Modular Building as an Emerging Construction Industry Choice

When business owners and potential home owners envision building an office or residence or expanding on an existing structure, they often limit themselves to traditional construction methods. But modular construction has become a fast-growing, cost-effective trend for many builders. And at a time when every business and household is looking to stretch their investment further, this emerging alternative to conventional construction is quickly becoming the preferred choice.

The timeline of a traditional construction project begins with the financing, followed by breaking ground. For many projects, grading and laying of the foundation can take upwards of a year, or more. Only then can builders start building the structure itself, which can take just as long to complete, depending on weather delays, construction schedules and several other factors. Modular construction consolidates both time and labor, while reducing overall material costs and environmental impact.

Because modular buildings, like residential homes, office buildings, hotels, hospitals, schools, etc., are constructed off-site in a protected factory-style setting, the fabrication of the building itself can be started at the same time that foundation is being formed onsite. This technique of simultaneous construction cuts construction times nearly in half. Meanwhile construction quality is comparable, if not better, than conventionally-built structures. Once the foundation is finished, the modules arrive from the factory. The building is assembled, sometimes in just days, and the exterior finishes are added, down to the landscaping surrounding the structure. The modules arrive wired and plumbed throughout, so utilities simply need to be connected before use. By significantly reducing the overall time it takes to complete the entire project, the modular building method saves considerable costs in financing and damaged or lost materials.

When approaching personnel and cost management on a traditional construction project, both lenders and borrowers need to consider the time it will take to complete the project from start to finish, as well as the material waste from the process. According to the National Science and Technology Council, the construction industry accounts for 40% of primary energy consumption and 40% of greenhouse gas emissions in the US, and approximately 135 million tons of construction-related waste is placed in America?s landfills every year.

Offsite manufacturing of buildings dramatically reduces waste by utilizing repetition of production that allows material resources to be accurately measured and strategically applied for best use. If excess materials result from one construction job, the enclosed facility provides a perfect place to store leftover materials and recycle them to use on the next project. This not only helps to save the environment, but also saves customers money that could have gone into a dumpster if they?d chosen conventional onsite construction. In addition, because all the parts of the construction process are managed within the manufacturing facility all personnel required to complete the job are on-staff and ready to go. Compare this to the arduous task of hiring subcontractors for plumbing and electrical work. Modular construction professionals are ready to go for every aspect of the building process without additional cost or stress to the customer.

Quality control is one of the modular industry?s best assets. Buildings are designed and created to precise specifications and overbuilt to withstand the stresses of transportation. Also, because buildings are assembled in sections, ?they are also easily disassembled if the owner so chooses. If the time comes when the structure needs to move to a new location and/or used for a new purpose, it can be expanded, reconfigured or relocated for a comparatively low cost, extending the service life of the structure and proving the sustainability of modular.

Modular construction is quickly growing in popularity as a cost-effective, environmentally friendly construction option in comparison to its traditional on-site alternative.

This guest post was written by the team at ModSpace, a leading North American provider of temporary buildings. ModSpace offers a wide variety of office building products, including prefab offices and modular offices. For more information, follow them on Twitter @modspacecorp.

Source: http://www.constructonomics.com/blog/2012/11/04/modular-building-as-an-emerging-construction-industry-choice/

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