One of the hottest emerging trends today is the growth of factory-built housing, including new upscale options which have substantially improved the reputation and quality of these homes.  Manufactured housing has literally “grown-up” and moved on pass the days of single and double-wides typically placed in mobile home parks.  While still a small segment of the market, factory built homes have enjoyed a revival in the second and vacation home sector of the market.

 

There are two broad categories or factory built housing, each under distinctively different building codes and zoning ordnances.  What consumers refer to as mobile homes the industry refers to as manufactured homes and these fall under national HUD building codes established in 1974 and updated regularly. 

 

The other major category of factory-built housing that is all the buzz today is referred as prefabricated or simply “prefab”.  Prefab construction encompasses a broad range of home types both in terms of appearance and in how they are built.  What all prefabs have in common, however, is that they are treated like conventional site-built homes.  When in place prefab homes are often indistinguishable from site-built homes.

 

There are basically two types of prefab homes.  Modular – where a complete home is comprised of a handful of modular components.  Modular is becoming more popular, but currently the most widely used type is Panelized.  Panelized consists of structural insulated panels which consist of foam sandwiched between layers of plywood or sheetrock.  They are shipped in panels and assembled at the home site.

 

Prefab housing advantages are quality, strength, energy efficiency, speed of build and labor savings.

 

Our favorite prefab home builder is currently Tumbleweed Tiny House Company.  Check it out.  Too fun!

 

Other prefab builders to consider – Alchemy Architects / Clever Homes / Michelle Kaufmann Designs / Rocio Romero Homes

 

For more information visit the National Modular Housing Council.