Published: 16 August 2019 in Building Types

What Is The Difference Between A Prefabricated And A Modular Building?

The distinct benefits of off-site construction make it a sought-after approach to modern construction. One of these advantages is the vast range of building types that can be manufactured in a fraction of the time it would take if you were to use traditional methods, and a fraction of the cost.

Two of the most popular of the building types offered through off-site construction are modular and prefabricated buildings; popular due to the fantastic advantages they provide. We do find however, that some of our clients are not aware of the difference between the two before they get into contact with our team. In this blog therefore, we will explore the difference between these two building types and their respective advantages.

What is a prefabricated building?

Prefabricated buildings are made up of factory constructed components, which are delivered individually and assembled on site.

Here at Springfield, our expert team will construct the components of your building in our ISO-approved workshop in St Helens. Once completed, the components are then transported from our workhouse to your site, and then assembled in a matter of days. Typically, our prefabricated buildings come fully-fitted with utilities and are therefore ready for immediate use once assembled.

The primary benefits in opting for a prefabricated building is the control that off-site construction offers. In being constructed in our workshop, our expert team can pore over the finer details of your building to ensure you receive a product that matches your exact specifications. The higher level of control that our workshop offers our team also means that they are not affected by any adverse weather conditions. That means, no matter the time of year, we can provide you with a bespoke prefabricated building in no time.

What is a modular building?

If you consider a prefabricated building as pieces of a jigsaw being created off-site and assembled on site, then you should think of modular buildings as bigger pieces. Modular buildings are sectional structures or units, that will make up parts of rooms or complete rooms.

Modular buildings go through the similar process of being constructed in our workshop. But rather than putting together the parts or components of buildings, our expert team construct sectional units. These units are then delivered to your site and then put together – again in a matter of days. Opting for modular buildings will allow you to stack your modules on top of one another to create a multi-storey building; a structure that can be added to at a later date to help facilitate your company’s growth.

The advantages of modular buildings lie in their much more reasonable cost. You can purchase a multi-storey building, which can be added to at a later date, for a fraction of what it would cost if you were to decide on traditional methods. This is down to our team being unhindered in our workshop. In being constructed off-site, our methods mean there is much less disruption for your school or business. We only need to be on site for a matter of days to assemble your final structure.

The Springfield Touch

Clearly both prefabricated and modular buildings have their respective advantages, but they both offer fantastic benefits for our clients. The difference between the buildings produced by our expert team here at Springfield is the truly bespoke service we offer. We offer a complete turnkey service, completing as much of the extra work that comes with installing a building as you want us to – from gaining planning permission to laying your foundations. We strive to achieve a perfectly bespoke standard for every client so you receive your building, your way.

If you would like to find out more about either the prefabricated buildings or the modular buildings we offer, or you would like to contact a member of our expert team directly, visit our website or call us on 01744 851958.