What, Exactly, is a Modular Home?

A modular home is one that is built indoors in a factory-like setting. The finished products are packed up and transported to the home site, where they are assembled by builders! These homes are also known as factory-built, system-built or prefab homes. Modular homes are never subjected to adverse weather conditions because of this, and finished modules are covered for protection before making its way to your home site.

Most modular homes have a very modern, rectangular look because the modules are built in squares or rectangles within factories. However, some modular homes are manipulated and combined with panelized walls or roofing that can change the appearance into almost any style.

How Long Does it Take to Build a Modular Home?

Some modular houses can be built in the factory in as little as one to two weeks, but it can depend on your design and the manufacturer. Although, if you want your home more customized it will most likely take a few weeks longer. It usually takes another two to four weeks for your local builder to put the pieces together after the materials are delivered to the building site.

How Long Do Modular Homes Last?

There are many variables that determine how long any home will last including maintenance and the quality of the materials used, so it’s hard to put a fixed lifespan on a modular home. Although, there is nothing that makes it more or less likely for modular homes to thrive over traditional houses.

PROS OF GETTING A MODULAR HOME

Save Your Coins

On top of the biggest pro modular homes offer, which is time efficiency, modular home manufacturers also often offer relatively affordable financing options.

Save Energy, and the Environment

Modular home builders have been looking to maximize energy efficiency through methods such as recycling materials, using LED lighting and installing solar panels. This ensures that you save money on your energy bills while producing clean energy.

No Waste

As you know, these modular homes are created within factories, and all the parts are transported to the home site, ready to be assembled. Think of it as a lego house that comes with all the pieces. This reduces potential waste greatly, and ensures the project is a tidy one.

CONS OF GETTING A MODULAR HOME

Design Limitations

Depending on the company you choose, there may be a limit set on how flexible the design of the module is, based on the materials the company has available.

Reduced Resale Value

The general assumption about modular homes is that they are lower quality. Today, many modular home companies are putting in effort to try to change how the market perceives these homes, however, it is important to know that it may be a few years before modular homes are viewed as equals, if not superior, to traditional homes in North America!

Check out this time-lapsed video of a modular home being built in Toronto: