HUD Code vs. MOD Code

What’s the difference between a HUD and a MOD home?

Purchasing a home is a big investment, so it makes sense that you’d want to make sure you are purchasing the right home, with the right standards, for you and your family. 

There are three main types of homes - Manufactured (HUD) homes, Modular (MOD) homes, and Site-Built homes. 
Site-Built homes are the easiest to define - they’re homes built directly on-site. Site-Built homes often require you to work directly with an architect or contractor, and tend to be more expensive than HUD or MOD homes. 
The other two require a bit more explanation: 

What is a Manufactured Home?

Manufactured homes are homes built in the controlled environment of a manufacturing plant and are transported in one or more sections on a permanent chassis to their final destination. Clayton Middlebury has been specializing in manufactured homes since 1936 - since which there have been a lot of improvements. 

Manufactured homes were originally known as mobile homes, but were officially separated from the “mobile home” name after the HUD Code Act of 1974. Now, modern manufactured homes are extremely different from mobile homes, both in terms of construction and design. Manufactured homes are constructed using quality materials inside climate-controlled building facilities. They also typically come in three sizes — single, double and triple section — and can range from under 1,000 sq. ft. to over 2,000.

What is a HUD Home?

HUD homes are manufactured homes built to the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (HUD Code) established in June of 1976. All HUD homes are required to display a red certification label on the exterior of each transportable section and a 8 ½” x 11” data sheet affixed to the side of the cabinet under the kitchen sink that shows that the home was constructed to the HUD code. The drain lines are all connected under the floor of a HUD home before it arrives at its final destination.

What’s the Difference between a Manufactured and Modular Home?

There can be a lot of similarities between HUD and MOD homes including floor plans! The main difference between manufactured and modular homes is that manufactured homes are built to the national HUD code, while modular homes are built to all applicable state and local building codes. This is similar to the way traditional site-built homes are constructed. The codes and standards a modular home is built to can vary based on the state as well as the county, city or township the home will be located in.

The individual State certification seals are attached in each half of the home, usually under the kitchen sink and in a closet. Modular homes are constructed and delivered to their final destination on a steel carrier which is returned to the factory. Drain lines are installed under the floor of a modular home by a licensed plumber after it is removed from the carriers and placed on a permanent foundation. HVAC systems may also be omitted on a modular home and installed on site by a licensed HVAC contractor.

Home Standards

ResidenceNeighborhoodEasy Street

Interior

  • 25 oz. Shaw® carpet with rebond pad & tack strip
  • 8’ flat ceilings throughout
  • Stipple ceiling finish
  • Finished ceiling joints
  • Drywall throughout
  • Builder grade primer throughout
  • LED recessed can lights throughout
  • Painted 3” door & window casing and 5” base trim
  • 2-panel white interior doors
  • 2” cordless vinyl blinds

Kitchen

  • 42” kitchen hardwood cabinets with crown and bottom lip molding
  • Kitchen island – VBP
  • Soft close drawers & doors
  • Lumber core cabinet stiles
  • 3/4” adjustable shelves in overhead cabinets
  • 8” stainless steel double bowl kitchen sink
  • Brushed nickel faucets throughout
  • Samsung® stainless steel appliances
    • 30” free-standing electric range
    • 18 cu. ft. frost-free refrigerator with icemaker
  • Bank of drawers
  • Drawer over door construction
  • GFCI protected receptacles

Bath

  • 60“ fiberglass tub/shower in primary bath & bath 2
  • High-pressure laminated countertops & backsplash with Micro-ban antimicrobial technology
  • Porcelain commodes
  • Square porcelain lavs
  • Power exhaust fans – ENERGY STAR®
  • GFCI protected receptacles
  • 36” tall vanities in both baths
  • Furniture style vanity with double lavs in primary bath
  • Stile framed mirrors – baths
  • Brushed nickel faucets throughout
  • Bank of drawers in primary bath

