Portable Buildings vs Traditional Construction: Which is the Better Choice for UK Businesses?
The default choice for a new building or extension has always been a traditional bricks and mortar construction. However, modular construction is now an increasingly popular choice for businesses who need to expand their facilities.
Modern methods of construction mean that portable buildings are now manufactured to the highest standards of quality, with a transparent supply chain from top to bottom. This means that they have the durability of permanent buildings and are suitable for year-round use.
Here are some points to consider when deciding which construction method is best for you.
Timescale
Portable buildings can be constructed and installed in far shorter timeframes than traditional construction methods. For businesses, this can mean that a new facility is up and running in half the time, leading to increased production or turnover and a sooner return on investment.
The on-site construction sector is experiencing ongoing problems with skills and labour shortages and delays to the supply chain. Modular construction methods are not subject to these pressures and therefore have far less risk of delays to the schedule.
Sustainability
For most businesses in 2023, sustainability is close to the top of their agenda. Modular buildings use far less energy during the manufacturing and construction process than traditional builds. The majority of the construction takes place off-site, which reduces the need for deliveries and therefore produces a far smaller carbon footprint.
Modular buildings can more easily incorporate energy efficient features such as pre-installed solar panels, thermal glass, and green roofs.
Cost
It is usually cheaper to install a portable building than to use traditional construction methods, so they are a more affordable alternative for small to medium businesses, particularly in these uncertain economic times.
Conventional construction processes often meet with unexpected extra costs along the way, or drag on for weeks past the scheduled completion date. This can add tens of thousands pounds to the final cost of the project.
Portable buildings have far more cost certainty because they have a far more predictable and standard construction and installation process. They are also flexible and are more cost-effective to expand or renovate than traditional buildings.
Disruption
Portable buildings cause far less disruption during construction than traditional bricks and mortar buildings. On-site construction methods require multiple deliveries of bulky materials and the use of heavy equipment. This causes congestion around the building site and the surrounding roads, leading to higher carbon emissions and general inconvenience.
The dust and noise pollution generated by on-site construction methods is also far greater than that created by modular construction. 90% of the modular construction process takes place off-site, meaning that the on-site construction process is minimally disruptive.
For businesses that trade with the public, this can be a great advantage because there are no prolonged and noisy works going on to put off customers or to damage the image of the business in the local community.
Location and accessibility
A modular building can be installed in spaces where limited access means that a bricks and mortar building is not an option.
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