Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Take a Virtual Factory Tour to Learn About the Quality of Today’s Manufactured Homes

Factory Tours Shed Light on the Quality, Affordability of Today’s Manufactured Homes

MHVillage recently accepted an invite to Northern Indiana for a pair of extremely enlightening factory tours. Of the multiple factories to tour available, we choose Fairmont Homes in Nappanee and Clayton Homes at Wakarusa.

We want to share these great factory tours here with you!

Industry veteran George Allen began organizing the Manufactured Home Seminars and Factory Tours three years ago. He conducted them this year in collaboration with the Indiana Manufactured Housing Association.

The association will take over curating the event next year and for the foreseeable future.

Factory tours are organized to help educate community owners, in particular. However, they were kind enough to include some of us marketing and media types too! The idea is to better convey the efficiency and quality of modern manufactured homes. This is true for the construction process as well as the finished product.

The manufactured housing seminars helped manufactured housing professional understand how to buy directly from the factory.

The Sites and Sounds of a Manufactured Home Factory Tour

We were certain to take many photos and video in order to bring you the sites and sounds of a modern, efficient manufactured home factory.

So let’s get started at the lone location Fairmont Homes uses to turn out homes. The company started in 1971. Fairmont was run by the Shae brothers, Jim and John, until 2015 when Cavco Industries purchased the company.

Joe Viglione, the general sales manager for Fairmont, led the tour for our MHInsider folks. Also along for the tour was a pair of owner/operators from Choice Properties, Rob Shouhayib and Michelle Hatfield.

We started in the floor factory. The floor plant is one of three on-site that employs about 200 people. All together, they cover 90,000 square feet of manufacturing space.

One of the quality control measures Fairmont Homes implements is the inclusion of “ladder ends” on the floors. This works as a buffer between the home’s plumbing and outdoor conditions.

Plumbing and electrical wiring are installed during floor construction rather than at the end of the home build. This makes it easier on workers who otherwise would have to access tight spaces. And it would mean more clean up at the finish. With aspects of the the home finishing done in-line with construction, home comes out cleaner. The process keeps the factory in a much more safe and orderly state.

“We use all oak flooring and it’s all interlocked for a much stronger floor than you’d get otherwise,” Viglione explained. “And when all the floors are completed, the seams are sanded flat for a better surface and also noise reduction.”

The home enters the assembly plant

Flooring is finished prior to the assembly stage, which is the install of walls and other vertical components. Major fixtures, appliances and some cabinets are installed. Again, the earlier iteration for these home amenities, such as Fairmont’s standard single piece fiberglass tubs, increases ease of installation for the builder. And it allows any difficulties with installation to be addressed before the home is near the end of the line and being prepped for transportation.

While the single piece tub is standard, all types of upgrade options are available. Rob Shouhayib asked about changes that would aid in access for people with disabilities or older residents.

Viglione said 36”-wide interior doors are available for homeowners who use a wheelchair or other assistance devices, and that surface levels and access to bath and show can be altered as well.

Some Cabinets, Appliances and Fixtures Go in Before the Walls

All of the Fairmont homes are built in batches, so the same product is moving down the line at the same time. With a single builder engaged in the construction of homes that move side-by-side, the ease of building and time efficiency is increased.

So, single sections are built side by side in a run. Later, the same line might take pairs of multi-section homes. Meanwhile a separate line of workers are building Fairmont park models or modular homes.

The saved time during the in-line building process give the homes an extra day to settle,

dry and cure — full two days to sit rather than shipping after a single day with increased risk of something moving, cracking or coming apart.

Fairmont also use 90-degree OSB corners for added home integrity during shipping.

The Fairmont Homes factory runs 220 days a year and produced eight homes a day — That’s about 1,760 homes per year out of a single location.

Clayton’s New Wakarusa Factory

The new Clayton Homes factory in Wakarusa was a year old the day we visited. I and others from the MH industry looking for a tour, including Bill Sheffer and Darren Ing, the MMHA executive director and director respectively, gathered in a bright and modern team cafeteria.

Clayton Homes builders and office workers alike have access to the dining area, which has plenty of table and counter space, as well as TVs for checking in on the news or the game of the day perhaps.

After some conversation with Clayton folks, including with Wakarusa General Manager Jason Mickley about all the positive impact support and investment from Berkshire Hathaway has meant, we walked on to the gleaming new factory floor.

Clayton Home Builds by the Minute for Each Line

With 150 employees in the new factory Clayton Homes is able to turn out 14 new homes each day.

Building products are sourced through other Berkshire Hathaway companies when possible. This includes flooring and windows. With this kind of relationship and buying power, Clayton can keep costs down and pass that savings to the homeowner.

“We can control and drive our quality because they’re a part of this company,” Sales Manager Todd Fields said of the Berkshire relationship.

The Wakarusa plant has 18 Stations

A fair amount of bartering goes on between the Clayton builders each day.

“So we have 18 ‘buy offs’ internally,” Fields explained “If I have the walls and you’re building the floor, I get to ‘buy’ that floor from you. This is a primary driver of quality because each person up the line wants the best product to work with and be able to do their job with what they’re getting to the best of their ability.”

