What is a Modular
Home?
A Modular Home is designed, engineered and built in the controlled
environment of a modern factory to meet or exceed the IRC; and is put together by Midway Homes on your
building site.
How is a Modular Home
built?
Most modular producers use
state-of-the-art computer assisted design stations which aid them in
customizing floor plans and producing drawings and material requirement lists.
Quality materials and care for detail go into each home. Minnesota building
codes and standards apply.
How fast can a house be
built?
Once the house starts factory production, it is usually completed within
the week. Next, the sections are delivered to your site and set. After
being set, the home is generally finished within another week.
What's the difference
between a Modular Home and a Manufactured Home?
Manufactured homes, sometimes referred to as mobile homes, are constructed
to a different building code. The Federal Construction Safety Standards Act
(HUD/CODE) requires manufactured homes to be constructed on a non-removable
chassis. Modular and site-built homes on the other hand, are constructed to the
same building code required by your state, county, and specific locality and
therefore are not restricted by building or zoning regulations. Click
here for more information.
Are Modular Homes
difficult to finance or insure?
There is no distinction between modular and site built homes as far as
appraisal or financing. Likewise, there is no difference in insuring the modular
property.
How much do Modular Homes
cost?
When you add up all the labor, material and time savings inherent in the
modular building process, you will find that the price of a modular home is
generally quite low. Plus, you will keep saving money year after year, as your
energy efficient home keeps your heating and cooling bills low.
Are these homes considered
"Green"?
Factory built homes
have always created less waste when it comes to building. Detailed prints are
created of your home and exact materials are ordered. You don’t have all the
extra pieces of sheathing, 2x4’s, and carpet that has to be sent to the
landfill. The factories work closely with their suppliers to tailor the size of
the materials to the proper specs.
Can Modular Homes be
placed on a "heated slab"?
Because of the need for factory built homes to possess a floor during
shipping, they cannot be simply placed on a slab like a "slab on-grade home".
Also, all of the plumbing connections for a Modular home have to be connected
underneath the home. There is simply no way to place this home directly on a slab. You
need at least a crawl space in order to establish these connections and that
negates heating your home with only a heated slab. Heated slabs are used very
often in the basement area of Modular homes, though. Also, people generally want and need some sort of forced air system in their home to help clean the air and for cooling (air conditioning).
What if none of the floor plans match what I am envisioning?
The factories can do custom homes. In fact, the vast majority of homes we sell are custom. Customers come in and either find a plan that is close to what they are looking for and adapt it, or they bring in their own drawings. As long as the plan can be engineered properly to travel down the road, it usually can be built.