Modular houses

Recommendation points

• How prefabricated modules appeared
• What is a module
• What the module consists of
• Advantages and disadvantages of modular homes
• Disadvantages of modular homes

The article will discuss one of the most economical ways of suburban construction – modular houses. You will learn what a module is and how it appeared on the modern construction market. The article will tell you about the device and block sizes, its advantages and disadvantages, as well as the prices of the material.

At all times, the issue of reducing the cost of a house has been one of the first in the tasks of the construction business. As a result, new materials and combined technologies appear that make their own houses and summer cottages available to the average layman. Modular design is able to solve the problem of providing each citizen with his own compact summer cottage.

How prefabricated modules appeared

The idea for the production of residential modules came to the mind of European designers after the appearance of the first houses from ordinary shipping containers, converted by individual enthusiasts. The principle itself is extremely simple – the improvement of the steel container to acceptable standards of living or temporary stay. To do this, the design engineers required:

1. Solve the problem of lightening and warming walls. This is where the proven sandwich panels with polyurethane core come to the rescue..
2. Develop special programs for cutting wall material and calculating the filling of door and window openings. These programs allow you to design 2 or more storey houses with attics, verandas, awnings and other additions.
3. Make the module collapsible. This made it possible to maximize the use of the space occupied by the module before installation..

As a result, structures saw the light, the assembly of which can be handled by a link of 2 or 3 assemblers using a truck crane. Since the module has a rigid frame, it can be reliably connected to another module of the same kind in any direction of the plane – from below, next to it, from above. It turns out that such a compartment is its own frame and support..

What is a module

In another way, a separate structure is often called a building change house, but this is only part of its functions. The module is a steel frame made of a powerful shaped tube 70×120 or 120×120 mm. It has two rigidly connected parts – floor and ceiling frames. The rest of the parts – posts and wall panels – are separate and are connected to the frames with bolts and nuts, forming a rigid spatial frame.

Any production of these blocks offers both standard sizes and individual ones (they are a little more expensive). This allows you to design open-plan buildings.

Table. Block parameters

Index	Standard	Non-standard
Length mm	6015	from 1500 to 12000
Width, mm	2415	from 1500 to 2415
Height, mm	2450	2450
Wall thickness, mm	70 or 120	70 or 120
Total area, sq. m	14.5	from 0.8 to 7
Useful area, sq. m	12.4	from 1.6 to 25.3
Volume, cubic meters m	35.6	5.5 to 71
Weight, tons	2.5	from 0.7 to 7

Standard “commercial” cabins from such blocks are equipped with minimal protection from the weather and thin walls, so the declared service life is only 5 years. However, residential buildings and country houses from modules receive better protection of walls, floors, roofs and become much more durable. Module fire resistance – V.

What the module consists of

The prefabricated pavilion is a combined structure made from common and affordable materials. The main value is represented by frames and racks – these are powerful beams, welded or bolted, on which literally any decoration and additions can be sewn (visor, stairs, roller shutters, etc.).

In the basic configuration, the material composition of the change house will be something like this:

1. External walls. C8 profiled sheet + frame made of 40×100 timber + insulation (mineral wool) + vapor barrier film.
2. The roof is flat. Steel sheets 1.2–1.5 mm + lumber frame 40×100 and 25×100 + mineral wool + paroizol + finishing.
3. Partitions. Frame made of timber 40×40, 40×100, boards 25×100 + filling (doors) + interior decoration.
4. Floor. Subfloor from a board 25×100 + floor logs from a bar 40×100 + mineral wool 50 mm + vapor barrier + OSB floor base 16 mm.
5. Doors. Outer – metal, inner – MDF.
6. Window. Wood or metal-plastic.
7. Internal finishing. MDF, PVC panels, lining, plastic, laminated chipboard, profiled sheet.

Typically, the manufacturer offers to select options for solutions for each item. For example, clapboard trim (adds $ 150 to the price), you can use a thicker OSB board for the floor or increase the wall thickness by adding a layer of insulation.

Advantages and disadvantages of modular homes

These simple prefabs have qualities that even the most modern homes do not have..

Light weight.One square meter of the block weighs only about 180 kg. This allows it to be installed on a light foundation made of brick pillars or screw piles..

Compactness of the disassembled (packed) module.A flatbed truck transports 4 ready-made modules at a time, and a long trailer – up to 10.

Rigid steel frame.Seismic resistance of a one-story structure – 8 points. At the same time, the frame allows you to mount any type of facade (ventilated is recommended) – from weightless siding to a massive block house. Any elements can be welded to it.

Build speed. One module is assembled in 8 hours by a team of three assemblers using a truck crane.

Transportability. A modular house of any size and number of storeys can be disassembled in the reverse order, folded at the factory and transported to another location. With careful handling, this procedure can be repeated 5 or more times. A separate block-change house is placed in the tractor body without disassembly.

Possibility of complete modernization and overhaul.Steel frames are extremely reliable and allow complete dismantling of other elements – filling walls, floors, partitions, roofs. Then the frame can be sheathed with other materials, for example, OSB with insulation for siding. The result is a completely new home. The steel frame is protected by wall elements, so it will last more than 100 years with the correct organization of the foundation.

Price.The basic module (see above) without internal partitions will cost only 1000 USD. e. or 80 usd. e. for 1 m² useful (living) area. Together with the delivery and installation of a house of 10 blocks, you will get about $ 100. e. for 1 m².

Disadvantages of modular homes

Limited height dimensions.The ceilings in the house will be the same everywhere – high spacious halls are not for modular houses.

Standard form of one block.The design will still have the familiar shape of the container – it will not work to build a unique building from blocks.

Thermos.The vapor permeability of the block walls is close to zero, so you should consider the ventilation and heating system with an eye on this factor..

Heating costs.Heating of such houses is most conveniently done electric – it is enough to distribute electric convectors in the premises, but the operating costs will be tangible.

Of course, modular houses do not pretend to compete with brick, frame or any other types that are assembled on the spot. It sometimes takes more than one year to build a unique building, while the final cost per square meter reaches an impressive 3000 USD. e. for 1 m². A new modular summer cottage with decent interior decoration will cost the owner about $ 150. e. for 1 m². Moreover, the whole process will take just a couple of days (not counting the foundation device).