The Rise of Modular Homes in British Columbia's Housing Market
With housing affordability becoming an increasingly pressing issue for many British Columbians, the popularity of modular homes is experiencing a significant surge. These contemporary prefabricated dwellings represent a dramatic evolution from the manufactured homes of previous decades, offering sophisticated, sustainable solutions to modern housing challenges.
Hewing Haus Showcases Innovation at BC Home + Garden Show 2026
Visitors to the BC Home + Garden Show 2026 can witness firsthand the advanced craftsmanship of Hewing Haus modular homes. The Chilliwack-based premier builder specializes in custom prefab homes constructed using cross-laminate timber (CLT), a sustainably harvested and renewable lumber that provides exceptional stability, strength, and rigidity.
Ken Toews, founder of Hewing Haus with over 22 years of building experience, explains the growing demand: "Since we began in 2018, the interest has increased steadily each year. People approach us at home shows eager to learn about modular home benefits. Today's buyers are considering them for recreational cottages, short-term rentals, or secondary homes on existing recreational properties."
Transforming Construction: Faster, Cheaper, and Greener
The housing market is undergoing rapid transformation, and modular construction is meeting this challenge directly by building homes more efficiently in controlled environments rather than through traditional on-site methods. This approach offers numerous advantages beyond the significantly reduced construction timelines.
"While conventional builds can take a year or longer, a typical modular home requires only about six weeks," Toews notes. "We've primarily focused on single-level homes but are now expanding to two-level designs. Recently, we completed a 3,600-square-foot, two-level home for an Alberta client in just three months."
Introducing the Keats 4: Enhanced Luxury and Wellness Features
During the home show, Hewing Haus is proudly unveiling its newest model, the Keats 4. This wider, more luxurious version represents an upgrade from last year's design, allowing attendees to walk through and experience the enhanced living spaces firsthand.
In today's health-conscious era, modular homes are redefining vacation and retreat properties by integrating wellness-focused elements. Hewing Haus creates environments that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being through airtight, energy-efficient designs that include heat pumps and air conditioning systems.
The company further enhances these homes with wellness amenities such as saunas, hot tubs, and even cold plunges, demonstrating how modular construction can accommodate specialized features while maintaining efficiency and sustainability.
As British Columbia continues to grapple with housing accessibility, modular homes present a compelling alternative that combines speed, affordability, and environmental responsibility without compromising on quality or design sophistication.
