Behind the scenes of how our modern manufactured homes are designed

How are new modern manufactured homes designed?

From ideation to creation, there are many steps in designing a new home floor plan, and the creative process can look different each time. A home’s concept typically starts with requirements and goals, such as price range, functionality, and materials the lab plans to incorporate. Once a concept is developed, architects and designers take the lead on planning the home’s size and general layout. Designers also apply insights from consumer research to the floor plan at this stage.

Engineering then reviews the floor plan to help ensure it complies with applicable building codes. Our product drafting team creates construction packages that include details like construction requirements and building tasks, based on the region where the home will be located. For example, building codes on the West Coast may differ from those along the Gulf due to variations in climate and wind conditions.

At the same time, the design team is hard at work specifying materials and presenting the home floor plan to building facilities and Clayton leadership. This includes selecting some of the more fun features like paint colors, tile, accent walls, lighting packages, hardware, and plumbing fixtures.

During the design process, the lab also initiates what’s called the “costing process” for the home. When working to reduce the home price, the team adjusts the designs to improve building efficiency and streamline certain materials. This allows the team to maintain the integrity of the design intent while still meeting the target price point. From there, it’s time to develop floor plans and 3D renderings, test mock-up designs, and collaborate with home building facilities to produce a prototype.

Now when you walk into Clayton to tour at a location and notice the attention to detail that sets our modern manufactured homes apart from others you may have seen, you’ll know that it all began with an idea in the Home Innovation Lab. And to start browsing homes designed by Clayton near you, you can explore our shop home page, where you can filter layouts by price, number of bedrooms, and the home features you love.