Though the housing industry in Australia is an important component of the economy, contributing billions of dollars every year, the soaring house prices are among the major issues in the sector that have marked the recent years.
To give you an idea, there’s about a $100,000 increase than what properties were worth just a year ago as a result of the high demand even during the pandemic.
With a rise of about 11 times that of the wages, which only get to increase about 1.7 percent a year, this has quickly turned into a housing nightmare for everyone, especially people who don’t yet own a home of their own.
Thankfully, with the modular design, you have a way to acquire the dream home sooner than expected and without going broke.
Now that technology revolutionized this age-old concept, it’s got nothing to do with the humble mass-produced constructions of the past.
And yet, even as the advanced, time-saving, and affordable solution it is, it’s still the victim of some common misconceptions.
Shedding light on them can help clear up the doubts you might be having about whether this option is the right course of action for your housing woes.
Misconception #1: Modular Concept Is Low Quality
Forget everything you’ve heard of modular constructions in the past decades when materials chosen for the building were cheap and non-durable.
Taking into consideration the typical example of a functional modular home of today is the durable steel frame house, you come to understand exactly how much quality they offer.
Even with time, you won’t have to worry about such homes losing value because they aren’t that different from traditional buildings.
With sturdy materials like steel, you can expect their prices to increase over the years, so if you ever plan on selling them, you could get more than what you paid initially.
Unlike choices for frames in the example of timber and concrete, this strong and long-lasting alternative is ingenious because it’s got unmatched properties.
Some of them are low maintenance, resistance to corrosion, mold, fungi, termites, and pests, reliability in harsh weather conditions like cyclones and even fires.
In addition to the use of other top-notch materials, like zero formaldehyde and low VOCs, these convenient modular steel frame homes get accurately engineered and constructed following the highest Australian standards that also apply to standard stick-built homes.
This includes bushfire protection, efficient overall energy rating, and sustainability, all of which make them of equal quality – if not even superior.
The fact they differ in the manner of building from regular homes makes them more advantageous because every step of the process happens in factory-like climate-controlled conditions.
Different from the on-site built counterparts, materials aren’t exposed to the usual threats like heavy rains, wildlife, vandalism, and theft. Fewer exposures such as these equal fewer delays and fewer costs.
Misconception #2: Modular Homes Are Mobile Homes
Let’s get this straight: mobile means homes on wheels, like trailers, whereas modular means homes with modules that are assembled on a permanent foundation.
Even though the modules of the practical and affordable steel frame house leave room for future upgrades and transformations, allowing you to move them to add or remove certain rooms, this still doesn’t make them mobile.
In other words, these homes aren’t a quick temporary housing fix despite the possibility of having them completed and installed on your chosen location within several weeks’ time – up to about 8-12 weeks, depending on the design.
As mentioned, the same strict local and state regulations of the stick-built homes apply to them, and right after the completion of the construction and assembly process, they are thoroughly inspected on-site by a local building inspector.
Misconception #3: All Modular Homes Look the Same
This couldn’t be further from the truth, so you can rest assured if you do decide to invest in a modular dream steel home, you can get a custom design in case you aren’t up for a building company’s standard models.
From providing you with an abode that makes the most of the surroundings to deciding on every feature, be it the material and look of the floor, the type and size of the windows and frames, the finishes, and fixtures – you’ve got a wide range of options of customization.
Whether you prefer a big or small home, have in mind that handy steel frames and modules can be arranged in various ways.
No matter the size, shape, space configuration, types of roofs, and walls, you’d get the exact design suited for your taste, budget, and needs.
Misconception #4: Modular Homes Aren’t Safe
Just because they’re built away from the site doesn’t mean they’re any less safe than your regular homes.
As explained previously, the choice of sturdy materials like those of steel frame houses makes them resilient and durable for years to come, even in disasters like fires, earthquakes, and cyclones.
Also, being constructed in factories and warehouses with state-of-the-art machinery guarantees precision to the highest level, thus diminishing the risk of mistakes and unpredictable costs.
There are even more advantages that stem from them – those that have to do with the safety of the environment.
Along with the use of low VOCs, the modular building companies implement passive design for the steel houses for low carbon footprint with the use of utmost insulation, ventilation, and layout for a high level of energy efficiency.
Same as with the environment, details such as these are at the benefit of your health as well since they make for a healthy indoor home environment.
You can even opt for extras that further help with this aspect and lower your expenses, in the form of solar power and wind electric systems, and rainwater collection.
Not surprisingly, this type of self-sufficient housing is often called “of the future”. Another way it helps protect the environment is with the low site waste, which is usually one of the biggest issues with standard on-site constructions.
Given that most of the process of the building happens in a factory, with the highest precision machines, materials are properly used, so nothing goes to waste – and when something does, it can easily be reused and recycled.