Modular Extensions: Are Builders Missing a Trick?

Let's face it, extending your home isn't cheap.

With the cost of labour, materials and running a building business, it's hardly surprising that more homeowners are starting to explore alternatives to traditional construction.

And one of those alternatives is modular building.

I think the biggest attraction is simple.

You can potentially save a considerable amount of money and get your extension built much faster.

A traditional extension can involve weeks, sometimes months, of different trades coming and going. Bricklayers, carpenters, roofers, groundworkers and everyone else needed to get the structure built.

And every day somebody is on site costs money.

That's not a criticism of builders or their prices. Skilled tradespeople deserve to be paid properly, and contractors have wages, overheads and businesses to support.

But all that time has to be reflected in the price the homeowner pays.

With modular construction, much of the structural system can be manufactured in advance and assembled on site in a fraction of the time.

The materials aren't necessarily cheaper, and it doesn't mean every modular extension will cost less than a traditional one.

But where the right system is used on the right project, the savings can be significant.

And the financial saving is only part of it.

By the time somebody decides to extend their home, they've probably spent months looking at designs, discussing ideas and working out what they can afford.

They've made their decision. They're excited about it.

So what do they want to know?

How much?

When can you start?

And when can we actually use it?

Most homeowners don't want to spend six months watching their extension being built.

They want to enjoy the extra space, preferably without living around dust, deliveries, skips and builders for months.

Imagine a little 3m × 3m extension on the back of a terraced house.

No side access. Everything has to come through the front door, along the hallway and out through the kitchen.

First you've got to get the spoil out. Then you've got to get the materials in. And somewhere along the way, you've got to build the thing.

That's a lot of work for nine square metres of extra space.

Now imagine offering that homeowner another option.

A properly designed modular extension, with components manufactured in advance, carried through the property and assembled on site.

Depending on the system and project, the structural floor, walls and roof could potentially be assembled in days rather than weeks.

That doesn't mean the homeowner can move their sofa in on day five. There's still plenty of work to do.

But getting the structure in place that quickly can make a huge difference to the programme, disruption and overall cost.

Which brings me to a question I've asked for years.

Why aren't more traditional builders offering modular extensions as an option?

And I do mean an option.

I'm not suggesting everybody should abandon bricks and mortar and start assembling buildings like flat-pack furniture.

Although, having spent enough time putting together flat-pack furniture, perhaps that's not the best comparison.

There are plenty of projects where traditional construction is the right choice.

But there are also jobs where restricted access, the size of the extension or the practicalities of building on site make modular construction worth considering.

And I think there's a business opportunity here that some builders are missing.

Most contractors understandably look at their labour costs, material costs and the margins they need to make.

That's how they've built their businesses.

But what happens when they submit their quotation and the homeowner simply can't afford it?

You can protect your margins all you like, but there's not much profit in a job you don't win.

Why not look at the bigger picture?

If you can deliver the structural part of an extension in a fraction of the time, still make a healthy profit and free up your team for another project, surely that's worth exploring?

Then there's cash flow.

Anyone who's run a building business will understand this one.

You've got an extension underway, wages to pay, materials to buy and subcontractors expecting payment.

But your next stage payment isn't due until you've reached a certain point in the build.

Then it rains for a fortnight, a delivery doesn't arrive or something unexpected turns up underground.

Suddenly, everything slows down.

The homeowner wants progress, the builder wants to keep working and the next payment is still some way off.

With a well-organised modular project, there's an opportunity to reach agreed milestones much sooner.

The structural components are manufactured in advance, the work is coordinated and, once the foundations are ready, the building can start taking shape quickly.

The homeowner sees progress, and the builder can potentially keep the work, payments and resources moving more efficiently.

Of course, the payment structure is different.

When components are being manufactured specifically for a project, suppliers will often require payment before delivery.

That means clear contracts, agreed payment schedules and suitable protections for everybody involved.

But get those arrangements right, and there's a real opportunity for builders to operate more efficiently, make good profits and potentially take on more work without increasing their hours.

And I think most builders would welcome that.

Now, modular extensions still come with their challenges.

You need properly designed foundations, structural engineering, suitable connections to the existing building and the necessary Building Control approvals.

And from my experience, getting the building out of the ground is often where things get complicated.

A builder might be perfectly comfortable constructing walls, fitting a roof and completing the internal work.

But ground conditions, drainage, foundation design and coordinating everything can present another set of challenges.

It's one of the reasons I've spent so much time working with ground screws and developing alternative structural base solutions, including ModuFloor.

But this isn't about one product.

It's about making the whole process easier for builders to understand and deliver.

If manufacturers and specialists can provide properly engineered systems, clear installation requirements and reliable support, why shouldn't builders take advantage of that?

They still bring their experience and skills to the project. They're just changing how certain parts of it are built.

And perhaps there's an opportunity to change how the business operates too.

Rather than spending weeks coordinating every stage of a traditional structural build, a builder could spend more time looking after customers, managing projects and moving on to the next job.

But here's where we sometimes meet resistance.

I've spoken to builders over the years who are quick to dismiss modular construction.

And I understand some of that reluctance.

If you've spent your working life developing your trade, the last thing you want is somebody suggesting that the way you've been building for years is outdated.

But that's not what this is about.

My dad has been a bricklayer for more than 45 years, and he's still laying bricks today.

So believe me, I've got enormous respect for traditional trades and the knowledge that comes with them.

But even he looks at some of the modular systems available today and comments on how much easier certain parts of a project could have been if he'd had access to them years ago.

I like that attitude.

He hasn't forgotten how to lay bricks. Nor is he suggesting everybody should stop using them.

He can simply appreciate another way of doing things.

And isn't that what continuing to learn and develop your skills is about?

Construction doesn't stand still. Materials change, technology develops and customers' expectations change.

Being open to new methods doesn't make you any less of a tradesperson.

If anything, years of experience should put you in a better position to recognise when a different approach might work.

I don't believe modular construction will replace traditional building, and I wouldn't want it to.

But I do think more builders could benefit from offering it as an alternative.

If a homeowner can save money, get their extension completed sooner and experience less disruption, while the builder delivers a compliant project and makes a healthy profit, everybody benefits.

And if traditional construction is the better option for that project, that's fine too.

After all, having another option doesn't mean you have to use it.

It just seems a shame not to know it's there.