Undoubtedly, when our clients come to us, we know that there has been a significant period of time where they have chewed on the pros and cons of whether a custom modular building is right for their project. And it’s no wonder too. Money is always tight and everyone wants to make sure they’re maximizing their investment and getting the most out of what they’re paying for. With Specialty Modular, we work to ensure that we provide clear and reliable information to help our future clients determine that a modular building is exactly what they need.
When we speak with a lot of potential clients, the largest question is “How much is this going to cost?” as if it were as simple as finding out the price of potatoes by pound. What goes into addressing the cost and the modular friendly variables are extensive and a lot of clients haven’t really taken the time to mull over these unique factors that go into qualifying whether their project will work for a custom modular building. Some of the things we consider may shock and help you consider if this is the right route for you.
Today, we’re going to talk about unique factors that come into play when deciding whether a modular building is right for you. Whether you’re looking at a portable classroom or a research facility in the middle of a state park, not all projects are created equal. When doing a quick overview, some of these factors might not pop up on your radar as concerns, but we want to help you navigate what is possible with a modular option.
Location, Location, Location!
Like the old real estate maxim: Location, location, location! Location matters greatly when it comes to any project. Unfortunately, all locations are not created equal and for many people, it can be the determining factor in a project actually getting done. One thing to consider when it comes to whether a custom modular building is right for you is looking at the feasibility of the alternative, a stick-built structure.
A permanent, stick-built structure is not just the cost of the materials to create the building, but also the time and the labor of the crew needed to build the building. And, unfortunately, very few construction crews are Jacks-of-all-Trades that can do everything from pouring a foundation to running the electrical work. Depending on your location, high demand and travel can seriously limit who you can get to your site and just how much it’s going to cost them to get your building built.
This can turn out to be a tremendous expense to people who are budgeting for a reasonably priced project that can watch it inflate drastically in a matter of just one consultation with a project manager. What was once attainable, deflates instantly as the dollar signs keep piling up. And that isn’t even considering whether you fall under the dreaded purview of “prevailing wages” that will skyrocket your labor costs instantly.
Modular buildings do not suffer from this problem. In fact, modular set-up crews are mobile and used to working in remote locations and Specialty Modular has a team of experts ready to deploy. This drastically decreases the cost for your project and makes the unattainable suddenly very attainable. All our teams need is a hotel nearby and your project is as good as installed. If you’re wanting your building on a concrete pad, you may need to get a concrete team into your site, but that’s much easier than trying to get entire construction crews to your location.
Timelines
When we say that not all projects are created equal, it’s not just about how much it will cost to get your building built. It also has to do with how quickly you need your building built. A quick and simple example of why timelines are so important to deciding if modular buildings are the right choice, are schools. Whether you are looking for a used, portable classroom, or a top of the line custom modular school, most schools have around 3 months to clear a site and get the building installed and ready for the next year’s students.
That isn’t a lot of time. In fact, that immediately disqualifies 99% of contractors looking to take on a school project. How quickly you need to be into your building can instantly take stick-built options off the table if you have a specific deadline that’s tight. Others will need a larger window to build your project and that’s also not accounting for delays, which always pop up.
A modular building is only limited by when you place your order with the factory that builds your building. If you jump on a custom modular building early on, your building can be designed, customized, and order with enough time to have it delivered and ready to be installed as soon as school is out for the summer or as early as possible if you’re not a school. Once delivered to your site, modular buildings are quick to assemble and will vary in how long it takes depending on the size of your project, but regardless, it’s a fraction of the time it takes for a stick-built building to be built. So what’s your timeline? How quickly do you need this done and what kind of window are you looking at? Is a modular building right for you?
Accessibility
Construction is a highly detailed craft and is organized for maximum efficiency and accounts for as much control as humanly possible when building your building. That being said, your site’s accessibility could throw all of that out of the window. We talked about the cost of getting crews out to a remote site and how quickly that can add up, but what about just getting to the site to begin with.
There are a lot of projects that take place in bustling urban locations all across America where actually getting to the site is only limited by nearby parking space. But in extremely remote locations like lumber camps, mining facilities, or oil rigs; actually getting supplies delivered becomes a huge cost on top of getting the right people out there. Accessibility to a site can cause immediate heartache and is usually an unforeseen or underestimated problem for stick built buildings. A lot of teams will think they can get to a site, but immediately run into problems when they can’t get crews, equipment, or supplies out to their remote location.
Again, modular buildings do not have this problem. Accessibility is limited only by whether a truck can deliver the buildings to the site, and even that is up for negotiation. We have barged buildings out to remote islands even, with the help of trucks getting the building on and off. But still, isn’t that incredible. It would have been impossible for several of our clients to get the basic materials they needed to a location before they ever even considered hiring people to go work at the site. Next time you’re at a national or state park or see a remote research facility, notice how many of them are modular buildings. There’s a reason for that.
Reliability of a Modular Building
Maybe up to this point, you’re unimpressed with modular buildings and think you can get a better deal with a stick-built team. Or maybe you live in a rural community, but you’re not that remote where you need to think of limited access to supplies or manpower. You may also have a fairly reasonable timeline that doesn’t have a small installation window. One of the main features that makes a custom modular building superior to a stick-built building is the undeniable reliability of the product that you are receiving.
Modular buildings are built phase by phase inside of controlled warehouses that have inspection crews working every step of the way. Stick-built inspectors only visit a handful of times to a location and usually have a limited scope of interest. A modular building is inspected each step, from framing and flooring, all the way through electrical and plumbing, step by step. Your building is inspected by quality control from start to finish with reliable precision and expertise. That is a significantly different experience from a stick-built operation. You will not find that level of attention to detail on any construction site.
This reliability can give you confidence that you’re not going to have unforeseen disasters or complications on site that will delay or balloon costs for your project. In fact, you’ll find a reliable confidence in what you’ve designed is exactly what you’ll receive.
Temporary Placement
One of the significant advantages that a custom modular building has over any stick-built building is the potential to pick up and leave your current site. Now, that might not seem like a spectacular selling point to a lot of people, but it can be a major benefit. Modular buildings have immense resale value. If you are using a custom modular building for an office or a temporary building; having the ability to recover some of the initial costs is a huge benefit for many businesses. You can factor in the potential of reselling the building should the company or institution move in a different direction later on or in the distant future. There is always a customer looking for a cost effective modular building or portable classroom to save money.
With custom modular buildings, the axles and wheels used during the delivery are still on site, completely unnoticeable and waiting for the time when you may need to relocate your building for resell or to find a new home for that building elsewhere. The whole process is reliable and fast, taking major costs and headaches off of your plate so you can dedicate your time and focus elsewhere.
However, the ability to relocate your building could also mean the ability to relocate to a new site that your business is interested in. Perhaps you have a remote research facility, a lumber camp office, a mining or oil bunkhouse, or any number of businesses that require that you relocate from one location to another more profitable or informative location. Having a modular building allows you to take your building with you and save money on the installation of a replacement building. While this is a unique opportunity that might not be for everyone, but is still a feature worth considering when making your decision.
Conclusion: Is a Custom Modular Building Right for You?
As you navigate the complexities of your building project, it’s clear that a custom modular building presents a host of advantages that can transform your vision into reality. From cost-efficiency and rapid installation to unparalleled reliability and flexibility, the benefits are substantial. Whether you’re considering a modular classroom, office space, or specialized facility, the unique factors we’ve discussed—such as location, timelines, accessibility, and the ability to relocate—can significantly impact your decision.
At Specialty Modular, we understand that making the right choice is crucial for your investment. Our team of experts is dedicated to guiding you through the entire process, ensuring that you have all the information needed to determine if a modular building aligns with your goals. We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality, customizable solutions that not only meet but exceed your expectations.
If you’re ready to explore the possibilities of custom modular buildings or have specific inquiries, we invite you to reach out to us. Our knowledgeable team is here to answer your questions, discuss your project needs, and help you understand how our modular solutions can work for you.
Don’t hesitate—contact Specialty Modular today to take the first step toward realizing your modular building project. Let’s build something great together!
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