The Truth Behind Modular Construction Revealed
February 25, 2015 Justin Brown, Times Leader

From selecting floor plans and features, modular construction, to saving time and money, constructing a modular home promotes its share of advantages.

Allegations have surfaced over the years to discredit the efficiency of modular construction; alleging modular buildings depreciate in value, are cheaply made and they’re exposed to more wear and tear during transportation.

Sales manager Dennis Yun at Kintner Modular Homes, Inc. in Tunkhannock assures that “people do not completely understand the process” of building modular homes, which leads to lingering misunderstandings.

modular construction

Joe Porter of Forkston Township had his own preconceived notions concerning the value of modular homes. When he wanted to build a new home in the summer of 2013, at an affordable rate, he was skeptical to save time and money by building a modular.

“I thought a modular wouldn’t sell for a lot of money if I ever decided to sell it. I didn’t think modulars could sell for as much as a stick-built home,” Porter said.

After consulting two separate real-estate agents with his concern, he became open-minded to the idea of building a modular home.

“The real estate agents told me a modular would sell for just the same, if not more, than a stick-built home, because it’s built in a controlled environment. The wood doesn’t see rain or other weather conditions when it’s getting built,” Porter said.

modular construction

He decided to build a modular home and has no regrets.

“I was surprised at how nice everything turned out. You always hear good stuff about modular homes today and that wasn’t always the case. The quality has gone up on them. The quality is the same as a stick-built home,” Porter said.

Yun said the modular industry has been evolving since Kintner Homes started providing an alternative solution to building homes for people in Northeastern Pennsylvania in 1972.
“The equipment that built modular homes only had certain basic capabilities in the past. There were limitations that no longer exist with evolving modifications and advancements. There are very few homes we can’t build,” Yun said.

Still, some doubt the effectiveness of modular construction.
They tend to cost less, but Yun said less-expensive doesn’t necessarily equate to poor quality.

modular construction

“When it comes to saving, you can typically save a couple months of time, if not more. And of course, the shorter your construction time, the less interest you are paying on your construction loan,” Yun said.

Construction times is between three to five days in the factory and generally only three months total from signing the contract to moving in furniture.

While you may have seen large truck beds carrying pieces of a modular when driving down the highway, some fear the pieces are exposed to wear and tear from bumping up and down on the drive to assemble the modules — but that is false, said Yun.

“Before the modules leave the factory, all internal and external components are fastened and secured. Then, they are placed on and bolted to a carrier for transportation,” Yun said.

Kintner Homes acknowledges that misconceptions still surround the modular construction industry, but from their experience, the myths are dispelled quickly once they are informed and experience the quality of a modular home.

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The truth behind modular construction revealed