FAQ

• Home design: our floor plans are pre-designed for your ideal home. (no time)
• Land assessment: soil testing, survey, foundation, assessment, etc. (est. 4-8 weeks)
• Permitting: turnaround varies based on municipality (est. 4+ weeks)
• Secure materials + and place the home into the production line: (est. 10+ weeks)
• Factory build:  (est. 20-32 working days)
• Delivery of the module(s):  (est. 1-7 days, depending on the distance)
• Site install; stitching the modules together + testing: (est. 2-12 weeks; depends on the number of modules being connected and the size of the home)
• A reasonable estimate for the total build time would be between 6 and 12 months until move-in.

Yes, tours of our production facility in Loma Linda, CA, which we call our Foundry, can be scheduled by getting in touch with a Dvele team member. Once our sales team has spoken with you about your project, we can coordinate a time for a tour through the Foundry.

Dvele occasionally has model homes available throughout California and the Western United States. A Dvele team member can update you when the next available home is ready for touring and other upcoming events. Or you can subscribe to our newsletter below to get regular updates about open houses and Dvele in general.

Otherwise, connect with us on social media to follow the homebuilding process in real-time.

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Absolutely. Dvele homes are built to the same code requirements as a traditionally built home and greatly exceed the code minimums. Our homes sit on permanent foundations adhering to IRC (site-build code).

Our automated light gauge steel framing process provides more precision, consistency, and improved durability. The airtight build envelope provides further protection by reducing exposure to moisture and other elements contributing to building degradation over time. This means far less maintenance and increased energy efficiency.

Our homes require even greater structural integrity than a traditionally built home due to our factory's mode of transportation by truck.

Our homes are built to last a hundred years, no exaggeration!

Regardless of wind, rain, snow, sweltering heat, and other elemental factors hindering the traditional building process, Dvele homes are built on schedule in an indoor, climate-controlled area.

Producing your home in such an environment also guarantees precision and efficiency. It’s more efficient to assemble a home in a controlled factory environment than onsite. Plus, a factory environment ensures a consistent, highly-skilled workforce at a fixed price point.

Factory precision in the modular process has been standard practice in Europe and Scandinavian countries for decades. Dvele is extending this modern tradition to include automation, robots and in-house fabrication, and assembly of components for the home. Further reducing build times and costs.

Dvele relies on Volumetric Prefabrication, meaning we do most of the work inside our facility, including finishing, flooring, countertops, fixtures, and right down to the installed appliances.

All of the components of your home are prefabricated in various stations in our factory and then assembled into big lego-like boxes, which allows us to complete 95% of your home in our factory.

This prefabrication method significantly reduces the time to build your home, the materials needed during factory production, and the overall environmental impact.

Modular building is faster than any traditional site-built home construction.  A Dvele home can be manufactured and installed in as little as 6 months. This time frame can double and/or triple when building onsite compared to a modular home.

Building with modules removes the red tape engrained in traditional buildings. Meaning 90% of the mandatory onsite inspections become unnecessary. In addition:

• Building modularly yields better quality control.  We bring one highly-skilled team under one roof to work together. Instead of the fragmented nature of various tradespeople miscommunicating with each other, using inconsistent materials and methods.
• Building modularly means manufacturing in a climate-controlled area. This eliminates mold contamination that often occurs onsite, which impacts the project timeline, causing more delays.
• Building modularly is more efficient.  We can achieve zero waste - or very close to it.

A modular home is a home built with modular components off-site in a controlled indoor environment. These modular components are then shipped to the building site to be installed and completed.

This method gives us more precision and control over the manufacturing process and drastically reduces the overall build timeline. Our indoor facility provides a climate-controlled environment that reduces building delays caused by inclement weather and eliminates moisture exposure of build materials that can take place when building outdoors.

It also reduces building waste, our estimates show about a 90% reduction in wasted materials.

The modules that make up a Dvele home are meticulously planned by our expert team of architectural designers, interior designers, and engineers. Our executive team comprises of an expert group of home-builders, modular manufacturers, tech and design experts, and aerospace engineers.

Every module is built to the same high standards. This enables every module to achieve a climate-resilient home (for all temperature and climate conditions) and a home that exceeds most energy efficiency standards, e.g., Passive House and LEED levels.

Early studies estimate that “green homes,” like Dvele’s, can be up to 20% more valuable than traditional homes.

Dvele homes come standard with solar panels & batteries, high-end finishes & fixtures, and includes many energy-efficient, health and wellness benefits that contribute to overall home value.

Yes! Your new Dvele home build can be financed using a construction loan.

