As the skilled labor shortage continues
to plague the construction industry,
an increasing number of builders are
looking to factories for options. Few custom
builders are interested in the familiar
double-wide units commonly
associated with the prefabricated housing
market, but many are weighing the
benefits of building houses from manufactured
components. In addition to
requiring less skilled labor on site, manufactured
components have the advantage
of being built indoors under
controlled conditions (see "Factory-Built
Custom Homes," 2/99, and "Panelized
Houses," 6/96).
Currently, however, most factories are
geared up to produce a limited number
of designs, which are then sold through
a network of dealers. This makes it difficult
for custom builders and remodelers
to find a manufacturer who is willing
and able