Factory built houses

[Kristi2k]

Are they more or less sturdy then a stick built house? What are the advantages? Can you customize how you want them built?

 

[T2T III]

Are they more or less sturdy then a stick built house?

Generally, more sturdy. The walls are built in a "controlled" environment - free from the elements of outside (rain, snow, etc.)

What are the advantages?

See response above. Plus, since the elements are not a factor, the house can probably be delivered on time since the rain, snow, etc. would have a minimal impact on the construction process resulting in very few delays.

Can you customize how you want them built?

Yes, any such builder should offer you the chance to make changes - provided the structure of the home is not radically changed.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Kristi2k
Are they more or less sturdy then a stick built house? What are the advantages? Can you customize how you want them built?

Quality control should be better via the manufacturing process.
Quality of components would depend on the manufacturer.

Pros:
Usually available faster.
Everything is ready to go within a couple of days after arriving on site.
Cheaper than stick built.

Cons:
Options are less; customization costs high.
Limitiations of what you can remove/add.
No hands-on interaction.
Manipulation of site layout is restricted.
Sometimes from inside it is obvious that it is not stick built.

 

[Kristi2k]

How would it be obious that it's not stick built? All I really want customized is a big cellar. and to have good cable / wire management (crawl spaces). I'm very new to new homes, thank you for the info.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Big fat beam down the center where the two halves would be bolted together.

Putting on on a cellar, will require careful positioning. Cellar probably should be smaller than the foundation. You will have to add the stairs to the cellar yourself afterward. support beams will have to exist in the cellar and align up with stress points for the house. Talk to the manufact about your wishes. It will not cost anything to talk. Just avoid a generic saleperson and get everything in writing.

Do you already own the lot?

 

[DrPizza]

In my limited experience, it appears that factory built houses are built with as much cost control as possible. Thus, instead of 16D nails, staples may be used (long staples).

My inlaws recently added a deck to the side of their house and put in sliding glass doors. When framing in for the door (I was there helping), I couldn't help but notice how cheaply made the frame of their house was. While constructed out of decent quality 2x6's, the whole thing was stapled together with 2 inch staples. Once the drywall (actually, it wasn't even drywall on the inside, just a thinner wall covering, thicker than paneling though) was off, and the outside sheathing was off (OSB, not plywood), I was literally able to rip the frame apart without a hammer. It seems that they relied on the oriented strand board and the interior covering to help hold the wall in a static position.

In my opinion, the "controlled environment" means next to nothing. The quality of the construction depends on the materials and skills of the people constructing the house (moreso on the materials and methods).

2 examples to make this point: ever see how much damage is done to a trailer park during even a small tornado? They're literally ripped to shreds... traditional homes tend to survive a little better (given equal strength tornados)

Assemble it yourself furniture (Bush, Sauder, et al) If you've ever assembled that stuff, it's incredible how accurately everything is made.. everything fits together perfectly, and looks fairly good when it's finished... almost comparable to traditionally made furniture. That's the controlled environment. Yet, the stuff is damaged much more easily and doesn't last. That's the quality of materials and method of putting it together. I sincerely doubt anyone would ever pass on that type of furniture from generation to generation. Yet furniture built by true craftsmen often lasts for centuries, is constructed with an overall quality in mind, and is made from better materials.

The biggest issue is the difference in cost.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Big fat beam down the center where the two halves would be bolted together.

Putting on on a cellar, will require careful positioning. Cellar probably should be smaller than the foundation. You will have to add the stairs to the cellar yourself afterward. support beams will have to exist in the cellar and align up with stress points for the house. Talk to the manufact about your wishes. It will not cost anything to talk. Just avoid a generic saleperson and get everything in writing.

Do you already own the lot?

In my area of the country, except for regular trailers, I don't think I know anyone who doesn't have a basement. Even with a lot of preconstructed housing. It's not that big a deal to them to put it on a block foundation (basement)... and the basement is the same size as the house - the (edit: ) exterior walls set on the block. I haven't been on a site when they actually placed one, I could ask my brother in law tomorrow (xmas) if you really want more info - this was his job for a few years. For a basement, generally, the deeper, the more expensive. If you can't stand up in the basement, it's pretty useless. Type of soil, as well as water table could be big factors for a basement. (10 foot deep basements in an area with springs can be a problem as far as water goes)

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Assemble it yourself furniture (Bush, Sauder, et al) If you've ever assembled that stuff, it's incredible how accurately everything is made.. everything fits together perfectly, and looks fairly good when it's finished... almost comparable to traditionally made furniture. That's the controlled environment. Yet, the stuff is damaged much more easily and doesn't last. That's the quality of materials and method of putting it together. I sincerely doubt anyone would ever pass on that type of furniture from generation to generation. Yet furniture built by true craftsmen often lasts for centuries, is constructed with an overall quality in mind, and is made from better materials.

The biggest issue is the difference in cost.

Good post

 

[OutHouse]

I live in a Modular, DrPizza is right. I have owned it for 8 years now and over time i have noticed things that they manufacuter cut cost on. Everything is within code but done at a bare min. I have done much upgrading to make things the way i like it. Other than that I really dont have any complaints about mine. its on a concrete foundation with a crawl space.

 

[Ornery]

"It seems that they relied on the oriented strand board and the interior covering to help hold the wall in a static position."

That's always the case, even when nailed together. The strength and squareness of the wall depends on that skin.

I'd probably worry more about the quality of windows, plumbing and lighting fixtures than the framing. If they glue it, as well as stapling, it should be pretty damn strong in the end. Look at it this way. You'll probably only live there a few years. The next buyers aren't even going to ask if it was prefab. Doesn't matter if they do, because it will sell for about the same price as any other house.