The Mandala Effect: Why Custom Prefab Homes are the Future
Revolutionizing custom prefab homes: Mandala Custom Homes' commitment to customization, sustainability, and innovation.
Are you weary of living in a square world? Have you ever dreamed of living in a unique, one-of-a-kind home? A home that truly reflects your personality and lifestyle? Are you looking for a home that is eco-friendly? Do you have concerns about how long your home construction will take? Well, we encourage you to consider an alternative to conventional homebuilders – build an innovative, holistic, and sustainable home. As a leading builder of custom round prefab homes, Mandala Custom Homes (MCH) is revolutionizing the housing industry.
At Mandala Custom Homes, we specialize in building round homes. Homes tailored to your specific needs and preferences. Our expert team works with you every step of the way to ensure that your home reflects your unique personality and lifestyle. And the best part? Our prefab construction makes the process faster, more efficient, and more sustainable than traditional stick-built construction methods.
Why custom prefab homes are the future of sustainable living
At Mandala Custom Homes, we use innovative prefab construction techniques to build all of our homes. And we do it in a fraction of the time and cost of traditional construction methods. Prefab construction, sometimes known as modular construction, means building a home in sections or panels off-site in a factory. After production, the home gets delivered and assembled on the building site. This process allows for greater precision, consistency, and quality control. The result is a faster, more efficient, and more sustainable building process.
MCH builds every home with panelized components constructed in a climate-controlled facility. We deliver fully constructed wall panels that are quick to assemble at the building site. Our building process, from design to lock-up – weather tight – is far more efficient and faster than on-site stick-built home building. This process provides longer-term cost savings, enhanced sustainability and a much shorter building time than conventionally built homes.
Less waste more sustainability
Additionally, our prefab building process produces less waste. In conventional construction, there is often significant excess of building materials, which means increased waste. Factory-built homes promote efficiency, where we can more easily reuse and recycle our excess.
A key to MCH's sustainability over time is an air-tight building envelope. Through innovative building technologies, we ensure the tightest seal possible between the air barrier and the windows and doors. With greater precision in construction, prefab home parts and components have tighter seams. This helps with efficiency in energy consumption – heating and cooling. Panelized prefab home construction is, by its nature, a green way to build. We are recognized for green building with various certifications, including the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard.
Prefab is a more environmentally sensitive and sustainable choice than conventional stick-built home building.
Additionally, MCH builds ENERGY STAR certified homes. We've done so for two decades. We can also work with innovative, passive solar technology to further amplify your home's sustainability.
The future is now: the advantages of prefab
When comparing prefab construction to traditional building methods, there's really no contest. Prefab construction allows for faster building times, reduced waste, and lower labour costs. Studies show that prefab construction can reduce construction time by up to 50%! This results in significant cost savings for homeowners.
Off-Site Manufacturing (OSM)
The Off-Site Manufacturing (OSM) system is integral to building effectively sustainable homes. OSM involves pre-building the wall panels and floor and roof components indoors in a climate-controlled factory. After pre-assembly, we ship your home as a Home Package to the building site for construction.
Environmentally, OSM offers better quality control during production. There is a much higher degree of precision in the factory with a reduction in materials and resources, resulting in far less waste. In a factory, building materials are protected from the elements. They remain dry and protected from weather damage, retaining their structural integrity. The result is a higher-quality building. MCH uses the finest quality wood products, sourced mostly from British Columbia forests. We choose all of our materials and products based on strength, durability, energy efficiency, health and non-toxicity, sustainability and, of course, beauty.
Faster and better!
Once the Home Package arrives at the building site, the pre-built panels and components are assembled to lock-up in days compared to the weeks, if not months, necessary in conventional construction. Because of the accelerated on-site construction phase, there is less impact on the surrounding environment.
At MCH, we're not just building homes - we're building the future of the housing industry. Our innovative prefab construction techniques allow us to create custom, eco-friendly homes that are as unique as they are sustainable. Why settle for a cookie-cutter home when you can have a custom-built masterpiece? Choose Mandala Custom Homes and experience the Mandala Effect - an environmentally sensitive, holistic, and incomparable living experience.
Questions about the benefits of an MCH custom prefab round home? Speak with an MCH expert to learn more!
From Concept to Completion: Building a Custom Round Home with MCH
If you want something truly unique, building a custom round home may suit your needs in a sustainable, holistic, and uniquely singular way.
Building a custom home is an exciting and rewarding experience. But when you choose a custom round home, the living experience is doubly satisfying.
Round homes have been around for centuries, and for good reason: they are energy-efficient, durable, and can be customized to fit almost any lifestyle. Mandala Custom Homes (MCH), based in Nelson, BC, is a leader in custom round home construction. We create beautiful, ecologically friendly dwellings to suit families, couples, individuals, and organizations. Let us take you through the process of building a custom round home with MCH, from concept to completion.
The MCH home concept
This first phase includes discovering everything involved in building a custom round home. Collect all of the vital information you need to build before diving into the design. This will include reserving your place in our busy construction schedule.
