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What is a modular or prefabricated home?
Modular or prefabricated homes (MOD) are stick built homes made in a factory. The individual pieces or “modules” are constructed and then assembled on your building site. They are set in place just like traditional building.
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Not mobile or manufactured (HUD)
Our prefab homes (MOD) are sealed into a foundation and are built to the same housing codes as regular stick-built homes.
Housing of the Future
Modular home technology is constantly improving offering cheaper and quicker building options. The factory settings allow superior quality builds and the design software creates almost unlimited customization.
Faster Build Time
A prefabricated home is made up to 50% faster than traditional homes.
Cheaper Cost
The assembly line efficiency and speed in factory settings cuts the cost of home building up to 15%.
More Sustainable
Prefab machinery are equipped to deliver materials with less wastage and more efficient building components.
Built to Code
Modular homes are built to the same standards as a traditional home. This is not true for mobile homes.
Advantages Of Modular
Consistent Quality
There is higher quality control during prefabricated home construction. Each home is designed and built in a climate controlled environment to your specifications. Materials can be protected in a factory in a way they cannot be protected outside. Exposure to the elements can hamper the quality of building materials. The modular part of your project is not controlled by the weather and that means materials that go into your home are never exposed to harmful weather.
Floor Plans by Architects
Prefabricated homes are designed by architects and entirely customizable. We offer a wide variety of home styles and plans to chose from. Our wide variety of floor plans and options allow you the flexibility to customize your home to meet your distinct personal tastes. If you don't see a plan that meets your needs, we have the flexibility to revise an existing plan, or work closely with you on creating your own personal plan.
Cost Cuts
Because our homes are constructed faster, and are built in a controlled environment, utilizing modular building system technology -- we are ultimately able to pass the cost savings along to you. We feel confident that our large selection of floor plans, styles and options will allow you to find a home that fits your budget. Going modular offers several cost savings opportunities for the customer.
A superior product
Thorne’s Homes utilizes modular building technology in constructing your home. Because modular homes are built in factories, manufacturers are able to utilize tools unavailable to the site builder such as custom manufactured jigs which ensure that all walls, floors and ceilings are square and plumb. In addition, interior walls are lag-bolted to the exterior walls and bracing and insulation are installed on all electrical outlet boxes, and straps then brace the wall to the floor.
Customize exactly how you like
As long as you stay within your state building codes, you can modify or upgrade the standard construction specifications, design your own floor plans and elevations, pick the style of windows or siding, along with the style and layouts of your cabinetry, choose colors of vinyl, carpet, countertops and bath fixtures. The possibilities are endless. Whatever your preferences, Thorne’s Homes provides the flexibility and skill with design software (CAD design) to meet them.
Avoid cost overruns
One of the benefits is the reduction of cost overruns. This term is used often from the consumer of a conventional built home. However, cost overruns are typically not heard of in our type of industry. As mentioned above, climate controlled factories ensure there are no weather related delays. In addition, there are no cost overruns from “no-show subs” (as may often be the case with site built homes).
Safe shipping made stronger walls
After construction in the factory, the modules are loaded for transport. To handle the shipping process, each modular home is constructed with roughly twenty to thirty percent more material than a traditional stick-built home (for example, drywall is typically glued with a special adhesive and then screwed to the framing). This greatly increases the structural strength of the home.
Save $15 to $25 per square foot
Another cost advantage is due to the volume of homes a typical manufacturer builds in a year. Additional savings occur through volume purchasing of the materials that are purchased from the suppliers to build your home. Because of the reduced construction time there is reduced interest on your construction financing, which means you pay less on your loans. Generally you can save $15 to $25 per square foot as compared to the same house built with traditional construction.
Avoid issues that come with Stick-Built Homes
Going modular can avoid issues associated with traditional home building, such as delays due to weather, availability of tradespeople or late delivery of materials. Contractors not showing up or missing materials costs are eliminated.
More Energy Efficient
Quality engineering and the most up to date building systems technology and quality materials, drastically increases the energy efficiency of your home. We carry a high level of standards when it comes to insulating and sealing your home against the elements, which means you will save money on utility bills far into the future. This ensures it will be economical to own and comfortable to live in regardless of the weather.
Better for the Environment
Engineered construction materials are utilized, and effective in-plant recycling is in place at most modular home manufacturing facilities. This means that all the excess materials are able to be recycled. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center, the "typical" waste for a new 2,000 square foot site built home is eight thousand (8,000) pounds or fifty (50) cubic yards. Consequently, while waste from a site built home typically goes in a landfill, waste from a modular home is recycled. Assembly line conditions usually mean less waste than stick-built homes.
Faster
Modular homes are built in about one-third the time of typical on-site constructed homes, and are delivered to your site over 85% complete. With proper planning and coordination you can be living in your new home in a matter of weeks. Although speed of construction is realized through a modular building system approach, we never sacrifice the quality of materials and attention to detail. Houses will be built in 4-6 weeks. We are typically on site for 30-90 days from breaking ground to you moving in. (Banking takes its own time and can depend on your financial institution.)
Common Questions
Modular homes are built to the same building codes used by conventional site-builders. Before a modular home manufacturer begins construction, all building plans are reviewed, engineered, and approved specific to the state where the manufacturer intends to sell homes, in this case Indiana. The homes must be designed and built to state code where the home will be shipped for its final location. The manufacturers contract with state approved review agencies, which conduct plan reviews on behalf of the state.
The modular manufacturer also has an inspection agency that is licensed by the states to perform the in-plant inspection while the home is in production. When the housing sections or modules are complete, the inspector places a label on the home certifying that the home has been manufactured in compliance with the approved plans and the building code. This results in fewer mistakes and lower costs. Once the home is completed on site, more inspections are completed. At Thorne’s Homes we meet with each of these inspector personally, whether it be a septic, foundation, electrical, or a structural inspector.
As long as you stay within your state building codes, you can modify or upgrade the standard construction specifications, design your own floor plans and elevations, pick the style of windows or siding, along with the style and layouts of your cabinetry, choose colors of vinyl, carpet, countertops and bath fixtures. The possibilities are endless. Whatever your preferences, Thorne’s Homes provides the flexibility and skill with design software (CAD design) to meet them.
Although we don’t offer financing through our company, we are very experienced in working with banks. We will prepare a banking packet for you, so you can be prepared when going to speak with your loan officer. Our homes qualify for all conventional mortgage programs, and our homes meet the same mortgage rules and regulations that site-built homes do. Keep in mind our homes are not the same as mobile/manufactured so you don’t have to get a chattel mortgage.
It is completely safe for the home to be shipped. Multiple inspections are performed on the home to ensure it doesn’t sustain any damage. Furthermore, we offer warranties and make sure your house is sound and new.
After construction in the factory, the modules are loaded for transport. To handle the shipping process, each modular home is constructed with roughly twenty to thirty percent more material than a traditional stick-built home (for example, drywall is typically glued with a special adhesive and then screwed to the framing). This greatly increases the structural strength of the home.
That is one of the main benefits of working with Thorne’s Homes. There are no hidden costs. We will walk you through the entire process and do almost everything for you. This includes permits, the foundation, septic, and anything else to do with your unique home building situation. We know it can be a very stressful process and a huge decision. That’s why we are here to make everything flow smoothly for you.
You can come by our office anytime during normal business hours or give us a call to get the process started. We have lovely models you can see in person and a multitude of samples and brochures. Get a feel for what your future home will look like!
