There are many ways to build a house from traditional, stick-built technique to pre-made houses that just plop down on a foundation.

There are many ways to build a house from traditional, stick-built technique to pre-made houses that just plop down on a foundation.

The Stick-Built

This traditional style of building a home involves building it "in situ", or right there in the place where you intend to live in it. Once the foundation is poured, the construction begins from the ground up. The labor-intensive process can take months, sometimes years, to finish. Actually, the name "stick-built" is sort of a misnomer; perhaps in days passed they used actually sticks. A better, more appropriate, term is site-built, meaning the house is built right there, on the site. A site-built house is expected to conform to all local and state building codes, of course, and will last for many years.

The Pre-Fab

A pre-fab, or pre-fabricated, house is one that is constructed in pieces in a factory and then shipped to the building site. You may think that this a newer process, but it has existed since the rapidly-expanding housing needs of post-WWII America. When the soldiers returned, they needed a place for their growing families to live. Houses were being built as fast as possible, but alternatives were actively sought.

The idea of sections of a house being prefabricated in a factory has continued to grow. In fact, a new breed of young architects is devoted to bringing these modular homes to the masses via these construction techniques that originated in the post-WWII United States. The houses still comply to local and state codes, of course, and should have the same longevity as its stick-built cousin. Modular homes may or may not be less expensive than a stick-built home. It really all depends on the finishing touches, which is a personal decision. The timeline for construction, however, is dramatically improved. Without weather to impede their progress, workers can produce modular sections all year long.

The Manufactured

A manufactured house is another construction method meant to streamline the process and reduce costs. Like pre-fabs, manufactured houses start their life in a factory. Full sections of house are pre-assembled in a climate-controlled factory and shipped on truckbeds to the site. With the help of cranes and heavy equipment the two halves, or three sections, are joined together by professionals on a foundation of the homeowner’s choosing. The mechanical systems are all pre-installed and just need to be hooked up on site, which also speeds up the construction process and, in turn, reduces labor costs. Like all the other construction methods, manufactured homes conform to all state and local building codes. Sometimes this style of construction is called a mobile home, but, typically, they only move once.

Your House

There is no right or wrong construction method to choose. All can meet state and local building codes and, at the conclusion of the construction process, all give you a shelter. You need to find one that works with your family’s needs and your budget. If you are looking for a hands-on project, a kit home may be the right choice for you. If time is of the essence a factory option like pre-fab or manufactured may be a better option. Research your choices, find the space and floor plan that works and ask questions. Lots of questions. An informed homebuyer always makes better choices.