Coastal living isn’t just a location, it’s a lifestyle. Sandy beaches. Cool breeze. Boating. Paddleboarding. Easy pace.
It has risks too. The weather can be severe. Hurricanes hit hard with floods that can damage strong homes that have been around for many years. If you build near the beach, choose a home that can stand up to time and storms.
A Seasafe Home is designed and built for coastal living. It is built much faster than traditional coastal homes and with added strength to withstand harsh weather conditions. It is intentionally elevated and engineered to handle high winds and flooding. The rapidly built Seasafe homes have the coastal look and personalized feel of a site-built home. It just gets built a smarter and way faster.
This guide explains how Seasafe builds homes, uses a dual-site construction process, the benefits, the tradeoffs, costs, timelines, financing, and resale value.
What is a Seasafe home?
Seasafe builds elevated coastal homes fast using our dual-site construction process. Your foundation is built on site while living sections are built off-site, allowing work to happen in two places at the same time. That is how we can build homes in 6 months, saving 12 months of time compared to the traditional coastal building process that commonly takes 18-24 months.
Homes have elevated ground floors for flood zone compliance and safety. The foundation and ground floor structures are made of concrete, steel, and wood. Designs are engineered for up to 180 mph winds and storm surges of 10+ feet, all meet or exceed local codes and FEMA requirements.
Most projects finish about 22 to 24 weeks after permits are issued. Using a pre-approved Seasafe plan can really speed up the entire process. From the first meeting to move-in in six to eight months.
Seasafe clients mostly select high-end home finishes like quartz countertops, solid panel doors, coastal crown molding, and floor to ceiling tiled showers. We do not compromise on strength. The homes are engineered to withstand 180mph wind speeds with design pressure D designations. These two intentionally engineered ratings commonly exceed the local city codes. The combination of 180mph wind rating, design pressure D, and 10+ feet of ground floor elevation to satisfy local and FEMA standards is what gives our homeowners peace of mind during harsh weather conditions such as flooding and hurricanes.
You choose a plan then pick finishes through a streamlined process with our professional interior design team. We cut hundreds of tiny choices down to a clear set of choices that really matter when making a home feel like yours. You still get a custom look without the fatigue that comes with making hundreds of choices.
Understanding Building Terms: Onsite, Offsite, and Dual-site Construction
Construction terms and methods are used together and should be understood by potential new home customers. Here is a review of key words and terms to help you understand:
• Modular Construction:
A building process designed to create efficiency and consistency. Modular building methods are commonly used in offsite construction and performed in the controlled environment of a build center (or factory) with all needed materials, skilled labor, and equipment. Customizing floor plans, finishes, and materials are all possible using a modular building process. Quality of materials is a major factor in the cost of the home built using the modular building method.
• Offsite Construction:
Building of a home, or sections of a home, at a location away from the future home’s site or lot. Seasafe’s living sections are built offsite in the Build Center before being transported to the home’s permanent location.
• Onsite Construction:
Traditional building process on the homesite where all work, materials, and construction take place.
• Dual-site Construction:
Seasafe’s building process of onsite foundation, elevated ground floor, and finish expertise combined with the speed and consistency of offsite construction to rapidly build coastal homes on elevated foundations. Our dual-site process is engineered to save 12+ months of construction time in coastal areas compared to the traditional onsite only building timeline.
• Build Center:
Offsite location where construction materials, skilled labor, tools, and initial inspections are performed in a controlled manner using the modular building process.
Key Advantages of a Seasafe Home Built with Modular Construction Methods
People building a new homes in a coastal communities prefer the Seasafe dual-site construction process for multiple reasons. Dual-site combines the benefits of the modular building process with simultaneous onsite building of the foundation and ground floor to save time and add predictability. Shorter construction time, high strength materials, traditional financing, and the controlled and weather protected off-site construction of the living spaces are what make it a top choice for people.
A Seasafe home has key benefits. These include:
• Rapid Construction Timeline
Fast construction is something everyone wants. The construction time for building a Seasafe home is significantly less than that of a traditional coastal elevated home. Traditional building methods are challenging and time consuming in coastal communities due to the confusing layers of codes and regulations, skilled trade labor shortage and cost, and unpredictable weather conditions.
