Is modular home building a good option?

Advantages and disadvantages of modular home building

Modular buildings are buildings that are constructed in a factory. Those pieces are then transported to the construction site where the building will be set up. Modular homes are becoming more and more popular today for several reasons but companies are also using them for things like stores, office buildings and other structures. Modular homes are an option for a person who wants a new home. But that use doesn't offer quite the same benefits as modular office buildings or other modular structures. However, there are several advantages to a residential application over having a traditional home built.

Reasons modular home building is a good option

Modular homes cost less than their traditionally constructed counterparts. Two homes of the same size can have a huge price difference if one is a modular home. There are many reasons for the price difference. A modular building, created in a factory under controlled conditions, simply costs less in materials and construction than a building created by traditional means.

A modular home will usually cost up to $100 per square foot, though some models can cost more. A traditional home constructed from the ground up on the building site will cost up to three times that or more.

Because the home is mainly constructed in a factory, up to 90% complete, labor costs at the building site are greatly reduced. It can take three times as long to build a traditionally constructed home, or even longer depending on weather delays and other issues. That means three times the labor costs and contractor costs. But with a modular building, the parts arrive constructed and only need to be assembled and seated on the foundation.

Sturdy construction

A modular home is built with screws and glue where a traditional home may only be built with screws and nails. The sturdiness comes from the need to transport the constructed pieces. Because they're going to be transported, the factory ensures that they are secure. Many believe this means that a modular home is going to be stronger and sturdier than a traditionally built home.

Less mess

A modular building system is done in a factory which means that the building site for a home or office building is kept much cleaner. There's far less mess involved in simply assembling the pre--constructed pieces than there is with doing all of the construction at the building site.

Fast assembly

Since most of the construction is pre-done before the home or building pieces get to the job site, it will go up more quickly and be less likely to be exposed to things like rain, snow, wind, dirt, animals and pests. These are things that can weaken construction before it's complete. A traditionally built home that's only half completed before a week of rain begins is at considerable risk for things like mold, mildew, rotting wood and other issues. Because modular homes to go up in as little as a third of the time required for traditional construction, there is much less exposure to the elements during the construction process.