Please send correspondence to the following address:

Office Address
Custom Modular Designs
94B Jefferson Blvd.
Warwick RI 02888

Phone Numbers
Office401.490.0944
Fax401.490.0945

E-mail: Contact Form

Model Home Address
North Kingstown RI 02852

Build It Dry Keep It Dry

BUILD A "DRY" MODULAR HOME WITH CUSTOM MODULAR DESIGNS

 

Custom Modular Designs' modular home construction techniques have been refined over the years to the point of perfection. Custom Modular Designs' engineers create precision modular home floor plans and exterior home elevations for every one of our modular homes. Custom Modular Designs uses only the best quality building materials. Our lumber is inspected for moisture content, and if the material doesn't meet our strict standards, it's rejected. Specially designed modular building jigs ensure that our modular homes are built absolutely square. Sub-floors are made of tongue and groove oriented strand board (OSB) or plywood, which is glued and mechanically fastened to the framing. Walls are glued, screwed and/or foam bonded to prevent air infiltration.

 

A Custom Modular Designs modular home is insulated and built weather tight to provide optimal energy efficiency. Working under ideal conditions, Custom Modular Designs has the unique ability to make certain that all the details of our modular homes fit perfectly. Custom Modular Designs builds it dry and keeps it dry. A Custom Modular Designs' home is never exposed to the elements during the construction phase. Our modular homes are built inside our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities by hundreds of skilled craftsman. The modules that will form the new modular home are then wrapped in plastic to provide protection while in transit. The end result is a tight and energy efficient modular home.

 

Can A Modular Home Be Built Too TIGHT? NO!!!

 

A modular home can never be too air tight, but it can be under-ventilated. Proper ventilation systems are a must for today's tight construction methods. This ventilation will provide an avenue for controlling the build-up of indoor moisture, odors and pollutants while introducing fresh air into the system. In the past, people relied on drafts to provide ventilation. However, drafty buildings do not guarantee good indoor air quality. In a drafty home, there is no way to control the air that enters through the cracks. Outdoor air carries with it such biological pollutants as pollen, mold spores and insects. A drafty home can guarantee higher heating and cooling costs, since air leaks out so quickly. Finally, a drafty home is not only uncomfortable, it can be unhealthy. During colder months, warm, moist air rises and leaks out of the building. Cold, dry air is drawn in at lower levels. This continuous drying of the indoor air can lead to discomfort and/or upper respiratory disease.

CONTOL INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Tight construction allows the homeowner control over indoor air quality. Without this control, no efforts to improve indoor air quality can succeed. Through the installation of the right HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) system, the homeowner can control the temperature throughout the home. The amount and condition of the fresh air introduced into the modular home can also be controlled with products such as fresh air exchangers, air to air heat exchangers, whole house HEPA air filters and advanced air purification systems. Excess airborne moisture, created by activities of daily living, can be reduced by use of proper ventilation (i.e. use exhaust fan, vented to the exterior, while showering). Heating and cooling units are provided on-site by your builder. Discuss all HVAC options available during the planning stage of your new home.

CUSTOM MODULAR DESIGNS standards help keep you and your family safe

  • Low E Windows
    Prevents window condensation from occurring at much higher relative humidity levels than regular single or double-paned windows.
  • Argon Filled Glass
    Argon filled glass is available for all of our modular homes and increases the energy efficiency of our modular homes.
  • Tight Construction
    Custom Modular Designs' craftsmanship and tight construction reduces energy robbing air infiltration. Tight construction is the first step in improving indoor air quality by putting the home owner in control of the air which is introduced into the home.
  • Bath Ventilation Units
    Custom Modular Designs' homes come standard with fan/lights in all baths, vented to the exterior.
  • Ridge Vent & Vented Soffit
    Ridge vent and vented soffit help prevent heat and moisture in the attic area.
  • Fiberglass Exterior Doors
    Custom Modular Designs' homes come standard with fully insulated, weather stripped front and rear fiberglass exterior doors preventing air leakage at these critical areas.
  • Countertop Backsplash
    Standard kitchen countertops come complete with a laminate backsplash, which prevents water from spilling between your cabinets and the wall.
  • Range Hoods
    Custom Modular Designs' kitchens come with a range hood over the cook top, vented to the exterior.
  • Green board
    Custom Modular Designs' uses green-board (water resistant wall board) at bath and shower areas.

