Structual Benefits of Modular Homes

Structual Benefits of Modular Homes

Structual Benefits of Modular Homes

Most of us have seen the familiar site of a new house being constructed. Stacks of materials sitting in the front yard and a small crew of workers cutting and nailing lumber in place to create the framing. What most of us have never seen is the amazing modern high-tech approach to a system built house. The modular industry has perfected methods to create a strong, high quality house at substantial savings.

Through the use of technology and computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing, almost any floor plan that can be site built can now be built in a factory for 15% to 20% less cost, and in far less time. The normal time frame to build a conventional house can be reduced from six-to-twelve months to three-to-four months on most projects.

In a typical construction time line, the framing cannot begin until the foundation is completed and cured. In a modular system format, several work packages can be performed simultaneously to reduce the overall completion time. For instance, while the foundation is being poured, the house is also being built in the factory. Then when the foundation is ready, the house is put together and shipped to the building site where it is then lifted in place on the foundation. This process greatly reduces the time it takes to move into your new house, and as a result reduces the monthly costs associated with a construction loan.

The biggest differences in construction are seen in the factory itself. Walls and floor are built with high accuracy because it is performed in a controlled environment. Specialized machines and tools install the nails and fasteners that bind the structures together. All the material is staged and ready for use in a temperature controlled building, avoiding the damage and warping that often occurs when materials are exposed to the weather at a job site. All the workers are highly trained in the area of their specialty in the assembly and building process.

Because the house will be shipped hundreds of miles and lifted into place with a crane, the house contains 15 to 20% more material. The extra material is needed to maintain structural integrity during the house moving and setting process. Doors and window headers are triple planked instead of double planked. The walls are steel strapped to both the floor and roof trusses. Floors and walls are glued, as well as fastened in place. A double-rim joist instead of a single-rim joist surrounds the perimeter of the house where the sill plate will mount, and the exterior walls are constructed out of 2x6 wall studs instead of the commonly used 2x4 wall studs. All this additional material and attention to detail creates a structure that is much stronger then the conventional residential house.

A testament to modular house structural strength are found in excerpts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) report after the 1992 Hurricane Andrew in Florida. The Building Performance: Hurricane Andrew in Florida report found "Overall, relatively minimal structural damage was noted in modular housing developments. The module-to-module combination of the units appears to have provided an inherently rigid system that performed much better than conventional residential framing." The report also noted that modular homes withstood the ravages of that storm's Category 4 winds of 131-155 mph far better than site-built housing.

The differences between a modular and conventional home from an energy efficient standpoint are distinct. A modular home wall construction is foam sealed to prevent air leaks. Depending on the geographic location and the local building code requirements, walls can be insulated with an R-21 value and the roof can be insulated with an R-60 value. The R-value measures the insulation's ability to resist heat traveling through it. The higher the R-Value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. It is common to have a 30% reduction in heating cost in a modern modular home.

It is little wonder that so many purchasers are looking closer at the cost savings option of having their next house be system built. All of these differences equal a house built to the highest standards, delivered in less time, saving the homeowners time and money. Modular Homes have become the leading edge choice in high-tech, energy efficient construction.

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