The simple guide that makes the modular process easier to understand
If you are starting to explore modular homes in Colorado, you have probably seen a few unfamiliar terms already. Construction has its own language, and modular construction has a few extra pieces on top of it. The problem is that most explanations online are either too vague or too technical. Neither one helps you understand what is actually happening on your land.
Since our goal at Rocky Mountain Modular Homes is to make the entire process clear from the beginning, we put together a straightforward glossary of the terms you will see throughout your build. These are the words our customers hear most often when talking about engineering, financing, site work, utilities, delivery, and the crane set. You do not need years of construction experience to understand this. You just need plain English and accurate information.
This glossary will be your reference for the rest of our blog series. After this post, we will walk you step by step through the full modular process, from choosing a floor plan to watching your home get set on your foundation. By the end, nothing about modular construction will feel confusing, and you will know exactly what each stage means.
Let’s start with the basics.
IRC
International Residential Code. The building code used for modular and site built homes in Colorado. Modular homes are inspected and approved at the factory to ensure IRC compliance.
HUD Code
The building code for manufactured homes. Not used for modular homes.
State Insignia
The label attached to each module showing the home passed inspection through the Colorado State Modular Building Program.
Modules
The large, factory built sections your home arrives in. These are delivered on carriers and lifted onto your foundation during the crane set.
Set Day
The day the crane lifts and places each module onto your foundation. It is one of the most exciting parts of the entire process.
Building Pad
The area on your land that is excavated and prepared for your foundation.
Backfill
Soil placed around the foundation after the walls are poured. Backfilling stabilizes the foundation and prepares the area for the crane and finish crews.
Frost Depth
How deep footings must go to protect your foundation from frost heave. Frost depth varies by county.
Snow Load
The amount of snow weight your roof must support based on your county’s requirements. Colorado counties can vary drastically in required snow loads.
Foundation Engineering
Stamped drawings showing exactly how your foundation must be built to support your modular home.
Draw Schedule
The timeline for releasing funds from your construction loan to pay for different phases of the project.
OWTS
On site wastewater treatment system. This is your septic system.
Septic Design
A plan created by a licensed professional showing the tank size, leach field, and placement that meet your county’s health department rules.
Staging Area
The temporary space on your land where modules are placed before the crane lifts them.
Crane Pad
A level, stable area prepared for the crane so it can safely lift the modules.
Pilot Cars
Escort vehicles required when transporting oversized loads like modular home sections.
Trenching
The process of digging trenches for electrical lines, water lines, propane or gas lines, septic piping, or internet conduit.
Marriage Line
Where two modules connect. Finish crews seal, trim, and finish these areas after the crane set.
Certificate of Occupancy
The final approval from your county confirming your home is safe, inspected, and ready to live in.
Now that the terminology makes sense, the rest of the process gets a whole lot easier. In the next post, we are diving into the first major step in building your modular home in Colorado: choosing your floor plan, understanding what works for your land, and knowing what you can customize from the start.
If you are ready to see what the full process looks like from beginning to end, follow along with our step by step series. Each post breaks down one stage of the build so you always know what is coming next.
And if you have questions about your land, your budget, or whether modular is the right fit for your location, we are happy to talk with you. You do not have to figure this out alone.
