Prefab buildings we once considered a cheap and ugly solution, now modular construction has changed its reputation. Nowadays, the booming PropTech (Property Technology) industry is rediscovering the advantages of modular building technology: it is fast, eco-friendly and just as gorgeous as the architect’s ideas. And Cedral has the perfect cladding planks to add the finishing touch.
Modular construction: what’s in a name?
When talking about modular construction, we refer to buildings that are assembled on-site with in-factory built modules, and these elements can be made of wood, steel or even concrete.
There are two types of modular construction. On the one hand, there are the better-known relocatable buildings such as small houses, temporary dwellings, cabins and so forth. These buildings can easily be disassembled and reassembled elsewhere. On the other hand, modular building technology is increasingly used for larger permanent constructions. The Marriott Hotel in New-York, for instance, is the tallest modular hotel in the world.
Why is modular building booming?
According to the Modular Building Institute, in 2020, the modular construction market has grown by 15% compared to 2017. The modular approach was rediscovered and revamped by the PropTech sector. Thanks to the increased quality, modular construction is now also used in high-end commercial real estate projects.
The speed of modular building remains one of the main advantages – the faster it’s built, the quicker it generates revenue - but the eco-friendly arguments can also convince even more contractors and clients. Modular building is more energy efficient and requires less transport. And because modular buildings can be easily disassembled for reuse or recycling, their ecological impact is reduced to a minimum.
Cedral cladding makes modular buildings shine
There is nothing worse than a building that looks ugly or cheap. That’s where Cedral cladding comes in. Its cladding planks are easy to install and are ideal for modular construction companies. They come in a diverse range of styles (tongue & groove, flush-fit, wood effect or smooth) and factory-applied colours: everything you need to add a stylish finishing touch to any building.
The Cedral fibre-cement weatherboards are extremely durable and low maintenance, which adds an additional layer of protection against the elements, and minimizes the need for (re)painting. Minor dirt can simply be washed away with water and detergent. Moreover, fibre-cement is fire resistant, which is particularly useful for wooden constructions.
Some stylish Cedral applications
You can find an example of modular construction with fibre-cement cladding in Wormer, The Netherlands. Plegt-Vos Houtindustry built a new estate consisting of 44 modular houses, stylishly finished with Cedral facade planks.
Also the developers of Faktor10 used Cedral fibre cement cladding on a concrete frame construction with a prefabricated wooden facade for their ecological building project Wohnsinn II in Darmstadt-Kranichstein, Germany. The weatherboards and the layer of air behind them protect the construction from the weather and helps guarantee maximum living comfort for the 83 residential units. Thanks to the high-quality coating of the planks, there is no need to regularly paint the surfaces. The developers also chose Cedral because of its low environmental impact according to the ISO 14025 life cycle assessment.
Conclusion: modularity is the new chic
Modular construction is no longer a synonym for ugly and low cost. Innovative technologies, such as modern fibre-cement cladding, offer a new range of possibilities for architectural creations. There are virtually no limits in combination with modular building. Modular construction is not only fast, it is also eco-friendly due to its positive impact on the environment.
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