While Seasafe’s living sections are being constructed by skilled trades in the protection of the off-site build center, Seasafe can focus on preparing the lot and foundation. Building the ground floor while at the same time building the second floor saves substantial time, making the dual-site building method the ideal choice for clients who want the fastest way to move into their new construction home or providing access to their investment property.
• Quality Control
Offsite modular home construction methods add factory and quality control standards, which increase the overall consistency and quality of the home. Licensed state inspections take place in the build center during the construction process to ensure compliance with industry standards and meeting building codes and guidelines. Modular built and traditional onsite built homes must comply and pass the same inspections. Modular building is predictable with the advantage of being in a controlled offsite build center (factory), sheltered from harsh weather conditions like rain and extreme heat plus having all necessary tools and equipment readily available at the specialized station within the build center.
• Eco-Friendly Construction
Modular construction processes offer greater sustainability than conventional site-built homes, as they ensure the construction of most parts in a factory, and materials are used efficiently, minimizing waste. The extra pieces of wood, drywall sheets, or concrete blocks that are typically thrown away with traditional construction are now saved and used it to create another project. These efficiency methods cut down on landfill and waste plus provide better recycling opportunities.
• Jobsite Waste and Traffic
Another eco-friendly consideration and neighborhood pleasing benefit with a centralized off-site build center location is the impact of material delivery and waste management on the actual jobsite. The reduced construction timeline creates fewer large material transport trucks and less outdoor waste containers, reducing neighborhood congestion and debris. No matter how hard everyone tries to keep a jobsite clean, there are always wind blowing, animals dumpster diving, and overflow of trash events that scatters debris around the nearby homes, shortening the building timeline and centralizing materials greatly reduces the issue when using the dual-site building methods.
• Flexibility and Personal Touches in Interior and Exterior Design
Nobody wants a cookie cutter looking home, Seasafe modular built homes allow homeowners to choose from various finishes, layouts, and architectural styles. From classic to modern floor plans, you can choose from a variety of options, just like a traditionally built home. Interior and exterior customizing and personalizing of a house is an important part of making the house your home!
What are Seasafe’s standards for their modular built homes?
A dual-site constructed home engineered to withstand 180 mph wind rating, design pressure D, and 10+ feet of ground floor elevation to satisfy local and FEMA standards is what we consider a home, that in part is built with the modular process. Modular construction is used to speed up the construction process and is not a finish style or a building material. Offsite modular construction allows sections of a home to be built in a controlled and protected environment, protected from harsh weather conditions, loss of workdays due to rain and lightning, building material deliveries, and the variability of subcontractor schedules.
Our homes are built with traditional construction materials such as lumber, plywood, concrete, and steel. The modular process allows for customization of floor plans and a variety of different interior and exterior finishes personalized to a client’s style and budget. Customers love the open floor plans with dining room, kitchen, and living spaces together, along with high ceilings.
Seasafe commonly uses high-quality finishes such as quartz countertops, solid panel interior doors, coastal crown molding, and tiled showers. While clients can personalize the finishes, Seasafe does not compromise on strength. Our homes are engineered to withstand 180mph wind speeds with design pressure D designations. These two intentionally engineered ratings commonly go beyond what the local city codes require.
Seasafe Homes are volumetric modular construction, meaning that the sections are completed to nearly 90% prior to transportation to the home site. Impact rated windows and exterior doors are installed prior to transport, protecting the interior spaces. Common finishes upon arrival include installed cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures, smooth drywall with a prime coat of paint, and tiled showers.
Once the Build Center performs their portion of the building process, inspections, and quality checks, the sections are transported to your lot where a crane sets them on the permanent elevated foundation. A specialized “set crew” seals the seams and connect the plumbing, electrical, and air conditioning systems. When done, the home looks and lives like any other custom home. Exterior finishes like aluminum railings, Bahama shutters, metal roofs, and various exterior finishes are added onsite to add personalized touches to the home.
Strength, speed, and coastal finishes are what customers can expect with a Seasafe Home. The combination of 180mph wind rating, design pressure D, and 10+ feet of ground floor elevation to satisfy local and FEMA standards is what gives our homeowners peace of mind during harsh weather conditions such as flooding and hurricanes.
Modular Houses vs. Manufactured and Mobile Homes
By definition, modular construction refers to 80-90% of the construction to occur in a controlled building environment with a factory or manufacturing facility.
Because of the general guideline, many people use the terms “modular homes,” “manufactured homes,” or “mobile homes” interchangeably even though there are major differences.
Since you already know what a modular home is, let’s learn about manufactured or mobile homes to better understand the differences. Manufactured homes and mobile homes are the same thing. In fact, the term mobile homes has become obsolete.
Manufactured/mobile homes are often referred to as trailers and are prefabricated structures with wheels installed in them. According to the home buyers’ travels, they can move these houses from one location to another. Mobile homes are normally a less expensive housing option due to the lower standards required of the “moveable” home.
The idea of a prefabricated structure built offsite is the same for both modular and manufactured homes, they have important points of difference:
• Building codes:
Manufactured/mobile homes use a different build code and standard than a traditional home or a modular built home that will be permanently constructed to a homesite. The construction of a modular home follows the same state, regional, and local building codes as onsite house construction. For manufactured/mobile homes, conforming to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) code is crucial. It is a federal code, and local jurisdiction cannot prohibit its use on private property.
• Inspection process:
Local inspectors inspect each home as it goes through the modular building process in the build center and upon delivery to the site. On the other hand, the inspection of mobile homes takes place only in the factory itself. As a result, it doesn’t have to go through a local inspector’s scrutiny.
• Construction of the homes:
Like traditional homes, modular built homes can be customized and constructed in any size, shape, or floor plan. A manufactured home requires conventional placement, i.e., either crawl space or basement. To make the home “mobile”, wheels are attached to its base.
• Financial treatment:
Banks offer modular built homes the same treatment as traditional onsite homes. Financing and refinancing a modular built home is the same as traditional housing with using appraisals and inspections. However, when it comes to mobile homes, they are categorized separately for lending purposes.
Key advantages of a Seasafe modular built home
- Faster timelines since on-site work and off-site work happen at the same time.
- Better quality control since most building happens indoors, away from the weather.
- Coastal strength with elevation design, wind strength engineering, and flood elevation.
- Fewer weather and labor delays since rain does not stop the build center construction.
- Smarter use of materials, which reduces waste and supply logistics to minimize material deliveries and neighborhood traffic.
- Flexible design with many plans and finish options that fit coastal lots and views.
Challenges to consider
- Access and transport since large modules need a clear route and crane access
- Lot shape and size
- Area utilities
We help plan routes permits and schedules so these do not slow you down.
How much does a Seasafe home cost
Pricing depends on plan finishes and site work. Many Seasafe homes start in the mid 300 thousands plus site work. Site work can include pilings foundation utility connections and permits. Your final price is discussed during the Build Agreement meeting once all personal finishes are selected so there are no surprises.
How long does it take
Offsite build center and onsite work run together. After permits a typical build takes about 22 to 24 weeks. Full timeline depends on the plan selected. Selecting a preapproved Seasafe plan saves considerable time and from first call through move in can be six to eight months. Traditional coastal builds often take 18 to 24 months, after the home is designed, engineered and permit approved.
How financing works
Modular built homes qualify for bank construction loans and for private money options. Many buyers use a construction to permanent loan with one closing. Others use a short construction loan then refinance at the end. We coordinate draw schedules with your lender so funds arrive on time.
Resale and long term value
Seasafe modular homes are real property on a permanent foundation. They follow the same codes as traditional onsite built homes. They appraise and resell like comparable onsite built homes in the neighborhood. Coastal strength and elevation can help long term value, qualify for insurance discounts, and lower storm related repairs.
Is a Seasafe modular home right for you
- You want a home that can qualify for insurance discounts
- Faster path to a coastal home
- You want strength for wind and water
- You prefer guided choices over thousands of decisions
- Your home is in a flood zone and needs elevation or pilings
- You want a clean modern build process with fewer days, months, or years!
