11 Dec Modular Home Building Process
The Modular Home Construction Process
Building a new modular home is a simpler process than constructing “on-site” from scratch. The house is built in sections in a climate controlled factory setting. The materials as well as workers are sheltered from harsh weather conditions. There is little need of ladders and scaffolding, even on a two-story home!
This is what makes modular construction practical and more affordable.
The sections, or “modules” are then transported to the building site and lifted by crane to set onto the foundation, which has already been constructed all while the house was being built in the factory.
There are several main steps required to progress from raw land to a livable home. I have outlined these steps in the drop-down list below.
I. Site Work
Your property (land) needs to have improvements in order to have a habitable house to live in. In addition to the house, you will need:
II. Foundation
A house needs to have a foundation, which also forms your basement.
With modular construction, the foundation is constructed while the house is being built in the factory, saving time in the process.
Modular houses can NOT be placed on a slab. It already has a floor system consisting of floor joists. With slab construction, the slab IS the floor, and the house is framed on top of that.
Side note: Slab construction is more popular in the south where there is less risk of heaving from frost. Although it is sometimes done here in the northeast (for site-built construction), I don’t recommend it. Some engineers don’t either.
The foundation is constructed by a foundation contractor such as:
III. Modular House
The modular house is built off-site in a factory setting and delivered to your home site in sections. It is then lifted by crane and placed onto your foundation.
The set crew will place the house sections onto the foundation and close in the roof peak to make the house fairly protected from the weather. After the set crew leaves, there will be more work to be done as listed in the “On-Site Completion” section below.
There will be various ship-loose items that come with the house that need to be installed as part of the “on-site completion”
IV. On-Site Completion
After the house is set on the foundation, the set crew leaves and there is more “on-site” work that needs to be done. This includes:
⦁ Completing the siding. Usually just the gable or end walls of the house.
⦁ Completing the drywall that couldn’t be done at the factory; for example, openings between the house sections. There will also be some minor cracking from movement between the factory and final set that need to be repaired.
⦁ Basement stairs & exterior steps need to be built.
⦁ Sub-floor sheathing needs to be completed between house sections. This mainly is in the doorways and openings.
⦁ Floor coverings need to be installed or completed. Sometimes it can be partially installed at the factory, depending on your flooring choice and the house design.
⦁ There will be various ship-loose items that come with the house that need to be installed
⦁ Porches and decks are NOT included with a modular home and need to be built on site.
General Contractor: Paul R. Szafran Carpentry, Inc.
V. Mechanicals
To sum it up, in addition to the modular house purchase, you will need:
- Excavation Contractor
- Well Driller
- Foundation Contractor
- Local Contractor or Carpenter for the On-Site Completion
- Mechanical Contractor(s) Plumber, Heat & AC and Electrician
I can help organize all of this to get your home completed. Contact me for more info: