Making modular solutions very appealing to developers
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The big advantage for Container Houses solutions is time savings – the construction side itself may not save money, but the time savings certainly will, says Mr Betadam, making modular solutions very appealing to developers.
But Mr Betadam says perceptions of modular solutions in Australia still have some way to go.
“Modular solutions are traditionally made from steel which is not traditionally viewed as an option for Australian homes which are traditionally timber,” he says.
He says there is a perception that steel won’t last or that it will rust and that it’s not good looking and is associated with trailer parks.
But in the past 12 months the modular solutions environment has begun changing rapidly.
Channel 4’s Grand Designs has featured a number of modular homes in Europe, spiking interest. Meanwhile, developers sourcing modular units for the global mining boom are now looking for new projects as the market turns.
Many of these developers are now looking at China to source their modular solutions but there remains one significant challenge impeding the low cost virtues of the modular world. Quality.
Mr Betadam says Australians invest a lot into their home, borrowing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the bank to own their dream home, “and quality is a big aspect of that.”
He says Chinese factories are yet to factor this in and it is echoed across the industry.
Ross Pelligra, the CEO of the three-generation Pelligra Family Group says he is struggling to source good quality modular solutions for a number of his Sentry Box projects in Australia.