Dvele’s preferred lending partner is The Federal Savings Bank. Few financial experts understand the modular construction process, which is why we have partnered with this highly experienced and recommended partner.

If you wish to begin the pre-qualification process, you may complete one of their contact forms. From there, you will be connected with one of their finance representatives to help guide you along the financing portion of the home-build journey.

Yes. Other costs to consider are “soft costs” and “site costs.”

Soft costs vary by project; $15,000 – $100,000.

• Feasibility study
• Topographic survey
• Geotechnical soils analysis
• Structural engineering
• Permit coordination
• Utility connection fees
• Permit and impact fees

City fees associated with obtaining a building permit vary greatly depending on jurisdiction and are determined during the feasibility process.Site Costs

Site Work Costs: Site work costs vary based on various factors, including the condition of your land, location of the building site, topography and soil, total number of modules, and project complexity. These are separate from the above soft costs. 

• Site preparation, such as tree clearing, grading, and excavation
• Well, septic, electrical utilities, and trenching (if needed)
• Foundation
• Transportation of Modules
• Installation of the home; connecting the modules together, and testing all the systems
• All finishing work onsite, including structurally integrating the modules and any cosmetic reinforcement
• Utility connections
• Additional site-built components such as decks, exterior stairs, landscaping, etc.

The cost to produce a Dvele home in a factory typically ranges from $200/SF to $275/SF and depends on the size of the home, number of modules, and selection of finishes. Our factory production price reflects the price for modules ready to be shipped from our factory and includes electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and all finishes and fixtures (including appliances).

Click here to view our LookBook, which has more details about the finishes & fixtures included in our homes!

Dvele provides a fixed-price contract for each project. This removes much of the uncertainty involved with traditional stick-built construction.

Building a home on-site, using the same methods and to the same level of quality and specification as a Dvele home, would be expensive and extremely time-consuming

There is also the long-term value of a Dvele home to consider when evaluating costs. Because our homes come standard with solar and use higher-quality materials and build methods, energy use and maintenance costs are heavily reduced. Dvele homes use 83% less energy than the average home!

Yes. A General Contractor will be required to perform site preparation, installation, permitting, and finish work to our standards. We have a network of preferred contractors and can help facilitate introductions. You will need to find a local contractor if you are located in a metro where no current partners exist.

A Dvele Project Manager can help you navigate the requirements when selecting a contractor.

Yes, our homes can be built to meet any climate and/or state code requirements.

That said, we currently only produce from our California Foundry (factory). We primarily focus on delivery to neighboring states to keep delivery costs reasonable.

We are expanding quickly and hope to have new production facilities open within the next 2-3 years across the United States to help meet the demand across the country.

If you are located in an ‘out-of-region’ state, a Dvele Sales Representative can speak with you to discuss shipping costs to your area.

Yes, your Dvele home will rest on a permanent foundation. We’re happy to put you in contact with our network of realtors to help you find your plot of land.

As with any construction, some lots are conducive to extra costs to develop the land, whether stick-built or modular. Contact our team, and we’ll complete a comprehensive assessment with you.

You need a topographic survey with boundaries notated and a geotechnical (soils) report.

While not every site is suitable for modular construction, we are here to help. Here are some helpful tips to consider as you look for the right piece of land:

Mod Size & Access

‍Dvele homes are built in modular sections in our Foundry and then shipped to the building site via truck. These modules are delivered 15ft wide and up to 55ft in length. The trucks that deliver the mods can be up to 70ft long. Narrow, windy roads and things like low-hanging trees and power lines that run across the front of the property can be problematic for delivery.

Once delivered, we crane the modules from the trucks onto the foundation. We require a flat staging area on the street or at the building site to set up equipment and modules.

On-site Work & Costs

‍The condition of the building site is one of the biggest contributors to the scope of on-site work & costs. Below are a few contributing factors to consider:

• Proximity and cost of utilities such as electricity, gas, septic/sewer, and water/well, all of which require permitting and construction.
• The cost and extent of site development; for example, steeply sloped lots significantly increase excavation, grading, and foundation costs but can include the extra square footage of a “walkout” or fully finished basement.
• Additional design features include decking, trellises, finished lower levels, and site-built connectors.
• Environmental restrictions such as wetlands, conservation, or coastal areas.
• Access to the site for delivery and installation.

Resources you should request from the Seller

We recommend that you request the following resources from the seller before you put an offer on the land:

• Boundary survey that contains property lines, setbacks, contours (topo map), location of utilities (water, sewer, electrical, septic restrictions) and environmental restrictions (wetlands, conservation land, etc.)
• Soils Report (if applicable) will detail geology and seismic data so a structural engineer can determine necessary foundation requirements.
• Planning Dept. Regulations (using your site’s Assessor Parcel Number or ‘APN#’).
• Find out if your local jurisdiction requires any special planning reviews, such as Design Review, Historical Review, etc., from the local building department.
• Photographs of your site in .jpg format.

