A modular home is just like any other traditionally built home. It has solid foundations, insulated walls and a corrugated iron roof. The main difference between a modular home and one built traditionally on-site is that we build our modular homes in our controlled factory for greater accuracy and efficiency, before dividing and transporting the home to your site in modules, which is how they get the name modular.
Read on as we highlight some of the many benefits of choosing a modular home for your site, as well as answer some common myths and misconceptions you might have about modular construction...
Why Build Modular?
There are so many benefits to building a modular home that once you've had experience choosing one, you'll wonder why all homes aren't built this way.
Speed
Because construction takes place within our factory, building a modular home is much faster than the alternative. Our factories are a little bit like a production line; we have teams of expert builders working on multiple homes at once. This means there is no downtime between jobs, and your home moves faster through the construction process. We can usually have your new home delivered to site 6-9 months after you have signed your contract.
Quality
Our controlled factory environment means we can build to incredibly high exacting standards. All of our homes are built to the very same building codes and requirements as any other home in Australia. In addition to high quality, we build all of our homes to a 7-star energy rating, which means they include added insulation and innovative design features to ensure the home is comfortable all year round and uses less energy to heat and cool.
Avoid Delays
There are a myriad of common delays and issues that can affect building sites. Inclement weather can call off construction for days or even weeks. Lack of materials or delays in getting building materials, machinery and crews to complex or remote sites can also add days or weeks to your timeline. At Swanbuild, building multiple homes at once means we always have a high stock of building materials, and our factory construction means that work can take place on your home in rain, hale, or shine.
Site Interruptions
Getting your site ready for your new modular home is surprisingly simple. Before your modules are delivered and put into place, our team will install the heavy-duty galvanised 'stump' system to support your new home. When your home is delivered, we will project manage your chosen trades and connections (water, gas, electricity, etc.) to complete your installation and get your home ready for move-in. The work to prepare your site occur concurrently with construction, so the overall time spent on site is minimal.
Design Range
You might think that because you are building a modular home, you have only limited options regarding your home's design and overall look. That couldn't be further from the truth. At Swanbuild we have over 90 home designs to choose from. Our collection includes everything from classic country-style homes with wrap-around verandahs and weatherboard cladding to sleek modern homes with contemporary styling in all shapes and sizes.
The Modular Process
Pre-production
Once you have chosen your home design, the next step is with our Colours & Selections team to select all your preferred choices for interior paint colours, handles, taps, tiles, carpets and much more to personalise the home to suit your style.
Before we begin construction on your new home, the Swanbuild team will work with you behind the scenes to ensure your home and site are ready. This includes working with your local council on planning permits and permissions and preparing your site to make the delivery day as easy as possible.
Production
Once you have signed your contract and we have the right permissions from your council, we can begin construction. In the first stage, we construct your home's steel strongback chassis, which is the foundation of your home. Once we have assembled the chassis, we add the underfloor and insulation, and your home really starts to take shape as we begin framing up the walls. The next stage is lock up, where we add windows, external doors, internal wall insulation, exterior cladding, verandahs, and alfresco areas. At the last stage in our factory, we work on the home interiors, completing waterproofing, tiling, and installing your home's kitchen, laundry, and bathroom cupboards, as well as wardrobes, window covering and plumbing fixtures and fittings.
Transport
Once your house is completed to 95%, we separate the home into modules and prepare for transportation. Working with our specialist transport providers, we transport your home's modules from our factory to your pre-prepared site, ready for installation. Once on site, Swanbuild will project manage your chosen trades to connect your home to utilities and perform the final touches to ready your home for handover.
Common Modular Myths And Questions Answered
Are modular homes just kit homes?
No. Kit homes arrive at your site in pieces and need to be put together, meaning you still have to find trades people who can assemble each part of the home. A modular home is built to 95% completion in our factory before being transported to your site for the final finishing touches.
Are modular homes built as solidly as traditional houses?
Yes! Once installed, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a modular home and one built on-site. Because we construct our homes in our factory, we can undertake a rigorous quality control process for every home we build. We also provide a 10-year warranty covering all structural elements and a 6-month maintenance warranty covering any minor adjustments that may be required as your home settles in place once on-site
Is it harder to finance a modular home?
While financing a modular home is different from financing a home built on-site, the team at Swanbuild can liaise with your mortgage provider to supply all the information needed to ensure the process is seamless. Some banks have recently been streamlining the process to make financing for modular even easier.
When it comes to choosing a modular home vs a home built on-site, there are so many reasons to choose modular. A faster timeline, high-quality build finish and a huge range of designs are just the beginning. Download our current catalogue to learn more about the benefits of building modular with Swanbuild.