Non-Traditional Homes in Portland: Modular Homes and Log Homes

Interestingly, modular and log homes share quite a bit in common. First, you're likely to see them in the same general locales—often in outlying areas around Portland. Log homes make the most sense in wooded areas, as lake homes, or similarly secluded places. Modular homes help reduce the extra cost of building a home on a single plot, rather than as part of a housing development. Both have solid niches in the home building industry that aren't likely to overtake conventional home builders, but also aren't likely to go away anytime soon. In fact, there are even modular log home builders in Portland who will use milled logs to build your home in a factory setting and transport the basic framing of the house to the building site.

Understanding Manufactured vs. Modular Homes in Portland
Though manufactured and modular homes are often confused with one another, about the only thing these two homes share is that they are both built off-site and can be seen traveling down the interstate with oversized load signs attached to them. Manufactured homes, more commonly known as mobile homes, are meant to be movable, enabling the owner to pick up and transplant their home at any time. Mobile homes also have limited capacities, amenities, and durability.

Modular homes, on the other hand, are permanent dwellings that can rival or even surpass the quality of conventional home construction. Factory controlled settings allow for building materials to be protected, labor to be streamlined and more efficient, and for construction times to be significantly reduced. Weather delays are less of an issue. Energy efficiency is often superior. The biggest advantage of modular homes, however, is the overall lower cost of construction; typical savings range anywhere from 10 to 35 percent of conventional home building costs.

You may wonder, then, why everybody doesn't choose a modular home building company. While part of this lack of popularity can be attributed to a lack of public awareness, the principle drawback of modular homes is a lack of flexibility in floor plans and designs. You won't be able to customize your new home in the same way conventional building allows. Although modular home building companies are offering greater and greater versatility every year, the more customized the design, the more complicated the building process becomes, and the money and time you can save begins to erode.

Portland Log Homes: Custom and Milled Log Home Construction
Choosing a log home in Portland often begins with a simple preference for the rustic look of old-fashioned log cabins. Modern log homes meld this traditional look without sacrificing a single amenity. Plus, quality log homes will frequently outlast and outperform conventional homes over the long haul, assuming you're willing to pay top dollar for a custom built log home. High-end, custom Portland log home builders are more than just a fancy show of individual artisans. They offer superior building methods (such as allowing logs to ample time to air-dry) and greater design flexibility (anything you can imagine can be done with custom log homes). The cost can be hard to swallow, but to truly realize your dream home; it can be the only way to go.

Milled log homes use manufactured logs that are quickly cut to specs and ready for construction. These logs allow for DIY log home building kits, substantially reducing building costs. Their limited design flexibility is due to the need for vertical butt joints and limited log length.

Finding a Modular and Log Home Builders in Portland, OR
No matter where you are in the process, whether you're still years away from being able to finance a new home or whether you've got the plot and the blueprints all ready to go, it's never a bad time to contact a log home or modular home builder in Portland. There is, however, a wrong way to contact a home builder. By using ServiceMagic to request a local Portland home builder, we'll match you only to contractors who have passed our rigorous 10-step screening process. You'll also have access to our online database of customer ratings and reviews. To get you off on the right foot, you should let us help you find only those home building companies whose reputation and track record demonstrate reliability and professionalism.

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