The fantastic climbing towers and curling spires of modern skyscrapers only become possible when innovative construction methods are used. Although these buildings seem to have little in common with modest single-family dwellings, both rely increasingly on computer-designed and factory-made modular sections. While the scale is obviously smaller, manufactured homes helped pioneer these practices.
Any mention of factory-based housing construction usually comes with a standard disclaimer. Because criticism of the often-mocked and maligned double-wide trailer home has often been based on valid complaints, sales personnel are quick to differentiate between newer products and their less-respected precursors. The relatively thin skin and metal skeleton of a movable unit creates only the illusion of solid walls.
As unlovely as those rectangular boxes may be, they still share an ancestral bond with the latest incarnations of factory-built housing. Both structures are born in a manufacturing plant, rather than being nailed together on site. The main difference is that truly mobile units are fully completed inside the factory, then anchored to a plot or space. This eliminates the necessity of construction inspectors, among other costs.
A traditional mobile home can be as much as three units wide, but cannot be stacked. Like an evolutionary missing link, many still have actual wheels that can be re-attached when it is time to move. Unlike stationary residences, these structures tend to depreciate over time, and are not easy to customize unless the buyer is willing to spend extra money in the beginning, negating any lower price advantage.
By contrast, buildings made entirely from complete, modular segments are the hipper city cousins of the country double-wide. Their floor-plans have been designed for parts that may be assembled partially in a factory, but fully completed on the construction site. They closely resemble standard houses, and the individual units can be easily formed into two-story concepts that are both visually pleasing and interesting.
This method of construction creates buildings that are far more stable than those with vehicular potential. Even the foundations are stronger, conforming to the same standards that any new home must follow. Traditional mobile units are more easily damaged by wind and weather, but a modular home built on site can be stronger than many put together using conventional methods, and they are also easily customized.
Even though they will never be able to compete with the suburban palaces often favored by the newly wealthy, they have distinct advantages all their own. Modular design makes it simple to follow new regulations involving energy distribution and usage, and the latest designs offer more efficient insulation. Rather than being tenuously tied down, a solid foundation provides equal or superior protection during hurricanes and even tornadoes.
Housing costs have nearly reached historically high levels again, and are predicted to continue climbing. The lower cost of factory built residences makes them attractive to many people who can no longer contemplate the insanely high rents and housing prices common in some states. Now that safety practices and standards have been improved, owning a home that was mostly built on an assembly line makes perfect economic sense.
Any mention of factory-based housing construction usually comes with a standard disclaimer. Because criticism of the often-mocked and maligned double-wide trailer home has often been based on valid complaints, sales personnel are quick to differentiate between newer products and their less-respected precursors. The relatively thin skin and metal skeleton of a movable unit creates only the illusion of solid walls.
As unlovely as those rectangular boxes may be, they still share an ancestral bond with the latest incarnations of factory-built housing. Both structures are born in a manufacturing plant, rather than being nailed together on site. The main difference is that truly mobile units are fully completed inside the factory, then anchored to a plot or space. This eliminates the necessity of construction inspectors, among other costs.
A traditional mobile home can be as much as three units wide, but cannot be stacked. Like an evolutionary missing link, many still have actual wheels that can be re-attached when it is time to move. Unlike stationary residences, these structures tend to depreciate over time, and are not easy to customize unless the buyer is willing to spend extra money in the beginning, negating any lower price advantage.
By contrast, buildings made entirely from complete, modular segments are the hipper city cousins of the country double-wide. Their floor-plans have been designed for parts that may be assembled partially in a factory, but fully completed on the construction site. They closely resemble standard houses, and the individual units can be easily formed into two-story concepts that are both visually pleasing and interesting.
This method of construction creates buildings that are far more stable than those with vehicular potential. Even the foundations are stronger, conforming to the same standards that any new home must follow. Traditional mobile units are more easily damaged by wind and weather, but a modular home built on site can be stronger than many put together using conventional methods, and they are also easily customized.
Even though they will never be able to compete with the suburban palaces often favored by the newly wealthy, they have distinct advantages all their own. Modular design makes it simple to follow new regulations involving energy distribution and usage, and the latest designs offer more efficient insulation. Rather than being tenuously tied down, a solid foundation provides equal or superior protection during hurricanes and even tornadoes.
Housing costs have nearly reached historically high levels again, and are predicted to continue climbing. The lower cost of factory built residences makes them attractive to many people who can no longer contemplate the insanely high rents and housing prices common in some states. Now that safety practices and standards have been improved, owning a home that was mostly built on an assembly line makes perfect economic sense.
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