What is a Modular Home? | Rochester Homes (2024)

FAQs

What is a Modular Home? | Rochester Homes? ›

Modular homes are houses built off-site, usually in an indoor, quality-controlled setting. Modular homes are completed in sections called modules, according to specific plans. These sections are then transported to the site where they are assembled by builders and installed into the foundations.

Modular homes are pre-built in a factory and then placed on a foundation. As a result, there are fewer delays due to bad weather and other unforeseen events. The materials used for construction are durable and can last a lifetime.

A modular home is a house that's partially constructed in a factory and shipped to the homeowner's lot, where it's pieced together, put on a foundation and then completed. Like on-site stick-built homes, modular homes are placed on a permanent foundation and often have full basem*nts or crawl spaces.

Modular and manufactured homes are prefabricated structures, meaning they are partially or fully constructed in an off-site factory. The primary difference between modular and manufactured homes is that modular homes are held to the same local, state and regional building codes required for on-site homes.

Of course, modular houses have their downsides. These include less customization capabilities than stick-built homes. The cost of the land and construction of the home may be higher than some people can afford, land restrictions, and perceive quality issues. Modular homes may also have more a complicated loan process.

The pros of modular homes include lower costs over traditional construction methods, better quality, improved construction speed, and better resilience while the cons consist of a bit more complicated financing process, lack of customization, and the social stigma that is the consequence of the low-quality of modular ...

Modular homes are assembled on a site and anchored to a foundation, whereas a manufactured home is transported in one piece to a site and can be relocated. Because they can be moved, manufactured homes are considered chattel (personal property) — like a recreational vehicle.

Modular housing is as good, if not better constructed, than many traditionally-built houses. The factory environment allows for superior quality control, and homes built this way use 15-20% more wood per square foot, which makes them stronger.

Both mobile homes and manufactured homes are prefabricated structures, built in a factory on a permanently attached chassis before being transported to site. A modular home, on the other hand, is built to the same local, county, and state building codes as a site-built home.

Are modular homes safe in a tornado? ›

These structures are made inside factories, so the materials that go into your home reside in a controlled environment with little moisture. Modular homes are built to be safe in case of a tornado or storm, and inspectors check surfaces for structural soundness before shipping.

Small manufactured homes range in size from tiny homes, less than 500 square feet to single-wide mobile homes that can be up to 900 square feet. These smaller-sized manufactured homes are typically 14 wide and 40' long.

If it is a metal frame, it is likely that metal is the old chassis of the home and it is a “manufactured home.” If the frame is wood and lines can be seen where the sections of the home join up (doubled up joists bolted together), then it is likely a “modular home.”

The terms "manufactured home," "mobile home," and "modular home" are sometimes used interchangeably, but while they have some features in common, these types of home have more differences than similarities. Modular homes are constructed off-site in segments and assembled on-site on permanent foundations.

Is it cheaper to buy a modular home or build? In most cases, modular homes are less expensive than building a house, mainly because there's less labor involved.

Modular homes are assembled on a site and anchored to a foundation, whereas a manufactured home is transported in one piece to a site and can be relocated. Because they can be moved, manufactured homes are considered chattel (personal property) — like a recreational vehicle.

Modular homes:

Set and assembled on a foundation in less than a week. Built in 2-6 months. Less expensive than site-built homes for the same quality. Fully customizable floor plans.