So what makes a Momo a Momo?

Written by Jeff Williams on January 13, 2026. Posted in Design, Cold-formed steel, Energy, Footings, Framing, Heating and Cooling, Roof, Solar Energy.

Quality. Durability. Resilience. Stability.

In other words, Momo homes are designed better and built better so they feel better to live in.

Which sounds good. But what does it mean exactly?

Let’s take a closer look.

Foundation: Built to last up to 400 years

Our 100 percent steel footings system works like a tree’s deep root network, securely connecting the foundation to the earth while resisting gravity, uplift, shear, and moment loads. The system is rated to seismic category D, the “high hazard” level of coastal California construction. Expected life of the system? Up to 400 years.

Frame: Hurricane-ready

Steel framing is entirely fire-resistant, mold- and pest-resistant, and is 100 percent recyclable. This means all our homes meet top green-building standards. Our homes are built to Miami-Dade wind standards (able to withstand gusts of up to 185 mph).

Roof: 10-foot snow loads? No problem

Steel here, too. Unlike traditional roofing materials, steel won’t warp or sag. While our steel roofs are lightweight, they’re also highly durable — lasting more than twice as long as composite-shingle roofs. And because they’re chemical-free, recyclable, and virtually maintenance-free, they’re a sustainable choice. Our roofs are designed for snow loads up to 100 lbs. per square foot (that’s about 10 feet of average, settled snow).

Cladding: You’ll never have to paint again

Fiber cement board is a low-maintenance product that won’t warp, crack, or fade. Due to its weather- and moisture-resistance, it helps prevent mold, swelling and rot. Fiber cement board is durable against fire, water, and extreme weather conditions, and virtually impenetrable to pests. Plus, it’s durable, lasting 50 or more years. You’ll never have to paint again.

Heating and cooling: Save energy, stay comfy

Every Momo home is engineered for energy efficiency, from insulation to appliances. We use a high-performance Bosch heat pump and Rheem hot water heater. A smart ComfortLink thermostat tailors temperature and humidity settings, so you save energy without sacrificing comfort.

Fully electric: Never pay another energy bill

Momo homes are fully electric, which affords high efficiency and a low carbon footprint. In fact, a fully electrified home with high-quality appliances dramatically reduces, or can even eliminate, electricity bills. Fully electric homes offer resilience and peace of mind during blackouts, as well as letting you take full control of your energy future, without relying on the grid.

SPAN smart panel: Full control over energy use. All Momo homes come with a SPAN smart panel, facilitating full control over your electrical usage.
Solar panels: Real-time insights. We use high-efficiency tier 1 solar panels from brands like REC, Silfab and Q-Cell, paired with Enphase microinverters, capturing and optimizing sunlight, panel by panel. Everything is easily managed through the Enphase Enlighten app, giving you real-time insights, usage reports, and full control at your fingertips.
Battery backup: Power during outages. Any surplus energy is stored in the Franklin Whole Home battery system, ensuring power is always available, even during outages. Each battery is 15 kWh and is an entirely modular system, allowing you to add as much storage as you’d like.
EV charging: Charge when it’s cheapest. The SPAN smart panel provides a clear view of your home’s power flow, and EV-ready wiring means your electric vehicle can run entirely on solar energy. We offer the SPAN level 2 EV charger that integrates with the SPAN smart electrical panel, allowing you to use excess solar to charge your EV and charge when it’s cheapest.

Extras: The beauty is in the details

Every Momo model offers: nine-foot ceilings, solid-core doors, heated towel racks, and aluminum window frames. Plus: fully assembled, custom made-to-order cabinetry designed to last a lifetime.

The Momo Max package includes Bosch appliances and heated floors.

Single-family-home models include laundry rooms, full-size primary bathrooms, and walk-in closets.

Exterior rendering of Birmingham home model.

Termites hate us

Written by Jeff Williams on November 14, 2025. Posted in blog, Cold-formed steel.

Termites like to eat cellulose. Cellulose is the main ingredient in wood. Wood is the main ingredient in U.S. homes. But not in Momo homes.

Skip the scary basement to cut your home’s carbon

Written by Charles Gale on August 17, 2023. Posted in Cold-formed steel, Concrete.

In the world of sustainability (which is now every world) nobody wants big feet.

We all know the importance of cutting our carbon footprint, whether on a personal, corporate, or geopolitical level.

That’s true in homebuilding, too. And multiple studies agree: to make a cut that makes a difference in greenhouse gas emissions, we’re best served by skipping one room in particular.

Do not go into the basement

Horror movies have taught us that basements are scary places. (I still haven’t recovered from my first viewing of The Silence of the Lambs.)

Now science is backing that up.

Concrete production is responsible for at least 8% of the world’s carbon emissions. And basements are often full of the stuff.

Various scientists and construction industry insiders now call concrete basements “carbon-hungry,” “carbon bombs,” or “carbon icebergs.” (I do love a catchy phrase of doom.)

Researchers at the University of Toronto measured what they called the “material intensity” of various homes and their rooms. Which is another way of measuring the greenhouse gas emissions due to construction.

They found that concrete basements were by far the largest driver of material use, and accounted for 56% of a home’s total material intensity. “If possible,” they say, “you should avoid having a basement.”

Clarice Starling would agree.

Could concrete get greener?

There may still be hope for basements.

Scientists and engineers looking to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete and cement have been developing innovations for years.

Researchers in Tokyo developed building materials by recycling food scraps like seaweed, banana peels, and Chinese cabbage. The resulting materials were just as strong or stronger than concrete. And, if the need arises, they’re still edible. (I’ll let you have the first bite).

Another group of Tokyo scientists created a process for making concrete that reuses old concrete products and captures carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

And the Washington Post just reported that a company in Oakland has developed a carbon-negative cement using carbon-free silicate rock instead of limestone.

Even better, this green cement received third-party certification that it’s chemically and structurally the same as regular cement, which should help assure more builders of its potential.

Going cold turkey on concrete

But you don’t even need green concrete to make a difference in your carbon footprint.

The Rocky Mountain Institute points to the use of modular or prefabricated construction techniques as one strategy to reduce CO2 through better material efficiency and design.

In the UK, academics developed a modular construction system that slashed carbon emissions by up to 45%, partly through manufacturing precision-built components in a factory offsite.

Here at Momo, we’re building quick-build homes in a similar way, with components precision-engineered in a factory setting.

Also, our steel-frame panels fit exactly onto our steel Surefoot foundation. Which is fully recyclable and concrete-free.

So you can skip the scary basements.

Cheers,

Mike

Mike McAllister is head of story for Momo Homes.