Fill out our online request form, email, call, or drop in – let's talk!
During the concept phase, you'll work with the Mandala design team to discuss your goals for the project, including the size and layout of the home, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you need, and any specific features or design elements that you want to incorporate. Mandala can work with you to identify any local building codes or other regulations to take into account during the design phase.
Custom round home design
The next step in building a custom round home is to look through our selection of pre-designed round home plans. This is the time to consider more seriously any customizations tailored to your unique needs and preferences. Choose your favourite MCH floor plan from our plan book! This step also offers Eco Packages to consider – peruse the features that are best for you.
Meet with our designer to discuss your vision for your new home. During this phase, you will finalize the floor plan and receive a detailed quote to facilitate moving into the production and construction phase.
Once you've established your goals and requirements for the project, the Mandala design team will get to work creating a detailed set of plans for your new home. This will involve several rounds of back-and-forth communication between you and the design team, as they work to refine and finalize the design to meet your needs.
Armed with a cost estimate, you can begin having informed conversations about your building site, financing, and contractor options.
Building a custom round home – the construction
Once the design phase is complete, production begins. Mandala uses a panelized prefabrication construction technique to create our custom round homes. This production phase allows for a faster and more efficient construction process, while also ensuring that the finished product meets the highest quality standards.
As we build your home in our temperature-controlled, protected, indoor environment, the contractor you’ve hired is preparing your home site. Your home gets shipped to your building site.
Finishing touches
As construction nears completion, Mandala will work with you to add the finishing touches to your new home. This can include everything from selecting flooring and paint colours to choosing fixtures and appliances. Mandala also offers a range of custom cabinetry and furniture options that can be tailored to your specific needs.
With the home package onsite, it doesn't take long for your dream home to take shape on your building lot. You and your contractor will assemble the home with the helpful assistance of your customized Assembly Manual. You'll work closely with your contractor and make important decisions to complete your home.
Once all the finishing touches are added, your new custom round home will be ready for you to move in and enjoy. Now you can revel in the range of advantages of a uniquely beautiful and thoughtfully designed MCH custom round home.
Mandala's expert team will work with you every step of the way to ensure that your new home is everything you dreamed it would be. If you're considering a custom round home, MCH is definitely worth giving a more serious look. CONTACT US for more information!
Pantone’s Colour of the Year, Viva Magenta 18-1750 – Lively and Creative!
The Pantone Colour of the Year has become a highly anticipated event in the world of design – bring in some serious pop in 2023!
The world-renowned authority on colour recently declared Viva Magenta (18-1750) the Pantone Colour of the Year for 2023. It's a vibrant shade of pink! And it's described as energetic and optimistic – a perfect choice to add a pop of colour to just about any style of home décor.
It might surprise you to learn that even in a holistic, nature-inspired home, you can use this colour. Create a space that is not only beautiful but also nourishing for the mind, body, and spirit. A bold, vibrant shade of pink, Viva Magenta is sure to make a statement in any interior design scheme. Add only a couple of elements to enhance a harmonious and balanced space.
The significance of Viva Magenta
When you integrate this colour into your home's interior, you must consider the energy and emotion that it will bring to the space. Viva Magenta is a bold, energetic, and optimistic shade of pink that symbolizes joy and passion. It is said to stimulate the mind and encourage creativity. When used in the right way, it can help to create a vibrant and uplifting atmosphere in your home.
It's a colour associated with love, compassion, and nurturing. The result is a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Choose the right shade of this Pantone Colour of the Year
If used in excess, Viva Magenta, a bright shade of pink, that can overwhelm you. When you incorporate this colour into a space, it is important to choose the right shade. There are many variations of Viva Magenta. They range from light and soft to deep and rich. The key is to choose a shade that complements the other colours in your décor.
If you choose Viva Magenta as an accent colour, a lighter shade may be more appropriate. To make a bolder statement, a deeper shade of Viva Magenta is perhaps a better way to go.
Use as an accent colour
One of the easiest ways to bring Viva Magenta into your home is as an accent colour. Use it sparingly in the form of accessories, artwork, or textiles. A vase of pink flowers, a colourful throw pillow, curtains, rugs, or a piece of wall art can effectively add a pop of Viva Magenta to your space.
When using this colour as an accent, it is important to balance it with neutral colours such as white, grey, or black. Choose items that complement the other colours in your room.
Textiles are a great way to bring in such a bold colour in small ways. This can throw blankets, curtains, upholstery, and cushion covers. When using Viva Magenta in your textiles, choose high-quality materials that will last. Natural fibres such as linen, cotton, and wool are all great options. You can also choose textiles that have a pattern or texture to add interest to your space. Or consider materials that are soft and cozy, such as velvet or chenille, to create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your home.
Add Viva Magenta into your home through the use of artwork. A great way to add a personal touch to your home, artwork can also serve as a source of inspiration. When choosing artwork to complement Viva Magenta, look for pieces that have similar colour palettes, such as pinks, purples, and reds. This will help to create a harmonious and cohesive look in your home.
