Whats the difference between a modular and a manufactured home

When searching for a home, you often see or hear the term "modular" or "manufactured" when describing a type of home. We're here to help explain the difference between the two with the viewpoint of someone who spent many years in the modular home field:

Many without direct knowledge of the difference between a modular and manufactured home tend to shun the modular home, or confuse the two. I personally would prefer a modular home, hands-down. Without getting off track, lets discuss some major differences between the modular and manufactured homes.

A manufactured home (also known as a mobile home) is built on a steel frame trailer with a permanence. It includes stamps and tags that have to be found in order for funding for the sale to be completed. The homes have a hitch (which is sometimes removed), and they can be set onto a foundation. They have uncommon sized studs in the walls and rafters in the roof, and the joists that are used in the ceilings are not your typical lumber either. They lack the width you would typically see in a stick built or modular home. You also don't normally see too many variations of design. You will typically see only single wide and double wide structures with the same particular look on the outside of the home that you have been used to for decades.

Modular homes are still built in a factory just the same as you would expect a manufactured home to be, but the differences are vast. Modular homes are constructed of the same lumber you would typically see in stick built homes. They do undergo a different process that stick built homes do, however. Sheet rock is held onto walls and ceilings with a special two part expanding foam that is an adhesive and can be seen as draft deterrent. They are secured by sheet rock screws and spackled and taped the same as you would with the stick built process.

The ceilings/roof systems on a modular home are secured to the walls with different types of hurricane straps, nails and hurricane clips and can be intentionally built to withstand high wind zones. Most stick built homes have access to these clips and straps, but few use them.

A common misconception is that they all look the same. The modular home has come a long way since it's debut of the ranch style home. They can come in many different shapes and sizes. They are built in sections and shipped to the construction site where a crane is waiting with a specially trained crew to secure the sections to the foundation and to each other. If you prefer a Victorian style home, even that can be done with modular homes. They have specially constructed trusses to accommodate the style of roof that will be going on your home: High wind, heavy snow load, or hips and valleys as well as dormers.

It can be difficult to walk into a home and tell the difference between stick built and modular unless you know what to look for. Modular homes are energy star efficient due to the weather proofing process that is difficult to mimic with stick built. The structural integrity is virtually unsurpassed with the amount of straps and clips that go into tying it to it's walls and ceilings. A modular home's windows and stairs can still be of high end quality depending on the choice of the purchaser, just like with a stick built home.

Curious how a modular home is built? We scoured YouTube to find a video gives a little more information on the process. Check it out by clicking HERE.

Pre-built homes are quickly emerging as a solid housing alternative to traditionally constructed homes. Purchasing a manufactured or pre-built home is becoming an option that will help consumers realize their dream of home ownership without the prohibitive cost of traditional homes that are built onsite.

Once you have made the decision to purchase a home that isn’t site-built, it can be easy to get bogged down in the terminology of non-traditional housing options. When you’re opting for a pre-built home, you have the options of manufactured, mobile, and modular homes. But what are the differences between these types of homes? In this article, we’ll cover some of the major differences between manufactured, mobile, and modular homes.

Construction Methods

The major difference between manufactured, mobile, and modular homes is the way that they are constructed.

Manufactured homes are completely constructed in a factory and then transported to the home site. Once they arrive at their destinations, they are indistinguishable from site-built homes. They are not usually moved again. This allows the entire process, start to finish, to be overseen with consistency and accuracy, which cuts down on many of the delays and disruptions in traditionally built homes. They are built according to federal construction codes from Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Modular homes are also built in factories, but are governed by local state building codes (although sometimes states will adopt the federal code). Modular homes are either built on a permanent chassis or on a temporary one. Homes built on a permanent chassis are referred to as being “on-frame” and those built on temporary ones are referred to as “off-frame.” Whether a home is built on- or off-frame will affect how the home is assembled at its destination site.

Mobile homes are any manufactured home built prior to June 15, 1976. They are now obsolete due to HUD policy changes in 1976. They have since been replaced by modern manufactured homes.

Home Design and Options

When looking at purchasing a manufactured home versus a modular home, most of the changes are structural. Both manufactured and modular homes have come a long way in recent years in regards to home design options.

There are plenty of cosmetic and design options available, depending on the financing options and particular building company a buyer chooses. Homebuyers can choose from a wide array of building options, including exterior building materials and cosmetic features. Because one factory is responsible for the construction from start to finish, consumers have more options to customize a manufactured or even modular home. Modern manufactured and modular homes are nearly indistinguishable to site built homes now.

Safety

One of the most common concerns for homebuyers looking at manufactured and modular homes is safety. Both of these home options are constructed offsite and that can lead many to distrust the safety of these homes. However, these fears are unfounded. There is no significant difference between the safety of homes built on or off site.

Manufactured homes are produced according to the Federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) safety standards. These unified national safety standards help make sure that manufactured homes are as safe as site-built homes.

Manufactured homes are built in one controlled environment and then transported to the home site. Red certification labels from HUD are affixed to the exterior.

Modular homes are constructed according to local and state safety regulations based on the destination site. Sometimes these are the same standards as the HUD standards, as somes states adopt the federal code. Each state and governing authority has its own safety certification that is attached to modular homes.

Both modular and manufactured homes are further inspected upon installation at their sites to ensure complete safety for the home occupants.

Cost

Manufactured and modular are all significantly more affordable than site-built homes. The primary reason that these homes are constructed in one place is that it allows for controlled production costs.  They are constructed inside a factory and therefore are also typically constructed in a fraction of the amount of time a site-built home is. There are fewer delays and unforeseen costs. The savings on construction costs are passed on to the consumer. This allows many consumers the chance at home ownership that otherwise they wouldn’t have.

Manufactured, Mobile, or Modular: Choosing the best option for you

While the options for pre-built homes have come a long way in all categories, manufactured homes as well as modular homes have several clear advantages.

Manufactured homes and Modular homes have:

• Design customization options available for consumers
• The safety advantage of being inspected and constructed in one place, with consistency and efficiency
• The low cost associated with being built off-site

All of these reasons are why manufactured homes are emerging as a great option for new homeowners.

Tagged under: Manufactured Home Facts, Home Buyer Information

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