Modular Homes vs. Mother Nature: Who Wins?

Modular homes are a popular option for consumers who want high-quality living environments that are built with tight timelines and cost controls. But there’s a lingering questions as consumers consider a non-site-built home: Are modular homes safe? The answer to this question is a resounding “yes,” and the safety of modular homes becomes apparent when you take a closer look at how they’re manufactured.

Read on to learn more about modular homes, their safety and why they’re actually safer than site-built alternatives.

Modular Homes: Stronger Than Site-Built

 

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), modular homes are safer than site-built homes when it comes to handling natural disasters. This assessment is based on FEMA’s review of storm-stricken areas in the northeast, including the damage done by Hurricane Sandy.

This makes sense when you think about the manufacturing process behind modular homes. Modular homes are designed and manufactured in controlled environments where there’s little variation in the conditions around them. The workers who are building the actual components are doing this day after day in environments that are safe and secure, which promotes better accuracy, precision and attention to detail.

Perhaps most importantly, modular homes are designed to withstand the rigors of highway travel. They’re often shipped hundreds of miles from a manufacturing center to the site for installation, and the components have to be durable enough to withstand that journey.
That’s not to say that a hurricane or similar natural disaster can’t destroy a modular home. But modular home safety is enhanced by the process behind manufacturing as well as the travel requirements placed on them.

The Source of a Modular Home’s Strength

 

You know why modular homes are built for strength, but how does the manufacturing process result in components that are truly strong enough to perform better than site-built homes during a hurricane or similarly powerful storm?

First of all, modular homes include more in the way of materials than site-built homes — somewhere between 20 and 30 percent more wood. This naturally increases how substantial a home is and how well it can withstand wind and other extreme elements.

There’s also the drywall, which is typically glued first and then screwed in second — rather than just one or the other. This is done to ensure that the components stay completely intact and pristine during transport, and it helps create a more powerful home once assembled.

Finally, most modular homes feature triple-headers near stairwells and window openings, which further enhances strength and modular home safety.

The benefits of modular homes are mostly evident, including the high quality and low cost of construction. But many don’t realize just how strong and safe modular homes are.