Mainebiz

V O L . X X X I N O. X V I J U LY 2 8 , 2 0 2 5 22 R E A L E S TAT E / C O N S T R U C T I O N / E N G I N E E R I N G F O C U S e two firms worked with Zero Energy Homes, a Mount Desert startup, on the design and produc- tion of wall, floor and roof panels for a single-family demonstration home in Searsport to show that modular construction combined with "net zero energy" principles can be priced for the affordable housing market. Maker provided full wall panels with pre-installed windows and exterior house wrap, along with roof and floor panels. e shell structure was assembled in one day and is completely weather- tight, says MacEachern. MacEachern plans to grow the "panelization" portion of the business for residential development. Advantages of panels, he says, include being able to build the components off- site, flat-pack and ship them. "e name of the game is not to produce the cheapest home," he says. "Everything is higher-end and net zero energy. e wall systems are robust." Modular construction is essentially large box portions of a building with the interior dry wall and finish completed. e system uses smaller sections of walls, floors and roofs that need to be assem- bled and has less finish work done. "ey both have their place," says MacEachern. "Generally speaking, the product can be manufactured while the foundation is going in, as opposed to waiting until the foundation goes in and then bringing the raw material to the site and starting to assemble it. "at's the main gain — it can be manufactured while the earthwork is being done. e foundation's done and then bam, the product shows up." Assembly line A modular home build, he estimates, can be assembled and finished in a mat- ter of weeks. "If you stick-built it, you can't even consider that," he says. ere's considerable efficiency, too. "You have an assembly line, the tool- ing is setup, the employees do specific processes," says MacEachern. "Just by the nature of it being a manufacturing facility, it's going to be faster." "A big part of the time and the hang-up with site-built is — you do, say, the rough framing and the sheath- ing but the electrician and the plumber aren't necessarily going to be there the day after the framing is done," says MacEachern. "It's worse now than in the past because of the lack of trades- people and everyone is so busy." Off-site manufacturing is more cost- effective and a better way to build, he says. "Your materials are stored inside and all the work is being done inside, under cover," he says. "You're not out in the elements all year long. You're probably moving a little faster." Addressing the housing crunch More off-site manufacturing is needed, says MacEachern. "It can't not trend that way, with all of the issues we have going on — the need for housing, the shortage of available labor, the lack of knowledge in the trades," he says. "It lends itself to all of that. And generally speaking, it makes more sense. ere's a misconception with off-site construc- tion that it's lower quality, cheaper built. But it's not. A lot of modular houses we do are very high-end." He adds, "Off-site production can be a substantial means to solving the affordable housing crunch. You can't get to that level of home con- struction in Maine without engag- ing the off-site manufacturing end of the business." Laurie Schreiber, Mainebiz senior writer, can be reached at lschreiber @ mainebiz.biz » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E Forward Thinking • Innovative • Consistency You Can Count On D'arcy Main-Boyington Economic Development Director ecdev@brewermaine.gov 207-989-7500 W W W. B R E W E R M A I N E . G O V/ B I Z " The City of Brewer has helped us locate and secure the right resources to enable us to thrive and grow in Maine. Brewer is centrally located, making it a great home for Troy Industrial!" Bre MacLean General Manager of Troy Industrial Solutions www.nickoday.com Constructors - Since 1952 NICKERSON & O'DAY, INC. Acadia Gateway Phase 1 (top) and phase 2 ( bottom) - Trenton, MAINE 2012 2025 since 1952 MAINE building P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y M A K E R C O N S T R U C T I O N Modular homes can be assembled and finsihed in a matter of weeks.

• Cover