[luv80s]

My husband and I are looking into buying modular home if we stay here in Vermont. Right now we are renting and the houses that we are looking to rent or buy are not looking too good. The nice houses that are in good condition are way out of our budget and the houses that are in our budget are either too small or in bad shape and in need of renovations. Alot of the houses we see have no garages. Whats up with that?!! How can you not have a garage especially with all the snow thats up here?

Anyway, a few people have told us about modular homes and that they loved it. What are some good builders here for those homes? We figure if we spend so much money on a house might as well and get what we want.

Any info or experiences with modular homes in VT would be great.
Thank you!

[harry chickpea]

Modular is an increasingly interesting way to go when buying a new home. They follow either the international or local building codes, and have the advantages of factory production. That said, watch for cost cutting measures and be sure to visit the construction plant floor at least once before commiting to a manufacturer.

Some possible things you might not like - plastic plumbing instead of copper, smaller drain pipes (3" instead of 4" and sink drains may only have 1" drains), smaller gauge wiring (14 instead of 12), lower grades of windows and cabinetry unless you spec differently, and floor plans that can have the linear look of railroad cars stuck together. All this can be overcome, but not at the low base prices sometimes quoted.

Interestingly to me, the construction of modular and manufactured housing is very similar to the way railroad cars were made. The frame is far longer than it is wide, and sits on a carriage that wheels it sideways through the various construction stations.

Although not in Vermont, we decided on manufactured housing with an insualtion package that would work in Vermont.

As for garages, as I recollect, cars parked in garages would typically rust out faster than those that remained outdoors. The salt was colder and didn't react with the water and metal as much outside, and the temptation to wash the car (and make matters worse in areas where you couldn't wash) was reduced. 'course that was before global warming when winters were real winters.

[luv80s]

We may try to go and look at some this weekend or next. If we stay here for a few years we might as well buy a house, modular or not. No sense wasting money on rent. Plus, the kids will need there own rooms eventually and we need more space. We've got too much junk

[MRVphotog]

I think modular homes have come along way from 20 years ago. I think you can get pretty much anything you want. Some of them are built very well you just have to do some due diligence so what you end up with is want you want.

In Oxford, Maine, right across the road from the Oxford Speedway there is a strip with several mod home companies in a row. I never stopped but some of the models look pretty nice. They are not just ugly boxes like they used to be.

[Air]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

As for garages, as I recollect, cars parked in garages would typically rust out faster than those that remained outdoors. The salt was colder and didn't react with the water and metal as much outside, and the temptation to wash the car (and make matters worse in areas where you couldn't wash) was reduced. 'course that was before global warming when winters were real winters.

I pulled my car into the garage every night for one winter season, and got small specks of rust and a dime sized one on the roof before the winter was over. This was a car that was only a few years old, two years ago. The neighbour always left her older Mercedes outside and it still looks great.

One more thing, Montrealers NEVER wash the car all winter, until you have to because your clothes are getting dirty going in and out.ds

It all has to do with the salt. People in St-Sauveur can do as they wish because they don't salt the roads there, I've been told.

[vter]

Ya...our roads down here in VT get salted....it's a good idea to get the car washed a few times over the season to get that salt off.

[MissingAll4Seasons]

Another thing that helped me in Alaska was to give the car a good washing the after the first hint of snow and put on a double-layer of high-quality wax... really helps keep the salt and stuff from rusting your body panels out... the undercarriage is a whole other story, but a really good lube before and after seemed to help

[MRVphotog]

To protect their undersides from the ill effects of salt alot of the old-timers get their car oiled. it seems like a messy way to go but many swear by it.

[GypsySoul22]

I am also considering a modular home (if we can swing it). I asked about this on the NH forum months ago and got mixed results.

More opinions on this would be great.

[1luvvt]

I have a modular home and love it. Some are built with 2x6 walls with r-15 and r-30 in cieling with the option to double that. There are many different models and you can even customize plans without extra expense in most floor plan as long as the strutural walls are maintained.When i decided to go modular house where built at 150 to 200 dollars a square ft, i got my house at 58 dollars a sqft. the company i used was in pa called crest homes( cresthomes.com) i am not sure if they go to vt or not.i can offer more on this topic if you need me to.