Make a statement with Viva Magenta walls
To make a uniquely bold statement, use Viva Magenta on your walls. This is a great way to add colour and energy to a room. When using this colour on your walls, be sure to balance it with neutral colours such as white, grey, or black. You can also use other shades of pink to create a more muted and calming atmosphere.
Use it as the main colour for a feature wall. Feature walls add a bold statement to any home, and Viva Magenta is the perfect colour to bring energy and optimism. If you want to use Viva Magenta as the main colour for a feature wall, choose a shade that is not too bright, to avoid it becoming overwhelming. Instead, opt for a soft, muted shade that will create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your room.
BONUS: Add greenery for balance
When you use a bold colour such as Viva Magenta, it is important to balance it with natural elements. Greenery is always a great choice! Adding plants to your space can help promote a harmonious and calming atmosphere. Choose plants that have green leaves, as this colour is known to soothe and balance the mind. You can also choose plants with pink or red flowers to complement your Viva Magenta accents.
6 Reasons To Choose An MCH Round Custom Prefab Home
If you're looking for the ultimate design for your next new home, a round custom prefab from MCH ticks all the boxes!
If the wheels are beginning to turn, considering the options for your next new home, we know that a round custom prefab may not be a first consideration. Traditional, stick-built, rectangular construction is still everywhere and will come up most in internet and contractor searches. We get it!
But, we are here to disabuse you of any misconceptions you may have about traditional construction. Because, if you are looking for the ultimate in design, comfort, sustainability and quality – for life! – a Mandala Custom Homes (MCH) round home offers so many benefits that they should be a first consideration for anyone looking to build a new home. Additionally, when you choose to work with MCH, you can trust that you get THE BEST possible result for your investment. For years to come!
Why build an MCH round home?
Energy Efficiency
One of the main advantages of an MCH round custom prefab is its energy efficiency. Round homes are designed to be more thermally efficient than traditional rectangular homes. This is because the round shape allows for better circulation of air, which helps to keep the home at a more consistent temperature. Consequently, you'll spend less money on heating and cooling costs, and enjoy a home that is more comfortable year-round.
We design our round homes using an air-tight wall system providing an air-tight building envelope that offers far greater energy efficiency. This unique building envelope includes a ventilation system that provides adequate fresh air indoors along with high-efficiency comfort. The warm air that leaves the home helps heat the air coming in. Our prefab panelized wall prevents air from penetrating the floors, walls, and roof. In addition to efficiency, it also reduces the likelihood of moisture collecting or migrating into those spaces. This ensures that no moulds or bacteria can grow. An MCH round custom prefab home package system minimizes heat, air, and moisture transfer, providing for a more comfortable indoor environment year after year.
Sustainability
Another benefit of MCH round custom prefab homes is that we build using cutting-edge, sustainable construction methods and materials. As mentioned, there's the inherent sustainability of an air-tight MCH building envelope. Additionally, our innovative Off-Site Manufacturing (OSM) system promotes sustainability by pre-building all of the components – wall panels, floor and roof – indoors, in our factory. After pre-assembly, we ship the home package to the building site for construction.
Environmentally, our process ensures far greater quality control during production. With increased precision in the factory, we use fewer materials and resources, minimizing waste. With indoor fabrication, the building materials are protected from the weather, stay dry and are delivered and constructed with their integrity intact. Additionally, OSM results in significantly reduced building time on-site, only days compared to weeks or months with stick-built construction.
We incorporate programs like ENERGY STAR to help save our homeowners thousands of kilowatt-hours of electricity while they achieve significant emissions reductions. Conforming to the values and mission of MCH, every product that has earned the ENERGY STAR label is sure to deliver reliable quality, performance, and savings.
Distinctive design
Round homes also offer a unique and distinctive design that can set your home apart from the rest of the neighbourhood. Beautifully integrated into their surroundings, round homes offer a more natural and organic look and feel, and their circular shape is often associated with holistic harmony and balance. This can make your home feel like a sanctuary and a place of peace, away from the stresses and distractions of the outside world.
Strength and durability
When you choose a round home, you get the added benefit of superior strength capable of standing up to extreme weather conditions, including heavy rain and snowfall, hurricanes, and even seismic events.
To minimize the impact of heavy rainfall, MCH provides three levels of moisture protection. For snowfall, it comes down to roof system engineering. We provide a lifetime engineer’s warranty – the roof will hold the potential volume of snow typical to the region. Our low-pitched roof captures accumulating snow, which becomes part of the home’s thermal barrier. The 30” roof overhang prevents snow from gathering against the foundation, maintaining a dry wall and foundation.
Round homes are among the safest buildings in extreme winds. The wind simply wraps around the exterior of the home. A round home has a conical roof system. This prevents the creation of negative pressure that is often responsible for lifting off gable-styled roofs and flattening the structure. Thanks to the interconnected components of an MCH round home, it’s inherently more earthquake resistant.
