Home & Lifestyle Blog - Swanbuild

Rebuild Your Home After a Bushfire Faster with Swanbuild

Written by Swanbuild | 23, April, 2020

Between the bushfire devastation earlier in the year and the current COVID-19 pandemic, it has been a challenging time for everyone over the past three months. Swanbuild wants to support people who have been affected. As a family-owned modular construction business we have an emphasis on family values and personalised service. We guarantee fast builds without scrimping on quality. We offer options to customise your home and build to Bushfire Attack Level regulations. Here’s why you should choose Swanbuild Homes for your regional rebuild.

Dedicated to the Bushfire Affected
Swanbuild is committed to building outstanding customised modular homes in a speedy time frame. We are especially dedicated to those who have experienced loss during the bushfires and are looking to quickly rebuild a quality, fire resistant home. Client satisfaction is of the utmost importance to us. We care about your situation and understand that your home is your sanctuary. We will make rebuilding your property our priority.

Benefits of Rebuild with Modular Construction
Why is a modular build especially beneficial for rebuilding after bushfires? There are many reasons. Swanbuild Homes offers a high quality, eco-friendly, low cost build. But the icing on the cake is that we can provide all of this and rebuild your home faster than a conventional build. Whilst traditional homes may take months to construct, a Swanbuild Modular home is ready in only 12 weeks. The main reason for this is because the initial stages are completed offsite in a factory setting. The build is not affected by weather or other factors. A factory build also means that materials remain at a higher quality out of the weather and that cut offs can be recycled. This also assists in lowering the cost of construction.

In the case of when a bushfire has taken place, the factory build is even more vital. It allows for the land to be cleared and to regenerate during construction and before the modular home is put into place. And don’t despair if you are not closeby to our factory. We deliver homes to regional areas as well as city, beach and suburban destinations. Ultimately, the best aspect about a modular build is that you will be moving into your new home more quickly and can look forward to getting your life back to normal.

Customise your Rebuild
Yet another reason to choose Swanbuild for your rebuild is the fact that you can customise your home. Indeed, if you have the opportunity to rebuild your home from scratch, you may wish to make some improvements to your original home. You might discover a ready-made Swanbuild plan that fits the bill or you can use your own. We are ready to assist you with whatever you choose. And whilst your previous home may not have been built to a particular fire-proof level, this is standard in all new builds.

Bushfire Attack Level
If you are rebuilding, especially due to a bushfire, new homes in a Bushfire Prone Area must have a Bushfire Attack Level Assessment. This new regulation has been in force since the Black Saturday bushfires to improve the safety of homes and hopefully save lives. The Assessment ranges from low to extreme risk. Any new home in a BPA must be built to withstand a minimum of 12.5 kilowatts of energy per metre squared, even if the BAL Assessment is not deemed significant. This means the expected radiant heat does not warrant specific construction requirements but rather it is standard as a precautionary measure.

Here is a brief summary of the BAL levels with their description of the Bushfire Attack:

  • Low BAL: low risk of radiant heat but possible risk of ember attack
  • BAL -12.5: low risk of radiant heat, is primarily at risk of ember attack
  • BAL - 19: up to19 kilowatts per metre squared of (moderate) radiant heat and an increased risk of embers, fire borne debris and a higher likelihood of radiant exposure
  • BAL - 29: up to 29 kilowatts per metre squared of (high) radiant heat due to similar factors
  • BAL - 40: up to 40 kilowatts per metre squared of (very high) radiant heat, including all the above risks as well as some direct exposure to flames
  • BAL 40 +: over 40 kilowatts per metre squared of (extreme) radiant heat, direct exposure to flames from the fire, as well as ember attack and radiant heat exposure 

Swanbuild Modular Homes can meet all the requirements of BAL overlays and can construct Flame Zone buildings. Swanbuild has features designed particularly for houses that are to be built in fire prone areas. We will assess the area and walk you through all the safety measures we can add to your home. This will ensure it has the best possible chance in the case of a fire disaster.

Swanbuild Homes can help 
Through these stressful times, Swanbuild is committed to assisting people affected by bushfires to rebuild their homes. You can trust us with designing, constructing and transporting your new home and be assured that it will be of the highest quality and built in a short timeframe. If you would like us to assist you in with your regional rebuild, contact us to organise an appointment.