Fields pointed out how the new factory floor provides automated support that helps builders lift and strain less than typically do in older factories. Builders create jigs and other in-house measures to simplify the process. For example, they use a long jig with nail guns set in so interior floor trusses can be pinned together for the full width of the floor in a single shot.

Easing the heavy lifting allows builders to focus on their specialized skills as the homes move down the line. Fields said Wakarusa, at the time of the factory tour, was 150 days in to no-lost time injuries and hadn’t had an OSHA infraction for more than a year.

When the Roof Goes On a Full Interior Team Goes In

“As soon as the roof is set, it’s all hands on deck,” Fields said. “There’s much more energy on the home as it moves through the build, and that’ where our efficiencies really kick in.”

Matt Handshoe is the production manager at Wakarusa. He said Clayton has focused on team accommodations in plants largely because recruiting qualified builders is difficult.

“People can be hard to find and keep,” he said. “It’s the quality of the workplace and the experience that keeps our talent here. And our level of expertise on the floor is the top factor for achieving the quality construction we expect here.”

A high school graduate with a willingness to learn can start at Wakarusa for $12-15 per hour. The average wage in the plant is $20 per hour. A young motivated employee can quickly make $50,000 annually and learn a valuable trade.

Factory Expansion, Optimization is the Trend

CEO Kevin Clayton recently said the push is to improve every location rather than push resources to opening new plants. The growth mode for Clayton today means automating and expanding.

The company has invested more than $75 million to existing plants nationwide in last two years.

“You can add stations to a line, which generally allows you to build and move more floors,” Clayton said.

Chemical-Free Home Maintenance

A Chemical-Free Home is Achievable Even on a Budget

What if we still painted our homes with lead?

Mixed with pigment, lead leaves a shiny, white finish. It was a standard for decades.

But 40 years ago, the dangers of lead became clear. Home painters exchanged shiny walls for fewer health risks.

Imagine putting a can of lead under your sink, using it to mop your floors in an unventilated home, spraying it on your tub or shower to kill germs.

We scoff at that idea, but hardly bat an eye when dowsing our homes in chemicals that could harm us if we accidentally drank a glass. They at least irritate our lungs each time we use them. In 2016, household cleaners were responsible for 11 percent of toxic exposures reported to the Poison Control Center in the United States. Children are particularly at risk.

What Researchers Say About the Importance of a Chemical-Free Home

Studies have increasingly shown that people often exposed to home cleaners are more likely to develop asthma. And some research suggests certain common, home-cleaner chemicals cause cancer cells to multiply – but this research is still in its beginning stages.

The American Lung Association (ALA) warns against volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These include chemicals found in paint, oven cleaner, hand soap, window cleaners, etc. Generally these can cause asthma, respiratory problems, nausea and a variety of other symptoms, as listed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

What Are the Best Chemical-Free Home Solutions?

A few basic ingredients prove just as effective for home maintenance: Vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda and even microfiber cloths – paired with elbow grease – can clean your home just as well in most instances.

If you don’t want to make your own products, there are plenty of brands that are non-toxic and green; just be aware of “greenwashing”. Just because something is “biodegradable” or “natural”, doesn’t mean it’s actually helping the environment. Look for legitimate logos, like the “Design for the Environment” logo by the EPA, the Green Seal or the EcoLogo.

According to the EPA, two main types of ingredients — surfactants and builders — can harm the environment. Surfactants help remove dirt but are toxic to aquatic life. Builders change water quality so it cleans better, but builders like inorganic phosphate can lead to a loss of oxygen in waterways. The EPA requires products bearing its label to use safer versions of these products and use low amounts of VOCs.

Suggestions for chemical-free home maintenance

Not only will switching to natural ingredients for a chemical-free home help improve your health, it will help the environment, too. Below are some suggestions for why and how to change up your home cleaning routines for the better.

Last year, the FDA forced hand-and-bar soap companies to stop using antibacterial ingredients, like triclosan, in hopes of keeping bacteria from building up resistance and transforming into superbugs. Some concerns remain for other ingredients in many big-brand soaps, though. Instead, wash your hands or dishes with a simple castile soap, like
Dr. Bronners. Instead of Windex, use vodka to get that squeaky-clean shine. Window cleaner often contains ammonia. Its fumes can cause eye and throat irritation – leading even to blindness – on their own; when exposed to bleach fumes, ammonia creates a noxious gas.
Sometimes I fall prey to the “just-cover-everything-in-bleach” method. But the ALA warns bleach can contribute to chronic respiratory problems and may aggravate asthma. Instead, just cover everything in vinegar. The smell dissipates pretty quickly. Since vinegar contains acetic acid, it’s still good to ventilate the rooms you clean. Anyone can find plenty of recipes with a simple web search. For example, instead of fabric softener, remove static by adding white vinegar to your wash. Keeper of the Home suggests this all-purpose home cleaner: In a spray bottle, combine half a cup of vinegar, two tablespoons of baking soda and fill with water. Adding essential oils can cut the vinegar smell.
Dish washing and laundry detergents are notorious for containing surfactants, builders and VOCS. Instead, (another Keeper of the Home recipe!) for dishes, try a concoction using one cup of Safer-Choice certified Lemi-Shine, one cup salt, one cup baking soda, two cups Borax and then placing in an air-tight container. Try this recipe for laundry detergent.
Make a simple insect repellent for home or yard by blending mint leaves, water and rubbing alcohol, then spraying the mixture in offending areas. Here is another great resource on 24+ Simple Ways to Repel Mosquitoes.
Paints no longer contains lead, but usually utilize VOCs that off-gas as the paint dries — it’s not the best to inhale. At minimum, make sure to keep your home ventilated when painting. Or try one of these non-VOC paints.

Petite Retreats’ Tuxbury Tiny House Village Opens to Big Crowd

Petite Retreats welcomed the public to a grand opening event for the Tuxbury Tiny House Village on Saturday, May 19, and the crowd was anything but tiny.

An estimated 1,200 guests gathered to celebrate the group’s first Tiny House Village in the Northeast. Attendees lined up for the opportunity to tour five unique tiny houses at Tuxbury Pond RV Resort, which sits on the border of Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

“We are very pleased with the turnout. It was great to hear the positive feedback on these types of unique vacation rentals offered by Petite Retreats from the attendees,” spokeswoman Pat Zamora said.

Tiny Home Village Provides Unique Retreat

The Tuxbury Tiny House Village is the latest in a series of unique accommodations Petite Retreats has launched across the country over the past two years.

“Petite Retreats has proven to serve the interest of today’s travelers who are looking for a truly unique vacation experience that a typical hotel stay can’t deliver,” Zamora said.

Free wood-fired pizza, gifted with individual s’mores kits and had the opportunity to register to win a free one-week stay in a tiny house of their choice. Visitors from all over the Northeast made the trip to see tiny houses Emerson, Henry, Clara, Riley, and Murphy in person.

Petite Retreats offers Tiny Houses among its variety of unique vacation rentals, including yurts, cabins, cottages, tents and teepees, across more than 180 RV resorts and campgrounds nationwide. Three additional Tiny House Villages have been opened by Petite Retreats over the last two years, including Mt. Hood Tiny House Village outside Portland, Ore., Leavenworth Tiny House Village outside of Seattle, and the Verde Valley tiny houses near Sedona, Ariz.

About Petite Retreats

Petite Retreats is a collection of unique accommodations across the U.S., offering one-of-a-kind vacations to guests. Owned and operated by Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc. (NYSE: ELS), Petite Retreats and its affiliates offer vacationers the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors in top vacation destinations, complemented with resort-style amenities. Petite Retreats’ unique accommodations consist of tiny houses, cabins, yurts, tents and teepees. Visit www.PetiteRetreats.com for more information.

Renters Insurance for Mobile Homes: The Case for Residents

Renters Insurance for Mobile Home Residents is Advisable for Many Reasons

The reasons why a resident might want renters insurance for their mobile home are much the same as someone living in any dwelling, but the differences do matter.

Renters who live in a community setting, for instance, tend to be at greater risk of loss in comparison with the renter of a manufactured home on private land. The community resident has more neighbors. Therefore, they are likely to get more visitors, which increases risk.

Remember, renters insurance does more than protect your personal items. It also insures the well being of visitors. A friend may have a slip and fall. A contractor could sustain injury from a faulty system. Or, a neighbor could have a less-than-pleasant interaction with your pet.

So, when thinking about protecting your electronics and family keepsakes with renters insurance, also think about avoiding the potential cost of a nasty personal injury lawsuit.

What Does Renters Insurance Cost?

Renters Insurance, also known as HO-4, is one of the more affordable forms of insurance. In most areas of the country, regardless of whether you live in an apartment, condo, single-family house or a mobile home, renters insurance can be a good investment.

Renters insurance can be purchased for less than $300 per year, or approximately $25 per month. However, coverage can vary widely by state. Most plans include coverage for about $40,000 personal property. By talking with an agent and providing a good understanding of the value of your possessions, as well as risk of loss from a personal injury claim, the plan can be customized to include more or reduced coverage as needed.

What Does Renters Insurance Cover?

Possessions

Most often, renters consider insurance when they’re thinking of the security of their home and the value of their possessions. If someone breaks in and destroys or steals property, your renters insurance coverage will provide funds to re-purchase replaceable items. It’s important to understand how the plan provides coverage for the value of the item. Some plans cover replacement of the item. In other words, if you put added coverage into the plan you might be able to replace your stolen TV with the newest comparable product rather than simply getting a check for the value of a 3-year-old set.

Loss due to fire, high wind or other non-flood natural disaster work largely in the same way.

Loss of Availability

If that force of nature sends debris hurtling through your home, just for instance, you may sustain damage but lose little else. Renters insurance should provide funding for a hotel or other accommodations while roof repair, window replacements or other areas of the mobile home are being fixed up.

Liability

We covered this a bit in the opening section, but it bears repeating. Let’s say a friend falls off your porch, or the paperboy gets bit by your dog. A good renter’s plan will provide reimbursement for medical and recovery costs and protect the policy holder from a personal injury suit.

