Modular … Manufactured… Mobile … Park Model?

What’s the Difference?
Many people are confused by the terminology surrounding the terms used in the Manufactured Home Industry. In North America, the term “manufactured homes” specifically refers to a house built entirely in a protected environment under a provincial code set by the CSA (Canadian Standards Association) certified quality assurance program ensures that each home is inspected at every stage of construction.  A manufactured home is a term used in the industry when discussing factory built homes.  “Manufactured” homes technically include modular homes, mobile homes, and park models.

Modular Homes:
These homes are also referred to as pre-fabricated or factory-built. Modular homes are built to be placed on concrete foundations, either a crawl space or full basement. They have an engineered wooden floor system and are usually craned onto the foundation. They are built to the same building code as site built homes (A277 building code).

Mobile Homes:
These homes are referred to as manufactured homes (therein lies the confusion!!) or sometimes as trailers. You would usually associate these homes with Mobile Home Parks or as a second residence on private land.

Mobile homes are built on a steel frames and are placed on some type concrete blocks or pilings.  They are usually skirted and are built to the Z240 building code.

Park Model Homes:
Park Model homes are a hybrid between a Mobile Home and RV. They are generally less than 550 sq. ft. They are typically placed in resort parks or communities and are built to a Z241A building code. Each type of home has its own Standard Features and Optional Features which can be found under Floor Plans