces to the construction site.  At the site the home will be put together on the foundation.  With Irontown Homes the foundation will already be laid, so the assembly can start immediately.  Also, Irontown Homes does all the assembly on site, instead of simply dropping it off, to ensure consistency and quality workmanship.

Building a modular home is convenient for the customer because they have less to worry about.  Construction sites get messy with garbage.  With a modular home all the garbage is taken care of at the factory.  Traditional homes sometimes require prospective homeowners to deal with extra services, such as a dumpster service.

Modular homes are often built to be smaller than a traditional home, but this does not happen all the time.  Irontown Homes builds homes in a range of sizes to meet the needs of each customer.  We build smaller homes, including a home that was 300 square feet, and we also build large multimillion dollar homes.  Our most recent large project is a custom home in Beverly Hills.

There are other differences between modular homes and traditional homes, but they are much smaller.  These two types of homes are built very differently and each method will produce a functional home.  However, modular homes do tend to have more benefits than negative qualities.  They are different from the traditional home building process, but their difference is a homeowner’s gain.

Posted on August 20, 2010

Modular homes or prefab homes consist of several built-in components or modules that are delivered to its intended location for assembly. The different modules or sections are shipped to the location and they are assembled using large overhead cranes. The modules include bed rooms, living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens that match the requirements of the owner.

These homes are often confused with mobile homes or manufactured homes. People are often confused with what are the differences between mobile, manufactured, modular, prefab, etc. What do they all mean?  The original concept of homes built efficiently in a factory on a steel trailer chaise that could be moved to a new location began in the 1950′s. So many soldiers were coming back from the war and cost effective housing was needed, fast. Since these homes had tires and were mobile they were considered personal property, not attached to real property, hence having a VIN number and treated as a mobile structure. Soon the term “mobile homes” began to be associated with the low quality and fast depreciation. Because of this, many factories began raising the quality level and building manufactured homes based on the HUD code. HUD stands for Housing and Urban Development Code. The federal government, in an effort to regulate the construction of factory built homes, issued a national building code for manufacturing facilities. With this national code a factory could build a home in any part of the country and it will be accepted nationwide, not requiring it to meet each individual state or city building codes. These HUD code homes still have a steel chaise and are constantly having the mortgage argument about real property vs. personal property. Many HUD homes struggle with financing problems and depreciation. As the evolution continued modular homes or another term is prefab homes surfaced to still utilize the time and streamlining of the factory process but reduce the low quality, financing and depreciation problems of its predecessors. Modular homes or prefab homes are built on a location basis. They are built to meet the building code standards of the state or city they are constructed in. They have wood floor systems and are permanently attached to the foundation causing the homes to be real property and no different than any of their neighboring homes built directly on-site. Since modular or prefab homes are constructed to the same code as their neighboring site built homes they are inspected by the same city inspectors, financed the same, appraised the same, resell is the same, appreciation is the same and once attached to the permanent foundation they are no different than site built home. Irontown Homes has taken the modular or prefab industry to a new level by offering custom built, custom designed homes that make it possible to build almost any home design in the factory no matter what features, what materials or what size the of home. 

Today, more and more people are opting for a modular homes or prefab because of the benefits that come with it. Some of the benefits of buying a modular home include the following:

Flexibility in Design

A modular home provides a high level of customization to suit the needs of each and every customer. They can be built for any specification. It can be a single-level or a multi-level home. Its design can be a simple one module building or a 12,000 square feet mansion with everything in between. The design possibilities are endless and it gives the owner an opportunity to work closely with the builder and determine exactly how the house should be built. Numerous floor plans can be made and the owner can pick the one that he or she likes the best. So, with a modular home, one can get the exact dream house without any kind of compromise.

Less building time

The amount of time required to build a modular home is less. With weeks in the factory and mere weeks on site to finish the modules it can save a lot of time over a site built home. This is because work can be done in parallel. The excavation and foundation can be completed at the site location while the house is being built in the factory. There is no more hassle involved with contractors, weather delays, vandalism or theft. With all of the materials and resources centrally located in the factory and no outside weather restrictions a schedule can be very rigid with few interruptions.

Building codes and state regulations

Prefab homes have to adhere to the building codes and regulations laid down by each state. The regulations ensure that it meets the quality standards of any site-built home and so there is no difference between modular homes and site built construction in terms of quality. Modular homes have to go through a more stringent procedure than site-built homes. They have to meet the building codes of the state in which the house is going to be assembled. The building plan has to be approved by the state before the construction is started. They are subjected to frequent inspections from housing officials. An independent third party has to review the construction process, its quality and it has to place a label stating that the home complied with all codes and regulations. All these codes and regulations mean a higher quality in construction and delivery.

