Maine Modular & Custom Home News

The consumer is demanding it, and the manufacturers are producing it. New ways of preserving wood that are chemical free have arrived. The products will begin hitting the market this month. The wood is ideal for building outdoor decks and furniture that is environmentally friendly. Get more information on the Building Green website.

Contrary to popular belief, building a manufactured home is not the equivalent of “just add water and it makes its own sauce.” There are a series of construction site considerations that demand informed decision making. To begin with, an inspection of your property must be made prior to ordering your home. Items such as driveway width and angle must be planned according to the size of your modular units to ensure they can be delivered without complications. Location of power lines may become an issue if they are in the pathway of the trucks or the crane. Speaking of the crane, do you have a level spot near the foundation where the crane can park while lifting your home? These are just a few considerations to get the project initially rolling.

The general contractor needs to be an expert in the entire process so they can schedule each of the sub contractors in the proper order, i.e. the electrician needs to complete work before the heating contractor shows up, etc. Do the sub contractors have the necessary insurance and licenses required to be working on your home? Ask the general contractor – that would be their responsibility. Heating, plumbing, masonry, electricity….what is each sub contractor getting paid to do? Do you have an estimate from them or a quote from them? Each sub can offer a variety of services at a variety of costs. A good general contractor will make sure you know what services are required, what you want in addition to the requirements, and how to get the best price. Getting the job done accurately and timely while you sit back worry free is what a general contractor should be able to do for you

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.