What Is a Stick-Built Home?

The prospect of building your own home is exciting, but you cannot look past the important decisions you need to make. For instance, have you considered if you want a stick-built home or something else?

You need to make that decision before the construction even gets started. But do you know what you are paying for if you choose a stick-built home? You may already have an idea of what that kind of construction is, but you need to be completely certain before finalizing your decision.

In this article, we will clearly define what this kind of home is all about. We will also highlight some of the reasons a stick-built home could be the right choice for you. We will also touch on potential reasons why you may consider the alternatives.

Defining the Stick-Built Home

The first thing we need to do is to define what a stick-built home is. Although you may not be completely clear on what it is, chances are you are already staying in one.

Stick-built is another way of saying that they built a house by traditional means. By that, we mean that materials went to the construction site, and they used them to build the home right then and there.

So, why do they call a house constructed that way “stick-built”? Well, that has something to do with the early stages of homebuilding.

Traditional building starts with planning. An architect or designer creates the blueprint for your new home, and the general contractor will gather the materials and hire the personnel needed to realize that building plan.

From there, they will prepare the site and clear it for the new construction. Also, this is the time to introduce fundamental elements such as underground plumbing, wiring, and the foundation.

The next step involves framing; this is the part where they set the frame into place. Essentially, the materials used for the frame are the sticks required to build your home. The workers will build around that frame until they finish the structure.

If you have ever seen the bare frame of a home, you will notice the resemblance it has to a bundle of sticks. That is where the term “stick-built” comes from. Of course, as we have already highlighted, even getting to that stage takes a lot of work.

Why Should You Consider Choosing a Stick-Built Home?

Now that we have a clear idea of what a stick-built house is, let’s tackle another important question. When deciding how to construct your new home, why should you opt for the stick-built method?

It is an important question for you to address so you can realize what your choice entails. You need to consider stick-built houses from every angle to understand if they make sense given your priorities.

For this section of the article, we will focus on the reasons why you should choose a stick-built home. Go through them and see how they resonate with you.

A Home Customized to Fit Your Preferences

Arguably, the number one reason you should choose a stick-built house over any other available options is the customization possibilities. You can pretty much construct any type of stick-built home that you want as long as you have the budget and land for it.

Think of those features you always wanted in your new home while you were staying in your old apartment. While you were cooking in a cramped kitchen, you may have fantasized about whipping up your favorite meals inside an open concept kitchen.

Some homeowners do not mind going all out when it comes to their entertainment. They will invest heavily in a home theater system and customize a large room to accommodate all the necessary equipment. You can also carve out room inside your stick-built house for your own entertainment system.

The bottom line is that you can customize your stick-built home to suit your exact preferences. Other methods also offer some degree of customization, but pale in comparison to the options provided by the traditional construction method.

Construction Carried Out On-Site

The next reason you should consider choosing a stick-built home over your other options is the fact that they will construct it right on your property.

Since the home is built directly on your property, you can monitor its progress closely. While monitoring the progress, you can notify the workers of any potential issues. You can address an issue quickly to prevent it from becoming a bigger deal down the line.

Correcting issues early may not be an option for you if you have opted to purchase a pre-fabricated or modular home.

Furthermore, your home being built right on your property will also allow you to see how it develops in real-time. In your head, you may have an idea of what your home will look like; however, the home may not resemble your vision.

Because you know that things are not going according to plan early on, you can still make the necessary changes. You can even brainstorm with the workers you hired so your new home turns out closer to what you wanted.

That right there is another advantage of having the home built on your property. By conversing with the people working on your home, you can ask them for their opinions on the project. Get their perspective so you can build the best home possible.

Modular homes do not provide you with that opportunity. They will be built by people you do not know before finally being delivered to your property. You must be certain that you like what you ordered because making changes after delivery can be difficult.

Eco-Friendly Construction

Green building has become more fashionable in recent years and with good reason. We now have a better understanding of why pursuing sustainability matters. You can say the same thing about conserving resources.

Given how we have become more informed regarding those topics, we need to use what we know to guide our building principles. That is why green building is highly recommended for anyone who is constructing a new home.

