Giving Thanks for the Trades: The Heroes Behind Every D&W Home

November 5, 2025/Blog Post

Every November, as families gather around their tables to give thanks, we at D&W Homes take a moment to appreciate something that doesn’t always get celebrated enough — the skilled tradespeople who make homeownership possible.

Because behind every beautiful home we deliver is a team of men and women whose craftsmanship, precision, and pride turn ideas into reality.

The Foundation of Every Home: The Trades

Electricians, framers, roofers, HVAC technicians, finish carpenters, truck drivers, factory line teams are the people who form the heartbeat of the housing industry.

They measure twice and cut once. They problem-solve in real time. They pour foundations, wire panels, seal windows, and swing hammers through summer heat and winter chill.

Their work doesn’t just build houses — it builds livelihoods, communities, and futures.

Yet across America, we’re facing a growing challenge: a shortage of skilled labor. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the U.S. needs over 700,000 new trade professionals just to keep up with housing demand in the next decade. As more experienced tradesmen retire, fewer young people are stepping into these high-value, hands-on careers.

That’s one reason D&W Homes is especially thankful for the team members and partners who continue to carry the torch.

How Modular Homes Support Skilled Trades

Some people think modular homes mean less craftsmanship — but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, modular construction elevates the role of the trades.

Inside a climate-controlled building facility, skilled tradespeople work with precision tools, advanced materials, and repeatable systems that allow for consistent quality and efficiency. Each section of a home is built to state and national codes — and then inspected multiple times before leaving the factory.

From plumbers and electricians to drywall finishers and painters, these professionals bring decades of expertise to every D&W home long before it arrives on-site. When the house is delivered, our local set crew and finishing teams take over — connecting utilities, finishing trim, and ensuring every customer receives a complete, move-in ready home that meets our exacting standards.

In modular building, the trades aren’t replaced — they’re respected, refined, and relied upon more than ever.

Without skilled trades, blueprints would stay on paper, dreams would stay in our heads, and homes would never stand on their foundations.

building house on blueprints with worker - construction project

A Thank-You from D&W Homes

This Thanksgiving, we want to say thank you to:

Factory teams who build with care, precision, and pride.
Set crews who brave the weather and make it all come together.
Truck drivers who deliver safely, on time, and across long distances.
Electricians, plumbers, and carpenters who keep the process smooth and professional.
Inspectors and quality control specialists who ensure that every home is built to last.

Because without your hands, the American Dream wouldn’t stand.

The Next Generation of Builders

At D&W Homes, we believe education programs that help introduce young people to careers in the skilled trades are important. Skilled trades are good jobs with lasting value — the kind that can support a family, strengthen communities, and build pride in a job well done.

We hope this Thanksgiving inspires others to see the trades not as a “backup plan,” but as a pathway to purpose.
Because whether it’s a laborer in a modular plant or a trim carpenter on-site, every skilled professional plays a vital role in helping families find their way home.

A Final Word

This November, as you sit around your table and reflect on what you’re thankful for, take a moment to remember the hands that built that table — and the home that surrounds it.

From all of us at D&W Homes, we give thanks to our crew, and men and women everywhere who build, wire, lift, and deliver the dream of homeownership every single day.

Thank you for keeping America’s homes — and hopes — standing strong.

If you’re ready to explore building a modular home or have questions about the process, reach out by filling out the Get Pricing form on our website or visit one of our three model centers.

FAQs

Q: Are modular homes built by machines or by real people?
A: Our homes are built by skilled tradesmen and women. Every D&W modular home is crafted by trained professionals in controlled building centers. Electricians, carpenters, plumbers, and roofers handle each phase with precision. The factory environment simply gives them the tools and consistency to work faster and safer — not to replace them.

Q: How do modular homes support local workers if they’re built in factories?
A: Modular homes are both factory-built and locally finished. While sections are built indoors, they’re set and completed by local crews — from foundation to finishing trim. That means D&W Homes supports jobs across the region, including trucking, cranes, electricians, HVAC techs, and more.

Q: What’s the biggest misconception about the trades today?
A: That trade work isn’t a “career.” In reality, skilled tradespeople are in huge demand. The trades offer creativity, stability, and pride in tangible results. At D&W Homes, we see that every day in the incredible craftsmanship of our skilled trades workers that goes into each home we build.