Difference Between House & Modular Home
- True modular homes are built with a wooden frame.lumber - wood image by Jeffrey Zalesny from Fotolia.com
A true modular home is constructed with wooden framing just like a traditional site-built house, except it is built in sections in a factory. A mobile (or manufactured) home is constructed in a factory onto a metal chassis, usually is made of lower quality materials and generally is not placed on a permanent foundation. - Modular homes are designed to be lifted with a crane.crane boom image by pearlguy from Fotolia.com
The time from start to finish is much shorter for a modular home than for a site-built house. Because modular home construction occurs in a climate-controlled factory, the components are not exposed to weather, resulting in less shrinkage and warping. Built to withstand being transported and lifted with a crane, modular homes often are stronger than traditionally built houses. - A specialized workforce and crane are required to "set" the modular home, and the distance from the factory to the job site can affect the final cost.
- Custom plans can be difficult.house plan image by Jon Le-Bon from Fotolia.com
Many manufacturers of modular homes will not customize their standard floor plans beyond very minor changes. Even with a custom plan, sections usually are limited to a width of 13 to 15 feet, so some floor plans are difficult to create. - Traditional on-site house construction typically ranges between $150 and $250 per square foot. Due to assembly line efficiency, modular construction often ranges from $90 to $130 per square foot.
- True modular homes look just like site-built houses.house image by Cora Reed from Fotolia.com
Modular homes are treated exactly the same as site-built houses for zoning and financing and are constructed the same way as site-built homes. The primary difference is where the construction activity takes place.
An Important Distinction
Modular Advantages
Modular Disadvantages
Floor Plans
Cost
The Same, Only Different
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