Se Habla Español!
Manufactured Home Construction – And the Things You Don’t Think About
If you are buying or thinking of buying a new manufactured home, you already know there are several considerations and choices that must be made to get the process started: What type of model would best suit your family? How big of a home do you need? Where is the home going to be located? Which models fit your budget?
But as this process unfolds there will be other decisions required regarding design and construction that are less obvious but equally important. Here are three such decisions to start thinking about as you start the buying process.
1. What Type of Insulation is Best?
You may never see the insulation installed behind the walls, underneath the floors, above the ceiling and below the roof. But you’ll be grateful it’s there when your home stays warmer after a drop in temperature.
Of course, there isn’t just one type of insulation – different qualities are rated by what is referred to as the ‘R-value,’ which is a measure of thermal resistance. The HUD code requires manufactured homes to have a minimum R-value of 7 for insulation used in the ceilings, walls and floors, and a minimum R-value of 14 for roof insulation. But you can opt for an upgrade on any or all of these if you wish. The lower heating bill that will arrive every month would eventually offset any increase in construction cost.
2. The Shape of the Roof
The shape of your roof will obviously have some impact on the appearance of your home. But roof pitch is not just about aesthetics; it’s about how much weight the roof will be able to hold. This is a serious consideration in areas where winter means snow and lots of it. If that is where you’re headed, consider a higher roof pitch. And in the heat of the summer, solar sheathing offers another option for minimizing heat transfer.
3. Subflooring
You probably already have some idea about the floor coverings you want in your new home – hardwood, tile, or carpet and padding. But underneath all of these is a layer of subflooring for which HUD has a code minimum. Ask about upgrades here as well, particularly in the width of the particle board.
