Four Reasons to Consider Purchasing a Pre-Owned Modular Building

This article explores the benefits of choosing a pre-owned modular building and highlights why it's a viable option. Contrary to popular belief, a second-hand building is not synonymous with subpar quality. When selecting a building, numerous factors must be considered, including cost, timeframes, environmental impact, potential disruption to businesses, schools, or neighbourhoods, and adherence to planning and building regulations.

Opting for a pre-owned modular building can help mitigate these concerns, despite its "second-hand" status. While one might associate the term "second-hand" with a worn-out appearance or outdated fixtures, a properly refurbished modular building can rival its new counterparts. Through thorough overhauls to ensure structural integrity, customisation to meet specific requirements, refinishing to reflect corporate image or complement existing structures, and the addition of necessary facilities, a pre-owned building can appear indistinguishable from a new one.

The Process of Recycling a Modular Building

Recycling begins with identifying the right pre-owned building for the intended purpose. This could involve sourcing from existing stock, external sources, or known available options. Once a suitable building is secured, its condition is assessed to determine its value for the specific project. This step is crucial as failing to secure the building promptly could result in missing out on the opportunity.

Simultaneously, discussions and planning take place to finalise the necessary modifications, allowing both parties to agree on the specifications and associated costs. To save time, planning and building regulation approvals are sought in parallel. Upon delivery to the facility, the building undergoes a thorough strip-down process, removing any elements that are past their prime, including fixtures, fittings, internal partitions, plumbing, and electrics. External walls in poor condition may also be removed, and if necessary, the floor decking, insulation, and roof membranes may be replaced.

Once the structural integrity of the building is confirmed, the build-back process commences. Depending on the agreed specifications and desired level of finish, functional elements are retained while any necessary additions are built anew. All construction adheres to the latest standards, encompassing insulation, fire performance, and acoustic separation. Doors and windows are replaced or reused if suitable. At the same time, plumbing and electrics are upgraded to high-efficiency standards, featuring LED lighting, PIR controls, instant water heaters, and efficient air-sourced heat pumps. These improvements contribute to minimising running costs.

Advantages of Choosing a Pre-Owned Modular Building

Selecting a pre-owned modular building provides several advantages in addition to the typical benefits associated with modular construction, such as cost and time savings, design flexibility, reduced disruption, and faster construction.

1. Expedited Delivery: While standard layout buildings can be delivered within two to three weeks from the order date, the reconfiguration and refurbishment process only marginally extends the timeline. For instance, an eight-week timeframe was sufficient to design, strip out, reconfigure, fit out, and deliver a high-end module complex comprising three 12m x 3m units for a client.
2. Cost-Effectiveness: On average, a modular building utilising a recycled frame costs around £800–£900 per square meter (sqm), significantly lower than the approximate £1500/sqm for a new modular building.
3. Sustainability and Environmental Benefits: Reusing a modular building aligns with the principles of a circular economy, as it reduces resource consumption and minimises the impact on natural resources. By opting for a pre-owned building, new resources and materials are reduced, extending the structure's life cycle and decreasing the project's overall environmental impact. Unlike traditional construction, which generates substantial waste that often ends up in landfills, modular buildings are designed for deconstruction, enabling easy recovery and reuse of materials and components. Off-site production has been shown to reduce waste by an impressive 90%. Furthermore, choosing a pre-owned building allows for the reuse of significant elements, further reducing waste and the need for new materials while minimising the energy required for production.
4. Comprehensive Project Management: PF Modular offers full project management services, handling various aspects of the contract, including initial planning applications, CAD drawings, building control submissions, temporary roadways, groundworks, crane hire, installation of refurbished buildings, construction of external ramps and steps, and hard and soft exterior landscaping. Assistance with arranging building finance is also provided

Moreover, should the building no longer be required for its current use, it can be relocated within the same site or transported to a different location. PF Modular offers options to reconfigure and refurbish the building or assist with its sale, enabling clients to recover part of their investment.

In conclusion, purchasing a pre-owned modular building presents numerous advantages. Despite being second-hand, these buildings undergo extensive refurbishment, ensuring they meet high-quality standards comparable to new constructions. Recycling modular buildings offers a quicker delivery time, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and comprehensive project management. By choosing pre-owned buildings, individuals and organisations contribute to reducing waste, minimising environmental impact, and embracing the principles of a circular economy.

For more information on pre-owned modular buildings, contact the team today.

With extensive research and study, Simon passionately creates blogs on divergent topics. His writings are unique and utterly grasping owing to his dedication in researching for distinctive topics.