If a builder ever tells you that they can 'stick-build' or frame your new home BETTER than we can build your home through panelization, ask them this question: "Do you build ALL of your roof trusses ON SITE or are they factory built and delivered to the homesite?"

Many people, including real estate professionals are surprised when they learn that as early as 1987, fifty (50) percent of all new housing produced in the United States was built in a controlled factory environment.  To begin with, it's important to understand the terms and definitions associated with 'factory built housing.'

Factory-built housing-A general term relating to all housing that is fully or partially assembled in a factory (versus the traditional "stick-built" housing that is cut/erected completely on site).  Factory-built homes are sometimes called pre-fabricated or 'pre-fab' and also 'Systems built' or 'Component built.' 

But be warned: not all factory-built homes are built to the same standards.  Other pre-fab options simply do not compare to a panelized home...  and unfortunately (for the new home buyer) not all panelized homes are built with the same quality materials as a Castle Gate Home.   

Panelized home-"Stick built off-site, assembled on-site."  Castle Gate Homes sells (and assembles) panelized homes.  The entire house super-structure or "shell" consisting of component parts (wall panels with integrated insulation, roof trusses, floor systems, and optional windows and exterior doors) are built and installed in a controlled automated factory and then transported to the building site (Castle Gate ships Internationally) for final assembly according to the house blueprints. 

Castle Gate Homes are built to meet, but in most cases far exceed the IBC, IRC and local building codes. 

When your Castle Gate Home shell is completed and erected on site it will look just like a quality "site-built" custom home construction.  In fact, in many cases the zoning/code enforcement inspector will think that the panelized Castle Gate Home was built completely on site but with superior materials and skilled craftsmanship.  Panelized homes look just like traditional on site "stick-built" homes, but have benefits that far exceed any "stick-built" house.  A panelized home can be custom built from any original blueprints; something other PRE-built, pre-fab systems can't do.

Modular house and manufactured (mobile) homes- Modular and manufactured homes are COMPLETELY built (shell, electric, plumbing, drywall, etc.) in a factory in one or more sections and then transported to the building site to be set on a foundation.  Modular and manufactured homes have limited models and styles; some modular companies do custom build, by they can't build ALL customs.  True custom building from ANY blueprint is impossible- they are limited to what can fit on a cargo truck. 

In recent years modular and manufactured homes have come a long ways in their surface aesthetic appeal but the super-structure (what you don't see) meets base quality construction standards of either the IBC or HUD code.  Generally, most people consider a modular house an upgrade to a mobile home, but even then, most discriminating home-buyers can see the difference in construction between a modular and a superior built panelized home. 

 Today- competent builders do NOT make their own roof trusses.  As early as the 1950's the "modern" concept of purchasing factory-built, pre-assembled roof trusses became the industry standard; saving time, labor costs, and materials waste. 

Logically, if your home-builder is using pre-assembled factory built roof trusses to save time, money and materials, doesn't it make sense to build the WHOLE house shell in the same manner? 

Even today, skilled framers that "stick-build" on site build individual wall panels on the ground and then raise the wall and brace... and then proceed to build the next wall panel nailing it to the first, and so on.  A panelized house is the same 'open face' construction except all the panels (the entire house shell) are built with automated PRECISION in the controlled protected environment of the factory instead of outside- exposed to the elements, built on the ground, and taking MORE time.