Replies

1. 
   DAVE_WILLIAMS | Dec 29, 1998 06:59pm | #1

   *
   HI MAURICIO,
   IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 6 YRS OR SO SINCE I BUILT A PRE-FAB HOME. I NOW SPECIALIZE IN INTERIOR TRIM CARPENTRY, BUT THE FEW HOMES THAT I FRAMED THAT WERE PRE-FAB WERE NOT VERY WELL LAID OUT(IE. WALL STUDS STACKING ON FLOOR JOISTS) THE BLUEPRINTS WERE VERY BASIC AND NOT VERY CLEAR. IT DEPENDS ON YOUR EXPERIENCE IF YOU WANT TO GO THIS ROUTE. IF IT IS A BASIC FLOOR PLAN( A SQ. BOX WITH NO BAYS OR COMPLEX ANGLES) YOU WILL PROBABLY BE ALRIGHT. OTHER THAN THAT, GO STICK BUILT. IF YOU GO PRE-FAB, IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL BEFORE PURCHASE. I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU.
   DAVE

2. 
   Guest_ | Jan 03, 1999 06:40am | #2

   *
   Well folks, I think that todays prebuilds can complete againest customs sticks. I have handled a few from Nationwide thur Mod-u-Build know a few builders that only do prebuilds. When I first got into these I though that they were junk. I was surprized when i found that these things are build to take the loads. The best thing I can tell you is to tour a plant where they build them and judge yourself.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 03, 1999 08:14am | #3

   *Years ago they were not too good but now they seem to be built very well. L. Siders

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 03, 1999 09:19am | #4

   *Mauricio, From the factory these homes are not to badly built. Then they take a 70mph ride down the interstate,a couple of turns down the back roads, and finally a nice lift with a crane. Depending on the skill of the setup crew you could end up with an out of square,out of plumb monster or a building that an experienced carpenter can make livable. I've seen and worked on both either way the challanges are great and the rewards little.

3. 
   pat | Jan 04, 1999 06:37am | #5

   *
   this forum is called finehomebuilding, not better mobile home's and gardens. Anything looks good @ 40 mph.Even vinyl siding!!!!!!!

   Pat

4. 
   Guest_ | Jan 04, 1999 06:49am | #6

   *
   Pat,we all know that this is called fine homebuilding, but the idea of prefab goes way back to the sears kit homes. I take that you build,how many of your homes can you pick up and move down the highway? At the rate this is going with the "I build to code" attiude that I see prefabs can and will leave todays stick builder behind.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 04, 1999 07:14am | #7

   *I lived in Sweden in the late 60's and the modular homes there were much better built than most custome homes here today. So it can be done well - it may not be in this country.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 04, 1999 06:35pm | #8

   *I am split on pre-fab's. On one hand the factury floor is the easiest place to control quality because there is no rain, it's always the same temperature, the prints don't get blown away, etc. But, IMO, they are not built as well as they could be. Many use staples for connections, they use FG batt insulation which has to settle after the trip. And generally they lack noticable quality improvements that should be present when you don't have weather considerations. I guess I should say it should be easy to make these nicer, and they still don't.-Rob

5. 
   MAURICIO_ESTRADA | Jan 08, 1999 08:23am | #9

   *
   HAS ANYONE WORKED WITH FACTORY BUILT HOMES, FINISHING THEM, OR PUTTING THEM UP? IS THE HYPE TRUE?