If you’ve watched a crane lift a section of a home into the air, you’ve probably wondered how the process works. How is the home built? How do the sections come together? And what happens after they reach the foundation?
Setting a modular home takes planning, precision, and a coordinated crew. Here’s a closer look at the journey from factory construction to a finished home.
A modular home begins inside a factory, where it is constructed in sections called modules, sometimes referred to as “boxes.”
Modular homes are built to the applicable state and local building codes for the location where they will be placed—the same applicable residential building codes used for site-built homes. Building inside a factory changes where construction happens; it does not remove the requirement to meet building codes.
Before the home can be set, its permanent foundation must be ready. Depending on the home’s design and approved foundation plan, this may include a basement or crawlspace.
The crew also plans where the crane and home sections will be positioned. Foundation readiness, delivery access, module weight, and the distance the crane must reach all help determine the equipment and setup needed for the job.
Once the modules are ready, they are transported by truck to the customer’s property on carriers.
Rather than arriving as loose building materials, the home arrives in constructed sections that will be placed and joined at the site. The number and arrangement of those sections depend on the home’s design.
On a crane set, the crew connects each module to lifting equipment, known as rigging. Depending on the system, this can include straps or cables that support the module during the lift.
The crane lifts the section off its carrier, moves it toward the foundation, and carefully lowers it into position while the set crew guides its placement. This process is repeated for the remaining modules.
The first section is especially important because its placement establishes the alignment for the sections that follow. Once positioned, the modules are joined together and secured to the foundation.
After placement, the crew completes the necessary roof work and closes the home against the weather. The exact work depends on the home’s design.
Set day is a major milestone, but it does not mean the home is ready for move-in. Additional work can include utility connections, heating and cooling setup, and finishing drywall, flooring, siding, and other areas where the sections meet. Required inspections and any applicable occupancy approval also need to be completed.
A modular home set brings together factory construction and on-site work. Each section is delivered, carefully positioned, connected, and finished to create a complete home on a permanent foundation.
Want to learn more about building a modular home? Talk with a Middletown Homes home consultant about your options and what the process could look like for your property.