Based on home buyers’ desires, plans are drafted by the builder/dealer; detailed engineered drawings are prepared by the manufacturer; and then the drawings are reviewed for code compliance and approved by one of the third party engineers approved by the Maine Manufactured Housing Board.

Based on the detailed engineered plans, materials are ordered to the detailed specification by the manufacturers. When the materials are delivered to the factory, they are checked for compliance with specifications. For example all lumber is tested for moisture content, and materials are then stored under cover. Rejected materials are returned to the vendor or temporarily stored at the factory and sold to other builders with less stringent criteria.

Since the home is assembled inside, the process is not subject to the vagaries of weather and seasons. It is not limited to daylight hours and sunny days. At the end of a shift or day, the partially completed home does not have to be secured against vandalism and weather, which can be a time consuming part of each day for construction outside a factory.

The home is assembled in the factory by specialized teams under the supervision of an experienced leader or foreman at various stations as it moves through the factory. At each of these stations the home is subject to inspection by the third party engineers (who approved the detailed, engineered drawings for the home) thus assuring it is built in compliance with the plans. The completed home will be labeled by the third party engineers assuring the home complies with the plans.

When the home moves out of the factory it will have the manufacturer’s label and the third party engineer’s label as mandated by law. It is wrapped and weather tight ready for its transport to the home site. Regardless of who prepares the site, homes installed in Maine must be installed by a professional installer, again licensed by the Maine Manufactured Housing Board. When the installation is completed, the installer is required to sign and affix to the home an installation label from the Maine Manufactured Housing Board. This label includes the installation warranty and is mandated by law.

After the home is installed on the foundation, it must be connected to electrical service, to a domestic water supply, and to a heating system. The home buyer is free to do these connections or to contract with others. You should select a quality builder/dealer who will offer to supply these services. Completion is an important phase, and having an experienced, responsible builder/dealer do it will eliminate most difficulties.