Space and natural light
MCH round custom prefab homes offer a more expansive sense of interior space than traditional rectangular homes of the same size. This is because there are no corners in a round home – the space is more open and feels less restricted. This can give you more flexibility in terms of how you use the space in your home. It also allows for a lot more natural light and better views.
Cost-effective
In the long run, a round custom prefab home becomes more affordable than a traditional home. Because they are prefabricated, the cost of materials and labour is often lower than in a conventional stick-built dwelling. Additionally, with an airtight, well-insulated building envelope, an MCH home is a high-performance home. It offers superior savings in energy consumption without compromising comfort. Our thoughtful design and construction methodologies enable MCH homeowners to save a whopping 25% on energy costs.
MCH offers a variety of customizable options for their round homes. From floor plans to finishes and materials, including eco-friendly options. Our homes make the very most of panoramic views and offer incredible interior acoustics – terrific for music lovers! Given the many benefits, an MCH round custom prefab home maintains a high market value.
Round homes are a great option for anyone looking to build a new home. We can help you create spaces that are beautiful, supremely functional, and incredibly comfortable. Whether you are looking for your forever home or a vacation getaway, a round custom prefab home is a great choice. And our team of experts will work with you to create a home that is perfect for your lifestyle.
MCH Round Prefab Custom Homes Feature – Tamarack Series
Maximum round, maximum luxury. For MCH round prefab custom homes, it doesn't come any more holistically grand than our Tamarack Series.
As unique as the tree for which it is named, the Mandala Custom Homes (MCH) Tamarack Series makes the absolute most of the transcendent power of round – in EVERY room!
For homeowners who would like to maximize circular living, you can pick any plan from our round prefab custom homes lineup and know that you're getting the utmost in clean, sustainable, and healthy living. But, for those with a larger budget, committed to exploring the power of round throughout their lives, in every aspect of their home, this series is the answer.
Interconnected wholeness – amplified
We can look back over centuries of human existence and see evidence of round living. Throughout the generations, the inherently gentle and holistic benefits of round homes attracted our ancestors. Surrounding oneself and one's family with the comfort of curved walls. They also understood that round just made sense from the perspective of structural integrity and better resistance to natural disasters. Not to mention that a round home requires fewer resources to construct than conventional building.
The Tamarack Series offers four Mandala circles designed in a unique pattern well-suited to the discriminating new homeowner. At once luxurious and practical, this home features spacious flow throughout the home. Amplifying the sense of natural light and openness are multiple cathedral ceilings and generous spaces, both private and gathering. In addition to homeowners with larger budgets, this series is perfect for multigenerational living. But, with so much space, is also a wonderful and creative alternative for co-housing.
No matter the lifestyle, MCH circular living in the Tamarack Series provides a unique integration of the natural surroundings with healthy and holistic indoor life, unparalleled. It's a beautiful balance of looking both inward and outward.
The ultimate in round prefab custom homes
What was good enough for them is equally as beneficial for us today. For over two decades, MCH has aspired to integrate the demands of modern everyday living with sacred spaces. This founding vision is inspired by nature, a precious harmony that's attracted us throughout human evolution.
But, of course, MCH has the advantage of modern building technologies to take round living just that much further. Our homes are comfortable and promote wellness. Through the curving beauty of round and the sustainability of prefab construction, we create homes that are durable and energy-efficient. An MCH home is emblematic as the home of the future as well as the past.
Constantly guided by our triple bottom line, the Health of the Planet, the People, and Sustainability, every decision we make holds to each of these tenets equally. And while the Tamarch Series is a uniquely 21st-century home, incorporating the most modern building materials and technologies, it is a luxurious and infinitely alluring iteration of the homes pioneered by our ancestors.
The epitome of comfort, sustainability, and energy efficiency, the Tamarack is a gentle and inspiring flow of round structures to create a distinctively healthy, holistic and attractive home. Staying true to the past while revolutionizing the future.
Take a tour of an MCH round prefab custom home:
Home Design Trends 2023. Surprise – Prefab and Sustainability Still Top the List!
Nature, prefab, and sustainability top the list of home design trends in 2023 – no surprise to the MCH team!
While we've been at it for over two decades, prefab homebuilding is only relatively recently considered very much the future of construction. Despite the fact that, for years, many of us have understood that it really is the present of construction. Regardless, the Mandala Custom Homes (MCH) team gets a lot of gratification out of seeing custom prefab building on more and more annual trends lists.
With the new year nearly upon us, we like to see what design trends, 2023 and beyond, to see we can look forward to. We already know that prefab building has become something of a staple when it comes to green building and sustainability. But, as the interiors reflect the growing interest and need for sustainable and nature-inspired living, it's extra gratifying as we've incorporated both since MCH's beginnings.
