The fantastic shapes and spires of modern skyscrapers augment urban skylines around the world. These towers appear to have little in common with lowly single-family dwellings, but in fact share some of the same principles of construction. Urban designers and architects are increasingly reliant on pre-finished modular sections, a practice also used on a smaller scale to create manufactured homes.
Any mention of factory-based housing construction usually comes with a standard disclaimer. Because criticism of the often-mocked and maligned double-wide trailer home has often been based on valid complaints, sales personnel are quick to differentiate between newer products and their less-respected precursors. The relatively thin skin and metal skeleton of a movable unit creates only the illusion of solid walls.
Although they are almost always unlovely, these boxy, rolling bedrooms still admirably serve many owners, and deserve the honor being recognized as a direct relative of the prefabricated houses now available. While exact distinctions may be a little fuzzy, a truly mobile home is finished at the factory, whereas individually designed and fitted walls or frames are trucked to and assembled at the final site.
Traditionally, these mobile rectangles could be joined together on one level, but were not rigid enough to be stacked without collapsing. Some still display the vehicular version of vestigial organs in the form of wheels and axles that may be reactivated when a road trip is necessary. These units often depreciate faster than brick-and-mortar dwellings, and the type of materials used during manufacture are difficult to customize once they are in place.
Compared to its stodgier relatives, truly modular construction is the hipster of the family. This construction method takes completed but separate components and puts them together on location. There is no extra-wide tow truck necessary to bring the unit home, and parts can be aesthetically arranged to create a multiple-story home that can be as visually interesting as any suburban house.
A modular home is also considerably more stable structurally than its more mobile relatives. Foundations must conform to the same local regulations as other newly-built residences. Completed sections are shipped on flat-bed trucks, with final assembly on site. The finished product is often structurally stronger than a comparable home built conventionally, and can be easily customized according to the taste and budget of the buyer.
Even though they will never be able to compete with the suburban palaces often favored by the newly wealthy, they have distinct advantages all their own. Modular design makes it simple to follow new regulations involving energy distribution and usage, and the latest designs offer more efficient insulation. Rather than being tenuously tied down, a solid foundation provides equal or superior protection during hurricanes and even tornadoes.
As housing costs skyrocket, these types of structures are a less-expensive option. While a modular home cannot be moved in the same fashion as a factory-made mobile home, they are now considered to be as safe and sturdy as most comparable buildings. In areas where land is still available and relatively inexpensive, they are an increasingly sensible choice for many people.
Any mention of factory-based housing construction usually comes with a standard disclaimer. Because criticism of the often-mocked and maligned double-wide trailer home has often been based on valid complaints, sales personnel are quick to differentiate between newer products and their less-respected precursors. The relatively thin skin and metal skeleton of a movable unit creates only the illusion of solid walls.
Although they are almost always unlovely, these boxy, rolling bedrooms still admirably serve many owners, and deserve the honor being recognized as a direct relative of the prefabricated houses now available. While exact distinctions may be a little fuzzy, a truly mobile home is finished at the factory, whereas individually designed and fitted walls or frames are trucked to and assembled at the final site.
Traditionally, these mobile rectangles could be joined together on one level, but were not rigid enough to be stacked without collapsing. Some still display the vehicular version of vestigial organs in the form of wheels and axles that may be reactivated when a road trip is necessary. These units often depreciate faster than brick-and-mortar dwellings, and the type of materials used during manufacture are difficult to customize once they are in place.
Compared to its stodgier relatives, truly modular construction is the hipster of the family. This construction method takes completed but separate components and puts them together on location. There is no extra-wide tow truck necessary to bring the unit home, and parts can be aesthetically arranged to create a multiple-story home that can be as visually interesting as any suburban house.
A modular home is also considerably more stable structurally than its more mobile relatives. Foundations must conform to the same local regulations as other newly-built residences. Completed sections are shipped on flat-bed trucks, with final assembly on site. The finished product is often structurally stronger than a comparable home built conventionally, and can be easily customized according to the taste and budget of the buyer.
Even though they will never be able to compete with the suburban palaces often favored by the newly wealthy, they have distinct advantages all their own. Modular design makes it simple to follow new regulations involving energy distribution and usage, and the latest designs offer more efficient insulation. Rather than being tenuously tied down, a solid foundation provides equal or superior protection during hurricanes and even tornadoes.
As housing costs skyrocket, these types of structures are a less-expensive option. While a modular home cannot be moved in the same fashion as a factory-made mobile home, they are now considered to be as safe and sturdy as most comparable buildings. In areas where land is still available and relatively inexpensive, they are an increasingly sensible choice for many people.