How to choose a builder
Pick a team with coastal experience and FEMA knowledge. Ask about experience building in coastal areas, building elevated homes with deep piling foundations, home wind ratings, flood elevation details, and permit approval process. For a builder using modular building methods, visit on a new home set day if you can. For a traditional onsite builder, ask to see their recently built homes or model home and visit their design center. With Seasafe you get turnkey service. We handle Seasafe Home tours, design room reviews, engineering, permits, foundation, and finishes with final inspections.
Next steps
Explore plans. Pick a finish palette. Schedule a quick call. We can review your lot and timeline and give you a clear budget and path to permits.
Disadvantages and Challenges of Modular Homes
Perception of and misunderstanding of what the word “modular” means in homebuilding is by far the biggest challenge. Modular is the building process and does not describe a type of finish, a price point, or a quality of material. Most people who do not have a background in modular construction immediately think low quality and low-cost mobile homes. While education will be a challenge there are other certain building limitations with modular homes. Let’s see them.
• Irregular Lot Shape
Lots shaped like a triangle are not ideal for dual-site construction. A lot with one narrow side can make it difficult to construct a home because of the buildable footprint. There are exceptions but in general a lot that is more traditionally shaped like a rectangle helps to provide more floorplan options.
• Transportation Challenges
Modular houses comprise large and heavy components. Its transportation from the build center to the building location involves permits. Additionally, the assembly of the home sections requires the use of cranes. Suppose the land is in a remote location; it would be challenging for the vehicles to move the house sections and assemble them.
• Utility Obstacles
Building elevated modular homes requires the use of a crane to place the home sections onto the ground floor and foundation. Above ground powerlines serve as an obstacle that will be handled with the power company, Seasafe team, and crane company.
• Zoning Limitations in Some Areas
We know that modular houses are built to comply with local, state, or regional building codes. With such codes, there may be certain restrictions on their setup in historic or older neighborhoods.
Additionally, some municipalities require additional documents for offsite built homes. It is essential to work with a builder who can verify if there are any special local requirements.
How Much Does a Modular Home Cost?
It depends on the quality of materials used to build the home. Here is an easy to understand example that would change the home price using the same floor plan for two different homes.
Home #1 has hurricane-rated (impact) windows and doors, while Home #2 has basic windows. Even though they have the same floor plan, the cost of Home #1 will be more than Home #2. Consider all the different materials that can be used in a home, like shingle or metal roof, types of flooring, and different countertop materials. The modular construction process creates efficiencies, reduces waste, and can lower labor costs but the materials used is the major factor in the price of a home.
How Long Do Seasafe Homes Take to Assemble?
A Seasafe home built using our dual-site methods will arrive in sections which are set and attached onsite. Each home sections takes about 1.5 hours for the crane to place the home section on the site and the specialized crew to attach to the foundation. A recent set of a three story, 6-section home took 10 hours to complete. The 10 hours of assembly onsite saved 8-12 months of time compared to traditional coastal building!
The rapid construction and assembly makes Seasafe Homes an ideal choice for homeowners who want speed and durability.
How long is the entire building process?
Seasafe looks for ways to improve efficiency and quality checks throughout the building process. Customers and local cities have varying needs which can make the time to obtain a permit hard to predict. The timeline depends on several factors:
• Selecting a pre-approved Seasafe Home plan or creating a new plan with edits
A Seasafe Home plan has been previously engineered and approved. As a result, it will require a shorter time span. However, when you add specifications to make changes to the walls, rooms, and windows of the home, it can require a new set of plans, engineering, and state approval process. Seasafe Homes takes pride in have great floorplans to choose from that have been previously approved and still allow clients to customize important home features like floors, exterior colors, countertops, etc, giving the best combination of speed and personalization!
• Time to get building permits
Ideally, it takes a few weeks and we have been issued permits in as few as 2 week. Some cities processes can take longer, 6-9 weeks, to get the building permits. We have heard stories in some cities where the timing is even more! The key is working together and communicating. Seasafe meets with city build departments to understand their systems and try to work within their best practices to help move the permit along. Working together and not against.