Modular specifications

  • 2” x 10” floor joists – 16” O.C.
  • R-21 wall insulation
  • R-49 roof insulation
  • Fiberglass heat ducts
  • 2” x 4” interior walls
  • 2” x 4” mateline wall
  • Metal cross bridging
  • 50 lb. Roof load

Exterior

  • Nominal 3/12 roof pitch
  • Architectural shingles
  • Metal facia
  • Vinyl vented soffit
  • 36” craftsman front door with thumb latch
  • 36” 6-panel rear door with deadbolt
  • Exterior light at front & rear door
  • 4 1/2” dutch lap vinyl siding
  • (2) Exterior GFI receptacles
  • (2) Exterior frost free faucets
  • Argon low-e vinyl windows with 3 over clear grids
  • Window surrounds on FDS
  • Kwikset® interior & exterior door knobs with Micro-ban antimicrobial technology

Construction

  • Steel I-beam recessed frame with detachable hitch
  • 2” x 6” floor joists – 16” O.C.
  • T&G OSB floor decking glued & fastened
  • 2” x 6” exterior walls
  • 30 lb. Roof load
  • Ridge vent roof venting
  • Linked smoke detectors with battery back-up in main living area & all bedrooms
  • 7/16” OSB exterior sheathing with Windwrap
  • Smoke/carbon monoxide detector
  • ENERGY STAR®
  • Zone III insulation package
    • R-30 blown ceiling insulation with vapor barrier
    • R-21 fiberglass insulation in walls
    • R-27 fiberglass insulation in floors

Utilities

  • 200 amp 40/40 service panel
  • Carrier® electric furnace
  • Programmable thermostat
  • 40 gallon electric water heater
  • Water heater pan with exterior drain
  • PEX plumbing
  • Wire & plumb for washer
  • Wire & vent for dryer
  • Recessed whole house water shut off
  • Water shut offs throughout
  • GFI protected receptacles in kitchen and baths
  • Furnace close-off door & water heater door – VBP
  • Conduit drop for A/C

Note: Wisconsin and Minnesota – no plumbing or furnace

Interior

  • 25 oz. Shaw® carpet with 5# rebond pad & tack strip
  • Finished ceiling joints
  • LED recessed can lights throughout
  • 3” door & window casing and 5” base trim
  • Ceiling fans in primary bedroom & living room
  • Pfister® metal faucets throughout
  • 2” blinds throughout
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Drywall throughout

Kitchen

  • Kitchen hardwood cabinets with LC stiles
    • 30” cabinets in single wides
    • 42” cabinets in multi-section
  • Stainless steel appliances
    • 30” DLX electric range
    • 18 cu. ft. frost-free refrigerator with icemaker
    • Garbage disposal
    • Dishwasher
    • Stainless steel range hood
  • Kitchen island standard – varies by print

Bath

  • 60” fiberglass shower in primary bath
  • Tub/shower in bath 2
  • Curved shower rod – bath 2
  • Towel bar & tissue holders throughout
  • Bank of drawers in primary bath (DW only)

Exterior

  • 14’ dormer – multi-section only
  • (2) Exterior GFI receptacles
  • (2) Exterior frost-free faucets
  • Argon gas low-e vinyl windows
  • Shutters all around
  • Raised siding for skirting
  • Kwikset® interior & exterior doorknobs with Micro-ban antimicrobial technology

Utilities

  • 200 amp
  • Carrier® electric furnace
  • Programmable thermostat
  • 40-gallon electric water heater
  • Water shutoffs throughout
  • Furnace & water heater doors
  • Conduit drop for A/C

Construction

  • 2” x 6” exterior walls
  • 20# roof load
  • Architectural shingles
  • 7/16” OSB exterior sheathing with windwrap
  • Pier savers on doors (varies by print)
  • Zone III insulation package
    • R-30 blown ceiling insulation with vapor barrier
    • R-21 fiberglass insulation in walls
    • R-27 fiberglass insulation in floors
    • Heat ducts with in-floor crossover (multi-section)

