Who says in life you can’t have it all? With Wausau building systems you can have Your Dream, Your Way. Check
out our extensive online interactive plans where you can see how each plan actually lives. Choose the features and options you’ve always wanted and actually drop
them into the plan. See how it would look with a kitchen island or an expanded living room. Add a den or change the outside appearance or “elevation”. Then
save your favorite floor plans to share with family and friends.
Don’t let your money and your time be wasted! With Wausau building systems, the components of your home aren’t left outside, exposed to weather, theft
and vandalism. The elements of your Wausau home are built inside in a controlled environment on specialized equipment. These components are later transported to your home site
for final assembly and finishing of the interior. The whole process for construction of your home is only 90-120 days! (Check with your builder for actual schedule. Site
conditions may require a different timeframe.)
The quality doesn’t end when the components leave Wausau’s plant! To ensure excellence from start to finish, Wausau works exclusively with independent, professional
builders in your area because they know the local laws and regulations, have established relationships with reputable subcontractors, and are the most suited to build Your Dream, Your Way
Wausau building systems control costs, save time and improve quality. Find out more about the benefits of modular and component building below:
1. Component Construction builds homes according to national HUD code instead of local building code.
True or False? Answer this question now»
There is a lot of confusion over the names that
describe the different types of homes and the
different ways homes are built. Wausau Homes builds
using two types of construction methods: Component
Construction and Modular Construction.
Please see our frequently asked questions
below:
What
is Component Construction?
Component
Construction builds homes according to local
building codes using traditional framing details.
Components are built in a factory as roof trusses,
wall panels and floor panels. The components
are transported to the job site where they are
assembled into place with a crane. Completion
of the exterior and interior of the home is
done at the job site.
What
is Modular Construction?
Modular
Construction starts out the same as Component
Construction with roof trusses, wall panels
and floor panel components. With Modular Construction,
the components are assembled into three dimensional
modules in the factory. Most of the exterior
and interior of the modules are completed at
the factory. The modules are transported to
the job site and set in place with a crane.
Homes generally consist of two or more modules.
What
is the difference between Component Construction
and Stick Built Construction?
Stick
Built Construction refers to the building method
where the entire home is built at the jobsite
stick by stick. Today few homes are built completely
as Stick Built Construction because most homes
use components that are built in a factory such
as roof trusses, windows, pre-hung doors and
cabinets. Component Construction just continues
the trend by building walls and floors as components.
Both Component and Stick Built Construction
follow the same local building code and use
the same traditional framing details. Component
Construction builds inside in a controlled environment,
on specialized equipment with all of the materials
within easy reach. Stick Built Construction
builds outside on the ground in all types of
weather and has to work with material where
ever the lumber yard dumps it.
The main advantages of Component Construction
are that the builder has much better control
of their costs, the homes are framed in much
more quickly and there is less weather damage
and theft at the jobsite.
What
is the difference between Modular and Mobile Home
Construction?
Mobile
Home Construction refers to a building method
where the home is built according to a national
HUD code instead of the local building code.
This code allows mobile homes to be built with
different and often lesser quality standards
than regular houses. The goal is to provide
housing that is more affordable than regular
housing. The main disadvantages of mobile homes
are that they depreciate in value, they do not
qualify for conventional mortgages and insurance
costs are higher. The characteristic that is
most unique to mobile homes is that the floor
is a metal chassis with removable wheels that
is used to transport the home to the job site.
The only similarities between the two methods
of construction are that the homes are built
as modules and they are both built in factories.
Many mobile home companies also produce modular
homes in the same factory. These modular homes
built by mobile home companies are built according
to local building codes but often contain the
same lesser quality materials and are built
with the same lesser quality standards as mobile
homes. Wausau Homes does not build mobile homes
and only uses high quality materials and standards
in our modular homes.
What
is a manufactured home?
Technically
a manufactured home is a mobile home. In 1976
the US Government adopted a national HUD building
code for mobile homes. In that program they
defined mobile homes as manufactured homes and
the mobile home industry has since adopted that
name. A better name to use for these types of
homes is manufactured mobile homes.
How
can I tell the difference between homes built
with each of these construction methods?
You
need to find out what building code the home
is being built to. The home is a manufactured
mobile home if it is built following the national
HUD building code. The most unique characteristic
is that the floor is a steel chassis. The home
is a regular home if it follows the local building
code. All regular homes use components that
are built in a factory. The degree of completion
in a factory is what defines the difference
between modular, component and stick-built homes.
All three of these types of homes are indistinguishable
from each other when the home is finished.
the main benefits of Component Construction
are:
- The builder is better able to
control costs for the homeowner
- Homes are framed in faster
- Homes are built in a controlled environment
minimizing weather damage and theft at the jobsite
The building process begins by engineering the
home on a 3D computer system. Our engineers analyze
the home to make sure it is structurally sound.
The 3D engineering system interfaces with our
order management system to order all of the material
needed to build the home.
Components are built as floor panels, wall panels
and roof trusses in our state of the art production
facilities. The 3D engineering system interfaces
with computer controlled saws to accurately and
efficiently cut material. Specialized equipment
is used to build the components in a quality and
efficient manner. And the best part is that the
components are built indoors in a controlled environment
which minimizes weather damage and jobsite theft.
Components are loaded onto trucks and delivered
to the jobsite. A typical home is delivered on
three loads.
At the jobsite, the builder puts in the foundation
and supervises a four person subcontract crew
that assembles the components onto the foundation
using a crane. The crew generally completes all
of the framing in 2-5 days depending on the size
of the home.
Exterior completion material such as siding and
shingles are delivered with the framing components.
The builder coordinates the installation of these
materials after framing is complete.
On the inside of the home, the builder coordinates
plumbers, electricians, insulating contractors,
sheetrock hangers and drywallers.
Once drywalling is complete, Wausau Homes delivers
the remaining interior completion materials such
as cabinets, countertops, interior doors and trim.
The builder coordinates the installation of these
materials and the finishing of the home.
The main benefits of Modular Construction
are:
- The builder is better able to
control costs for the homeowner
- Homes are completed faster
- Homes are built in a controlled environment
minimizing weather damage and theft at the jobsite
The building process begins by engineering the
home on a 3D computer system. Our engineers analyze
the home to make sure it is structurally sound.
The 3D engineering system interfaces with our
order management system to order all of the material
needed to build the home.
A typical modular home is comprised of two to
four modules. Modular homes are built following
local building codes and use proven building techniques.
The first step is to build components in our state
of the art production facilities and assemble
them into three dimensional modules. We complete
most of the exterior and interior of the modules
in our plants. On the exterior of the modules
we install the windows and most of the siding,
shingles and other architectural details. On the
inside of the modules we install all of the wiring,
plumbing, insulation and sheet rock. After drywalling
is complete, we install plumbing fixtures, light
fixtures, cabinets, countertops, interior doors
and trim.
The modules are loaded onto special trailers and
delivered to the jobsite.
At the jobsite, the builder coordinates the placement
of the modules onto the foundation with a crane.
After the modules are in place, the builder seals
up the roof. On the outside, the builder assembles
the garage components and installs all of the
siding, shingles and architectural treatments
that were not installed at the plant. On the inside,
the builder finishes off the connection between
the modules and coordinates installation of carpeting
and other miscellaneous items.
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