WHAT WE WISH YOU KNEW ABOUT MODULAR BUILDINGS

We feel passionately about modular buildings. Of course, we are biased, we love what we do. But we also see how delighted and (if we’re honest) surprised, our customers are with their finished buildings. Why are end users surprised with the possibilities or the finish of modular buildings? The industry is fighting against long-held but possibly inaccurate thoughts about modular buildings and their construction. It’s time to bust some myths and help the world to embrace modular: after all, the planet could benefit from a more sustainable building method. A range of staff around Wernick Buildings offered their thoughts on the subject, based on conversations with our valued customers at the beginning of their modular journey. What we can design is usually a lot more bespoke than a lot of people expect. Yes, we are working with ‘boxes’ but that doesn’t prevent us from designing something that is truly unique for the customer. We are experts in working with the possibilities of modular design and as such we can show the customer how versatile the systems can be. There are more options and more potential than people realise. Starting with the design, we are in control of everything that happens with the building. During production of the modules in our factory (which is on the same site as our office), we can catch any problems as they occur. That massively reduces potential issues once the modules reach their destination. Materials are reliably sourced and used responsibly, reducing wastage. And we are on site for a lot less time as groundworks have taken place while modules were being manufactured. Installation and fit-out is completed and the site back to normal before you know it – therefore businesses can benefit from the occupation of their building sooner. And the factory doesn’t need to rely on good weather! For these reasons, modular provides reassurance for customers, who benefit from that level of certainty with their project. As a department, one of the misconceptions we deal with quite often is that architectural designs can be easily ‘modularised’. We would prefer to work with the customer from the pre-design stage, although we happily work alongside architects if specified by the customer. Modules need to be transported on the back of a lorry, so we need to take those limitation into account. On a recent project, our customer received 12-15 units every day for 12 days. They were amazed to see a building of that size ‘appear’ within a fortnight! It’s not just the installation that is quick –manufacture takes a matter of days thanks to our streamlined processes. Even our drawings are available quicker than expected. The fast pace that we work to means that a customer could be looking at the first draft of a drawing within days. Having in-house expertise helps to remove the middle-man from the equation. Thanks to advances in design, it is now difficult to tell the difference between a modular building and a traditionally built one. Certainly when it comes to acoustics – old modular buildings could be noisy. You could also tell which floor you were on – the upper floors had some flex in them. This is no longer the case. We find that customers can do a lot more with their building than they think. Ongoing customers tend to specify more once they understand the product. It’s the ‘art of the possible’ – we love that customers are excited to work with us on building number two or three with more fit-out in mind. ‘It’s like a real building!’ – Wernick Buildings’ staff hear this statement all the time. That’s because the only way to really forget the misconceptions around modular buildings is to visit one and get a feeling for it in the flesh. Sometimes, the perception is that modular buildings haven’t moved on. That they have bouncy floors, are poorly insulated, or just look cheap. We are delivering hospital theatres now, which just goes to show that everything is possible.

For more information on WHAT WE WISH YOU KNEW ABOUT MODULAR BUILDINGS talk to Wernick Buildings Ltd