Beyond the Pale

One of the key options to look for with renters insurance is “out of home” coverage. Renters insurance may kick in to cover loss or damage to personal items even though the event occurred off property. Think about a laptop left in a hotel lobby, or your favorite guitar water damaged on the deck of a boat.

Five Reasons Manufactured Home Owners Should Consider a Smart Thermostat

Smart Thermostat Catches On in Factory-Built Market

What’s the difference between a programmable thermostat and the new smart thermostat? Well, the latest smart thermostat learns about you, for one thing.

You may see this as a giant step forward for humankind – or yet another step down a slippery slope, depending on your view of our increasingly robot-controlled future. Is it “The Jetsons” or “Terminator”?

For the Terminator-minded, be warned, the perks listed on Nest’s website read a bit like a horror film trailer: “It learns what you like… It knows when you’re away… It learns about your home.”

However, independent research shows that smart thermostats save money and energy, paying for themselves within a few months from purchase. One study even suggests residing in a manufactured home could increase the amount saved.

Nest is the market leader, but it has competitors in Honeywell and Ecobee, which offer smart thermostats with varying features, but they all offer similar perks. While Nest’s hook is its ability to learn from your patterns, Honeywell’s is its ability to know where you are, using your phone’s geofencing capabilities.

Before considering any thermostat, make sure it works with your HVAC system – some systems are incompatible, so make sure you ask the right questions about how your choice for a new smart thermostat will interface with your mechanical systems.

That said, let’s get into it!

Here are the market leader’s main perks, how its competitors stack up. And a bit on why manufactured home residents might find a smart thermostat useful:

1. I can learn from your patterns, but you also can set it manually.

After installing a Nest (the website claims a 30-minute, do-it-yourself installation time, while some reviewers suggest hiring a professional), you turn your heat or cool air up and down for a few days, based on your preferences. That’s all the time Nest needs to learn your patterns and begin automatically making these adjustments for you. You also have the option to log onto your interface, via an app, and manually set these patterns.

Your Nest also chooses the temperature by sensing whether you’re at home or away, using a mixture of your phone’s geofencing feature and activity sensors. Nest argues this combo is more precise than geofencing alone, but Honeywell’s VP and general manager AJ Smith is confident in his products’ abilities: He contends Honeywell’s thermostats have the “best geofencing capabilities on the marketplace.”

Smith also points out that learning features can be arbitrary while geofencing is the option most customers end up using. Honeywell’s thermostats also can learn about your schedule in the preset phase.

If you have a pretty consistent schedule, let your thermostat learn; if not, you might want to consider the thermostat that has the better geofencing capabilities. If you don’t have a smartphone… wait, if you don’t have a smartphone, you’re still in pre-“Terminator” times.

No need for a smart thermostat!

2. You can adjust your smart thermostat remotely

Via your phone, you can turn your home’s heat or cooling up or down with the slide of a finger. This is perfect if you’re on vacation and you know your neighbor is going to come by and water your plants, or if your babysitter brought the kids home early. Of course, you have to be aware that this is happening. Or just add the babysitter to your family’s app and let your Nest, Honeywell or Ecobee device sense that someone is approaching home.

With Honeywell and Ecobee you can just as easily adjust your home’s temperature from afar. The main issue here is that Google owns Nest; it doesn’t work well with Apple products or HomeKit. So if you’re an Apple user, consider Honeywell or EcoBee. All three brands’ latest versions work with Alexa and Android products, too.

3. The smart thermostat saves energy and money

There’s a good chance your manufactured home is Energy STAR certified, so why not choose a thermostat that is too? Nest, Honeywell and Ecobee now all offer Energy STAR thermostats – though Nest relishes that it was first. Nest contends programmable thermostats can’t prove they save energy or money. However, Nest has multiple white papers that show independent studies that point to energy savings. Overall, for heating, Nest showed around 13 percent energy savings compared to baseline homes. Manufactured homes, though an admittedly small sample size, saved up to twice as much energy in one study.

Honeywell and Ecobee thermostats are proven to save energy too. Before purchasing any smart thermostat, make sure to check if you can get a rebate from your electric company.

4. It learns about your home

Back to our Big Brother future?

Nest states the device uses data from your home and location when adjusting the temperature. If you’re letting it learn from you completely, it might notice you generally turn the heat up even more when it’s cold out, and start doing so for you.

Some reviewers have noticed their smart thermostats won’t heat or a cool a second floor in quite the same way. To combat this, Nest and Honeywell have created room sensors purchased separately, and use to heat different parts of the home differently.

The Ecobee4 comes with a wireless remote sensor that you can take with you into a different part of your home, so it has a better idea of the temperature there. Earlier versions have sensors, like its competitors.

The size of a manufactured home likely makes buying extra sensors unnecessary, so you’ll save money here too.

5. If you want all of your life to be ‘smarter’, pair a smart thermostat with other products

Users can pair your Nest thermostat with other Nest items, such as its security system or smart light bulbs. If you have a smart washer and dryer (look for the “works with Nest” logo), your Nest can wait until energy demand is low to run that next load of laundry.

You also can set up your Nest to work with a humidifier or dehumidifier, but Nest recommends professional installation. Just remember that Nest isn’t an Apple fan.

Honeywell and Ecobee also provide a number of smart home appliances and can work with HomeKit as well as Android and Google’s Alexa.

Now that we’ve covered the perks, here’s what’s on the market:

Nest

Nest’s second and third generations have relatively similar metal designs, but the third senses when you approach and shows the day’s weather on its LED display. You also can choose from a variety of colors. On Amazon, the third is actually about $60 less expensive right now. Nest also offers a more economical, sleeker, plastic version (Nest Thermostat E), but it works with fewer HVAC systems.

Honeywell

Honeywell has quite a few models. Its round Lyric smart thermostats compete with Nest aesthetically, while their larger, square thermostats have much busier screens. Beyond these aesthetic differences, both thermostats are relatively the same. They also offer a budget option, the Lyric T6. Some reviews suggest Honeywell’s interfaces are buggier than Nest’s, and to connect your Honeywell, you need a “C” wire, unlike the Nest — though having no “C” wire might come with its own complications and wifi outages.

Ecobee

The Ecobee4 comes with sensors, making it a bit pricier than Honeywell’s or Nest’s models. Older versions without sensors are comparable in price to its competitors’ models. Ecobee’s designs seem just as aesthetically pleasing as Nest’s, and the thermostats are installable with either a “C” wire or a power extender kit.

For the most part, reviewers seem to like the convenience and simplicity of their smart thermostats; just make sure to research the specs of each one you’re considering, to determine which is right for your home.

And rest easy. By all accounts, no one’s thermostat has taken on a mind of its own (yet)!

Definitions for Manufactured Home, Mobile Home, Modular Home, Park Model RV

definition of a modular home — Amherst by New Era Homes

Mobile Home, Manufactured Home, Modular Home, Park Model RV, Panelized Home, Tiny Home – A Definition.

All these terms! What is the difference?

People live in all sorts of different spaces. While home is simply “where you hang your hat,” it can be helpful to know what these industry terms mean. So, whether it is factory-built or pre-cut, motor home or RV, manufactured home or park model RV – let’s look at the definition of each.

Manufactured Homes:

Manufactured homes are built entirely in the factory, before being transported to their final site. They are installed under a federal building code administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (commonly known as the HUD Code) went into effect June 15, 1976. The federal standards regulate manufactured housing design and construction, strength and durability, transportability, fire resistance, energy efficiency, and quality. The HUD Code also sets performance standards for the heating, plumbing, air conditioning, thermal and electrical systems. Manufactured housing is the only federally-regulated national building code. On-site additions to the home such as garages, decks, and porches, often add to the attractiveness of manufactured homes and must be built to local, state or regional building codes.

Want more detail? Here’s a more in-depth definition of what a manufactured home is.

Definition of a Manufactured Home — Kabco Builders

Modular Homes:

Modular homes are residences built in a controlled factory environment in sections, or modules, and then transported to the construction site. There, they are installed on permanent foundations and completed by professional installers.

But there’s even more to like about modular homes.

Modular homes can reduce construction time by more than 35 percent, getting you into your new home faster so you can enjoy it longer. Site-built homes can take many weeks to complete, while modular homes are assembled on-site and usually finished within a week.

View a more in-depth definition of modular homes and modular construction.

Panelized Homes:

Panelized homes are factory-built homes in which panels a whole wall with windows, doors, wiring, and outside siding are transported to the site and assembled. The homes must meet state or local building codes where they are sited.

Prefab Homes:

Prefabricated homes, more commonly referred to as prefab homes, is the name for factory-built housing in which building materials are factory cut to design specifications, then transported to the final site for assembly. Prefab homes are a broader term covering several different home types including manufactured, modular, park models, kit homes, log, and dome homes. These homes must meet local, state, or regional building codes.

Mobile Homes:

definition of a pre-HUD home — 1968 mobile home for sale on MHVillage in Fort Myers Florida

While mobile homes are often the term used to describe manufactured homes, mobile homes are technically those produced prior to June 15, 1976, when the HUD Code went into effect. By 1970, these homes were built to voluntary industry standards that were eventually enforced by 45 of the 48 contiguous states. For additional building details, here’s a closer look at mobile home construction.

Park Model RV:

A park model RV is a unique trailer-type RV that is designed to provide temporary accommodation for recreation, camping or seasonal use. PMRVs (also sometimes referred to as recreational park trailers) are built on a single chassis, mounted on wheels and have a gross trailer area not exceeding 400 square feet in the set -up mode. They are certified by their manufacturers as complying with the ANSI A119.5 standard for recreational park trailers.

We spoke with the Director of Sales at Athen’s Park Model RV’s about the increasing consumer interest of Park Model Homes. Some of the growing trends are very interesting.

Recreational Vehicle or RV

MHVillage doesn’t have many RVs on their site, since they are geared towards Manufactured and Mobile Homes. So, let’s go to DMV.org for a definition of RVs:

The term “motor home” is often used interchangeably with “RV.” “Motor home,” however, is an informal phrase, used to describe a variety of recreational vehicles, while “recreational vehicle” (or RV) is a technical and legal term. RVs usually mean either a motor vehicle or trailer equipped with some of the amenities of home. Examples include kitchens and bathrooms.

Tiny Homes

You might also be wondering about Tiny Homes and how they fit in. If so, what is the definition of a tiny home, and how do tiny houses compare to park model homes? You can also check out our article featuring 6 gorgeous small mobile homes.

Arizona Manufactured Home Communities for Resort Living

Six Beautiful Arizona Manufactured Home Communities

Here at the MHVillager, we love to highlight beautiful manufactured home communities. There are gorgeous, welcoming communities nationwide. Indeed, whatever you are looking for, whether it is waterfront, golf, a place to retire, or to raise a family there is a community for you. In this article, we take a look at six Arizona Manufactured Home Communities. All of them excel in resort-style living.

Hacienda De Valenci: Mesa, Arizona

Hacienda De Valencia is a beautiful 55+ Arizona Manufactured Home community located in Mesa, Arizona. In fact, Hacienda De Valencia is located just two miles from Downtown Mesa. There you can find quaint shops wonderful restuarants, and shopping. In addition, there are also nearby cultural centers and museums.

The community offers organized activities to keep you involved. They have a large clubhouse for social events, a fitness center, shuffleboard courts, and a beautfiul community swimming pool. (Pictured above.) If you love to travel, Hacienda De Valencia also offers RV storage.

Contact the community and see homes that are available for sale on MHVillage by clicking here.

Glendale Cascade: Glendale, Arizona

This family friendly Arizona manufactured home community has a lot to offer! In addition to the area for Fido or Fluffy pictured above, Glendale Cascade has a clubhouse, billiard room, library, a heated pool and spa. In fact, they offer residents coffee and donuts every Monday. Plus cards, bingo, potlucks, and holiday celebrations. Every April, Glendale Cascade has a community BBQ. This community loves to do things for their residents.

Glendale Cascade is located just a mile and half away for downtown Glendale where you can enjoy a wide variety of activities such as antiquing, shopping, dining, and free concerts. Glendale is full of historic charm and state-of-the-art sports facilities.

To contact this community or see homes for sale on MHVillage, click here.

Buffalo Ridge: Phoenix, Arizona

This all ages community has a beautiful clubhouse with access the community pool. Have a furry companion? Two small pets are welcome. Additionally, Buffalo Ridge even offers an off-leash dog park for their comfort.

Buffalo Ridge, which is located in beautiful Phoenix, also offers residents mountain views. With easy access to the 101 and 51 freeways, it is easy to explore Arizona’s state capital city. Phoenix offers world-class restaurants, shops, cultural institutions and golf courses.

To contact this community or see the homes being advertised for sale on MHVillage, click here.

Desert Harbor: Apache Junction, Arizona

Desert Harbor is an active, resort-style 55+ community. And it is loacted near one of Arizona’s most magnificent natural settings – the Superstition Mountains. This gated community also has wide streets and beautiful common areas to enjoy. And check out that clubhouse! (Pictured above)

In addtion to all those ammenities, they also have a three-hole practice green. And they have two swimming pools! Residents enjoy wonderful weather and access to all that Apache Junction has to offer.

To contact Desert Harbor or see the homes being advertise for sale on MHVillage, click here.

Pine Shadows: Cottonwood, Arizona

Heading up to the mountains, Pine Shadows is a 55+ Community in Cottonwood, Arizona. True to its name, Pine Shadows is located in the tall pines with clear mountain air. North of Pheonix, Palm Shadows is just minutes from Sedona.

Palm Shadows offers an indoor swimming pool with water aerobics classes. Besides this, they have a relaxing spa. If you are a golfer, it is next to Coyote Springs Golf Course. They also have tennis courts, horseshoes, shuffleboards and billiards to keep you busy. Doesn’t that sound great?

For more information contact the Community Manager, or to see the homes listed for sale on MHVillage, click here.

Apollo Village: Peoria, Arizona

Did you know that Peoria, Arizona ranked among the top places in the nation for Best Places to Retire?

Equally, this pet friendly, 55+ active community will keep you busy! There is so much to do! Such as a beautiful swimming pool and a fitness center. Plus, it offers organized activities in the lovely clubhouse. Other reasons to love Apollo Village? It is just 1 mile from local area shopping and dining. And it is only 2 miles from area medical facilities. If you are more of the on-th-go type, they also offer RV sites.

With regards to more information about Apollo Village contact the Community Manager. Or to see the homes listed for sale on MHVillage, click here.

Mobile and Manufactured Home News- What Would You Like To Know?

What’s New in the World of Mobile and Manufactured Home News?

MHVillage has been and continues to be the first place to go when you are looking buy or sell a manufactured home. Over the years we continue to try and top ourselves adding additional advertisement options, and resources for customers. Lately our focus has been providing you up and coming mobile and manufactured home news!

Our current Mobile and Manufactured Home News Resources

This year we launched an industry-only magazine, The MHInsider, offering resources and connections for professionals in our industry.

