Modular Housing
Although I work within the off-site industry, I’m not being biast when I say that there is definately a growing awareness for the use of modular housing across the UK. New companies with manufacturing capabilities are popping up across the country, backed by both private and public sector ventures. All looking for a little piece of the growing pie. This growth is great news for the industry as the more its spoken about, the more chance we have to construct new houses. It also means more focus on the design development which can only make modular housing a much better choice for the buyer or self builder compared to traditional construction.
Ten Things You Should Know About Modular Housing
There is certainly a need for houses and modular construction isnt always number one on the list as a method of construction, but why? Is it the perception of it being inferior, temporary, hollow, ugly?. If so, here are ten quick facts about modular housing to get you up to speed:
1) A house made in a factory is still a house! Each home manufactured still has to undergo the same rigorous tests and quality checking criteria as one built on a site and will come with the standard warranties to.
2) Modular houses are generally made using a steel framed system, which are incredibly robust, so which would you rather live in, a steel frame or timber frame?
3) Modular doesn’t mean boxy! It’s a super flexible method of construction. You can use modular to create that large open plan living/dining/kitchen/snug/playroom area or that super sized bedroom with roll top bath without any walls or pillars.
4) Modular houses are permanent structures! Design life of 60+ years! Accrediatations available in the market today guarantee that you can obtain a mortgage on approved systems within the UK.
5) Fast Construction. You could be kicking off your slippers in your new house within a few weeks of it arriving on site, as up to 90% of the construction work is completed in the factory.
6) Dont like where you live, pick up your house and take it with you! In theory your modular house can be dismantled and erected elsewhere if you wanted to or 100% recycled.
7) Save you money! Efficiencies in the design and build process mean that modular constructed buildings are incredibly energy efficient.
8) Around 15,000 modular houses are built in the UK every year and the numbers are growing all the time.
9) Snag List, what’s that? The increased quality control process a modular house goes through at the factory leads to far fewer defects or snage comapred to traditional build.
10) Growing family or just need more space? Additional modules can be easily built off site and connected to provide additional space quickly!
As you can see the benefits of modular housing are clear! Want to know anything else about modular construction? Take a look at the Modular Construction page on this site.