Interior

  • Shaw® 25 oz carpet with 5# rebond pad tack strip
  • 9’ sidewalls
  • Stipple ceiling finish
  • Finished ceiling joints
  • Drywall throughout
  • Builder-grade primer throughout
  • “Closet maid” ventilated wire shelving in closets
  • LED recessed can lights throughout
  • Painted MDF 3” door, 2 1/4” window casing and 5” base trim
  • 2-panel white interior doors
  • Tray ceiling – primary bedroom
  • Drapes – living room

Kitchen

  • Kitchen cabinets to ceiling – VBP
  • Solid surface countertops – kitchen
  • Hardwood cabinet doors & stiles
  • Concealed European-style counter-sunk hinges
  • 3/4” adjustable shelves in overhead cabinets
  • 27” x 10” stainless steel kitchen sink with black gooseneck faucet
  • Samsung appliances
    • 30” DLX electric range – stainless steel
    • 26 cu. ft. side-by-side refrigerator with icemaker – stainless steel
    • Built-in microwave
    • Dishwasher – stainless steel
    • Upgraded range hood
  • Recessed LED can lights in kitchen
  • Bank of drawers
  • Quartz island
  • Drawer over door construction
  • Can light in dining room – VBP
  • Pendants over island
  • Soft close kitchen drawers & doors
  • Black pantry door

Baths

  • 60” ceramic shower & freestanding tub in primary bath
  • 60” 1PC fiberglass tub/shower – bath 2
  • Bank of drawers in primary bath & bath 2
  • High-pressure laminated countertops & backsplash with Micro-ban antimicrobial technology
  • Porcelain commodes
  • Square porcelain lavs
  • Power exhaust fans
  • Lighted vanity mirrors – primary bath
  • Over mirror vanity lights – bath 2
  • 36” tall vanities in both baths
  • Furniture style vanity – primary bath
  • Pfister® metal faucets – black

Modular specifications

  • 2” x 10” floor joists 16” O.C.
  • R-21 wall insulation
  • R-49 roof insulation
  • 2” x 4” interior walls
  • 2” x 4” mate line wall
  • 40/40 200 amp service panel
  • Metal cross bridging
  • Smoke/carbon monoxide detector

Exterior

  • 5/12 roof pitch
  • Architectural fiberglass shingles
  • Metal facia
  • Vinyl vented soffit
  • 36” craftsman 3-light front door with deadbolt & thumb latch handle
  • 36” prairie rear door with deadbolt
  • Exterior light at front & rear door
  • 4 1/2” dutch lap vinyl siding
  • (2) exterior GFI receptacles & faucets
  • 72” low-e vinyl windows with 3 over clear grids
  • Vinyl window surrounds (doorside)
  • Recessed entry – HUD only
  • Argon gas windows

Utilities

  • 200 amp service panel
  • Electric Carrier® furnace
  • Programmable thermostat
  • 40-gallon electric water heater
  • Water heater pan with exterior drain
  • PEX plumbing
  • Wire & plumb for washer
  • Wire & vent for dryer
  • Recessed whole house shut-off
  • Water shut-offs throughout
  • GFCI-protected receptacles in kitchen and baths
  • Furnace & water heater close-off DR
  • Smoke detector
  • 3-way switch – hall
  • USB-C recept in kitchen

Note: Wisconsin and Minnesota – no plumbing or furnace

Construction

  • Steel I-beam frame with detachable hitch
  • 2” x 8” floor joists – 16” O.C.
  • T&G ODB floor decking glued & fastened
  • 2” x 6” exterior walls – 16” o.C.
  • 30 lb. roof load
  • Ridge vent roof venting
  • Linked smoke detectors with battery back-up in main living & all bedrooms
  • 7/16” OSB exterior sheathing with windwrap
  • Kwikset® interior & exterior door knobs with Micro-ban antimicrobial technology
  • Zone III insulation package
    • R-30 blown ceiling insulation with vapor barrier
    • R-21 fiberglass insulation in walls
    • R-27 fiberglass insulation in floors