We also redesigned the MHVillager and the MHInsider blogs! We are happy to say that we have continued to grow in traffic, responses and contributors month over month.

What sort of Mobile and Manufactured Home News would YOU like to read about?

We believe it’s important to listen and hear your customers, so we can better serve you and your needs. This way we can continue to be your “go to” place for Mobile and Manufactured home news!

That being said we are always looking for more suggestions from YOU for articles and topics.

You can send us your thoughts by commenting on this article, sending us suggestions on our social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter) or you can email directly!

How to Replace Mobile Home Windows

Replacing Your Mobile Home Windows – Here’s What You Need to Know

The need for mobile home replacement windows is the same as any other residential dwelling, typically on behalf of broken glass, disrupted window seals, or rotting wood. On the other hand, other reasons for a replacement could be to make your windows more energy efficient or to give them an enhanced look. The good news for manufactured homeowners, you aren’t faced with an overwhelming number of options that are often found with other residential structures.

With that said, here are some ‘need-to-knows’ for replacing your windows.

How to Measure Mobile Home Windows for a Replacement

Measuring a mobile home window to be replaced requires both vertical and horizontal measurements to be taken three times. Measure the left, center and right side of the window for vertical dimensions. Measure the top, center and bottom of the window for horizontal dimensions. From the measurements taken, order your new window to fit the smallest of each measurement.

Measure the windows from side jam to side jam (not the window itself) for horizontal dimension and from the head jam (top of the window frame) to the sill of the window for vertical dimensions.

This same measurement will apply to any type of replacement window you desire. In some cases, window trim may need to be removed for best results. And always move the sash out of the way while measuring.

Window measurements are represented with width dimensions first and height dimensions second, like 14-1/4″ x 35-3/4″.

Replacement Windows Also Are Called Pocket Windows

If the existing window to be replaced is in an un-compromised window jamb that remains square, the easiest and most cost-effective solution is to buy a replacement or “pocket window”.

This allows for the window to be slipped into the existing jamb, and screwed into place. If the frame or jamb is rotting, the entire window must be stripped down to the studs and the opening prepped for a new window.

Tools Used to Replace a Mobile Home Window

Regardless of whether the work will be done by a DIY-er or a trained professional, the same list of tools will be essential:

Safety glasses
Small pry bar
Tape measure
Level
Caulk gun
Hammer
Power drill/driver
Screwdriver
Putty knife
Utility knife
Waterproof shims

When making the decision to do the work yourself, consider that each window may take several hours to replace even if a pocket window is used. Consider the time investment versus paying a competitive professional And know that your frustration level sides with your wallet even if you’re wallet disagrees with your budget.

Vinyl Replacement Windows for Mobile Homes

Vinyl, as in most other residential settings, is the preferred choice in the U.S. market for a replacement window. More than half of the residential windows purchased are made with vinyl. Vinyl replacement windows create a more reliable seal than the aluminum counterpart. They come in a variety of styles, and often are little more expensive per unit.

Experts will tell you to look at a cross-cut section of vinyl windows you’re considering. This way you can see thickness of the vinyl, which will have an impact on performance. For a more rigid, airtight and durable window, opt for the 3 ¼” thickness.

As a reference point, Clayton Homes, the largest builder of factory homes in the market, about 90 percent of the time uses insulated vinyl, all double pane, single-hung, tilt-in sash windows.

The double-pane reduces energy loss and eliminates the need for storm windows. Single-hung windows also have much lower emissivity than double-hung, and the tilt-in sash is easy to remove from the frame for cleaning or in case of emergency.

In terms of style and look, vinyl windows require no paint and will keep a consistent look over time. The color won’t fade, because it’s solid in tone all the way through the vinyl material.

Aluminum Mobile Home Windows

Aluminum mobile home windows are less energy-efficient and won’t last as long, most likely, but they can be easier on the budget, especially if there are a large number of windows to replace. It’s not always the best option, but aluminum could be the best option for you depending on timing.

While aluminum is less energy efficient than vinyl products, it’s efficiency is much better than it was during the 1970s and ’80s, primarily because the product has become better at keeping cool air inside during warm months. However, aluminum still has difficulty doing the opposite, keeping warm air in during cold months. When cold air infiltrates the aluminum window it carries through the metal and can even frost the inside of the jamb. So, if considering aluminum windows, consider your climate.

Aluminum, alas, is quite good at sound dampening, so that’s a perk. Also, aluminum is a strong but light material, which aids in installation. And it can be bent a bit, or molded into position for older window openings that may have been compromised. If a dimension that will take a replacement mobile home window is more than ¼” out of square, aluminum could solve the problem. That is, if the dimensions aren’t so odd that re-framing becomes necessary.

Fiberglass Mobile Home Windows

Fiberglass is more durable than both vinyl and aluminum. The material retains rigidity better than other products, and can be painted. With no seam at the corners, as with vinyl windows, a painted fiberglass product is more likely to pass for the traditional wood frame window. It has a great amount of resistance to weathering, which means its energy efficiency will remain intact.

While there are some obvious perks to fiberglass mobile home windows, they do cost more than the competitors and can be more difficult to install as well.

