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
