A
modular home is
unique because
it is built in a
climate-controlled
factory.
Building in this
way reduces the
chances of
weather related
delays or
problems. When
coupled with the
fact that
building
supplies are
stored in
on-site
warehouses, it
also virtually
eliminates the
chance that wet
materials will
be used when
building the
modular home.
Design
Flexibility of
Modular Housing
Modular housing
construction
allows for
hundreds of
options and
design
possibilities.
Modular
construction
offer's a wide
range of house
plans to choose
from in a
variety of
styles. Choose
the style of
windows or
siding, choose
colors of vinyl,
carpet,
countertops and
bath fixtures.
The
possibilities
are endless.
Modular
Homes are a Better
Quality
Construction
Because modular
homes are built
in factories,
manufacturers
are able to
utilize tools
unavailable to
the site builder
such as custom
manufactured
jigs which
ensure that all
walls, floors
and ceilings are
square and
plumb. In
addition,
interior walls
are lag-bolted
to the exterior
walls and
bracing and
insulation are
installed on all
electrical
outlet boxes.
Finally, straps
brace the wall
to the floor.
Modular
Housing:
Inspection &
Regulation
Before a modular
home
manufacturer
begins
construction,
all building
plans must be
reviewed and
approved in each
state where the
manufacturer
intends to sell
homes. Homes
must be designed
and built to the
code for the
state where the
home will be
shipped for
final location.
The
manufacturers
contract with
state approved
third party plan
review agencies
which conduct
plan review on
behalf of the
state. The
modular
manufacturer
also contracts
with a third
party inspection
agency that is
licensed by the
states to
perform the
in-plant
inspection while
the home is in
production. When
the housing
sections or
modules are
complete, the
third party
places a label
on the home
certifying that
the home has
been
manufactured in
conformance with
the approved
plans and
complies with
all provisions
of the building
code.
Stringent
Building Codes
Modular homes
are built to the
same building
codes used by
conventional
site-builders.
As noted above,
an independent
inspector will
certify that the
home has been
manufactured in
conformance with
the approved
plans and
complies with
all building
code provisions
for the location
where the home
will be erected.
The Energy
Efficiency of
Modular Housing
Quality
engineering and
the latest
construction
techniques
significantly
increase the
energy-efficiency
of your new
modular home.
This ensures it
will be
economical to
own and
comfortable to
live in
regardless of
the weather. In
addition,
modular homes
use two-by-six
(2 x 6) framing
for the walls.
This allows more
insulation to be
placed in the
wall, thereby
ensuring greater
energy
efficiency.
Finally, modular
homes have much
less air
infiltration,
which is one of
the largest
causes of heat
loss in a home.
The fact that
these homes are
constructed in a
factory allows
the manufacturer
to place more
sealants, such
as caulking, in
problem areas
that site
builders have no
access to. For
example, a
manufacturer is
able to create a
better seal
around
electrical
outlet and
fixtures because
they can access
the walls
behind, above
and underneath
these areas.
Shipping,
Stability &
Superior
Strength of
Modular Homes
After
construction in
the factory, the
modules are
loaded for
transport. To
deal with the
rigors of
shipping, each
modular home is
constructed with
roughly twenty
to thirty
percent more
material than a
traditional
stick-built home
(for example,
drywall is
typically glued
with a special
adhesive and
then screwed to
the framing).
This greatly
increases the
structural
strength of the
home as noted in
a recent FEMA
study on 1992's
Hurricane
Andrew. The
study concluded,
"the
module-to-module
combination of
units appears to
have provided an
inherently more
rigid system
that performed
much better than
conventional
residential
framing."
Building
Performance:
Hurricane Andrew
in Florida,
FIA-22, Item
3-0180.
Modular
Homes are
Environmentally
Friendly
Modular home
construction is
more
environmentally
friendly than
its site-built
counterpart.
Engineered
construction
materials are
utilized, and
effective
in-plant
recycling is in
place at most
modular home
manufacturing
facilities. This
means that all
the excess
materials are
able to be
recycled. This
may not sound
impressive, but
one of the dirty
secrets of site
builders is the
amount of waste
a new site built
home generates.
Skilled
Subcontractors
Skilled
craftspeople
construct each
home to exact
specifications.
In addition, the
homes are built
with brand name
building
products that
you know and
trust. Both
in-house
personnel and an
independent
agency inspect
all homes during
and after
construction to
ensure that
every home meets
our high
standards and
code
requirements.
