how safe are modular homes in a high wind situation?

Question

I have heard report once that certain modular homes can withstand hurricane wind. my friends and co-workers keep telling me how nice they are and I went to see one and it was gorgeous, it had everything I could want in a home. except the fenced back yard. ( i have pets) but I"m hesitant about getting one because I'm afraid a large wind will just come and knock it over and before you know it I'm not in kansas anymore-LOL. I don't like trailers, and I don't know if manufactured homes and modular homes are the same as a double or triple wide trailer? so my question is: what is the difference between the three, how much force can it withstand from wind,. are they good investments?

Answer 1

You will hear allot of myths about Modular and Manufactured homes. Modular and Manufactured homes are built different. There are modular maker that make home that are hurricane safe up to a type 4 I believe.

For the most part modular homes are built better than most site built. They are built to be lifted by a crane.

A modular home is a stick built home that is built off site and trucked in and assembled. It is placed on foundation just like a site built. Only different is it probably has more wood and structure reinforcement. I currently have both types of homes and the modular is much tighter than my site built homes. The modular is less than 2 years old and building methods could have been different in the past. My modular has a 10 year structure warranty.

In my area modular and site built appraises, insure and finance the same.

Someone posted they had heard of a problem with siding. That would have to do with the person that installed it. Siding is put on the same say on a modular as site built. That could happen to any home if the siding wasn't put on correct. A manufactured and modular travel down the road up to 70 mph, if siding was a common problems, it would be littering or highways.

Modular homes have gone up in price over the past year or so. When I bought mine I paid less the $65 a square foot with 2X6 construction. I recently priced some out to build on some of my other property as rentals and they are over a $110 to $120 a square foot now with 2X6 construction. I can have a site built home for that price maybe less, esp. if I have special request. Special request can get exp in a modular home.

Price isn't the big advantage any more. The advantage is time, consistent quality and customer service. I had defective carpet from Shaw; they offered me a $500 payment to shut up. I called the home modular home manufacture and Shaw ended up replacing about 2,000 sq feet of carpet. It wasn't the home builder fault but they had enough say with Shaw to get things handled, your local contractor won't have pull like that.

You will still need to find somebody for your foundation.

My opinion is if you can be happy with a typical looking home go modular, esp. if this is you first home you are having built. If you want a custom home go site built, make sure you get a good contractor that has been around for a long time in that community.

Check with banks, insurance and appraisers in your area. If they don't work with modular the same as site built go site built, if they don't care than go with what suits you.


These modular homes claim they can stand a Cat 5 hurricane. http://www.adxhomecenter.com/

Answer 2

Where I live, modular homes are a poor investment. They do not appreciate as do conventionally built structures. From these forums, I have come to understand that such is not the situation everywhere.

Construction quality can vary in a modular as well. Some brands are not well put together, and others nearly approach the quality of a conventionally built structure. In any situation, a strong consideration would be the type of foundation upon which a modular is placed. I would think that, in order to be decently safe from strong winds, the structure would need to be firmly affixed to a permanent foundation. Setting the building on a dozen or so piers of concrete blocks isn't going to do the job.

You might, as well, check the financing situation for a modular. I've been advised that conventional financing at decent interest rates is not easy to come by.

Answer 3

Single, double and triple wide trailers are manufactured homes. They now call them manufactured to get away from the stigma of the word 'trailer'. There are varying levels of quality in these. One common factor is that 99% have metal frames underneath. The next level up in quality (usually but there are no real rules) would be a modular. Modular homes are built more or less like stick built but in a factory. The reason modulars are usually cheaper than stick built is because they tend to skimp on the finish materials. Cheap carpet, cheap cabinets, cheap electric and plumbing fixtures, etc.

With either type of home, to keep it as a good investment will require replacing of those lower quality items when they wear out. Manufactured homes (singles, doubles, trip) generally do not appreciate as well in most markets. This could be due to the fact that you must constantly maintain them once they hit a certain age. The modulars hold up pretty good. Some people will not even be able to tell the difference. Typical give aways are boxy shape and a 6" center wall down the middle.

They have come a long way with regards to various tie down and securing methods. Modulars are attached to foundations the same way stick built houses are. Manufactured homes can be on a foundation, block piers, often with metal cables attaching it down somehow.

Financing for a modular could be a tiny bit harder, there are a few lenders out there that do not want to lend on them. But a bit of searching should get you in. Financing for a manufactured is definitely harder. Many lenders will not lend on them. And interest rates are usually higher for manufactured.

One other thing to look out for. Many owners of manufactured (trailers) homes tend to think the become modulars when they are put on the land. This is absolutely not the case. Once a trailer always a trailer.

Hope this info helps.

Answer 4

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It's my understanding that the rate can be as much as double, so, possibly, 12% or better. That's because these homes don't appreciate as much as a traditional home (the buyers market is smaller, there are still some people with negative feelings about modular homes), they can be moved (literally, someone could drive away with the banks equity), but most importantly, because there is a higher rate of loan default with modular homes. Why there is a higher default rate is immaterial. Statistically, the loan is higher risk than a traditional stick built home. It's still a secured loan though, so you won't pay rates comparable to credit cards, for example. And, of course, the interest is still deductable.

Answer 5

A manufactured home is usually either a mobile home or a modular. The difference between a mobile and a modular is the mobile home has axles, a modular is put on a flat bed trailer and needs a crane to be set on the foundation.

Building codes in high wind areas are strict with manufactured homes, need to be tied down to the foundation. I owned a modular ten years ago and would not buy another.

Answer 6

I don't live in a hurricane area, but I live where there are tornados, and they say that a mobile home, including modulars, is unsafe during a tornado. Also, I used to date a guy who had a modular and when there were high winds, it would take the siding right off the home. He was constantly hunting his siding down.

Answer 7

New techniques now days have made them a lot safer but, I'd still rather be in a stick home during a 200 miles an hour wind storm.
I Japan and Harwilll they anchor the plates down to the pad, they're doing some of that here now. It adds on the he price of the home and some people jerk at this but, they don't think of what might happen in the future.

I knew a man the makes an anchor for home in twister country, it's saved a lot of homes.

Answer 8

Are Manufactured Homes Safe

Answer 9

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Answer 10

You simply have to watch the news to know the answer to your question. Do you think tornado's ans storms are somehow drawn to trailer parks? (maybe it is those pink flamingos!) They obviously do NOT stand up to high wind, you see them smashed to smithereens every winter on the news.