QUESTION: What is Component Construction?
Answer: Component Construction builds homes according to local building codes using traditional framing details. Components are built in a factory as roof trusses, wall panels and floor panels. The components are transported to the job site where they are assembled into place with a crane. Completion of the exterior and interior of the home is done at the job site.
QUESTION: What is Modular Construction?
Answer: Modular Construction starts out the same as Component Construction with roof trusses, wall panels and floor panel components. With Modular Construction, the components are assembled into three dimensional modules in the factory. Most of the exterior and interior of the modules are completed at the factory. The modules are transported to the job site and set in place with a crane. Homes generally consist of two or more modules.
QUESTION: What is the difference between Component Construction and Stick Built Construction?
Answer: Stick Built Construction refers to the building method where the entire home is built at the jobsite stick by stick. Today few homes are built completely as Stick Built Construction because most homes use components that are built in a factory such as roof trusses, windows, pre-hung doors and cabinets. Component Construction just continues the trend by building walls and floors as components.
Both Component and Stick Built Construction follow the same local building code and use the same traditional framing details. Component Construction builds inside in a controlled environment, on specialized equipment with all of the materials within easy reach. Stick Built Construction builds outside on the ground in all types of weather and has to work with material where ever the lumber yard dumps it.
The main advantages of Component Construction are that the builder has much better control of their costs, the homes are framed in much more quickly and there is less weather damage and theft at the jobsite.
QUESTION: What is the difference between Modular and Mobile Home Construction?
Answer: Mobile Home Construction refers to a building method where the home is built according to a national HUD code instead of the local building code. This code allows mobile homes to be built with different and often lesser quality standards than regular houses. The goal is to provide housing that is more affordable than regular housing. The main disadvantages of mobile homes are that they depreciate in value, they do not qualify for conventional mortgages and insurance costs are higher. The characteristic that is most unique to mobile homes is that the floor is a metal chassis with removable wheels that is used to transport the home to the job site. The only similarities between the two methods of construction are that the homes are built as modules and they are both built in factories.
Many mobile home companies also produce modular homes in the same factory. These modular homes built by mobile home companies are built according to local building codes but often contain the same lesser quality materials and are built with the same lesser quality standards as mobile homes. Wausau Homes does not build mobile homes and only uses high quality materials and standards in our modular homes.
QUESTION: What is a manufactured home?