Modular construction has been around for some time, but do consumers fully appreciate the benefits and explore the opportunities that a factory produced outdoor structure offers?
As with any approach, there are advantages and risks, but some of the pros include:
- Reduced Site Programming and Lower Overall Costs
Premium quality materials are more exacting than site-built construction, as up to 80 per cent of the components are fabricated and inspected in a quality controlled factory environment to a consistent system. The amount of time required for completion on site is dramatically reduced which reduces risks of delays due to inclement weather. The risks can be anticipated. Less construction site time reduces waste, the chance of weather delays, occupation of infrastructure or public space and material damage. Fewer subcontractors on site reduce site supervision costs, as well as often overlooked factors such as site security and safety, then less waste removal from site. Protective packaging for transit and on site storage where materials are usually stored open to the weather is a high cost input.
Reduction in construction time frames of 30 to 50 per cent are easily achievable when factory produced products are provided in Kit form.
Reducing Risk
OHS issues are significantly minimised as the majority of the labour force works in a controlled environment more related to a factory production line, rather than on a continually-changing traditional site. Even if the end product is a tall structure, labourers can work close to the ground and then crane the module once completed. Beyond health and safety concerns, security risks related to theft are also reduced, cost overrun risks are minimized, which impacts insurance and other “hidden cost” liabilities. Queensland Lifestyle Patios, while not a large organisation, adopts a corporate style risk management approach to Safety and Security to protect the interests of our team, customer and our obligations to compliance.
There are still questions to be asked.
Some fear that modular construction will lead to soulless, repetitive developments. While it is true that one of the benefits of volume-based construction is the ability to churn out buildings quickly without the need for redesign, there is still the ability to be creative and consider the final output as a solution that can be customised. Some modular providers, for example, champion the flexibility of their modules. Consider the Stratco Outback back which offers endless combinations to create a unique look suited to the property siting, owner preferences and the architecture of attached or nearby structures.
Façades can easily change the characteristic of a structure by combining compatible features using clever design principals and are easily tailored to specific tastes or uses. Meanwhile, responses to specific climatic and location conditions through intelligent planning and creative landscaping are possible with Queensland Lifestyle Patios, though unlikely when the customer chooses a company that employs unqualified sales representatives to secure the customer purchase.
Most modular building construction activity occurs off-site, so there is less impact on the neighbourhood due to the speed of works to completion.
Performance
Modular-built structures will typically outperform similar buildings constructed with traditional techniques. When professionally installed by qualified trades people who are trained in the Stratco Outback construction methods, there are no gaps where vermin or water can egress, so the materials remain in top condition throughout the extended warranty periods. The modular design of components is pre-engineered so that incompatible materials which would otherwise lead to corrosion CAN NOT be introduced.
Perceptions Re-assured
The perceived downside of modular construction is that each module has to be highly engineered for the same level of accommodation. Modules need to be designed to withstand significant transportation forces but the payoff is greater structural integrity in the end for the completed building, as well as higher inherent strength. The Stratco Outback modules enable customers to add to their structure over time, such when their budget permits, or as the need for extra space under cover becomes a necessity. Adding new to old can be a minefield for consumers who discover that the product they bought previously is no longer on the market, or colours and designs have changed. In this instance, an “extension” would reduce the value of the property and make it almost impossible to find compatible alternatives. However the Stratco Outback has no such risks. Colours, component profiles and connecting parts are always stocked and the Stratco Outback brand has a long history of stable growth as an iconic company that consumers can depend on. That is why Queensland Lifestyle Patios chooses to use and recommend the Stratco Outback.
Modular structures have come a long way and there is certainly more to come.
