Modular building is beneficial for the house builder in many different ways including customisation, sustainability and ease of construction. U-Build is a revolutionary self-build system that can be scaled to any size, from storage solutions to entire homes and commercial buildings. It was designed by the architects at Studio Bark.
The benefits of modular building
One of the biggest benefits of modular building is the flexibility and choice that it gives the homeowner. The modular building system can be configured to suit your lifestyle and requirements. And it can be adapted over time to suit a growing family or future downsizing.
The units are highly customisable and can be used to build a bookcase or an entire building. U-Build have designed garden rooms, tiny homes and complete houses that you can choose from if you are not sure where to start.
They can also offer advice if you would like to apply the system to an existing premises. For example, U-Build has built office spaces inside County Hall in London for office staff. This project won them the newcomer award in the Blue Patch Sustainable Business Awards. Recently the office spaces were relocated to another floor of the building and reconfigured to suit the new space.
This demonstrates the second benefit of the U-Build modular building system. It can be reused or recycled at the end of its lifetime. The modular units can be reused in a different way or a different space.
U-Build units are made from 18mm WISA Spruce plywood as standard. It is both FSC certified (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC rated (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). As they are predominantly made of sustainably sourced timber, the units are recyclable and biodegradable.
This brings us onto the next benefit. U-Build self build units are energy efficient.
Energy efficient buildings
Energy efficient buildings need to be airtight and well insulated.
Air leakage is measured as ‘the rate of leakage per m of external envelope per hour at an artificial pressure differential through the envelope of 50 Pascals’ (Homebuilding & Renovating).
A passive house requires no greater than 0.6 m3/hr/m2@50Pa. Current building regulations require 10m3/hr/m2@50Pa. Though most projects aim for 5m3/hr/m2@50Pa to achieve Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP).
U-Build have built buildings with an air tightness of 2m3/hr/m2 @50Pa – before any air tightness membrane was fitted. And a U-Value of 0.3W/m2k as standard and an option for double thickness walls which can improve the U-Value to Passive House levels of 0.15W/m²K.
U-Value is the ‘rate of heat transfer through a specific section of construction, (Floors, Walls, Roofs, Doors, Windows, Roof-lights) taking into account all mechanisms under standard conditions’ (UK Building Compliance). The Building Regulations Approved Document Part L requires a U-Value for external walls of 0.18 W/m²K
It is important to note that the installation process is critical to achieving air tightness, so the choice of installer is important.
One significant disadvantage to modular building is finance. Modular homes are considered non-standard construction and many high street lenders will not lend on self build projects of this type. There are specialist lenders who are willing to provide mortgages for this kind of project, but there is less choice.
Despite the timber frame and timber cladding, U-Build homes are long lasting. The materials and finishes have been carefully chosen by the company to be low toxicity and durable. For example, the cladding is ‘UK grown timber with a durability class of 3, an estimated life expectancy of 15-30 years above ground’ and the roof Butyl membrane is ‘UV-stable, non-toxic and has a working life of up to 50 years with a 20 year supplier guarantee’.
Sustainable modular building
Modular buildings have many benefits, not least of which is their sustainability and the flexibility and choice to build a home to your exact requirements. U-Build’s modular building system is innovative and eco-friendly. It is designed to last a lifetime and be your forever home.
For more info about U-Build visit their profile on our sustainable business directory.
