Thread: Anyone know much about Modular/Manufactured homes?

Everybody thinks of a "trailer" when they hear the term manufactured or modular housing, which isn't the case. Because they're delivered almost fully constructed via roadway, each section is limited to 14' feet in width. Most are built to pre-set dimensions. usually in lengths that are multiples of 4' (40', 48', etc.), which is where the modular part comes in. It just means that the house is constructed to limit wasting materials. For example, if your room is 12' wide, it uses exactly 3 sheets of drywall and a standard 12' roll of carpet. If your room is 12'-6", you need extra sheets of drywall, but are wasting much of them.

I used to work in a building that was manufactured. It was a two-story colonial, with a brick face front, and octagonal bays on the sides. The foundation was pre-constructed, pre-insulated "superior" wall. Nobody who didn't see the building delivered and set in place would believe that it wasn't constructed in place. They even construct them with truss roofs that can be folded out on site, so they don't have that telltale low slope that most modulars once had.

An advantage is that because the homes are manufactured in a factory, they aren't subject to things like weather delays and materials aren't exposed to the weather until they can be covered or enclosed. Here's a link to a manufacturer located near me, if you're interested. Just shows some of the things they're doing now with manufactured housing that are definitely not the tin cans we think of when we hear modular or manufactured housing.

Modular Homes

i just read about these in my one of my in-laws' southern living magazine. i had never heard about them before. definitely sounded interesting to me and i thought the designer/company that was featured in the article made some rather nice looking constructions.

Dream Small: Russell Versaci Homes with Historic Charm - Southern Living

this is the site for the homes:

Russell Versaci Architecture

Originally Posted by Royal_Roader

Everybody thinks of a "trailer" when they hear the term manufactured or modular housing, which isn't the case. Because they're delivered almost fully constructed via roadway, each section is limited to 14' feet in width. Most are built to pre-set dimensions. usually in lengths that are multiples of 4' (40', 48', etc.), which is where the modular part comes in. It just means that the house is constructed to limit wasting materials. For example, if your room is 12' wide, it uses exactly 3 sheets of drywall and a standard 12' roll of carpet. If your room is 12'-6", you need extra sheets of drywall, but are wasting much of them.

I used to work in a building that was manufactured. It was a two-story colonial, with a brick face front, and octagonal bays on the sides. The foundation was pre-constructed, pre-insulated "superior" wall. Nobody who didn't see the building delivered and set in place would believe that it wasn't constructed in place. They even construct them with truss roofs that can be folded out on site, so they don't have that telltale low slope that most modulars once had.

An advantage is that because the homes are manufactured in a factory, they aren't subject to things like weather delays and materials aren't exposed to the weather until they can be covered or enclosed. Here's a link to a manufacturer located near me, if you're interested. Just shows some of the things they're doing now with manufactured housing that are definitely not the tin cans we think of when we hear modular or manufactured housing.

Modular Homes

RR is bang on. In fact 35% of modern residential and up to 70% of regional based commercial construction (ground up/shell and non TI) done today is "Modular" or "Prefab". Most folks don't even realize it.

The "trailer park" stigma hasn't been valid in 20 or so years now. Like RR said, the only real "downside" to using are it's limits with dimensions BUT that can be overcome with conventional construction methods. In some instances, modular can actually be stronger in all dimensions than say conventional on-site balloon framed fabrication.

As long as the GC is reputable, has references, is Insured and Bonded and especially, ESPECIALLY adheres to local and IB codes (including ALL local inspections) you should be fine.

These are ALL Modular and Semi-Modular homes and concepts:











Not your crack head uncle's Doublewide are they?


In fact, if your current home was constructed with-in the last 15-20 years, you are NOT the original owner and its in a PP(A) or NTM Community, I'm willing to bet your house has at minimum 50% Modular construction.

Here is a NTM Community I PM'd from conception in 2005 through 2010 here in Va.

Developing communities is what we do best

100% of it was Modular construction including all the retail space. The ONLY exception was the actual "Rutland" house which we needed to keep historically correct because of its significance. It was Jeb Stuart's temp Headquarters during the Civil War. My old firm received HUGE tax credits for it being modular. And for those of you that know about these things, it was one of the first Silver LEED cert communities in America.

In a nutshell, Modular IS the future of construction. Don't be afraid of it, embrace it. Its better for your wallet and the environment.

If you have any specific questions about the nuts and bolts of it, shoot me a PM. Although I'm not on the residential side of it anymore (im in commercial and industrial now), I know and use the concepts still.

Originally Posted by nocturn

not your crack head uncle's doublewide are they?.

lmao

I told you guys the pre fabs could be customized as far as your wallet and imagination could go.