What are Modular Homes?

Modular components are typically constructed within a large indoor facility on assembly lines much like Henry Ford originally instituted with his automobile company. Such facilities use an assembly line track to move the modules from one workstation to the next. Independent building inspectors are on site to supervise the construction and ensure that all building codes are adhered to during assembly.

Such dwellings are often priced substantially lower than their site-built counterparts and are typically more cost-effective to builders and consumers. Manufacturers cite the following reasons for the typically lower cost/price of these dwellings:

• Indoor construction. Assembly is independent of weather which often leads to cost overruns on site-built dwellings.
• Favorable pricing from suppliers. Large-scale manufacturers can effectively bargain with suppliers for discounts on materials.
• Low waste. With the same plans being constantly built, the manufacturer has records of exactly what quantity of materials are needed for a given job. While waste from a site-built dwelling may typically fill several large dumpsters, waste from a modular dwelling may only take several 55 gallon drums.
• Construction workers. Factory workers are highly trained for specific construction processes, and work directly for the manufacturer. Site-built homes are constructed using many different sub-contractors which often employ unskilled labor from a transient work-force.