While the past few years have confirmed the viability of prefab and our specific panelized approach to homebuilding, we still like to see the popularity of sustainability, biophilia, and hygge-inspired interiors taking greater hold year after year. For fun, here's a look at some of the home design trends emerging for 2023:
Nature-inspired home decor tops design trends in 2023
Fortunately, we think this trend is here to stay! And bringing the outdoors in prevails as one of the most in-demand design elements for the next year. And, of course, beyond! Home design trends for 2023 are increasingly all about nature and sustainability.
The fact is, sustainable living and the associated decor rely on the concept of bringing nature indoors. Whether it's nature-inspired colours such as soft blues, greens, and browns (see below!) that calm and please the eye, materials like rattan and wicker, or the return of earthy macrame, nature dominates 2023 interior design.
Prefab home packages and construction
We've written at length about how much faster and more cost-effective prefab building is compared to traditional home construction. In short, taking a stick-built home to lock up compared to a prefab can take up to 50% longer. That, along with the many other benefits, is why the experts believe prefab building is the future of construction.
It should come as no surprise that so many lists of home design trends for 2023 include prefab homes.
Back in 2006, developers and builders saw an increase in the popularity of modular and prefabricated home construction. After the 2008/2009 crash, the sector took a bit of a hit. But, on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, prefab has seen a huge jump. Simply, people are gaining a better understanding of how much less prefab costs to manufacture.
One of the biggest cost savings with a prefab or penalized home is because there is far less waste to build compared to stick-built. Prefab or panelized construction happens in a factory. In the case of MCH, every home gets constructed inside our state-of-the-art Off-Site Manufacture (OSM) facility. As a result, construction takes far less time to construct and prepare for easy assembly at the building site. So much time saved only contributes to the overall cost and materials savings of home construction.
Sustainable home building
Many more people want to live in homes that better promote sustainability and energy efficiency. That means homebuilding that more consciously considers everything from building materials to HVAC systems to appliances and fixtures.
Committed to creating sustainable dwellings and other structures, MCH is partnered with Built Green, a Master Builders Association certification. We look to holistic building technologies and sustainable building practices to ensure we meet all the criteria of a performance or Net Zero home. A lot of consideration goes into the most innovative building materials, efficient windows, doors and HVAC equipment, electrical and water use, appropriate site orientation, and builder practices.
design trends in 2023 – browns are beautiful
Everyone loves browns! Just about all of Nearly all the major brands of paint, from BEHR to Glidden and Sherwin Williams have predicted that tones inspired by earthy, natural goodness – calming rocks, river blues, and cool clay tones – make up the palette for next year. The majority of colours will be mid-tone browns which many paint companies will likely choose as their colour of the year. Yum!
Gallery walls – don't really ever go out of style!
As huge proponents of art and photography in the home, no matter the trend, gallery walls (and rightfully so!) never go out of style. A gallery wall is a perfect way to fill a wall with interest, colour, and a reflection of your individuality.
A gallery wall isn't necessarily just about your family snaps. Source vintage, thrifted, and new frames to bring a fantastic combination of colours, textures, and designs. Given the design trends of 2023, we expect gallery walls to be big in the coming year, with a focus on vintage and handcrafted items.
Handcrafted goodness throughout your home
Not that you need a trend to give you permission to let your individuality shine... consider this trend to simply confirm your exquisite eye for tasty handcrafts! The fact is, in keeping with the focus on nature indoors, decor pieces and accessories made of natural items, particularly when they're handmade, are simply more in vogue.
If you follow social media, perhaps you've seen the resurgence in the popularity of macrame – a top choice among crafters. And a beautiful and earthy addition to any home. Expect to see more and more do-it-yourself projects cropping up in home designs throughout next year.
Handmade dishes are also big on lists of design trends for 2023. And in just about almost style. Do you like Scandinavian-minimalist? Opt for unglazed, abstract vases and decorative items in light, soft colours. Easily styled for the living or bedroom. Prefer more colour? Look for tableware with bolder glazes. Beautifully handmade cups, glasses, and bowls are lovely on open shelves in the kitchen.
Follow the hashtags #shoplocal and #buylocal and #SupportYourLocal. Social media is loaded with talented people in your area offering a wonderful selection of handmade items for any taste.
Winter Home Preparation – BEFORE It Gets Cold!
Yes, it’s been a gorgeous autumn, but rest assured, the cold is coming! Don’t get caught unawares do your winter home preparation BEFORE the mercury drops.
We have enjoyed one of the most deliciously warm, sunny, and glorious autumns in the Kootenay region of BC this year. Even better than years past, so that’s saying something! It’s been such a pleasure to spend so much time outdoors, harvest the gardens and greenhouses without rush, and delay sweater weather just a little bit longer.
That said, no matter how we might delight in this incredible run of late summer weather through October – rested on warm, sunny, bluebird day laurels – winter is indeed coming. You still don’t want to delay in your winter home preparation. This is, in fact, a great time to do it. Because, according to the venerable Farmer’s Almanac, winter is indeed coming and, potentially, with a frigid vengeance.
