| Issue |
Modular |
Conventional |
| Cost Factor |
More value
for the dollar /Cost can be controlled by purchasing materials
in volume and waste is minimized due to the fact that material
is utilized in the next house/ Factory workers are paid
less than contractors (cost savings can be passed on) |
Due to longer
building schedule and the use of contractors and sub contractors
labor is significantly more expensive/ Materials are wasted
and landfills are filled with unnecessary waste. (The material
waste is approx.15% more in stick built homes and the expense
is passed on to the customer) |
| Quality
Assurance |
Continually
monitored and supervised |
Monitored by
general contractor |
| Design |
There are constraints
in transportation of modular units |
There are less
limitations in design and transportation problems are limited |
Climate
&
Weather
|
Factories maintain
a climate controlled environment, work can continue in any
season and weather condition/ maintains an advantage as
far as controlling mold, no materials are damaged due to
weather conditions/ loss of materials due to theft and accident
are minimized |
Sheetrock,
wood and other building materials can be damaged due to
adverse weather conditions/ work has to be stopped in severe
weather and resumes at the whim of the weather / Delays
can be expensive and unpredictable
|
| Warranty |
Usually included
or added on for a nominal amount/ can be transferred |
General Contractor
establishes policy/ Usually not transferable |
| Technology |
Factories utilize
the most updated equipment that assure that all corners
are square and walls are plumb/ modular houses are built
from inside and outside simultaneously and are therefore
tighter in regards to air flow/ must be vented properly
|
Technology
plays less of a role due to the lack of factory equipment.
Technology can be utilized in later stages and in
a more flexible manner
|
| Structural
Integrity |
Modular homes
are built to the highest building code standards/ Modular
units need to transported and/or craned in place therefore
each unit must have separate structural integrity/each unit
uses a higher percentage of lumber |
Local building
codes are adhered to by builders. The building phases are
checked by inspectors onsite. The inspectors will ensure
that each phase of the building process is up to code.
|
| Flexibility
|
Modular units
are unforgiving and measurements need to be very close/
a foundation's measurements need to be precise |
Stick built
houses can be flexible and be adapted to the circumstance/
changes can be expensive and lucrative to the contractor
|
| Liability
|
The
home is shipped approx. 80% complete depending on the design/
ownership does not start until the modular is set. Therefore
your exposure to liability is far less / the buttoning up
process of modular still takes tradesmen but their role
is limited and with far less time spent on the building
site |
The
construction process is far more drawn out, exposing the
builder to a greater array of possible liability situations/
Insurance is always an issue, especially workman's compensation
/stick built work sites are usually full of debris with
possible
dangerous outcomes that can occur (Make sure your G.C. and
subcontractors have the necessary insurance)
|
