Many people confuse modular homes with mobile homes. While the construction process is similar, a modular home is placed on a permanent foundation.

In the factory

The primary benefit to a factory-constructed house is the controlled environment. No matter what the weather outside, the skilled crafters in the factory work year-round with no delays or unforeseen situations.

Another considerable advantage is time. Once an order is received, it takes only a few weeks for a home to be built and delivered to the final site.

On-site construction

Modular homes are shipped in sections on flatbed trucks. When the trucks arrive at the home site, a special crane lifts the sections and places them precisely on the foundation.

When the sections are set, workers secure it together using the same techniques as stick-built construction.

Windows, cabinets and even appliances are installed in the factory, so the home is 90 percent complete when it's transported. All that's left to be done are a few pieces of siding and some minor interior trim.

A finished home

Once a modular home is completed, you can't tell the difference in how it's made. Modular homes are available in a huge array of architectural styles, including ranch, split-foyer, colonial and even Cape Cod.

The floor plans and interior finishes can be customized in dozens of ways to make every house suit the individual homeowner's tastes.

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