FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe

In every issue you'll find...

  • Expert insights on techniques and principles
  • Unbiased tool reviews
  • Step-by-step details to master the job
  • Field-tested advice and know-how
Subscribe Now!
Subscribe
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
  • Join
  • Log In
Subscribe

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

Modular vs manufactured

jrhomebuilding | Posted in Construction Techniques on February 24, 2020 09:14pm
Okay, 
So we are looking at moving and building a new home. We are in the middle of purchasing land. The property can do manufactured, modular or stick.
 
So we have already built a house and I Will Tell You I will never do it again. I think factory construction and the precise and pure angles etc is the way to go.
 
So here is my issue. So if you build a manufactured house and upgrade everything to 2 x 6  exterior, 16″ on center, 2 x 4 interior 2×8 subflooring
upgraded to Wind Zone III, trailer hitch wheels removed and set as a permanent structure on n a permanent concrete foundation. Same siding,roofingm windows, energy star package, 2×6 Sidewall with R-19 Insulation
 
So what is the difference between this and stick-built or modular?
 
So besides the stigma and memories of old tin cans, I just don’t get it. The materials at the factory we are looking for is basically the same materials and constriction. The other thing I don’t get is the concern over the metal frame? Well, I’m not sure what I’m missing? Termites don’t eat metal and you cant pull a house with it so isn’t that a better more solid construction than a wood subframe set on the foundation?
 
So I’ve presented these same things to a few builders we know and they really have no real good responses to the above except that site build is better, then modular and manufactured is junk. 
I don’t see it?
 
We are also told that it will not appreciate but that is not exactly true based on realtors, but they are kind of biased.
 
Thoughts? Proof? Why?
 
Reply

Replies

  1. WISteve | Feb 25, 2020 06:26am | #1

    If you want a house that's very narrow and very low slung I guess there is no problem.
    Do you want a 12' wide house with a 1/12 pitch that's less than 13.5' tall (including the trailer)?

    If so how could you not build a level square and plumb 12x48 box on-site?

    1. florida | Feb 25, 2020 09:31am | #2

      Modular homes are built with any width you like and can have pretty much any pitch you desire. Good ones look no different than any other house. Manufactured homes come in single wide, double wide and even triple wides so you can get one 42' if you like. They also come in various roof pitches but usually not very steep. They are built to a different standard than modulars.

  2. florida | Feb 25, 2020 09:40am | #3

    Manufactured homes are usually built on a steel frame and wheels and are not the same as modular which are delivered on trucks and usually lifted into place. Good modulars look exactly like stick-built houses except they are built in factories. As long as the factory has a good reputation and uses good material it might save you time and it might save you money and you might get as good or better a house then a stick-built one. You would have to do your homework, talk to everyone involved, look at techniques and some finished houses.
    Many banks won't lend money on manufactured houses and most of the appreciation is from land values going up, not the house itself. A friend had a fairly new doublewide on her property that she was selling. The realtor told her she would get more for the property if the doublewide were gone.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Fine Homebuilding – Feb/Mar 2023, Issue #313

Find online articles on choosing and installing a wood stove, flashing a deck ledger, ways to make a small lot live big, and much more.

Featured Video

Builder’s Advocate: An Interview With Viewrail

Learn more about affordable, modern floating stairs, from design to manufacturing to installation.

Related Stories

  • Podcast 533: Missing-Middle Housing, Collateral Damage From Demo, and Midwest BS Symposium
  • Podcast 533: Member’s only Aftershow — Training for Tradework
  • Insulation Project Guide
  • Insulating a Roof: Getting Higher R-Value

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

BOOKS, DVDs, & MERCH

Shop the Store
  • 2022 Fine Homebuilding Archive
    Buy Now
  • Code Check Building 4th Edition
    Buy Now
  • Pretty Good House
    Buy Now
  • 2023 Tool Guide
    Buy Now
  • Shop the Store

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 313 - Feb/March 2023
    • Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit
    • Fine Homebuilding Issue #313 Online Highlights
    • Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit
  • Issue 312 - Dec 2022/Jan 2023
    • Tool Test: Cordless Tablesaws
    • Gray-Water System for a Sustainable Home
    • Insulate a Cape Roof to Avoid Ice Dams
  • Issue 311 - November 2022
    • 7 Steps to a Perfect Exterior Paint Job
    • Options for Smarter Home-Energy Tracking
    • The Fine Homebuilding Interview: James Metoyer
  • Issue 310 - October 2022
    • Choosing a Tile-Leveling System
    • Choosing Between HRVs and ERVs
    • Custom Built-in Cabinets Made Easy
  • Issue 309 - Aug/Sept 2022
    • 10 Steps to Install Crown Molding on Cabinets
    • How to Get Sturdy Walls Without OSB
    • Choosing the Right Construction Tape for the Job

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in