I saw this on CTV news the other night and couldn’t believe it – new homes being built on a construction line. Not modular homes, real homes built the same way they’d be built on the lot (up to 3300 square feet in size), but built indoors instead and then driven over to their pre-poured foundation. I tried to find the video of the piece with no luck, but luckily the Globe and Mail has picked up the story and has a photo gallery on their site.
Here’s the unbelievable part….it takes 10 days to build a home on their assembly line, and one home is completed everyday. The workers can go ahead and build every aspect of the home, regardless of the weather. The home doesn’t see any of the elements until it is totally built – it’s got roofing, siding, electrical, drywall, flooring, cabinetry… "The chandeliers are hanging, the tiles are grouted, the hardwood isshined up," says Ron Cauchi, president of Mattamy’s Stelumar operation. Mattamy homes is Ontario’s largest new home builder.
Buyers can choose from 28 floor plans, and customize all the finishings just like any other new home. The difference here is, Mattamy can guarantee a completion date. After Mattamy has finished building about 1000 homes at this location, they’ll pack up the assembly plant and move it to a new sub-division.
Now I don’t know about you, but if there’s ever been a climate that calls for this technology we’re living in it! On the other hand, in the current market I’d say the last thing we need is more new homes being completed.
