The Time frame for having a modular home built in the
Fl Keys:
The Factory/Manufacturer
Modular Homes are built in a factory setting where raw materials and design
and assembly personnel are brought together in a controlled environment
to create a finished product. Construction within a factory eliminates
the possibility of damage from weather and allows all materials to be assembled
in a protected climate-controlled environment. This is important given
the recent problems with mold as it eliminates the possibility of any water
infiltrating the house during construction.
The Builder/Seller/Contractor
The modular manufacturer does not sell directly to the homebuyer. Instead,
homebuyers purchase a modular home from a modular builder, who is responsible
for working with the buyer to determine the type and design of home they
want. The modular builder then orders the home from the manufacturer. The
modular builder is not an agent of the manufacturer, but an independent
business owner.
Customization
As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the builder and manufacturer will
work with the homeowner to determine the type and design of modular home
that best suits the purchaser’s needs. Home purchasers are unlimited
in the style and size of the home they can have built. These homes are
totally customizable and no two homes are the same.
Construction & Plan Review
Before a modular manufacturer begins construction, all building plans must
be reviewed and approved in each state where the manufacturer intends to
sell homes. Homes must be designed and built to the code for the state
where the home will be shipped for final location. The manufacturers contract
with state approved third party plan review agencies which conduct plan
review on behalf of the state. The modular manufacturer also contracts
with a third party inspection agency that is licensed by the states to
perform the in-plant inspection while the home is in production. When the
housing sections or modules are complete, the third party places a label
on the home certifying that the home has been manufactured in conformance
with approved plans and complies with all provisions of the building code.
Shipping & Stability
After construction in the factory the separate modules are loaded for transport.
To deal with the rigors of shipping, each modular home has been constructed
with roughly twenty to thirty percent more materials than a traditional
stick-built home. (For example, drywall is typically glued with special
adhesive and then screwed to the framing). These additional materials greatly
increase the structural strength of the home as noted in a recent FEMA
study on 1992’s Hurricane Andrew.
Final Assembly
After the builder orders the home from the manufacturer, in most cases the
manufacturer will give the builder specifications for the foundation. The
builder is then responsible for preparing the foundation for the modular
home. When the home is constructed, it is shipped to the home site. The
following day, a crane is used to place the home modules on the foundation
and set the roof in place. By the end of the day, the home has been completely
installed and is closed up and secured to the foundation. In the subsequent
weeks, the builder will finish the home. The finish work includes securing
any remaining roofing shingles, attaching siding and finishing some interior
drywall work. Generally, the home is ready for occupancy within several
weeks. Prior to moving in, a local building code inspector will make a
final inspection and issue an occupancy permit
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