Mobile Home Double Pane Windows

Double pane windows for a mobile or manufactured home can be a big upgrade in energy efficiency for a home, and also will eliminate the potential need for storm windows. The second pane, and the gas filled seal between the panes, can reduce emissivity by about 50 percent. The second pane also assists with sound dampening, so you’re less likely to hear street noise and your neighbors are less likely to hear you shouting at the ball game on TV. You’re welcome.

The other important aspect of double pane windows is what you don’t get. There typically is no reduction in clarity and visibility, so all the views that you enjoy today you will enjoy tomorrow, in greater comfort.

Mobile Home Storm Windows

Storm windows in, storm windows out. It’s all a matter of keeping the weather at bay, but going into deep and dark storage places to find and clean off old storm windows can become a cumbersome task. And, with time, storm windows tend to deteriorate. They become less effective, and less visually appealing.

When purchasing mobile replacement windows, ask yourself the double-pane questions. Do I want to put old storm windows on my newly installed windows. Do I want to buy new storm windows with my new replacement windows?

The obvious answer is to purchase double pane windows and make storm windows a thing of the past.

Energy-Efficient Replacement Windows

More so than double pane windows, energy efficient windows use added technologies to reduce emissivity. Some of these windows are called low-e windows, the “e” standing for emissivity. An application of invisible mineral coatings serve the purpose of hardening and reducing conductivity of the glass. The coatings reduce UV rays, so it take less energy to heat a home, and also protect fabric and color interiors from harmful rays.

How Much Does a Mobile Home Replacement Window Cost?

An individual window for a manufactured home can cost as little as $54 retail to about $300 per unit, depending on what features are of interest. Unit saving can be achieved by buying in bulk if more than one window is being replaced.

Used Mobile Home Windows

Alternatively, ebay and Craigslist can be viable options if you’re on a budget and want to buy a used replacement window. Chances are there is a good resale store in your area too. However, it’s all about the dimensions of your opening and the availability of a used replacement that will fit. But if cost is your concern, patience is a must. You have to find the right fit. And forgiveness for blemishes and stubborn operability will be important too.

Bella Core Offers Grout-Free Vertical Surfaces for Manufactured Homes

Bella Core Vertical Surfaces Provide Ease of Use, Durability, Cost and Look Customers Want

There is a new solution in the marketplace for mobile home bathroom walls, and it involves grout-free vertical surfaces for easy installation and maintenance, as well as a natural look.

Bella Core vertical surfaces come in a cost-efficient poly (PVC) representation of stone, and in natural thin-stone as well.

Anthony Tesvich is in outside sales with Bella Core. He said the poly product is made for manufactured homes even though it has applications in other sectors and industries as well.

“If the corner of the wall is not perfect or the wall is not flat, there usually is a problem with what’s traditionally been done in the market,” Tesvich said. “Because of the way this system is built for the industry, the Bella Core poly surfacing provides the play needed to fit the space and look the way you want it.”

Construction of the Bella Core Grout-Free Vertical Surfaces

I-beam construction of the panels provides a rigidity for a shower wall that stays. And the panels that intermesh rather than abut each other create a solid construction that will endure heavy use.

Tesvich said he has been touring manufactured housing factories and coaching retailers and their customers on the merits of the grout-free vertical surfaces, both in poly and natural thin-stone.

He said the reception in the market has been a warm one. This is because professional installers and DIY weekenders alike have experienced the frustration of working with tile and grout systems, which are difficult to install, or the cheaper alternative which damages easily and tends to slump. The Bella Core products create a middle ground for cost and quality that customers appreciate.

“We’re going to go show them the best thing they’ve never seen, and the reception is phenomenal,” Tesvich said. “This is what people are looking for to finish their bathrooms.

“We are looking to bring manufacturers into this new era of bathroom finish and appeal,” he said. “There is a style and design to a bathroom that’s finished this way that really raises the value of the entire home.”

Bella Core Was Made for Manufactured Housing

An installer works with Bella Core Grout-Free Vertical Surfaces

The Bella Core Poly system in particular works well because it’s lightweight and sealed with silicon. This type of construction will hold up dramatically better than tile and grout in a home that’s being transported and sited. While the thin-stone is heavier, it’s no less durable.

“Once the prep work is done, it’s somewhat like peel and stick,” Tesvich said of the Bella Core products. “That’s what the product does. It rolls up onto the wall. And it is real marble, real travertine that is being used. And, of course, the Poly system is a fabricated representation of this look.”

Someone with maintenance experience can install a new Bella Core system in two hours, Tesvich said. And the finished product repels water more readily than other systems, and is easy to wipe down.

If you save expenses on wall surfaces, resources can to a new pedestal sink or spa tub.

What Can You Expect to Spend on Grout-Free Vertical Surfaces?

The thin-stone product costs about 15 to 20 percent more than ceramic tile installation. However, it comes out about 15 percent less than if you were installing natural stone tiles. The Poly product costs about 12 percent more than fiberglass, which is often used. But the value over time far outweighs the up-front cost. And the poly is about 40 percent less than the acrylic solution, which often show air bubbles that create wear.

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