If you have ever done a home improvement project you know how stressful, time consuming and costly it can be. Often times you are running from store to store to pick out tiles, bringing home and agonizing over countless cabinet and countertop samples, and usually wind up over budget and behind schedule. Fortunately, there is another option: modular construction.
Here are the 4 major advantages of modular home construction:
Faster
One of the major benefits that usually attract people to modular home construction is how much faster the home can be built. Once you decide on a floor plan, you choose your finishes (flooring, doors, siding, etc.) all in one day. After this is complete, the home is ready to be constructed. Because modular homes are built in a factory, there are no weather-related delays. Additionally, no time is wasted waiting for materials to be delivered, as they are all located on site. Down time is further minimized because any site work necessary such as demolition of an existing home, tree removal, and foundation construction can take place simultaneously with the home being built in the factory. Most modular homes are ready to be delivered within 6-8 weeks of ordering them. Allow another few weeks for utility hookups and then the home is move in ready.
Cost-effective
Another major advantage of modular home construction is the savings. As a rule of thumb, most modular homes are generally 15-20% cheaper than stick-built homes. Materials are purchased wholesale saving you money and labor is done in an assembly line fashion saving down time and money.
Sturdier
Because modular homes have to withstand transportation to the building site, they are built extremely durable. They can withstand very strong winds and are often built with stronger 2×6 walls. In fact, modular homes have been those that have held up best in many natural disasters. You may have heard of the classic story of a how after Hurricane Hugo, a modular motel was the only building that was left standing in a North Carolina town. Even FEMA stated in a 1993 report after Hurricane Andrew that “relatively minimal structural damage was noted in modular housing developments.” They further stated that the modular construction system is an “inherently rigid system.”
Energy Efficient
Modular homes are considered eco-friendly and energy efficient. Built in a factory, with materials purchased in bulk, less material is wasted due to common stick built issues such as improper measurements. The homes are built, sealed and insulated as to prevent drafts, heat loss and air leaks. This saves money on utilities for years to come. Modular homes can also be built HERS ready or Energy Star certified.
