I always thought that the MFG. home was built on a steel frame with axle’s and when they set the home they took the wheels back with them.
Over the years there have been legal issue’s in regard to modular and Mfg. home’s, especially where protective covenants are concerned.
Call me old fashioned, I don’t like either of them. My son in Colorado found a “house” he wanted, he fell in “love” with the property. I flew back, took one look, and it was a resounding NO! The realtor tried her best to go around me, but to no avail, I was the “money man”. no money, no purchase, period.
(don’t think she liked me much after that!) Ended up buying a stick house in Aurora, Co. Much better deal. So, all ended well!!
As a side note, the realtors husband was in the business of “installing” manfactured homes and did not appreciate my opinion of them!! Win a few, lose a few!!
Where it says manufactured homes are cheaply constructed is not true. Most manufactured homes have #1 grade lumber and 2x6 walls and are built better than most stick built homes. I just saw today a cheaply built modular home, so it all depends on who manufactures them.
Also manufactured homes are commonly put on foundations so where it says has no foundation may need some clarification.
In Missouri, a manufactured home model can be classified a modular home if the building plans are approved by the state before manufacturing. The steel frame and all can be slide on to a foundation and can still be called a modular home.
What does a tornado and an Arkansas divorce have in common?
Answer: Somebody is going to lose a mobile home.
My favorite thing about modular homes is they are square. Makes floor covering a breeze to replace.
:roll::roll::roll:
They are cheaply constructed, small, and are held to less stringent standards than modular and site-built homes. Their obvious advantage is their mobility and affordability, factors that allow buyers to make home purchases without serious monetary or geographical commitments. They are available in three sizes that escalate as follows: “single wide”, “double wide” and “triple wide.” In addition, manufactured homes
- Conform only to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) code. Each home contains a red tag that confirms that the unit was manufactured in compliance with this code;
- Are manufactured in sections in factories;
- Tend to loose value over time because they are difficult to expand or improve;
- Are inspected but do not have to be structurally approved by an inspector;
- Are not required to be approved structurally approved;
Where did you get this info:roll::roll::roll:.
Cheaply built
I can only guess you got it from a wantta be builder that lost a sale to a Mfg home, and or doesn’t have a clue about the construction of a Mfg. home.
Some of it must have come from that former builder turned to a wannta be home inspector, Stevie boy Myers :mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:
Structurally Approved.
Have you ever seen a site built home being hauled down the road at 60 70 mph.
Did you ever see EVERY phase of a site built home inspected several times by the manunfacture, and by a state inspector before the next phase could be completed, or before the home could be delivered to the customer.
They are difficult to expand or improve;
Guess if you believe the other comments, you would also believe this.
Are not required to be approved structurally approved; Double talk .
Do not have a foundation; Are not always required to have a perimeter foundation, but, are sometimes set on piers with tie down straps and surrounded with Vinyl or Aluminum Skirting. Note: Some lenders require a foundation certification by a qualified structural engineer.
Good one!
Modulars are set in place by a crane.
Good article.
“Mobile homes” have a title like a car or a RV and are transferred at the Secretary of State or DMV. “Modular homes” have a Deed like a house, and are transferred that way.
Nick… This article is an unfair attact on a very valuable source of housing.
I assume you inspected a few in your days.
How many defects did you find on mobile home or manufactured homes, that were related to manunfacturing defects, opposed to defered maintance, and defects/improper repairs or remodeling caused by the home owner, or improper set ups.
Granted lower cost materials were used on older Pre HUD homes, when they were called mobile homes…
Truth is, Since reguation and enforcement of construction on mobile homes by HUD, Now called Mfg. Homes, the chance of finding a mfg. defect is almost nill compared to what one will find on a site built home.
The winner is now praying for a tornado!!
As long as you have run over your framing square with your truck!!
UMMM…I will proof read this more in detail tomorrow but there are some off base details about the difference and requirements for both in CA.
When it comes to rating types of homes I put them in this order:
Quality of materials & products
- Custom builder
- Track builder
- Modular
- Manufactured
When it comes to speed;
- Manufactured (pick one on the lot)
- Track builder (I worked for a track builder where we were turning them in 30 days)
- Modular - 8 - 12 weeks average
- Custom - 3 months and up.
Versatility
- Custom
- Track
- Modular
- Manufactured
Value
- Custom
- Track
- Modular
- Manufactured
Overall modular homes will always be one step up from a manufactured home and always below a site built home. As with any business, the quality will vary depending on how much you want to spend. Just like track homes…you have the lower end stuff to the more extragavent which you pay for. Some modular homes companies are trying to rid themselves of the stigma that is associated with modulars however in doing so they have to increase the quality of products they offer which increases their price; that put them in direct competition with the track and custom builder…this is where their marketing machine comes in…presenting half truths.
My inlaws looked at 5 different modular home companies…it started out with excitement in thinking they would get a quality home with all the amneities at less than $40.00 per square ft. (several companies were quoting a base price without amenities). When all was said and done they purchased one of my custom homes for 20,000 less and yet still had all the amenities.
For the home inspector its important to pay attention to the foundation as well as the roofing system where they are tied together.
Nick…in regards to proof reading…is it really necessary to use semicolon when doing bullets. Semicolons typically represent a longer pause or a comparative or independant thought…does not the bullet do all of the above?
Jeff
Be very careful in generalizations.
There is such as thing as **“on-frame” modular **that is practically indistinguishable from a double-wide manufactured home, except that it has a higher pitched roof with an attic. It is NOT transported to the site on a flat bed truck, but has an integrated steel frame like a manufactured home, so that characterization in the article is also incorrect.
Here’s more discussion about it: http://www.nachi.org/forum/f11/learn-differences-site-built-modular-manufactured-mobile-homes-18885/#post287189
Hard to tell until you get there then. I have never seen one, thanks for the correction.
Nick
good article. We have used Modular homes when we replaced 499 homes built in the 1960’s we built about 550 units new with modular.
We are currently finshing 17 more buildings total of 34 homes in the same area.
Our next project to start shortly is a 220 unit town home project using modular.
If anyone plans are using modular homes, do research on the company.
All of our homes meet the UBC do to year built and new homes meet the IBC, IRC
Some homes built in VA are built with still framing and steel studs due to wind and placement
Some builders leave the steel trailer frame as the unit, if they are building 4 or more floors.