Recommended reading and other questions

[Cassie]

My husband and I are in the process of negotiating the sales price on some land and obtaining financing for some sort of construction package. As much as I dislike the idea of putting a manufactured on this land, it's our most cost-effective option for the amount of square footage we'd need (4BR).

We've visited two dealers to date -- Fleetwood and Palm Harbor. The Fleetwood dealer has a lot model Entertainer series they're willing to discount if we take it as is. While the floor plan is to my liking for the most part, I'm more interested in knowing that the insulation factors, construction quality, etc. are suitable for our climate (Mesa, AZ). We don't get much "weather" here, but that hot summer sun can do a number on a person and I'd like the appropriate insulation factor present in the walls, floors, ceilings.

The Palm Harbor dealer has a model similar to the Entertainer in floorplan. When I questioned the sales rep on upgrade options, he told me 2x4 construction is standard for this particular model and it wouldn't allow me to go above an R-11 in insulation. I feel that's too low, but what do I know, maybe it IS appropriate for our climate?

Also, both these dealers say ductwork in the floors for C/A and heat is standard and don't even offer upgrade to ceiling vents. This is very much contradictory to what I'd read should be standard for this climate -- ceiling vents. Am I misinformed?

So two questions:

1. Any book recommendations for me? I'm interested in learning about how to choose the best construction quality and also how to figure out which of my local production factories are on the "good" list.

2. Any advice on going with the lot model? Pros? Cons?

Thanks in advance!!!!

[rmurray]

For the best info on useful energy features in your area..go to

www.EnergyStar.Gov

Check out the bookstore on this web site..There are some useful books devoted to getting you up to speed...Just remember specific product comparison books age very quickly...Plants change specs all of the time..but..the basic info about quality construction will never change..

By the way..that floorplan has gotten very popular and is probalby offered by every plant represented in your area...

Good Luck

[Cassie]

Thanks!

I went ahead and ordered one of the downloadable books yesterday. Already breezed through that one and found my gut instinct was right on a few things. Now I just have to do some major shopping around. The PH dealer had a different model I liked the floorplan on which came out of a different plant. The quality was definitely better, with 2x6 exterior walls being offerred as an upgrade (vs. the other plan which would only do 2x4). But still no one will offer me ceiling vents. I'm going to hold out until I find someone who will.

[Greg]

You will not find ceiling vents to be a very cost effective option. The models that offer that option are usually VERY high end modular homes and not in the price range that you are looking at. The engineering of a HUD code home makes what you are asking for very difficult. Most homes are built with a 12" basement of sorts under the flooring where all of the plumbing and duct work are installed at the factory. To do other wise is not cost effective. I agree that you should seek out 2X6 walls (usually R-19 insulation) they provide much better protection. Also make sure you order your home with vinyl insulated low-E windows instead of the manufacturers standard windows. This upgrade is more important than the insulation upgrades you are talking about

[David Petrick]

I just bought a manufactured home and have researched it extensively, free, online. I suggest you start with hud.gov, look under housing, and read everything you can. You can even access the codes. Also, consumerreports.org and consumersunion.org have detailed reports that will help you. I also found a ranking of top 25 man. housing makers. Do a search for "manufactured housing ratings" and it should come up.

From what I have researched, I don't recommend the Fleetwood. Palm harbor is rated high in all aspects except sales--apparently they hard sell you, but their homes are touted as innovative, quality, and high-end. FYI, Champion is the Cadillac of houses. And you shouldn't feel like manufactured housing is junk. These homes are as good as if not better than most homes. Their are many efficiencies to building this way, versus site-built, plus you get a warranty!

2x6 walls are pretty standard; only the Fleetwood I looked at has less. Don't worry about the insulation too much; HUD regulates this. They cannot sell a house that is not properly insulated for your area. If you want to research this, you can access doe.gov (dept of energy) and they tell you what sort of insulation you should have. In your climate I would recommend the Low-E windows and UV shielding if available. They fill the glass with a gas that prevents temperature transfer. The consumer reports report covers all this.

As for ceiling vents, I wouldn't get stuck on this. I didn't see any. Perimiter vents (along the walls) are the upgrade, and recommended by teh reports. Some companies like fleetwood put them in the center of the floor, where they are efficient but inconvenient. The furnace will have sufficient power to send the air to the top of the room no matter where the vents are. Again, this is the benefit of having the federal goverment oversee the manufacturing process.
It's all regulated so that you don't have to sweat the details. Just decide if you can cope with vents in the middle of the floor or not.

My last piece of advice is to make sure your house is either equipped with a dishwasher, or has all the prep work done like wiring, plumbing. Mine came without any of this, and is turning out to be a major undertaking that no one wants to undertake. It'll cost me $300 just to have it installed.

About the basement, I recommend either installing it on a concrete base or building a real basement. For the real basement, you need to order a special adapation to the house, which is available as an option.

[Craig]

Most of all the manufactured homes in NE Florida that are quality construction put the vents in the ceiling. the only one I have seen that had them in the floor was Fleetwood.
definately go for the 2x6 16" oc walls & low e windows & the max insulation you can get in the walls, floor & ceiling.
its not much extra & you should get that money back in time with energy savings.