Site Feasibility Assessment

A Dvele team member can assist in accessing the feasibility of your build site and overall project. Once you have reached out to a sales representative, we can facilitate a Site Feasibility Assessment.

We’ve taken a page out of Europe’s building practices and exclusively use tilt & turn windows and lift & slide doors.

They’re not common in North America, but what makes them so special is how they impact the overall building envelope. These double-paned windows are rated for thermal insulation and noise reduction, which increase energy efficiency and contribute to the level of comfort within the home. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows provide abundant natural light and facilitate indoor-outdoor living with a sense of connection to nature.

Windows and doors are often missing pieces when building an energy-efficient house, so we decided not to mess around and use a product that will reduce how much energy is lost and gained through the windows and doors.

We’re glad you asked because it is the most critical element to the quality, longevity, and success of any building.

A building envelope is the perimeter boundary between the interior and exterior conditions (weather and humidity) and areas of ground contact (foundation and crawl space).

The building envelope is the major line of defense against air, bulk water, vapor moisture, pests, and anything else that could potentially get inside the home.

Using advanced technology and building science, Dvele designs wall, roof, foundation, and slab assemblies to protect the building and ensure it will last for hundreds of years. The major components of a building envelope are the defined boundaries or layers of protection.

These include the air barrier, thermal boundary, wind-resistant layer, water control layer, bulk water management, and exterior finish claddings.

Each Dvele home is built to withstand all weather conditions. Even freezing temperatures with large amounts of snowfall.

Using 18 and 20 light-gauge steel for our framing and a top-hat truss system, our homes easily support the added weight of heavy snowfall throughout an entire winter. We’ve delivered many homes to Utah and Colorado, where they regularly receive rapid and large amounts of snow.

Beyond the structure is our air and water-tight envelope. We apply a liquid membrane to all home exterior surfaces during the production process.

This membrane is rated for category-5 hurricanes and easily withstands extreme moisture levels.This membrane is one aspect of the home that makes it ultra-energy efficient. When you add in the double layer of exterior insulation, the result is a home with minimal thermal bridging; heat/cold loss. This means any snow that falls on the roof won’t melt from the home’s escaping heat, preventing water damming and pooling water.

The thermal boundary (plus our passive design) allows a Dvele to use substantially less energy than a standard home. The thermal boundary and the air barrier also increase occupant comfort by creating consistent temperatures throughout the home.

Dvele uses building materials with transparent ingredient lists for the homeowner's health and the environment's overall health.

And unlike traditional builders who are building to today’s building codes, Dvele homes meet the standards of future building codes. The building codes state that by 2020 every new house in California must have solar power. Although upgraded Dvele homes can include solar and a battery backup, every Dvele home is currently wired for solar power.

Our expertise is in utilizing eco-forward building materials to create a home with the standardized features of ambient noise reduction, temperature control, low or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds), window placement, and smart, proactive technology.

All of our homes are built to surpass healthy standards to give you a home that can actually improve your health.

We sure think so! 😉

During this housing crisis, we see a skilled labor shortage, rising material costs, and an unpredictable supply chain. Modular homes built as products directly combat the crisis. Giving homeowners a real alternative solution.

Dvele builds homes much faster and to higher standards than all other homes. Tell us your vision. And let’s start building a home you’ll love.

Yes. Dvele’s Mini line is between 460 and 1100 SF. These homes are perfect as standalone mini-home, luxury artist studios, guest houses, home offices, vacation homes, or starter homes.

Dvele’s Minis come with one to two bedrooms and have the same smart technology and high-end features as our standard-sized Dvele homes. It’s a high-end healthy, smart home but smaller.

Our proprietary intelligent app, Dvele IQ, monitors and runs your entire home through two hundred strategically placed sensors throughout the home.

Think of Dvele IQ as the brain and backbone of your home, controlling and monitoring all of the vital systems. The ventilation system, air quality, heating and cooling pump, hot water tank,  sound system, and lights run seamlessly through the app for a completely automated home.

Almost anything you can think of can be programmed or controlled by your voice, text, or app: lighting, temperature, sound system, etc.

We’d say that’s kind of smart.

Each home comes with a  best-in-class 2-year warranty on fit and finish. As well as a 5-year building envelope and 10-year structural warranty.

Traditional homes usually have a 1-year warranty for fit, finish, and envelope.