If you already live in a Mandala Custom Homes (MCH) round home, the prospect of a cold winter likely won’t phase you very much. You will simply enjoy the warm, inviting, comfy coziness of your energy efficient, performance home all the more. But for many others, there’s some work to do! Let us offer some quick tips for winter home preparation to help you stay as warm, comfortable, and safe as possible without it costing you a fortune.
Fireplace and chimney maintenance
Even for our happy MCH clients, annual fireplace and chimney maintenance is an essential task to ensure the health and safety of your home, particularly through the cold months.
According to the Council of Canadian Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners, 33% of home fire deaths originate in the living room. Not a surprise considering that’s where most of us have our fireplaces. To be clear, not all of the fatalities are fireplace or chimney related. But, even if it’s only a fraction of this total, fireplace maintenance is vital to the safety of your home.
You should have your fireplace and chimney inspected every year. Preventing dangerous chimney fires or harmful gases escaping into your home, good maintenance is critical. Be sure that you have a fireplace that operates properly and safely. Ensure that it’s clear of debris – soot, needles and leaves, and depending on your chimney even an occasional bird’s nest. We recommend that you hire a professional to ensure the work gets done correctly and thoroughly.
Do you use firewood in your home? Keep well-stocked and stored in a safe place, covered, and away from the structure of your home. And, additionally, be sure that you keep an operational fire extinguisher in a place that’s easy to reach for small incidents.
Inspect and maintain your furnace
As with your fireplace, once winter hits is not the time to inspect and perform maintenance on your furnace. You want to know that your furnace is not just operational, but that it is working efficiently well before the temps plummet.
Be sure to replace the filter. If you’ve not had your furnace serviced within the past year, hire a professional to perform a full check and tune-up. Your pocketbook and your peace of mind will thank you!
Check and maintain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Alongside fireplace maintenance, operational detectors are vital to a healthy home. Check and test any smoke and carbon monoxide detectors you have. They should all be operational and in reliable working order. Replace the old batteries with fresh.
By and large, we Canadians keep our windows and doors closed and sealed throughout the winter. With increased use of fireplaces, both wood-burning and gas, and gas or oil furnaces, there is an ever-present danger of noxious gases escaping into our indoor environments.
Concerned about whether you have enough detectors in your home or if they’re appropriately placed? Contact your local fire department with questions about fire, fire safety, or fire prevention.
Examine weatherstripping
Did you know? Drafts from doors and windows can increase your annual heating costs by as much as 30%. For those of you living in older or more conventionally built homes, take some time at this time of year to check the weatherstripping and look for any gaps in the caulking of your door and window frames as well as any exterior faucets and pipes.
Seals should be airtight to help keep the warm air inside and the cold air, out. And, it’s not just about cold air! Critters will take advantage of any way to get into your home to nest more comfortably for the winter. Replace weatherstripping where necessary and consider spray foam for any larger gaps.
Inspect attic insulation and ventilation
A well-insulated attic saves you in energy costs. Check for leaks from your home into the attic and look for any damage that might allow heat loss from the attic out of your home. Examine vents for debris that might inhibit attic ventilation.
Winter home preparation includes a roof inspection
Check out your roof for any obvious signs of disrepair or damage. Look for missing shingles or any buckling of the roofing material. It can be done visually without needing to climb up top.
If you notice any loose or damaged shingles, repair and replace immediately as needed to avoid a more serious issue down the road – under a roof covered with snow. If you notice any more serious problems or experience issues indoors, seek the advice and service of a professional as soon as you can.
Prepare your patio or deck
Our cold, icy, snowy Canadian winters can be hard on outdoor spaces such as patios and decks. The buildup of snow and ice over several months, along with alternating thaws and freezes that can occur, take their toll.
Autumn is a great time to store all of your outdoor furnishings and thoroughly clean spaces and surfaces. Be sure to remove any debris and mould. Repair damaged or rotting boards. Before the nighttime temperatures drop below freezing you can even prep for spring, staining and sealing your deck.
Beat the cold year after year while you save money. Learn about the many advantages of a prefab, sustainable, performance round home. We’d love to talk with you – GET IN TOUCH!
3 Advantages of Custom Prefab Home Building
Why MCH custom prefab home building offers superior beauty and quality, energy efficiency, and savings – both time and money!
We post a lot about the many advantages of custom prefab home building. As custom prefab homebuilders, we just can't help ourselves! The fact is, the founding principles for Mandala Custom Homes (MCH) are simplicity, ease, and sustainability. Prefab supports that. We can't tell prospective custom homeowners enough about the advantages of prefab building over the conventional site-built approach.
And, we're happy to break it down again. Simply put, there are three primary advantages to building prefab. We won't even go into the distinct advantages of choosing a prefab round home, just the nuts and bolts of custom prefab. Read on to learn how prefab, panelized building can make home construction a much shorter, far more stress-free and exciting experience:
1. Rapid, controlled, production
The average time it takes to build a traditional home is 12 to 16 months. Since the pandemic, and resulting supply chain issues, possibly even longer. When you choose an MCH custom prefab home building package, we deliver it to your building site, ready to assemble. We have a home constructed to lock up in only about 6 weeks from the beginning of production.
