I had clients who got fed up with bad designs in expensive new construction. They set out to find land to put a modular home on. When they looked at what modular homes had to offer, they were pleasantly surprised.  Since then, two of my clients have chosen the modular route to a new home. Both, as it turns out, ended up with the same builder.

A lot of my old opinions were replaced by moderate curiosity and later a favorable opinion. Today, I am a true fan. I attended my first “house setting.” It was really fun. My clients were there, cameras in hand. Neighbors came to watch.

The house came down on two trucks from New Hampshire. A crane put the first half on the foundation. (I’ve never seen a half a house swing around on a crane before; it looked like a doll house because the cabinets and plate rail were already installed.) Then they nailed plastic on the marriage wall of the second half and swung it into place. A little ratcheting to tighten them together and voila! The house is set. By early afternoon, both halves were set and connected.

The roof was flat for transport. They set it on top. Then, popped it up and nailed it in place. They added shingles to the folded part. By the middle of the afternoon, the modular house was ready for our rainy summer.

There’s still more to do. The electrical lines, water and sewer lines will be connected, floors installed, appliances delivered.  The move-in date will be confirmed soon. It took another month before the house had certificated of occupancy and was ready for move-in.

Some things I learned by watching the modular house-setting:

  1. The “marriage wall” is the wall in the middle of the house where the two shipped halves met. It is lag bolted together once the house is set. There are then support members that are removed inside the house.
  2. The roof travels flat. It is lifted and set on a V shaped support posts. Then they are nailed to the supports. Outside, shingles are added where the roof was folded. (I have seen these posts before in new construction homes; now I know were modular homes.)
  3. The town inspectional service department gets a notice with the serial number and specs of the house. The inspector checks this against the actual house to verify that the house is the same as what was approved.

Would you be happy with a modular house? Would you be happy with a modular house next door?