• Preparing the building site
Demolition, soil testing, grading, and survey can all be a part of the building site preparation. Seasafe helps guide you through the process of what’s needed for your home. These tasks typically do not slow down the building process and can be done in parallel with the building permit submission process.
• Setting on the building foundation
The home sections, or modules, typically take 1-2 days to set and attach them to the foundation. Seasafe has seen each module take about 90 minutes to set but timing varies based on the homes location variables like access and power lines.
• Finishing the home onsite
Once the home sections are assembled onsite, the team will work on the finishing details like staircases, elevators, flooring, etc.. Timing varies based on the home but on average 3 months is the time needed to complete the home.
How Does Financing Work for a Seasafe Home?
Financing a Seasafe Home is like a traditional house. Because the homes are on a permanent foundation, they qualify for traditional mortgages. Banks and other financial institutions provide a construction loan that will align with Seasafe’s dual-site construction schedule allowing on-site and off-site work to happen simultaneously. Several banks have created great programs for Seasafe clients who need financing.
Some clients consider using private lenders, also known as hard money loans. These can be an alternative for clients who own their lots and don’t need a traditional 30-year loan, they only need a temporary, or bridge loan. In private money loans there is typically much less paperwork required, and the loan is secured by another real estate asset.
What is the Resale Potential of a Seasafe Home?
Like onsite homes, modular built homes also appreciate value. According to the local tax appraiser’s office, there is no difference when comparing the value of a site-built vs modular built home. The key with real estate has been, and always will be, most influenced by location, location, location!
Is a Modular Home Right for You?
By now, you would know how a modular built home works. These houses involve most of the construction in factories. And once they are complete, these parts are set up on a permanent foundation.
Finding a Modular Home Builder
Hopefully, you now have your answer to what a modular built home is and can see how Seasafe’s dual-site construction can accelerate your home construction process.
All you need is the right builder using the right building process. A builder that can design and construct all the parts efficiently at your location, especially if that is a coastal area where experience is so important.
At Seasafe Homes, we build elevated coastal homes that are engineered to withstand the test of harsh coastal weather conditions, including hurricanes. Our team has 20+ years of costal construction experience building strong, elevated homes in the coastal communities.
Our innovative dual-site building process ensures the creation of a strong foundation onsite as well as the customization and high-quality finishes of the home sections in a controlled offsite build center.
The dual-site building approach accelerates the building of your coastal dream home. Contact our professional home building team and create a coastal home of your dreams!
Frequently asked questions
1. Where is the best place to put a Seasafe modular home?
Ans: Seasafe builds in coastal areas where first floors are elevated to meet or exceed local and FEMA elevation requirements.
2. How do you buy a Seasafe modular home
Ans: Set a budget. Choose a plan. Customize your interior and exterior finishes. Secure financing. We guide you through each step.
3. What is the life expectancy
Ans: The same as a site-built home and depends on the materials, preventative home maintenance, and local environments. Coastal home maintenance of paint, caulk, air conditioner servicing, along with quality roof materials support long service life.
4. What is a modular home vs a mobile home
Ans: Modular is built with traditional building materials and constructed on a permanent foundation. Modular bult homes follows local codes while a mobile, or manufactured, home is built to the lower HUD standards and is a different product. Modular built homes are permanent while mobile is a trailer that can be moved.
5. Which is cheaper modular or manufactured
Ans: Manufactured is usually cheaper and lower quality. Modular building follows local building codes, uses traditional building materials, and requires a permanent foundation.
6. Is a modular home a trailer
Ans: No. You can’t tell the difference between a Seasafe Home and a traditional onsite built home. Seasafe homes have open floorplans, character, and customized finishes selected by the customer.
7. Do modular homes depreciate
Ans: Modular homes on permanent foundations track the market like site-built homes.
8. What are modular homes made of
Ans: Wood, steel, and concrete. Same or better than traditional onsite built homes. Coastal versions add upgraded impact doors and windows, engineered roofing straps, and added strength elements for harsh wind and water conditions.