A defining feature of prefab building is the speed of production and delivery. We create homes quickly thanks to our unique building processes – engineered wall, floor, and roof systems and pre-cut, panelized components. MCH's panelized home building system preserves the best of stick or site-built construction but combines it with modern, state-of-the-art technologies.
In a controlled work environment, rooted in traditional design principles combined with performance-based building technology, we construct the wall, floor, and roof panels. And we do it with far less material waste and in less time.
We build every MCH home in our climate-controlled, indoor facilities – another defining characteristic of any prefab. There are no interruptions (by weather, for example), from the start of production to the end. Additionally, during the home's construction in the factory, the contractor prepares the site and the foundation.
2. Quality prefab construction
Modular, or prefabricated, home building such as at MCH, uses cutting-edge building technology and sophisticated machinery for precision construction. Unlike site-built construction, Off-Site Manufacturing (OSM) construction, or building the structure indoors, protects the building materials from the damaging effects of the weather.
With construction complete, the home package arrives at the building site. We assemble the pre-built panels and other components to lock up – weather-tight – in only a matter of days. With an accelerated construction phase on-site, it's complete far faster and with less impact on the surrounding environment.
Quality control is prioritized and is fundamental to every step of the MCH construction process. It is overseen by our expert architects and engineers.
3. Enhanced energy efficiency
We partner with Built Green, a Master Builders Association certification. We share their holistic approach to utilizing advanced, performance building technologies adhering to responsible sustainability practices. Through every phase of construction from our OSM construction to site orientation and building materials to the vital systems such as HVAC, electrical, and plumbing to building practices, we strive to keep out in front in sustainable construction.
We employ the latest technologies to ensure we build a healthy, durable dwelling with less impact on the environment. Not to mention, the inevitable cost savings to the homeowner.
MCH custom prefab home building means superior energy performance. Every MCH home meets the strict standards of a high-performance home. And that comes down to a fully sealed shell or building envelope. We create an airtight, well-insulated building envelope to help the home perform well – energy consumption and thermal comfort. Such thoughtful design and care enable homeowners to save as much as 25% on energy costs.
BONUS: MCH round custom prefab home building promotes holistic health and wellness
OK... we couldn't help but share a little about the positive holistic impacts of custom prefab home building. Every MCH model is inspired by nature, its simplicity, and its positive effects when incorporated into everyday living.
Round home living, in particular, allows for panoramic views of the outdoors and more vital natural light pouring into the home. The design results in a uniquely intimate connection to the natural world outdoors. Every home is designed to help the homeowner live in a safer, more peaceful and rested state. Indoors, the curve of the walls promotes relaxation, rejuvenation, and inspiration.
4 Benefits to Purchasing A Prefab Building Package from MCH
When you choose a prefab building package, you build faster, more efficiently, and more sustainably than the conventional approach.
A prefabricated or prefab home package is a system of construction based upon a panelized building approach. The manufacturer delivers it to your building site, where your contractor and their team assemble it in pre-built sections.
A Mandala Custom Homes (MCH) round custom prefab home package provides the homeowner with innovative, precision panelized components to help simplify and expedite the building process in a more sustainable and holistic way.
1. A prefab building package includes all of the components
One of the biggest advantages to buying a prefab building package is that it includes all of the components required to take your home to lock up. For example, an MCH home Eco Package includes:
- Engineered floor, wall, and roof systems
- Pre-cut and panelized components
- Air Secure Technology™ (a tightly sealed envelope)
- Faceted Wall of Windows™
- Mandala Sky View™ (domed, central 5’ skylight)
- Triple pane, fixed and tinted skylight
- 30″ Roof Overhangs
- Wall venting system (rain screen)
- Energy efficiency report
- Sun and wind design analysis
- Detailed assembly manual, support and guidance
Depending on the level of prefab building package you purchase, it may even include more.
2. Easy on-site assembly by a contractor of your choice
It may surprise you to learn that choosing a prefab building package requires a whopping 60% less time to build than a conventional 'stick-built' home.
Today’s panelized prefab home building systems preserve the best of “stick” frame construction and combine it with innovative panelized prefabricated building technologies. This includes the engineered floor, wall, and roof systems as pre-cut, panelized components.
The components of a prefab home package are prepared and shipped with a detailed packing list to the building site. The contractor you hire assembles the home according to the package's final construction drawings and specifics. In a matter of days, the pre-built panels and components can be built to lock up, minimizing the materials' exposure to inclement weather as well as impacts on the surrounding landscape.
The MCH state-of-the-art building system makes the most of quality materials, advanced technologies, and a climate-controlled, indoor work environment. As a result, we’re able to deliver the best in beautiful, customizable, energy-efficient, and unique round homes. Cost-effective, durable, energy-efficient dwellings that promote sustainability from start to finish in less time.
