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Buttoning
up or trim out is the entire finishing work necessary
to complete the modular home after the house is set. It is the process
that can consist of finishing and installing complete systems. This
work can be extensive and expensive and is required to finish the
modular home. This work is handled by a general contractor and subcontractors.
The following is a list of necessary completed work: sheetrocking,
siding, fascia, roof, heating, plumbing, carpentry, foundation,
stairs, flooring, masonry, electrical, site work and making all
necessary connections to the outside utilities. This is a partial
list of necessary finishing work but it can be a great deal more.
What needs to be considered is the necessary custom work to be completed
on site.
Excavation is the process of clearing and digging in preparation
for the modular. This consists of the foundation, utilities and
creating access for necessary equipment for delivery. This includes
ditches for water, sewer lines, water, optional electric and telephone
connections. The hole is dug out with space to place the foundation,
drainage pipes and utilities. Necessary underground connections
are dug by the use of a backhoe. If ledge (massive rock) cannot
be cleared through conventional means, an expensive method of blasting
needs to be employed. The alternative to a full basement can be
an above ground basement, crawl space or a partial basement. A lot
can be accomplished with clean fill but that can increase your capital
expenditure.
Finish work is where all the trades finish up after the
buttoning up process. This entails all the detailed work required
to finish the modular home.
Hybrid construction is a combination of modular and site
construction techniques. This is more expensive but cost effective
than just building site-constructed housing. By combining the efficiency
of modular home process with site construction you can greatly accelerate
the building process. Hybrid is employed when multiple bump-outs
are employed, complex roofs or and/ or gable work is required. Hybrid
construction is inherently more complicated but a customized desired
effect can be achieved.
Marriage wall is where the separate modules are joined
together. The final adjustments are made with a come along and/or
a clamp with measured cut lumber filling in the voids. Spaces and
misalignment are compensated with shims to a uniformed distance
to prevent cracking from settling. The wall beams are bolted, metal
strapping joins the marriage wall and joists. The conjoined areas
are finished with sheetrock, molding, trim and flooring.
Prefabricated is a term to categorize a variety of manufacturing
techniques. Prefabricated or prefab comprise: modular, mobile, panelized
and pre-cut kit houses. They have come a long way since the inception
of the first mobile home. An analogy can be made in comparing the
mobile home to the technological advances of computer technology:
compare the function of a 10-year-old computer to a new one.
Set is placing the modules in their pre assigned locations
on the foundation. This is accomplished with an experienced well-coordinated
set crew. The crew utilizes trailers, trucks, cranes come along
and physical labor. If you get a chance to see a modular go up,
you will marvel over it.
Site work consists of all the different tasks that need
to be accomplished at the location where the house is to be erected
to prepare for the set, finish and the construction of site built
structures. The site work encompasses: digging a foundation hole,
clearing of the property, construction of a driveway, grading for
drainage and digging for all necessary utilities. This is where
the plumber, siding specialists, painters, electrician, and carpenter
are involved in buttoning up and finishing the site construction.
This work includes interior and exterior work on the modular house.
The interior work consists of installing HVAC, flooring carpentry,
plumbing, sheet rocking and electrical connections. The exterior
work includes foundations, septic or sewer connections, water and
electric hook ups.
Standard plan is a plan from a modular manufacturer that
already exists. Standard plans are economical and that economic
benefit can be passed down to the customer. The benefits will be
minimized if the customer wants more than a few minor changes. Finding
a plan with similar features that you're looking for can be a cost
savings solution.
Turnkey is when a general contractor completes the modular
home to the customer's satisfaction. The general contractor is responsible
for contracting with the subcontractors to complete the necessary
work. The customer needs only to turn the key on a completed inspected
finished home.
Universal design features are design options that provide
access to senior citizens, wheel chair bound and others with special
needs. These options include 36" wide exterior doors, bathroom
grab bars, low threshold showers, varying height for cabinet and
work counters. In addition access can be adjusted for hallways,
lights, thermostats, electrical lights, switches and plumbing fixtures.
Incorporating options such as lever handed door handles, D rings
for cabinets, rocker style switches, hand held shower head and big
face phones can give immeasurable quality to people's lives.
Walk through is the final inspection of the home by the
customer or designee. Punch lists are an inventory of labor and
materials requiring inspection inside and outside of the modular
home. The check off list would meet with the inspector's approval
covering aesthetics, function, levelness and correctness concerning
what was called for in the plan. The entire list of tasks should
be gone over before the owner accepts the home as finished. This
can entail the checking of painting, plumbing, decking, roofing,
windows, doors, site work and any other work that was required by
the owner. Money should always be withheld for incompletion or lack
of satisfaction.
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