Process?

[James]

Ok, so Ive found the floorplan I like, with a manufacturer I can live with. Now I am going to the dealer to talk with him. The dealer has told me he would help find the land, and find the contractors for the land improvements,I think I would rather negoiate with the contractors for the improvements, as I dont want to get burned a new one by the dealer tagging on a little here and there.

I have been told that construction upgrades cost a fortune...I want full OSB(including floors), 1/2" sheetrock, and 2x4 studs all the way around...how can this cost a "fortune"?

I want a EnergyStar rating on the home....Im not sure if a certain type of furnace is required for that.But I do know a programable thermostat is required as well as double pane windows.

[Lynne S]

It must be more then that to get the energy star rating cause we didn't get one though we have both of those and the upgraded insulation. They said our floor plan doesn't qualify..too many windows maybe?

[InfraRedZX3]

I added to my 2003 Redman New Moon Elite some of the upgrades you mention. OSB subfloors: $700. Energy Star Package: $795. Upgrades of this nature aren't exactly cheap, but I figure it will be worth it in the long run...

[John]

The upgrades I have looked at are 2x6 exterior 2500 tape&bed 250-300 per room but most will not go with 2x4 interior because than a lot of things need to be changed in the process.

[Bryan]

John said "but most will not go with 2x4 interior because than a lot of things need to be changed in the process'

I thought 2x4 int studs were the norm for manufactured housing....anything other than 2x4 would seem substandard to me

[rmurray]

Actually 2x4 interior walls are not common...Most of the manufactured homes sold in the US have 2x3 interior wall..on 24 inch centers..

If you demand 2x4 interior studs on 16 inch centers..You will be dealing with a quality manufacturer..This will probably mean most everything else will also be quality...

[John]

The use of 2x3 interior studs is the norm and I have not been told this unless I ask. They will point out that 2x6 are standard or an upgrade but, so far, no one has mentioned that 2x3 are standard unless I ask and when I have asked about upgrade to 2x4 most will not do it because that not the way they are set up to build.

[Bryan]

I just cant grasp why they are not "setup" to be built with 2x4s, I undersatnd now that 2x3 int are the standard, but if I ask for the uprade I cant imagine a dealer telling me we cant upgrade. Im talking Palm Harbor, so I would think they can upgrade,if not, my search continues

[rmurray]

Palm Harbor...as all manufacturers build different homes in different plants...Some will offer all you are looking for and some will not...It is not the dealer policy that is the problem...Every plant decides what it is going to offer and does so...Changes outside the regular offerings slow the plant down and are very expensive for the plant to build because of the lost volumn....Some of the smaller quality plants are virtually custom plants and will do anything the consumer is willing to pay for...The choice is yours..

Good Luck

[Katie]

Well, I had to go back to First Time Homeowners forum and the post from Mr Murray on 4-8-02. I thought that 2 x 3's were altogether unacceptable, but after rereading his post, I infer that he meant For-the-money-you-save-the- 2x3's-are-okay, but don't hang anything on the wall close to the doors because if you slam the doors, the picture will fall down (actually, there shouldn't be any slamming of doors since I'll be divorced by the time I move into my m-h, but the wind could blow it shut)

All this time, though, I thought 2 x 4 interior studs were STANDARD unless you were looking at a very sub-standard home.

Clarification, please. Is the house going to collapse at some point with only 2 x 3's in the wall?