MasterFit : Wood Framing System
by Justin Thomas, Virginia 
on 06. 2.05
Here's another example of a modular housing system called MasterFit. Their system is based on technology was developed in Japan over 14 years ago, and has reportedly been used to build 35,000 homes there. Their system uses precut, engineered lumber and connectors, that "allow a group of 4-8 untrained workers to assemble a precise frame in several days time". The componets of the house are actually numbered, and are constructed as you would a piece of kit furniture. Materials cost 10-20% more than those for conventional framing, but the cost is offset by reduced labor expense, according the the company. :: MasterFit [Thanks to Eric for the tip]
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I watched the videos on the website and they are really informative. And I was totally geeked when I saw how all the pieces of lumber are cut by CNC machines dramatically reducing waste.
So I called the company and the only states where they are doing business right now are Minnesota and Wisconsin. This is a technology which shoud be everywhere as soon as it can. Hopefully it will get to New Hampshrie soon.
Just as I'd like to see this system in Texas, since the method is supposed to be strong enough to withstand hurricanes (or typhoons if you're in Japan.) With the likes of Bob Perry of Perry homes building so many shoddy buildings around here (and getting away with it legislatively; see http://www.houstonpress.com/issues/2005-02-24/news/feature.html for more info) I hate to think of how bad the devastation could be here should another Force 3 hurricane like Alicia (1983) meander through.
Maybe it's up to us to get the word out to potential home buyers/builders of other options and get companies like MasterFit to expand into the rest of the continent. Who wouldn't want a house ready to move into in less than a month when compared to the several months that one must wait with conventional building methods?