Modular or stick built, what's your flavor?

[wedge40]

To me there is such a blur between modular and stick built these days. You can design a house to your specification, they build it in peices then ship to the site and put it together. Is that modular? Heck I watched someone build a house that consisted of a bunch of boxes shipped in and stacked together. 3 story house when it was done. Since it was shipped in, in peices I'd still call that modular.
To me, modular has a whole different meaning it did 10 or 15 years ago.
Heck even double wides have improved greatly.

Wedge

 

[johnnydel29]

We stick built our home (see avater pic) 3 years ago and I am so glad we did.

Modulars are good, but please be very careful with who you deal with. A lot of these modular home companies are oprated by Sales people, not builders. The know nothing about the trade, they make it sound like you simply have a complete house, said and done - giving you little info regarding all the "loose ends" after it has been in place. Good modular home builders finish EVERYTHING themselves. Stay away from the dealer who randomly gets people to finish some trim here, patch some siding, hang some sheet rock - they usually find the cheapest most unreliable people to finish. This happened to my neighbor, who was thinking he was ahead of the game when he had his house up before me (siding, roof etc.) and was dealing with people refusing to come and finish these "loose ends" the modular home dealer promised would get done. I move in 2 months before he did.

The problem is, that it is going to very difficult to get a good reputable contractor to come and hang 7 peices of sheet rock, a few sqaures of siding and install some loose trim after the house is set. That is why, if you do get a modular make sure the dealer is good, reputable, knows about building (not selling cars) and finishes all remaining work using his own crew.

Good luck.

 

[skargo]

To me there is such a blur between modular and stick built these days. You can design a house to your specification, they build it in peices then ship to the site and put it together. Is that modular? Heck I watched someone build a house that consisted of a bunch of boxes shipped in and stacked together. 3 story house when it was done. Since it was shipped in, in peices I'd still call that modular.
To me, modular has a whole different meaning it did 10 or 15 years ago.
Heck even double wides have improved greatly.

Wedge

Indeed it is.

I would also hope anyone considering a house would make sure their home was built by a reputable, quality builder. Our builder handled everything, absolutely turn key.
Could I have GC'd and saved money, probably, but knowing my luck, I'd still be trying to move in. You can choose different options from a good builder. We chose to have ALL of the siding done on site, along with all the roofing.
The house was set and weather tight in one day, but it took 3 more months to get everything done, custom flooring, silestone, fixtures, etc. in addition to the normal punch out work.

Our house was 3 boxes, craned into position on top of our basement. I have lived in, and helped stick build quite a few homes, and this one is built on par with the very best. It's also the most energy efficient home I've lived in as well, important in these expensive energy times.

Many builders in this part of the country have been moving more and more of their business towards modular. I will probably die in this house, but if I had to do it again modular is the only way I'd go now.

A quality stick builder will give you an awesome home too though.

 

[Lasgambler]

I have to admit I did not read all of the post. I apoligize if this has been covered.

Manufactured? or Modular.

You will find Manufactured home dealers misleading people by calling there homes Modular. They are not modular homes. They would like you to belive they are Modular. Ask what code they are built to.

Modular homes are built to the UBC code
Manufactured homes are built to the HUD code

Modular homes arrive on a flat bed and are stacked together with a crane. They can be three story homes on full basements.
Manufactured homes are built on a frame with wheels attached. (trailer)

Modular homes will pass most cc&r's
Manufactured homes cannot be place in some subdivisions.

Modular homes on a real foundation will appreciate like a stick built.

Just some observations from the last 36 years of building homes.

 

[putt_putt_green]

To me, the biggest disadvantage to a modular is square footage waste. A 28' wide house has rooms which are 13 foot wide, or 10' wide with a hallway. I don't need a kitchen that is 13' wide, and would rather have a living/family room which is wider than 13'. This was a major factor in my decision to stick build instead of having a modular shipped in, back in 1997.

 

[skargo]

To me, the biggest disadvantage to a modular is square footage waste. A 28' wide house has rooms which are 13 foot wide, or 10' wide with a hallway. I don't need a kitchen that is 13' wide, and would rather have a living/family room which is wider than 13'. This was a major factor in my decision to stick build instead of having a modular shipped in, back in 1997.

Those "issues" are not really a problem anymore. Our great room is 20' wide.

 

[skargo]

I have to admit I did not read all of the post. I apoligize if this has been covered.

Manufactured? or Modular.

You will find Manufactured home dealers misleading people by calling there homes Modular. They are not modular homes. They would like you to belive they are Modular. Ask what code they are built to.

Modular homes are built to the UBC code
Manufactured homes are built to the HUD code

Modular homes arrive on a flat bed and are stacked together with a crane. They can be three story homes on full basements.
Manufactured homes are built on a frame with wheels attached. (trailer)

Modular homes will pass most cc&r's
Manufactured homes cannot be place in some subdivisions.

Modular homes on a real foundation will appreciate like a stick built.

Just some observations from the last 36 years of building homes.

Thanks you!