3. Sustainability, energy efficiency and comfort
A prefab home package includes a wall system that is air-tight. For instance, our wall panels provide an air-tight building envelope offering greater energy efficiency, sustainability, and comfort. This secure building envelope includes an efficient wall ventilation system that provides adequate fresh air for the occupants and high-efficiency comfort. We use the warmth of the air on the way out of the building to help heat the fresh air on its way in.
A well-constructed prefab panelized wall and ventilation system ensures that air is unable to penetrate walls, floors, or the roof. As a result, it reduces the opportunities for moisture to collect or migrate into those spaces, where moulds and bacteria can grow. A prefab home package system like that of MCH is designed to minimize heat, air, and moisture transfer, offering a much more comfortable indoor environment for years to come.
4. Cost savings over time
A prefab home package such as those available through MCH not only assures beauty and comfort year-round but can save homeowners thousands of kilowatt-hours of electricity while reducing emissions significantly.
The savings begin with the building process. Prefab building is founded on conservative use of resources, ultimately reducing waste throughout the build. Nothing used in the construction facility goes to waste. There is less material waste during construction, minimal environmental interference at the building site, and easier cleanup.
A prefabricated approach results in far fewer stressful cost overruns. A stick-built or site-built home can incur stressful and costly overruns over the course of the build.
Just a side note about round homes: building round requires 15 to 20% less material than a conventionally built rectangular design of similar size. Round building offers a smaller eco-footprint at less cost without compromising living space! And Mandala Custom Homes provides you with a guaranteed price for your home package.
Popular Misconceptions About Building A Prefab Home
The prefab home is enjoying a renaissance. Mandala Custom Homes panel-built round homes buck the common myths and misconceptions.
Thanks to our beauty, innovation, sustainability, and cost savings over time, and the harmonious living MCH round home living provides.
For more than a century, many have associated prefab with mobile homes. The terms prefab, modular, panel-built, and manufactured will often be used interchangeably. And that's a mistake. Consequently, people considered prefab to be a less desirable option because of various “mobile home” misinformation and a lack of knowledge and understanding about the concept of prefab and the building process.
Today, custom, prefab home builders have gained in popularity. The customizability, the competitive pricing, and the benefits of producing a home package in a climate-controlled, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility make prefab homes very attractive.
To help provide more accurate information, we'd like to debunk some common myths about building a prefab home as we encourage you to consider the myriad of benefits of custom prefab round building. Read on!
A prefab home and a mobile home are NOT the same!
Prefab homes are different from mobile homes or manufactured homes. Constructed in a climate-controlled factory, prefab homes are built in sections, panels, or modules, depending on the manufacturer, to produce the building package. Upon completion, the package is delivered to the building site and is assembled on a foundation. Once constructed, the home is fully functional and permanent on the property.
Conversely, a mobile home, or manufactured home, doesn't have a permanent foundation. It can be moved from one site to another. Hence, the term 'mobile'.
In the case of MCH prefab homes, we work directly with our clients to customize an existing floor plan to suit or, with the help of a designer, create a fully custom home. We build the faceted, panelized components in our state-of-the-art factory with the final design to create the building package. We then ship it to the building site for assembly on a foundation in a fraction of the time as a conventional build.
Prefab is cheaply constructed – NOT!
Along with the confusion with mobile, it's a common misconception that prefab equates to cheaply built. This could not be more untrue.
The MCH approach to panelized prefab home building preserves the best of “stick” frame construction and combines it with modern prefabrication technologies. The result is the best in quality, beauty, customization, and energy-efficiency, that will last for generations.
We build indoors in our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. This means nimble production lines resulting in better quality, air-tight homes. Especially when compared to a conventional build. Every panel constructed meets both production and code standards at every step of the building process.
The MCH panelized building system uses quality materials, advanced technologies, and a controlled work environment. Our prefab panels and other components provide for a durable, cost-effective, and energy-efficient home in less time.
Prefab isn't strong enough to handle extreme weather
Think a prefab home can't withstand the demands of a Canadian winter, extreme heat or torrential downpour? Think again! On the contrary, prefab homes' quality standards and building code requirements have only increased. Prefab manufacturers must follow the same building regulations and codes as conventionally built homes. As a result, they provide the same safety, protection, and comfort.
In some cases, even more. For example, inherent to every MCH home design, we address the potential impacts of increasingly extreme weather. And without compromising beauty or comfort. Despite extreme temperatures, high winds, heavy rains, severe snow conditions, seismic activity, and wildfires, every custom prefab home we build is beautiful, sustainable, comfortable, and, above all, safe.
When it comes to heavy snowfall, for instance, every MCH home has a lifetime engineer’s warranty that the structure will hold the potential amount of snow typical to the region where the house will sit. Additionally, our low-pitched roof captures the accumulated snow, becoming part of the home’s thermal barrier. The 30” roof overhang prevents snow from coming up against the foundation. This helps to create a dry wall and foundation and increases the life of the home.
Interested in exploring a durable, beautiful, sustainable, prefab MCH custom round home? Speak with an MCH expert to learn more!