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Modular vs. Traditional Construction

What is the difference between modular and traditional construction?

What are the benefits of modular construction?

Which method of construction should I choose for my upcoming project?

Considering the fact that you are currently on this page and reading this post, I assume that these are questions that you’ve been asking yourself! Let’s dive into these questions and discover which method of construction is best for you!

What is the difference between modular and traditional construction?

While traditionally constructed buildings are built on-site in the location where they will forever remain, modular buildings are manufactured in off-site factories and then transported to their destination. There are two different types of modular buildings: temporary and permanent. Permanent buildings are designed to be, for lack of better words, permanent. They are often indistinguishable from traditionally constructed buildings. On the other hand, temporary buildings are designed to have the ability to be deconstructed and reconstructed somewhere else.

What are the benefits of modular construction?

Let’s go back to where we started – modular buildings are manufactured in off-site factories. This means that despite rain, snow, or any other type of inclement weather, the timeline of construction will not be halted. Construction will continue on the modular building inside of a controlled factory. Meanwhile, a traditional construction project will be paused until weather conditions clear, which means that the amount of time needed to complete the project will increase. Even if you overlook weather delays, a traditional construction project has a linear schedule. One task has to be finished before another task can be started. With modular buildings, this is not the case. Work is done in an “assembly line” process. Multiple parts of the process can be worked on at the same time, thus reducing the amount of time it takes to go from start to completion. Site work and factory work can be completed simultaneously, thus accelerating the building process. On average, building modular saves 35%-50% of time compared to traditional construction. Additionally, a faster timeline means that you are saving in labor costs, which leads to my next statement.

If you’ve done your research, you’re probably aware that building modular is significantly more affordable as well. Some people may correlate affordability with lower quality, but that is not the case! While modular builders can buy products in bulk, traditional builders have to order in exact amounts. Unfortunately, inclement weather, unexpected damage, and many other factors are unpredictable, so traditional builders have to order more product than they need in order to ensure they have enough. Modular builders are able to use leftover products on other projects, which means the customer is only paying for exactly what they use. And, because modular builders are able to reuse products, much less waste is generated, thus resulting in a greener method of building.

These are surely not the only benefits of modular construction, but a good place to start!

Which method of construction should I use for my project?

While modular construction can be beneficial and ideal in many situations, it’s not always the best choice. If you’re indecisive about which option is the best for you, your best bet is to contact a modular builder and get an expert opinion on your situation. Sunbelt Modular is a wholesale dealer, but we work with a multitude of experienced modular building dealers who would be happy to give you a professional opinion on your project. If you are interested in contacting one of our partners, fill out the Inquire form on our website and we will direct you to a modular dealer near you!