Mobile, manufactured, stick built

from: http://www.aberdeen-nhs.com/col38.htm 

Mobile, manufactured, 'stick built' – what's the home for you

By Dave Murnen
and Pat Beaty

Last week we talked about house values and when it is time to consider demolition as opposed to rehabilitation.

If you have reached the decision that it is more economically feasible to demolish your existing structure and start fresh, you will want to consider the many options.

Depending on your location and the size of your property, you may have the ability to build whatever and however you wish. Or, you may be locked into specific land uses, defined by zoning regulations.

This week we would like to try to help you make an informed decision by giving some of the pros and cons of the different types of housing readily available in our area -- mobile homes, manufactured housing, modular homes, component built homes, and typical built-in-place, or "stick-built construction."

Let’s start with mobile homes

We define mobile homes as a one-piece residential unit built on a steel support beam.

Pros

Cons

Manufactured homes

Defined as: Built on steel support beams, two or more components connected at site.

Pros

Cons

Modular homes

Defined as: Built with wood supports, must be set on permanent foundation, two or more components assembled on site.

Pros

Cons

Pre-manufactured panel homes

Defined as: Built on permanent foundation, many different components assembled on site.

Pros

Cons

Stick built

Defined as a typical permanent structure built with wood and nails.

Pros

Cons

The above pros and cons of the various housing types are just some of the issues as we see them.

Anyone considering such a major purchase should fully research all the options before making any final decision. There are definitely different qualities of manufacturers, contractors, and dealers and therefore a very wide range of finished product quality.

• Generally more expensive than all other options
• From concept to finish can be a lengthy process
• Normally will require much more of a personal time commitment from owner (to deal with designers, bidding, contracts, day-to-day issues involved in the construction etc).
• Not generally considered movable
• Design and materials capabilities limited only by financial considerations
• Easier to make additions/changes in the design and or materials as work progresses
• Better site control of material quality
• Cost substitutions can be made as needed
• Can be built anywhere suitable conditions exist
• More owner site control
• The pride and fulfillment of watching your design come to life
• Generally more expensive than previous three options
• Shipping can be a problem. Site access, expense, etc.
• More difficult and expensive to make on-sight changes
• Not generally considered movable
• Can be bought as complete "kit" home or as individual components.
• The components are built under controlled factory conditions
• Built to UBC code and can be added to or altered with inspections by local building inspectors.
• Can be erected on site by fewer skilled workers, reducing labor costs
• Faster than stick-built, to erect frame and get ‘dried-in’
• Less wasted materials
• Designing of your plan converted to panel component usage done at factory
• Wide discrepancies in quality and available features
• Access to sites can be a problem
• Not as easily movable
• Relatively inexpensive
• The components are built under controlled factory conditions
• Built to UBC code and can be added to or altered with inspections by local building inspectors.
• Relatively inexpensive to purchase
• More flexible floor plans and more durable finish details than mobile homes
• Can be customized at additional cost
• Quick set-up and move-in time
• Not built to Uniform Building Code (UBC)
• Banks may have lending issues depending on how title is secured.
• Zoning issues in some communities
• Wide discrepancies in quality and available features
• Access to sites can be a problem
• Built under controlled factory conditions
• Relatively inexpensive to purchase
• Less stringent requirements for site set up. For instance, they do not always require permanent foundation.
• More flexible floor plans and more durable finish details than mobile homes
• Can be customized at additional cost
• Quick set-up and move-in time
• Can be upgraded with additions
• May be moved again if needed
• Usually has specific zones
• Built with smaller dimension lumber
• Fewer floor plan choices
• Require lower pitched roofs for mobility
• Depreciate in value rather than appreciate
• May be harder to find financing because of title issues
• Access to sites can be a problem
• Built under controlled factory conditions
• Relatively inexpensive to purchase
• Cheaper to transport
• Easier and less stringent guidelines for site set up
• Quicker than other methods to get placed and livable
• Requires less space than other styles
• Can be moved again, if needed
.