Industry experts weigh in on the benefits of this increasingly popular home-building approach. Brought to you by JELD-WEN There are many ways to describe the promise and, to some, the hype of the growing home builder and remodeler interest in modular home construction. The term is a broad one. Modular home construction can include everything from roof trusses and wall-panel systems all the way up to volumetric modules of fully equipped and finished rooms. Few dispute the need for an alternative home-building method. Here’s a snapshot of five industry experts, why they have adopted modular home construction, and why they believe this is just the beginning for this promising building approach. 1. Ryan Smith, Washington State University School of Design and Construction Ryan Smith is arguably the nation’s leading authority on the modular housing industry, serving as the director of Washington State University’s School of Design and Construction and as a consultant. He points to Japan…

For quick refreshes or in-depth training, many in the building industry use training videos, animations, and even virtual reality to help workers get the job done right. This video learning revolution has come to the building trades and is filling a much-needed role in skills training for many in the workforce. These days, everyone looks at how-to videos to train themselves on all types of tasks—from changing your cell-phone battery to knitting a scarf. And for construction training, there are numerous advantages to using digital tools for training that can help savvy companies up their productivity and quality, all while increasing the knowledge of their workers and managers. “The biggest shortfall in our industry is the lack of training of any sort,” says Mark LaLiberte, president of Construction Instruction, Inc. (CI). “That’s a big problem when you realize that we create complex structures meant to last a century.” The combination…

Trying to trim costs is a never-ending battle for all builders. But with new technology like Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, builders have a shot at shaving off some of the waste to keep their companies in the black. The initial phase of implementing new software can take time, but builders are increasingly putting in the effort, knowing that it will benefit their businesses for years to come. Top Cost-Saving Benefits of Construction Software Integrated plans allow for accurate takeoffs, which reduce material wasteSharing documents increases collaboration and reduces team and contractor errorsEfficiency in managing construction saves on labor costs Reduce Materials Waste Takeoffs that provide inaccurate materials lists can cost a lot. Mike Kowalski, a structural engineer in Jacksonville, Florida, says he finds an average of $1,000 potential savings per house when he is working with national builders. After analyzing hundreds of plans from high-volume builders, Clark Ellis of…