Energy efficient

Modular homes are highly energy efficient because they use the latest technologies in construction. The walls require a two-by-six frame and this gives an added insulation that can save a lot more energy. They can be made to adapt to the living conditions of its final place of residence. Another advantage with the construction is that they are packed tightly and so there is little scope for the infiltration of external air. Also, during the process of manufacturing, the building company tends to use a lot more sealants in all the areas and so the home is completely sealed. This helps these homes to maintain a reasonably constant temperature year around and so the energy required to heat or cool is reduced.

Superior Quality

The quality of materials used in making modular homes is high because they have to weather the transportation and assembly. To withstand this strain, an additional twenty percent of material is used over site-built homes. This makes them more sturdy and stable. Since the modules are tightly packed into one unit, they are better able to weather the forces of nature like hurricane and floods. The frequent inspections by third-party companies also add to its superior quality. They are more durable than site-built homes because they are completely sealed and there is no part that is left untouched. All these factors make modular homes a top-notch quality home.

Environment Friendly

Modular homes use a lot less materials than site-built homes and there is minimal wastage. The extra materials are reused for another module or stored for the next construction project. This means lesser use of construction materials and lesser harm to the environment. These modules are made in factories that are located far away from residential areas and so they have minimal impact on the living conditions of any city or community. It is also possible to recycle the parts easily. When temporary modular homes are dismantled, the modules can be used for another home. This reduces the materials required for construction and also reduces the time to build new modules.

Reduced cost

The cost of building a modular home is far less than a regular site-built home. This is mainly because there are minimal delays due to weather conditions or contractor problems. The modules are built inside a factory and so there are no delays related to weather. Also, in the case of site-built homes, weather can bring down some of the construction and this part has to be re-built. There is no such problem in the modular home industry and this means reduced cost for the owner.

The reduced time in constructing these homes translate to reduced financing costs. The amount of interest is also less and so the consumer has to pay only a lesser amount of money on mortgage. Another advantage is that modular home builders purchase building supplies in bulk because of the number of orders they get through the year. So, the purchasing costs that are transferred to the home owner is less and this finally reflects in the overall cost of the finished house.

Remote locations and tight neighborhoods

Modular homes are the ideal choice for people living in remote locations or over-populated neighborhoods. It may be difficult to find contractors in remote locations because people may not be willing to travel far. Also, it may cost more to bring contractors to the remote location from their place of residence. For such places, modular homes are the perfect choice because the construction is done at a different place and only the final assembly is done at the remote location. This is the same for crowded neighborhoods as well. There may not be enough space to keep the construction materials or the contractors may not have the space required to move around to build the house. In this case also, modular homes are the best choice.

Conclusion

In short, modular homes offer the best value for money. They are not only aesthetically designed and environment-friendly, but they are also cheap and are superior in quality. They offer a great amount of flexibility and it can be built for any location and any specification. These are some of the factors that make modular homes a popular option today among many home-owners.

Posted on August 17, 2010

Our delivery to Beverly Hills was awesome! With modules flying 150′ in the air over Sunset Boulevard, the sight was nothing less than spectacular. The homeowners are beyond happy with their new home. The finish crew is on site and within a couple of weeks the project will be completed.

Being one of the only full turnkey factories is not something that Irontown takes lightly. Taking a project from start to finish is not an easy process. We spend many, many hours to make everything run smoothly and perfectly on site. From the beginning of each project Irontown is coordinating all of the details for the site. This includes a site visit followed by foundation details, visits with the local authorities and police departments. The months of preparation were evident with this delivery. Having to coordinate details between the many departments as well as the Police was no easy task. Everyone worked well together and all of the modules were delivered and set on the foundation in one day. 

The City of Beverly Hills and Beverly Hills Police Department were wonderful to work with and we appreciate their cooperation with the delivery.

Posted on August 11, 2010

In the past, the words “prefabricated house” simply meant a double wide trailer. Though many people still hold this misconception, the truth is that prefabricated homes have become a whole lot more than just a trailer. Also known as modular homes, prefabricated homes can be a cozy cabin, a large luxury house, or anything in between.

A prefabricated house is constructed into several large pieces a factory. These pieces are then shipped to the location, where final assembly is completed. More people are now considering modular homes as a viable housing option. These houses are becoming a big trend because they offer many advantages to a traditionally built home.

When people think about the time involved in building a house, it is a large project that will usually take 4 to 6 months to complete. Many times a family ends up moving into a rental home, apartment, or a spare room at a family or friend’s house because their old house has already sold, but they’re still waiting on their new one to finish being built. The need for short term solutions like this are greatly reduced with prefabricated house. Typically a modular home will take about 2 months to construct completely, though once they ship to the site it may be livable in a matter of days. This is an even greater advantage in cold climates, where there are only a few months that are suitable for construction.

