well built home

[Brad]

We are looking for a new home. We have been looking at Patriot Home of Tx D. Wide . I like the floor plans. We were thinking about getting a metal roof and vin. siding. We are planing on living in the house for a long time and thought this would be less upkeep. We live in North Louisiana. Do you think Patriot Homes are well made. Any other models/makes we sould check on. We want a good, well, built home that will last a long time.

[Terry]

Brad, Hello! Patriot Homes of Texas are nice to a certain degree. But you said a well built home that will last. Take a look at the Solitaire Homes of Waurika, Oklahoma. This home comes tape and textured thru out and has grid work construction in the floor and ceiling and they wrap the home in plywood on the exterior walls and hardboard siding over the plywood giving the siding a strong structural support. If you want vinyl siding that's an option on their models. Metal roof is also an option too. If you want to check out theHouseSmart (wwwhousesmart.com) this is a very well built home also. This company uses 2x8 floor joists and 3/4" plywood floors and 4:12 pitch architectural shingle roof. The home is tape and textured thru out and uses a 2x6 exterior wall contruction and 2x4 interior studs. This company has dealers in across Texas and Oklahoma and can deliver within 1000 mile radius of their plant. They also use HardiBoard siding which is resistent to rot and fire. When you purchase a home thru this company they will set it up and tie the home down and set it up on a permanent foundation for you for a great package price. You may also want to check into Fuqua homes of Boonville, Missouri (fuquahomes-mo.com) this company builds some of the nicest homes and constructed just like a house and you can't believe what they do to their homes. Another company would the Guerdon/Magnolia Homes of Vicksburg, Mississippi this company builds some of the finest homes in the industry and has been around for over 50 years. They have their homes tape and textured thru out and use only the finest building material in the industry. Another company would the Chief Industries/BonnaVilla Homes of Aurora and York, Nebraska this company builds only with 2x6 exterior walls and is also a great home. They even use the finest material in their low end homes. They use 2x8 floor joist with 3/4 inch novodeck or plywood which ever you preferre for you floor and use 12" steel I beam for your home. You could choose many options for your new home with this company. Remember to always order your home with a onepiece shower/tub combo because water leaks is the greatest damage to a manufactured home. Also order with water shut off valves thruout the home; put more R-value in the roof like R-33 or higher is better and 30 pds. per. sq. ft. roof load; Make sure if you ordering vinyl siding the under layment is at least over 1/4" of plywood sheathing or crestdeck siding to reinforce the exterior wall and siding. Some companies use a very thin paperboard type of underlayment before the vinyl siding is applied to the home. WATCH OUT FOR THIS! Make sure you have plywood or crestdecksiding. I hope this would help you. Compare these companies and choose which one you feel more comfortable with and your budget allows for. Remember not all manufactured homes are constructed the same. Some companies like the one I mentioned above go the extra mile and have a very clean reputation in the manufactured housing industry.