A Brief Comparison between Modular and Mobile Homes
What are the differences between a modular and a mobile home? Although these terms are often interchangeably used, there are many important differences among modular and mobile homes.
The words "mobile home" and "manufactured home" often describe the same type of home by the general public. In 1974, when the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Act was enacted, mobile homes and manufactured homes were finally distinguished from each other. The law was followed by the HUD Manufactured Home Building Standards in 1976, commonly referred to as the "HUD Code," which laid down the following standards:
Design and construction
Requirements for body and framework
Thermal protection
Electric and plumbing system
Fire resistant
Energy efficiency
Mobile Home
A mobile home also known as a manufactured home is a pre-built structure transported to a facility after it has been fully built. In housing for millions of Americans, this type of home is important because it is often cheap to own. The popular options are mobile home parks or communities. Despite their name, mobile homes are rarely mobile after installation.
Such homes have some disadvantages. Many are available as standard rectangle designs and limited on the shape and floor plan adaptability. These structures generally lose value with time, especially in rented properties.
Do You Need a Structural Engineer for Mobile Home?
The requirements of structural engineers for residential houses vary from state to state, but for these structures safety is vital. You will usually require a structural engineer to build the foundation or to inspect the foundation. You will need a structural engineer to consult with you if you plan to make changes to a mobile home or to an addition to a mobile home such as a deck.
Modular Home
A prefabricated or modular home might appear to be similar to a mobile home. Modular homes often look more like a traditional home in terms of design, with several floors, rooms and amenities. The modular home is however designed so that the structure can be prefabricated in a workshop and carried to the final place.
Traditional construction has been upgraded by the modular home, since this is a modern process of green construction. Building the structure in pieces in a contained environment means there will be no rain-soaked wood on the workplace or bugs to burrow into the framing while awaiting completion. Smart, computer-supported design also saves work and costs by reducing waste materials. A modular home may look like a conventional home after it is complete, although it is designed and constructed differently.
The sections of a modular home are built like a manufactured house or mobile house in an air-conditioning building facility. The modular homes, like the site-built homes, are constructed to conform to all the national, local and/or regional codes that apply according to the final location. Modular houses are usually built in two parts, but they can be built in several more parts depending on the size and design of the house.
Contact us at Ramjack for a structural engineer in OKC. Get in touch with us for problems with your pier and beam, mobile home, or slab foundation.