Maine Modular & Custom Home News

Or are they?  Why can one modular builder offer you a ranch for $70,000 while another offers the same floor plan for $77,000?  A modular is a modular, right?  They’re all built to the BOCA code, so what’s the difference?  Like you’ve heard before, don’t try to compare apples to oranges, it just doesn’t work.

Even though homes are built using the same building code there can be huge differences in their construction.  A building code is only a minimum standard that has to be met.  There are many items that a quality built house may have that are above the minimum standard.  A good modular builder should set their standards as to offer a great product to the consumer.

Some areas that you should compare that might not be obvious are:

• Framing Specifications (i.e. 2″x6″ construction 16″ on center)
• Energy Values (insulation specs)
• Thermal Performance of the Windows
• Ceiling Height (can be a s low as 7′6″, or as high as 9′)
• Under Layment Beneath Cushion Floors
• Outside Measurement (sometimes measured from over hang to over hang instead of true floor measurement)
• Inclusion of a Heat Recovery Ventilation Systems
• Plywood Sheathing and Decking
• Carpet Density
• Inclusion of Basement Stairs or Second Floor Close Off
• Inclusion of Insulating the Box Sills

These are just some of the ways a modular that looks the same from the outside can differ on the inside.  It is important to investigate the construction standards a modular builder is committed to.  The only way you will be able to discern the value of a modular home is to look beyond the floor plan.  The least expensive home is not always the best value.

One of the drawbacks for modular home builders is a residual from the early mobile home days when mobile homes were sold like cars.  For every little noise and squeak in their new home, the customer called the dealer and expected a service crew to come and fix it.  This would last sometimes for months, until the dealer refused and the customer got angry.  So from the beginning the mobile home industry has had a bad service reputation, and the customer has had a hard time separating the modular industry away from this misnomer.  In some cases, a modular home builder has not lived up to their contract, and this has perpetuated a perceived service issue with all modular homes.  The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has an excellent publication to help set expectations for construction.  The “Residential Construction Performance Guidelines”; a consumer reference, is a forty page guide to set an expectation for the performance of goods and services provided by the residential construction industry.  Zoning laws and building codes are concerned with health, safety and welfare issues, but there is no guarantee of performance within the industry.  While this guide is not legally binding, it has been used in some states as a basis for evaluating performance when dispute has lead to litigation or arbitration.  The publication is divided into sections that cover:

• Site Work and Foundation
• Floors, Walls, and Roofs
• Plumbing and Electrical, Including Interior Climate Control
• Interior and Floor Finishes
• Fireplace and Wood Stove
• Concrete Stoops and Steps
• Garage, Driveways and Sidewalks
• Wood Decks
• Landscaping

The guide helps separate if the responsibilty lies with the contractor, the consumer or the manufacturer.  The consumer, once they move into a home, is responsible for routine maintenance and upkeep.  These items are not the obligation of the contractor or the manufacturer.  This comes as a surprise to many modular and manufactured home owners, because they are under the assumtpion that their home warranty is a blanket coverage.  The home warranty is not a 10,000 mile or ten year warranty that you get with your car.  The home warranty covers structural issues. 

If you would like a copy of the “Residential Construction Performance Guidelines”, visit www.BuilderBooks.com.  They are available for a reasonable charge.