Prefabricates houses typically cost less than their traditionally built counterparts. One of the biggest reasons for this is how quickly they can be built in the factories. Usually they can be built in about one third of the time of a traditionally constructed house. When buying a house, part of the cost is the salary for the workers to build it. Reducing the number of hours spent working on the house reduces the cost to hire the workers. Because the designs are all built using a standard set of parts and pieces, waste is reduced. This also helps keep the price lower, because less waste means fewer material costs. The pieces being standardized also helps prevent additional costs and hold ups due to mistakes.

Modular homes are also more eco-friendly. They are better insulated than a traditional home, lowering the energy requirements to heat and cool the house year round. Recyclable, renewable, and sustainable materials are used, limiting negative impacts on the environment.

Quality is also enhanced in a prefabricated house. In addition to the improved insulation, these houses are more durable. Part of this comes simply from the construction process. Because building a home takes time, all parts of a traditionally built home are exposed to nature. Not only are bugs an issue, but during the months of building, it will also rain, most likely at the most inconvenient and inopportune times. Modular homes are constructed in a factory where they are protected from these elements. When they are taken outside to be shipped to the site, they are complete, so only the finished siding and roofing will be exposed to rain and bugs. They are also made to be very strong and sturdy, making them better equipped to withstand a natural disaster such as a hurricane or tornado.

Another great advantage to modular houses is personalization. When looking for a house, few people have both the time and money available to purchase a custom traditionally built home. With a prefabricated home, the customer is in charge. Whether you need a lot of bedrooms for a large family, want a large kitchen, or simply have a specific layout in mind, it is all possible with a modular home.

Though they were once considered inferior, prefabricated houses are a great option for people looking for a house today. With so many great benefits and advantages, modular homes are the future of house construction.

Posted on August 9, 2010

Irontown is set apart from other factories by offering our clients the chance to customize every detail of their home.  Our process for building a home is designed to make this exciting project go smoothly.  While in the planning stages we want you to be creative with your home’s details while maintaining goals and expectations that are realistic for your timeline and budget.

Fast Track Program

Our new Fast Track Program provides owners with the opportunity to start building right away by choosing a plan that is pre-engineered and pre-designed.  Each plan uses the same quality standards and flexibility of any of our projects, but it has a shorter construction timeline.  When you have completed the selection phase, construction can begin immediately to put your home on the track of fast completion.

Custom Plans

Shop Drawings: You can give the reigns over to your creativity during this stage as you plan your custom luxury home.  Shop drawing has two stages: preliminary planning and full set planning.  The first stage creates a basic version of your floor plan.  You get to decide where windows, walls, and doors will be placed, specific elevations, and many other details.  When everything has been decided in the preliminary stage we move on to the full set planning stage.  This stage deals with the technical aspects and adds details that will make the construction process smoother.  These details cover a large range including cross sections and mechanical, plumbing, and electrical plans.

Specification and Selections: Picking your home’s styles, colors, features, and fixtures is the most exciting stage of the home planning process.  This stage starts with a standard selection package which you can customize down to the very last detail; we do not glaze over any details.  During this process our design team is right there with you to help you choose what upgrades and options are best for your budget.  Our large range of options includes many styles that have attractive features at reasonable costs.  You can simply enjoy this stage because we are there to help you at each step of this stage.

Structural Engineering: When the plans get approved they move on to engineering where a state licensed engineer determines the requirements of the structure, performs load calculations, and provides the plans for floor framing, roof framing, foundation, the truss layout, and the structural detail.  These details include exposure to wind, the roof load, seismic elements, and soil conditions.  This stage does require the client to provide the factory with the Geo-tech soils report and tepo map in advance.  The complete detailed foundation plan is also created during this stage, and it includes stem wall height, footing, sizes, widths, and other details.

Permitting and Approval: Every pre-fab home we build has to go through the State approval process and the Local Building Department approval process to receive a building permit.  (This excludes Utah and Wyoming.)  Irontown works on the modular portion of the State Division process, and we can also complete the local department’s modular portion as well.  We also make sure to prepare a Rescheck for or Title 24, which is an energy conservation report, when they are required.

Factory Construction: At first this stage sounds a little daunting, but it is relatively simple for our clients.  Since they have already made the decisions, we can get to work on construction your home.  As we build your home we give you progress updates all the time.  We also have a special spot on our website where you can always watch your home being built in the factory.  Throughout the construction process there will be inspections and fund draws.  You can come to the factory as often or infrequently as you want.  The only required visit is the final inspection once your home is completed.

Site and Stitch Work: Our factory is the only one in the west that uses an in-house turnkey building process, which means we can go through each stage of the process or we can do a single stage if you prefer.  For your convenience we can install the foundation and do the site work while your home is being built in the factory which saves time and money.  We always are thrilled to help each of our clients through the building process and to stand by their side as their dream luxury home comes together.  We are committed to our clients’ happiness and helping them build their perfect home.