If you’ve been considering building a modular home, you’ve come to the right place. In this post we aim to take you through what exactly a modular home is, the process of how they are built, and what the benefits are to to building a prefabricated modular home.
First Of All, What Is A Modular Home?
A modular building or home is a prefabricated building, meaning it’s a building that is manufactured and constructed by factory made components or units that are transported and assembled on site.
Modular buildings are often used in remote and rural areas, where conventional home construction may not be reasonable or possible.
Modular homes are transportable homes and are especially popular for rural living. Modular home designs offer all the flexibility and customisation of building from scratch, with the added benefits of cost savings and faster build times, while also being built for the conditions. They often vary in size and design, can be made from the same materials as traditional constructions, and in a lot of cases prefab homes have a higher standard of craftsmanship.
Prefabricated construction has been Common in nations like Sweden, where prefabricated modular design dominates around 70 percent of the residential housing market, the benefits of opting for prefabrication in construction satisfy a growing demand for safe and affordable housing on a limited deadline.
How Are Modular Homes Built?
The process involves constructing sections away from the main building site, then delivering them to the intended site to be installed/constructed.
A professional transport company then delivers the modules to site. From there the team will install the modules, including site connections, and get everything ready for you to move into your dream home.
Contrary to popular opinion, modular homes do not all look alike. They vary in size and design and can be easily customised to suit the needs of the homeowner.
What Are The Benefits Of Building A Modular Home?
Flexible design
Contrary to what is a popular misconception about modular homes, they are not all built to look the same. In fact, there are often a range of different design options that can be tailored to your needs and designed for the block. Factors such as rough terrain, sloped lots and sandy ground are not a problem. With minimal site excavation while your home is being built, modular homes can be customised to suit almost any block. This includes flexible floor plans and steel-stumped construction to work around natural features on your block.
After you sit down with your homebuilder and discuss how you want your home customised, they will usually get back to you with a plan and any costs that may be accrued.
Whether it’s more storage space, a different façade or a bigger entertainment space, modular homes give you the flexibility to create your dream home.
Cost-efficient
The building process of modular homes means that you save money, as they are constructed in a factory, meaning they take a relatively short build time. Being prefabricated in a controlled environment means the construction process doesn’t suffer from traditional on-site delays such as the weather. The quicker construction process also means that you save money having to rent another property whilst your home is still being built.
Durable and built to suit tough weather conditions
Rural home builders have never been more conscious of building homes that stand up against the elements. Modular homes aim to give peace of mind, which is why a BAL assessment is conducted prior to contract. This is to ensure our homes meet the requirements and there are no unexpected costs after the contract has been signed.
The costs of construction are then calculated based upon achieving a BAL rating of 12.5, however if the bushfire assessors determine your land to have a higher rated BAL, this can increase costs through upgrades.
Being built in a controlled environment ensures modular homes are built to regulatory codes. Scorching summers, long wet seasons and harsh conditions are a reality of life in regional areas, and that’s why steel-framed modular homes are specially designed for year-round comfort, maintaining an impressive 6-star energy rating.
Saves on time
Forget the frustration (and cost) of waiting weeks for materials to be sourced and sent by road train. Modular homes are built to 95% completion off-site, in just 15 weeks. It’s transported to you, assembled on-site, and finished by a skeleton team.
The same off-site construction method means a controlled build environment. Project supervisors keep a close eye on progress while rain, wind and dust are taken out of the equation.
Sustainability
The modular construction process also has several sustainability benefits. The streamlined design combined with the efficient production process helps by reducing the amount of waste for landfill, as the buildings are produced in a factory setting. In short, constructing buildings in a factory leads to less waste and quality control is easier to maintain.
Lower risk of damage and theft
When a home is built off-site, it significantly lowers the risk of theft and damage caused by third parties. Theft mostly occurs when the house is not finished and secured. This involves theft of building materials and equipment when construction is still underway. Modular homes are built in an off-site and secure environment meaning they are well protected.
Why Building A Modular Home Is A Great Idea
Rural home builders shouldn’t burden homeowners with distance delays and inflated construction costs. Modern modular homes are able to offer all the flexibility and customisation of building from scratch, with the added benefits of cost savings and faster build times and for rural areas that means:
- Custom built family homes
- Designed for the conditions
- Built by an experienced home builder
- 15-week build time
Final Thoughts
With Flexible design options, cost efficiency, durability, time efficiency, sustainability and lower risk of damage, modular homes are an increasingly popular choice for people decided to build their dream home.
They are a straightforward solution for those wanting to build in rural or urban areas.