Custom Modular Designs' available options to make your home healthier and safer

  • R-21 Exterior Wall Insulation
  • R-21 Floor Insulation
  • R-38 Floor Insulation
  • Tyvek® House-wrap
  • Extruded Polystyrene Insulation
  • Whole House Exhaust Fan
  • Upgrade Range Hoods, ducted w/ Blower Units
  • Upgrade Bath Fan/Light Combos
  • Upgrade Bath Fan/Heater/Light Combo
  • Radon Vent
  • CO2 Detector
  • Photo Electric Smoke Detector

Every DRY modular home should be built on a DRY Foundation…

 

Mold growth in a home is almost always due to excess moisture. To build a mold-free modular home - start with a dry foundation. Damp proofing of the foundation walls and slab reduces the water absorption of the concrete. However, it is important to use other dry foundation strategies. Nearly 1,000 gallons of water for every inch of rainfall will run-off the average roof of the typical home. Rain and snow are the main sources of moisture in the basement. Other causes are groundwater. According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, over 60% of basements have moisture seepage in some form. Additionally, 38% of all homes suffer from mold due to high moisture levels.

 

DRY FOUNDATION STRATEGIES

  • Overhangs protect the ground near the modular home's foundation from getting saturated.
  • Minimize the use of shrubbery and flowerbeds at the foundation of the modular home. Damp or rotting plants can be a source of biological pollutants.
  • Slope the ground (1 inch per ft.) away from the modular home's foundation for a minimum of 4 ft.
  • Clay Cap of backfill provides an impermeable layer to carry water away from foundation.
  • Backfill using free-draining material to allow water to travel to drain pipe.
  • Filter Fabric should be used above and below drain pipe.
  • Drain Pipe should be used at the perimeter drain system made of 4" perforated PVC in course gravel - drained to sump or exterior, pipe is below floor slab level.
  • Pipe Connection through footing allows drainage to perimeter drain pipes.
  • Drainage Pad should be located beneath the concrete slab (coarse gravel - no sand).
  • Polyethylene sheet located directly below concrete slab for water barrier.
  • Caulk all cracks with silicone - for cracks 1/4" or larger, use hydraulic cement, which expands as it dries.
  • Insulation should be used on below grade walls. Pressurizing the basement with air from the living space should prevent the infiltration of outside air and radon.
  • Rainwater should run off roof and collect in gutters. Add down spouts and extensions to carry water a minimum of 4 ft. away from foundation.

KEEP IT DRY!

 

HOMEOWNER'S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MOLD PREVENTION

 

Your Custom Modular Designs' modular home is built inside a state-of-the-art modular home manufacturing facility. It arrives on site sealed in a protective plastic. The modules are set in place and the modular home is made weather tight. You have made the commitment to improved indoor air quality through your purchase of a Custom Modular Designs' modular home. You can rest assured that the framing and other building materials in your modular home are dry and mold free.

 

  • Inspect your basement or crawl space for water seepage on a regular basis.
  • If a moisture problem is discovered, correct it as soon as possible.
    o Wash mold off hard surfaces using a bleach and water solution (1:10).
    o Absorbent materials, such as carpeting and ceiling tiles may have to be replaced, depending on extent of damage.
  • Use air conditioners and de-humidifiers during the humid months.
  • Use the range hood exhaust fan while preparing meals.
  • Turn the bath fan on while showering, and leave it on until excess humidity has been removed from the air.
  • Check around your air conditioner and furnace for stagnant water.
  • Keep these units serviced, with regular cleaning or replacement of the filters.
  • Finally, keep the modular home clean.

WHAT IS RELATIVE HUMIDITY?

 

Relative humidity or RH is the amount of moisture air can hold relative to the air temperature. Warm air can hold more moisture than cold. This is why water droplets form on the outside of a cold glass on a hot day. The air near the glass becomes cooled and can no longer hold the moisture present while warm. Air that can no longer hold moisture is said to be at dew point, or 100% RH. Understanding RH plays a key role in controlling mold and other biological contaminants in your home. Maintaining an RH level between 40% -60% makes your modular home less mold-friendly.

 

Low RH (less than 30%) makes the indoor environment uncomfortable and unhealthy for your family. Studies suggest that respiratory infections occur at lower RH levels. Most of the body's defenses against upper respiratory illness depend on moist mucous membranes. If the RH is too low, the mucous membranes become dry, which impairs their ability to protect the body from disease. Maintaining a healthy RH level can be complicated when you consider the following: A family of four produces ˝ pint of airborne moisture per hour by breathing. A shower produces ˝ pint. Cooking produces 1 pint per meal. Mopping the kitchen floor produces 4 pints. Now consider that just 6 pints of airborne moisture can raise the RH of a 1,000 sq. ft. home by 55%. Your HVAC contractor is the best source for information on all available options to keep your modular home's RH at acceptable levels.