| Larger jobs require more help from professionals One of the hardest determinations you'll have to make when you decide to restore a damaged home is how much work needs to be done - and how much help you'll need. |
| Manufactured Homes - Mobile Homes, or Trailers Manufactured Homes are the buildings we have, in the past, referred to as mobile homes or trailers. While other factory-built homes are built to the codes of the area where they will be installed, manufactured homes are built to a special HUD-code and installed in accordance with HUD guidelines. Thus they are sometimes referred to as HUD-Code homes. |
| [Image: Modular home]Modular Homes: Faster and More Energy Efficient For those who need fast, affordable and reliable solutions for their housing problems, modular homes might be the best solution. In contrast to what many people think, modular homes are quite different than manufactured or trailer homes. In fact, they are very similar to site-built homes. |
| [Image: factory built home in New Orleans one storey]Factory-built Homes: New Orleans and the Surrounding Area Factory built homes are nearly undetectable from the street and, often, people cannot recognize, from appearance alone, the difference between a factory built home and a site built home. In New Orleans, manufacturers have been dedicated to creating stock designs that are specific to the New Orleans region. The architectural style of a typical New Orleans “shotgun” style house has been adopted and modified to create new home styles that fit seamlessly in their environments. |
| [Image: Factory Built Home]Different Kinds of Factory-Built Homes "Factory-Built Home” is a generic term that refers to any home that has been predominately designed and constructed in a controlled factory or plant environment. Factory processes are extremely efficient with materials and, thus, are considered more environmentally friendly. In addition, the factory environment can provide a much greater degree of quality control, compared to on-site construction. |
| Can I Reuse My Concrete Slab? Many homes and other structures that were severely damaged in the Katrina and Rita hurricanes had been built on concrete slabs. The question that is on many homeowners’ minds is “Can I reuse the slab?” This answer will require homeowners to ask other questions that are explained in this article. |
| What Home Builders, Homeowners and Real Estate Agents Think About Mold Although it is uncommon in most homes, toxic mold, also known as black mold, has become a major issue for some home builders and homeowners in the United States. The effects have run the gamut from disposal to litigation. An understanding of the mold issue from these points of view can aid private companies, public policy makers and extension professionals in developing and disseminating unbiased, useful information to these and other groups. |
| [Image: Termite Damage]Gutting a House It’s been almost two years since Hurricane Katrina hit the southern coast of Louisiana and Mississippi. Some of the flooded homes have been rebuilt, or are in the process of being rebuilt. The important question is “How good are we rebuilding?” |
| Determining Structural Damage When calm returns after the storm, it’s time to assess the damage and begin repairs. A number of factors should be considered, and the following information may be helpful. |
| Approaching and Entering a Damaged Building Before you enter a damaged building use extreme caution and wear sturdy work boots and gloves for your protection. Here are some precautions to take. |
| [Image: Page 1]Hiring a Mold Remediation Contractor Hiring a qualified contractor for mold remediation is not required, but is generally safer and more effective than a “do-it-yourself” approach. |
| [Image: Katrina Cottage]Katrina Cottages A Katrina Cottage is a small, yet permanent house to be built for about the same price as a FEMA trailer. Katrina Cottages may be “stick built” on-site or constructed from panels manufactured elsewhere. They must meet the tough standards of Louisiana’s new residential building code (based on the International Residential Code), including meeting the minimum elevation for flood protection. (Source: Louisiana Speaks) |
| Mobile Homes as an Option Living in a mobile homes is one option you can consider when planning for your future housing needs. In the past, mobile homes typically were considered starter homes. But today, many people are choosing to make mobile homes their permanent dwelling. |
| Mobile Homes in Louisiana -- Fact Sheet Mobile homes have been steadily growing in popularity as a temporary and permanent primary residence for many Louisiana residents. Mobile homes can provide years of comfortable and convenient living, while giving you the most for the dollar you spend on electricity. Using the following energy conservation tips will help you to make the least of your electric bill. |
| [Image: moldy wall]Avoiding Mold Hazards in Your Flooded Home A flood-damaged building requires special attention to avoid or correct a mold population explosion. |
| Careful Cleanout - Gutting a Historic Building Thousands of older and historic homes in New Orleans were affected by Hurricane Katrina and the flooding that followed. But that does not mean that every material with mold on it needs to be discarded |
| Finding out about Places You May Want to Live If you're thinking of rebuilding in a new location, and would consider moving to a new community, you can do some "long distance" research on the Internet, but visit the new community before making a decision. |
| [Image: Site Built vs. Factory Built]Site-Built or Factory-Built Portal page for information about the advantages and disadvantages of site-built vs factory built homes or home components. |
| Wind-Resistant Small Project List This list of home improvements to increase wind resistance is divided into cost categories. You can tackle these projects one at a time, but remember – the more you do, the stronger your home will be against hurricane winds. The material below is from the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). Prices are pre-Katrina. |
| Keep or Throw Away? After a storm, many people ask themselves, “What do I keep and what do I throw away?” These are common questions and the answers are not always easy. |
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