Do All Modular Buildings Look Alike?
Though you might think a modular building will look the same as any other modular building, that is not the case at all. There are no limitations to what you can design with a modular building – they are the furthest thing from boring or cookie-cutter. You can customize each modular building to meet your requirements both functionally and aesthetically.
Do Modular Buildings Look Temporary?
While they can be constructed more quickly and cost less to build, modular buildings are also designed to stand the test of time and overcome the challenges of everyday life. You can enjoy permanent or temporary comfort, support, and high-quality modular buildings.
Modular buildings are not strictly temporary options for construction projects. In fact, they are specifically for people looking to make the most of their dollars. Modular construction ensures that companies and clients waste less time and money during the building process.
What Factors Should I Consider When Choosing a Modular Building Supplier?
- Design: Does the supplier offer design specifics that you want for your project?
- Quality: Make sure your supplier is using only high-grade materials for their products.
- Costs: Do not always go for the cheaper option, even if it is tempting! Always research and get quotes from other places first.
- Customization: If you have specific ideas for your modular building and want input, be sure there are customization options you can exercise.
- Duration of need: Figure out how long you will use your modular building before shopping for one.
How Is Modular Construction Different from Traditional Construction?
Traditional construction, or linear construction, is where each step in the construction process is worked on while builders are on-site.
With modular projects, some parts are built separately and shipped to the construction site at the end of the process.
The overall process is much quicker since modular buildings can be constructed all at once, either off-site and on-site. Efficiency, dependability, and durability are the main focus of modular buildings, just as they should be with traditionally constructed buildings.
Traditional and modular construction are similar because you need to make sure you have a permit for building before you go ahead with either project.
What Is the Difference Between Modular Buildings and Prefab Buildings?
Prefab refers to a general term that encompasses all sorts of prefabricated building methods. Anything built separately in a facility or factory then shipped to the construction site would be considered prefabricated.
Modular buildings are a type of prefab, but they are built and shipped in self-contained units that resemble building blocks and are their category entirely. For reference, all modular buildings are prefab buildings, but not all prefab buildings are modular buildings.
How Long Does It Take to Construct a Modular Building?
It is much quicker to have a modular building constructed than to have one built from scratch on-site. You could have your building finished in as little as 16 to 31 weeks.
Your specific construction timeline will vary based on a few things. Depending on how much preparation is necessary for the building site, the size of the project, and the nature of the modular building in question, you will find time frames can change.
Whether you’ve chosen a standard or custom design will also influence how much time each project takes. You also need to know which type of foundation you want and whether you have all the proper permits and permissions to buy a modular building.
Standard modular building plans can make the process go by a lot faster and keep things uncomplicated. Still, if you want a custom design, don’t let that preference stop you. Modular buildings are still quicker than traditional construction methods.
Can a Modular Building Be Eco-Friendly or “Green?”
Of all the benefits one can find in choosing a modular building instead of a traditionally constructed one, perhaps the most important and impactful is the eco-friendly nature of modular construction projects and how much better they can be for our environment.
Manufacturers usually construct multiple modular building modules simultaneously. In traditional building methods, people would often need to discard a large amount of materials to create these structures. However, modular construction allows the materials to be reused and recycled, thereby cutting back on waste and pollution.
As a rule, the construction industry generates 56 million tons of debris and trash annually, so reducing this waste and pollution would end up having a huge, positive impact on the environment around us.
Manufacturers often build modular buildings with sustainable or recycled materials like aluminum, wood, and steel. The overall energy usage is lower for a factory or warehouse setting than most on-site construction jobs.
What Are Structured Insulated Panels?
Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs for short) are a highly durable type of building material with excellent thermal performance. The compact, flat panels are made by sandwiching together different, composite materials to create a product that is robust and air-tight, thus providing superior insulation. Being lightweight, Structural Insulated Panels can be put together to create the walls, floor and roof of a modular building off-site before being transported to their final location.
BENEFITS OF STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS
Why use SIPs over more traditional types of building material? Here are some of the advantages of building with Structural Insulated Panels:
- Thermal performance. The composition of a SIP means that it is exceptionally air-tight, providing excellent insulation to your building. Rooms built using SIPs will feel warmer and take less energy to heat.
- Compact and lightweight. Structural Insulated Panels are thin and compact, so they take up less space than regular walls. That means you can get the most out of the space available to you, freeing up extra room within your interior that would normally be taken up by thicker walls.
- Environmentally friendly. The superior insulation properties of Structural Insulated Panels mean that they are an excellent choice for the environment. With virtually no heat lost through the air-tight panels, the use of SIPs makes for an energy efficient building that minimizes waste.
- Resistant to damp and cold. Buildings made from timber or other traditional materials may be susceptible to problems such as compression shrinkage (where wood shrinks in humid conditions) and cold bridging (where a poorly insulated part of the building lets in the cold and increases the likelihood of condensation). Buildings constructed from Structural Insulated Panels are immune to these issues.
- Highly suited to off-site construction. In contrast to more traditional building materials, Structural Insulated Panels can be put together off-site. Because they are lightweight they can be transported after the main construction work has already been done, and installed at their intended site only when the building is almost complete. This is a big advantage for projects that would otherwise be delayed due to adverse weather (as the off-site construction can take place indoors) and for sites where disruption from building work needs to be kept to a minimum.
SIPS AND MODULAR BUILDINGS
Structural Insulated Panels are often used in the construction of modular buildings because they offer all the advantages mentioned above:
- Often prefabricated off-site, modular buildings require a lightweight material that can be easily transported.
- SIP panels also allow modular buildings to be taken apart and moved again as required.
- As standalone structures that are susceptible to the elements, modular buildings also need to be constructed with durable and well insulated materials.
SIP SPECIFICATIONS
What are SIPs made of? Structural Insulated Panels consist of two outer layers of panel board (the bread in the sandwich) that encase insulating foam, either made from closed-cell polyurethane (PU) foam or expanded polystyrene (EPS).
SIPs are available in a variety of sizes to suit all building projects, from commercial spaces to modular buildings for schools.
