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How Long Do Modular Buildings Last

How Long Do Modular Buildings Last?

Rather than being directly built on a construction site, modular buildings are prefabricated in a controlled environment and then transported to the site for installation. This method has a significant number of benefits. Off-site construction of building components is often completed up to 50% faster than traditional construction, saving money and significantly shortening project lead times. These structures are also fully customizable, ensuring that buyers need not sacrifice aesthetic value or functionality when choosing modular structures.

At Commercial Structures Corp., we are a leading supplier of modular buildings. For more than four decades, we have been creating custom prefabricated structures for a vast array of applications, including laboratories, cleanrooms, medical buildings, classrooms, daycare units, offices, and much more. Our experienced team provides design, architecture, construction, delivery, and installation services. All of our structures meet LEED certification standards for sustainable buildings.

How Long Do Modular Buildings Last?

When considering modular construction, it is natural to wonder whether prefabricated structures will be as durable as those built with traditional construction methods. In addition to efficiency, sustainability, and affordability, modular buildings offer a service life comparable to structures built with traditional construction methods. 

What Shortens the Service Life of a Modular Building?

Just as with traditionally constructed buildings, the longevity of a modular building depends on how well it is maintained. When properly cared for, permanent modular buildings last for 50 years or more. However, there are a number of factors that can reduce a modular building’s longevity. These include:

  • Poor onsite installation
  • Poor quality control
  • Harsh and/or damp environments (either inside or outside)
  • Lack of maintenance
  • Low-quality materials

Site managers can mitigate these factors by working with a trusted, experienced modular construction business. This type of construction company will pay close attention any and all factors that could threaten the longevity of the modular building, ultimately resulting in a structure that is strong and durable for decades.

Factors That Increase the Longevity of Modular Structures

With the proper attention to detail during the life of the modular building, it can match or even surpass the durability of comparable traditional buildings. Factors that increase a modular building’s longevity include:

  • Use of secondary water plains
  • Quality testing of the building pad
  • Careful design and construction of the building’s foundation
  • Use of interior finishes that are easy to clean and repair
  • Use of durable exterior finishes
  • Proper ongoing maintenance

Modular construction follows the same guidelines and regulations as traditional construction, ensuring that the end results will have comparable durability. The components used in modular buildings are often of a higher quality because they are built in a controlled environment where strict quality assurance practices are easier to apply. This ensures the production of consistently reliable modules.

Given the quality-controlled manufacturing environment, the components of the building aren’t at risk of exposure or environmental damage during construction. In traditional construction, steel and concrete structural elements may undergo repeated exposure to rain, snow, wind, and other harsh conditions over the months or years it takes to complete the building envelope.

Additionally, modular buildings have a unique advantage over regular buildings: they are highly customizable even after installation. If certain areas of the structure become worn or degraded in any way, replacing them is a simple and straightforward process. While upgrading a traditional structure can involve months or years of intrusive construction, upgrades or expansions to a modular structure can be completed in days or weeks with little disruption. 

Modular Buildings from Commercial Structures

When well-crafted and properly cared for, modular buildings last just as long or longer than traditionally constructed buildings. At Commercial Structures, we have decades of experience building custom modular structures for customers in a diverse array of municipal, industrial, and commercial settings. For more information about our capabilities, contact us today

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