You can reduce the environmental impact of your home building project by opting for the stick-built approach.

For starters, the custom home builders you will be hiring are likely from the area. They will not need to travel across state lines with their tools and materials in tow. They will also use less fuel for transportation.

Over time, they can save a lot on fuel, especially if the home building project takes a while.

In all likelihood, the workers you hire will also know suppliers in the area. They may even get you good deals if you decide to purchase materials from local suppliers. You can save money and effectively curb the environmental impact of your project by going with the stick-built method.

Sturdy Frame for Your New Home

They build modular homes off-site before they transport them to your property. Because they still need to be transported, they may not be as sturdy as they can be.

You do not need to worry about that issue if you are constructing a stick-built home.

Consult with your contractor and tell them you want the structure to be solid. They can add more stability-focused features to your home because they are building it on-site. They do not need to hold back on those features because they are not worried about how your home will travel.

You are pouring a lot of resources into your home. It is only fair for you to expect that it will remain strong and sturdy for a long time. Constructing that kind of durable home is easier if you utilize the stick-built approach.

Resale Opportunities

When choosing between the home building methods, you should also consider the availability of resale opportunities.

First off, you should remember that the value of your home will change over time. However, the rate at which your home accrues value may change depending on you had it built.

People know what they are getting with stick-built homes. They understand how they age and how they appreciate in value. It is easier to sell a stick-built house to potential buyers precisely because of that.

According to The Nest, accruing value is not as easy for modular homes because there is a bit of a stigma around them. Many people are naturally skeptical of things they are unfamiliar with, and you can include modular homes in that group.

Modular homes may gradually become more popular and sought-after in the future, but that is not guaranteed. If you intend to sell your home, a stick-built home is the safer bet. A stick-built house will always have a market, so you will not be lacking in terms of resale opportunities.

Straightforward Process

Stick-built homes have been around for a long time. That is why many of the rules and regulations account for them.

If you are constructing a stick-built home, it is unlikely that you will violate any obscure laws that could delay or even derail your project.

Modular homes are different because they are still new. You may get flagged by local officials or even your neighbors because they see your project as something unusual.

Ultimately, you do not need to stress out if you are following the building code while constructing your home, but it can still be annoying to deal with those unnecessary obstacles.

What Are the Drawbacks of Constructing a Stick-Built Home?

We have already talked at length about the advantages of constructing a stick-built home. At this point, you may already be convinced that choosing the conventional approach is the way to go.

Before you start looking for custom home builders in your area, you should know about the drawbacks of the stick-built approach first. We will go over them in the section below.

Cost of Construction

If this is the first time you are building a home, you are probably worried about cost. That is absolutely fair.

Homebuilding does not come cheap. After speaking to a contractor about your custom building plans, you may realize that you are lacking the funds to fulfill your vision.

Cost is a more pressing concern with stick-built homes because they can be expensive. The average cost of constructing a stick-built home usually comes out to around $150 to $250 per square foot.

Compare that to the cost of building a modular home, and you will see a big difference.

Some modular homes only cost around $50 per square foot. For those working with a limited budget, it is easy to see why a pre-fabricated home can look like the more appealing option.

The initial investment you are making in your stick-built home will pay off in the long run. Unfortunately, you may not reap those benefits if your budget is on the low side.

Length of Construction

The length of construction could also be a major factor for you if you are trying to decide between stick-built and modular homes.

Stick-built homes may take a while to build. Do not be surprised if the contractor tells you that it will not be ready for ten months at least. In many cases, the building time may even go well over one year.

You can understand why the custom home building process takes that long. The builders are essentially starting from scratch, after all. They need to lay down the foundation for your new home both literally and figuratively before they can start on the structure itself.

Construction times for modular homes are significantly shorter. According to Bankrate, modular homes are typically ready after four to nine months. The modular route is the way to go if you are in a rush to move into your new home.

Hopefully, you now have the information you need to decide if a stick-built home suits you or not. If you are interested in constructing a stick-built home, we at Eco Minded Solutions can help you out. Contact us today and tell us about your home building plans so we can bring them to life!