Prestige Home Center Of Tampa
Factory Construction 101 -
Factory Built Housing (FBH) dates as far back as the early 1900's with the advent of the Sears & Roebuck homes that were purchased out of a catalog and shipped to the customer. Customers would choose their design and several weeks later their new home (in 30,000 pieces) arrived via railcar! This was the beginning of the factory built concept where components of a home would be constructed off site and shipped to a building location.
After World War II wartime factory production quickly changed over to providing consumer products for a growing post war economy. This included providing housing. The manufactured housing industry saw a dramatic increase in popularity as the nation’s citizens became more affluent.
The 1960’s and early 1970’s saw manufacturers start to create a “modular” home product. This was basically a site built or “stick built” home completed in two units, transported to the building site on flat bed frames and then erected onto a permanent foundation. During this period the style of home was typically limited to a ranch home and normally consisted of a single floor and two major components or modules. 
Factory constructed homes grew substantially during the late 1970's and into the early 1980's. During this time, traditional builders (stick builders) struggled to keep up with demand. As a result, factory built homes began to emerge in the marketplace. Designs of factory homes moved from the typical ranch style to more complex split level, Cape Cod (1 ½ story) and two-story homes. Commercial applications of factory construction including motels, offices and school classrooms also began to emerge. Multiple rooflines, customized exteriors and more contemporary designs also began to develop. Design Flexibility. Stringent Building Codes. The Factory/Manufacturer. Shipping, Stability & Superior Strength.
During the mid-to-late 1990’s growth continued as home manufacturers began to build larger and more complex homes. Modular manufacturers ventured into sophisticated two-story, multi-family dwellings and customized luxury homes.
By this time many high-end factory built homes cost more than $500,000, and that only included the unfinished units from the factory. This was in sharp contrast to consumers’ traditional mindset regarding modular homes. The industry had begun to mature and be recognized as a viable option that was in many cases preferable to traditional (stick built) homes.
Since 2000, modular building systems have seen an increase in production due to the favorable building conditions throughout the United States. As the demand for skilled labor and quality materials increases, modular construction will continue to be an attractive option for those seeking top quality construction at competitive prices.
Benefits of Factory Construction -
Quality.
A factory home is unique because it is built in a climate-controlled factory. Building in this way reduces the chances of weather related delays or problems. This building method also ensures the highest level of craftsmanship as workers are generally not exposed to the elements or made to work in hazardous conditions. And because factory homes are constructed with shipping in mind, they are usually built with 20% more material than a traditional site built home, which increases the strength of the home.
Prestige Homes will work with you to determine the type and design of factory built home that best suits your needs. We have over 100 plans to choose from in a variety of styles. We also offer a range of options to customize the home you select.
Speed of Construction.
Because factory homes are typically built in about 1/3 the time needed to construct a site built home, with careful planning you can often be in your new home within a few weeks of selecting it.
Modular homes are built to the same building codes used by conventional site-builders. An independent inspector will certify that the home has been manufactured in conformance with the approved plans and complies with all building code provisions for the location where the home will be erected.
Energy Efficiency.
Quality engineering and the latest construction techniques significantly increase the energy-efficiency of your new modular home. This ensures it will be economical to own and comfortable to live in regardless of the weather.
Modular/Manufactured homes are built in a factory setting where raw materials, design and assembly personnel come together to create a finished product. Construction in a factory reduces the possibility of damage from weather and allows the materials to be assembled in a protected, climate-controlled environment. This is important given the recent problems with mold as it reduces the possibility of water infiltrating the house during construction.
After construction in the factory the modules are loaded for transport. To deal with the rigors of shipping, each modular home is constructed with roughly twenty percent more material than a traditional stick-built home. (For example, drywall is typically glued with a special adhesive and then screwed to the framing). This may increase the structural strength of the home as noted in a recent FEMA study on 1992’s Hurricane Andrew. The study concluded, “the module-to-module combination of units appears to have provided an inherently more rigid system that performed much better than conventional residential framing.” Building Performance: Hurricane Andrew in Florida, FIA-22, Item 3-0180
Or
for more information!
