Why Modular?
Manufactured homebuilding dates back to 1908, when Sears began selling pre-cut home kits and shipping them by rail to customers. Many of these “Craftsman” homes can be found in Saratoga Springs, and they are highly prized for their quality and character. Today, custom modular construction has become the construction method of choice for educated buyers who want a superior quality home at a reasonable price. Here’s why our homes are unquestionably better than site-built homes.
Superior Structural Integrity By nature, modular homes are much stronger than site-built homes. Our manufacturers use the same platform framing process that all custom home builders use, but our homes are over-engineered to withstand the stress of transportation to the job site (forces equivalent to that of a healthy earthquake!) For example, there is typically 20% more lumber used in framing our homes, corners are heavily reinforced and then lag-bolted together, and framing components are glued as well as nailed or screwed together. There have been numerous studies by FEMA and others which show that modular homes withstand hurricanes and earthquakes much better than stick-built homes. Can you imagine what would happen if a site-built home was lifted by a crane, placed on a truck and hauled even one mile down the road at 50 MPH?
Better Building Materials Our modular home manufacturers use only the highest quality kiln-dried lumber and real plywood instead of “wafer board”, protect their building materials from the weather, and build the home in a climate-controlled factory environment; lumber that is green, warped or twisted is rejected because it will not fit into their precise framing jigs. One major problem with site-built homes is that building materials are exposed and vulnerable to the weather; when lumber gets wet it absorbs moisture and the homeowner inherits problems after the building is finished (nail pops, twisting, warping, shrinkage, mold, etc.). Our homes are also built with name-brand components (such as Andersen windows, Certainteed siding, Owens-Corning roofing, Merillat cabinets, Decora light switches, etc.) of exceptional quality.
Process Control Factory-built construction quality is invariably superior to what can be done on a job site. (That’s why you probably won’t have your mechanic build your next car in your driveway.) Roof rafters cut with a circular saw at a job site cannot possibly be as precise as those cut with a $10,000 radial arm saw or $100,000 component cutter in a factory. Modular homes are built in precision jigs to ensure that every module is perfectly square, plumb and level. Factory assembly methods are also vastly superior because the work is done in a climate-controlled environment, using pneumatic tools which drive fasteners to precise depths, and instant-dry adhesives which cannot be used in conventional construction. What’s more, factory inspections cover every construction detail from floor framing to final paint, and independent third party inspectors perform multiple unannounced inspections per house. The best that can be hoped for at a job site is 3-4 announced inspections by an overworked town building inspector.
Energy Efficiency One of the main advantages to factory construction is the ability to build homes that are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Our homes are better insulated, are sealed against air infiltration leaks, are built with dry lumber which eliminates mold and mildew concerns, and offer many energy-saving features. Saratoga Modular Homes specializes in building ENERGY STAR and/or National Green Building Standard homes that typically are 20-50% more energy efficient than site-built homes.
Construction Time Typically, modular homes are built and delivered to the site 60-90 days after being ordered, and are ready for occupancy in another 30-90 days depending on the size and complexity of the home. This means that our customer can move into their new custom home as soon as 90 days after signing the purchase contract! Today, it is common for an anxious buyer to wait 9-18 months from contract to completion for a site-built custom home.