anyone ever had a good modular home built? i am thinking of it for a mountain cabin. there seem to be some good companies out there that can build something that does not look like a double wide. any thoughts??
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Not me, but I have seen a few - 2 story colonials, capes, the works - FHB had a story years ago about a timber frame with 7 modular boxes (2 story) attached - they don't HAVE to look like double wides. But interior walls will be "double wide" and there are still limitations.
I personally like the idea of a house being built entirely indoors under controlled conditions. But I framed mine outdoors anyway.
Around here there is a company called Perma-Built that will build all the walls of any house plan in sections. Goes up in a weekend for an entire house.
The walls show up already sheeted with numbers on them, the only thing you have to do is put the puzzle together.
You're entitled to sh!t.---Tony Soprano
I lived in one. ALL 2x4 construction.
Many now building O/S walls 2x6.
Know several companies in SW VA.
The ones I've seen have 2x6 O/S walls and 1-1/4 osb subfloor-my guess was it is overbuilt to handle the travel.
I have thought of putting a few up and doing nicer siding, trim etc. than the standard
- the margins would be smaller, but you can do more in less time and the bulk of the money isn't due until they deliver, and you may have it sold by then...cashflow.
but I have too much else to do right now.
Treat every person you meet like you will know them the rest of your life - you just might!
MODULAR IS A FOUR LETTER WORD !!!
I'm no fan either, but I'm certain someone has said in the past...
drywall is a four letter word...
plywood...
store-bought cabinets...
trusses...
all these are "modular" in some way - the housing guys just take it to an extreme. I'm surprised we don't have plastic/fiberglass premolded houses yet. (or do we?)
Treat every person you meet like you will know them the rest of your life - you just might!
FYI...check this out and their "gallery" section for designs.
http://www.modular-usa.com/new/
bum
Back in the 80's I used to set/finish modulars.
Depending on the manufacturer.... these homes were structurally superior to most of the local "stick built" homes in my area.
Typical structural specs exceed most because of the travel. Our manufacturer's materials came in via railroad, most lumber was superior to that locally available.
The biggest limitation on design is load width/length restrictions in the area where they travel, the ability to modularize the design and building site access for the large equipment needed to set the house.
Most if not all options available from stick builders were available.... if you wanted brick then you received credit for your siding and had the brick locally done.
We could order the house anywhere from drywall stage to floor coverings installed.
One did need a good foundation guy... foundations out of square/level/plumb/ dimension by more than 3/8" or so... wouldn't get it.. Site work was local, mechanicals were local, finish crews, in our case, were local.
We put together capes, splits, ramblers, salt boxs, two story colonials, victorians and a few contemporaries.... None even remotely looked like a "double wide" when completed.... as mentioned, the center load bearing walls need to be wider than 2x4, ours were typically 7".... but cathedrals, great rooms, flush arches you name it, could be "figured out" .... shipment may require temporary stud walls that were knocked out after set and headers were bolted together.
In most cases we had to actually point-out the wide-wall in our model to potential customers ..... they were too busy looking at the oak staircase, cherry cabinetry, crown mouldings and other eye candy.
We typically could set and button up a house in six hours depending on site conditions and complexity of design. One easy rambler we did on a flat beach-front lot was weathered-in and crane gone in three hours.....
Our manufacturers used cad for design, frames were cut on precision machinery, the stuctures were built in controlled conditions.
In those "days" the stigma of "double-wide" was hot and heavy, mortage companies, local building codes, subdivision covenants , and general perceptions by all involved, had to be assuaged to get some of these homes built.
I'm not familiar with the current state of manufactured homes, but with some investigation into the manufacturers and their product would probably merit consideration, if the value is there when comparing to the local stick builders.