The Advantages of Portable Buildings Over Traditional Construction

portable buildings

Did you know that the construction industry is worth over $1 trillion? For many decades, that was mainly all from traditional construction. However, modular construction is becoming more and more popular in the construction industry today. If you’ve been thinking about getting a new building for whatever reason, keep reading to learn about the advantages of portable buildings over more traditional construction!

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Quick Construction

Traditional construction can take a lot of time, typically, so going with modular construction is a better option if you are looking for a quicker turnaround time.

But why is this the case?

Modular buildings can have foundation work and prefabricated sections created at the same time. So instead of doing them separately at different times, it takes half the time as a traditional construction building may take.

Because production also takes place in a factory setting, weather conditions will not be a problem. Therefore, delays will not occur due to them which will speed up the process as well.

Higher Quality Look and Materials

Because modular buildings are put together inside a factory setting, all elements can be controlled inside the factory. This means that moisture, heat, and other weather factors will not affect the building.

There are usually more quality control measures within a factory site as well than would occur on site for a construction build. The modular buildings have inspections, tests, assessments, and certifications done before the home is put on the site.

These homes go through such a tough process that they are more likely to meet and exceed quality and safety standards for building codes.

Convenience Factor and Flexibility

Modular buildings are a type of construction that allows for more flexibility.

If an office has to be relocated due to needing more space, there can simply be a prefabricated piece created in the factory and brought out onto the site to add to the modular building. If another room has to be added for a specific reason, this can be done.

If simply adding a room is not the only thing that needs to be done, modular buildings have the flexibility to move to where they need to go. They are easily refurbished as well, which uses less material and energy than a typical construction job would.

With the added flexibility of modular construction, these are ideal candidates for buildings that have to be placed in an area that is more remote or has had a disaster in the past. It is easier for offsite construction and often cheaper in these cases.

Fewer Site Disturbances

Let’s say that you have a working staff at an office onsite where you want to add on additional buildings. It could be really disturbing and distracting to have construction going on onsite. Not only that, but the mess could be dangerous and inconvenient for workers.

With modular construction, there is no worry about any of that. There will not be an increase in traffic or more noise on the site because all of the construction will be happening offsite in the factory.

Not only does this benefit everyone who works at the site, but it also benefits everyone who drives by on their own route to work. With less construction, there would not be as much noise or traffic in the area for others to deal with, too.

Less Waste

Modular buildings tend to be more environmentally friendly than other construction methods. The manufacturing methods that are used to build modular construction buildings reduce waste that traditional methods of building otherwise wouldn’t.

Due to a strict inventory control for modular buildings, material consumption and waste are much lower.

With less waste and fewer materials thrown out, the carbon impact of building a modular building is much lower than that of a traditional building.

Typically Lower Cost

There are a few reasons that a modular building has a lower cost than traditional construction buildings.

For starters, the more a company outputs modular buildings, the less everything else costs for them. This is an economy of scale. Basically, the more demand there is and the more output there is, the less costly things become.

Because of this, the manufacturers can sell a modular building at a lower price, which means that customers can also get it at a lower price, too.

Better Aesthetics

While this is not always the case, many modular buildings can be built with better aesthetics than other buildings. It looks neatly put together with the base, the sidings, and the roof.

Because they are smaller, you can spend more money on the aesthetics as well.

Thermal Efficiency

Most modular buildings are highly insulated, which means they are great at thermal efficiency. The more efficient they are, the less energy you’ll need to run things like air conditioning or heat inside.

Not only that, but you can have lower overhead costs and reduce your carbon footprint on the environment.

Reusable Materials

Speaking of reducing your carbon footprint on the environment, using modular buildings is one way to be more environmentally friendly because the materials are reusable.

This means that when someone is done with the modular building, the materials can be taken apart and reused for another purpose. There will be less waste in landfills and fewer resources needed to create another modular building.

Disadvantages of Modular Buildings

While there are so many reasons to go with a modular building for your construction needs, there are also a few disadvantages to modular buildings. Knowing these can help you to make the best decision for your needs.

Difficulty Transporting

Modular buildings are much more difficult to transport than a typical construction project. With traditional projects, all of the materials are transported separately. With a modular building, it is transported as large sections or all together, which can be heavier and require more help with the transportation to the site.

Less Flexibility in Design

Many portable buildings are pre-designed or companies have a few designs for you to choose from. Part of the reason for this is that there is only so much you can do with a modular building since it is smaller in size. The other reason for this is that they are built in factories, so there is not much flexibility with how to build something.

Limitation in Size

One of the biggest disadvantages of modular buildings is the limitation in the size they can be. Because modular buildings are constructed at a factory and then brought to the site, they have to be small enough to be transported on the roads.

This limits their size, which can sometimes be a deal breaker for some companies.

F.A.Q.s About Modular Buildings

With not many people knowing much about modular buildings, there are typically more questions about them. Here are some popular questions with answers.

What Are Portable Buildings Used For?

Portable buildings are used in many different industries. The education industry, the government, disaster-relief companies, the medical sector, the real estate sector, and even more use portable buildings!

What Are Some Examples of Modular Buildings?

There are a few types of modular buildings. These include but are not limited to:

  • Homes
  • Mobile offices
  • Steel buildings
  • Steel Garages
  • Prefabricated buildings like park entrance fee stations
  • Prefabricated vestibules
  • Bus shelters and smoke shelters
  • Screening booths
  • Guard houses

There are many other examples as well.

Are Modular Buildings Meant to Move?

Not typically, no. Modular buildings are built offsite and moved and installed onsite. Once there, most people will not want to move them.

How Long Do Modular Buildings Last?

If taken good enough care, modular buildings can last for up to 100 years. They typically last about 50 years on average before wear and tear kicks in.

What Materials Are Used to Build Modular Buildings?

There are multiple types of materials used. Some modular buildings are constructed from wood, while others are made from metal or steel.

Portable Buildings vs. Traditional Construction

At the end of the day, choosing between portable buildings or traditional construction is up to you!

However, there are many advantages of modular buildings, like the flexibility you have for where it goes, the cost of the construction, the energy efficiency and sustainable factors, and more.

If, after reading this article, you are sold on going with a modular building for your construction needs, you can request a quote from us today! We have various buildings you can choose from to fit your needs!

We can’t wait to hear from you!

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