Modular Homes Building Regulations for Cyclones in Australia
Because new issues arise as the environment changes, the Australian Building Codes Board does periodic reviews of the building standards. In fact they are reviewing them now. If you want to learn more, visit the Australian Building Codes Board.
On that website you will find some very interesting data about cyclones in Australia, issues in your area and the cyclone building standards. You will also discover the building standards have you and your family’s safety as a top priority.
Australia has some of the highest building standards in the world; strictly governed. If you are buying a new transportable home, your building contractor will construct it to reflect those cyclone building requirements. Talk to your building contractor about any concerns you have and your proposed cyclone prone location.
Also, your local council has further information for cyclone prone areas, and documentation of past issues arising from cyclones within the municipality.
A very good question asked by a lot of enthusiastic relocatable home-owners-to-be. To be brutally honest, there are many factors that will impact on the price of your modular home.
To understand what makes up the price of portable homes; I have put together a quick guide, which includes but is not limited to the following:
Standardised floor-plan designs and styles will generally be more value for your money.
2-storey modular homes are less expensive per square meter because the fixed costs remain the same for the greater area; like foundations, footings, slab, building site preparation and connection to electricity, water, gas and sewage. In saying this, the modules required to make the 2nd-storey increase the cost.
Each module of the portable home will increase the cost because of
There was a time, not long ago, when the only deterrent for purchasing relocatable homes was the lack of design options. Companies used to have a standardised group of floor-plans and designs so they could keep the costs down to make more affordable homes readily accessible. However, these designs were plain, featureless and frankly quite boring. But as consumers discovered the benefits of modular homes and the demand increased, so did the need for homes to have more character and fabulous living spaces.
Although large transportable homes are an emerging yet steadily growing market in Australia, mid-range affordable housing in the form of relocatable homes is increasing at a rapid rate. The portable homes phenomenon is driven by the fact they include all the mod-cons of traditionally built homes and the inability to detect the difference between the two build methods.
Today’s modular homes can have –
splendid kitchens with central islands
bars
saunas
spa-baths
skylights
fireplaces
split-levels
home theaters
grand staircases
twin walk-in-robes
entire walls of glass
twin bathroom vanities
granite and marble features
very wide concertina doors
central vacuum cleaning units
and much, much more …
If you are designing your own dream home and having it built using modular building methods, then your options are limited purely by your budget. If you are creating your own design, it would probably be a good idea to look for architects with experience in modular homes design.
For people looking at standardised floor-plans, your options are vast. From a small 7 square home, up to 20 squares; which is a good sized family home with generous bedrooms and spacious living areas. Some of the homes I have seen have left me struggling to find anything I would like to change as they seem to have everything included. It is all up to preference, budget and what makes you happy.
As a fan of transportable homes, I believe the greater majority of traditionally built homes have the capacity to be built in a modular fashion. This series of TOP 100 homes gives you an idea of what is possible and an overview of what already exists in the marketplace.
Modern Modular Homes
A great example of bringing the outdoors in. The glass dining area is suspended to give the feeling of eating outside.
Utilising stone and neutral colours, this home blends into the natural environment.
The suspended portions of this home create less impact on the fora and fauna.
Elevated access to this modern modular home gives a unique and relatively cost effective entrance.
This home is very quite plain in design and yet has the ‘wow factor’.
Long gone are the days of relocatable homes being referred to as trailers and thought of as housing for the poor and unemployed section of the community. No, The trailer-park mentality has gone.
Introducing the new generation of transportable homes that make architects go all hyperactive and revved up like a purebred. The new breed of relocatable homes are exciting living spaces. Living spaces suitable for an independent teenager at the back of the lawn, granny living independently, or for the whole family in glorious modular mansion.
The growth of relocatable homes in Australia and overseas has forced the building industry to seek better building solutions. Demands for faster delivery times, and most excitingly, … modular homes with the WOW factor! Large and small, budget conscious or wreckless financial abandonment; they are a far cry from twenty years ago.
What’s all the Modular Homes fuss about?
What used to be a living space resembling a plain box, is now a sophisticated, bright and airy home. Some houses consisting of up to 8 modules for a luxurious modular home, where people would never know it had arrived on a truck in several pieces and was assembled like a giant puzzle.
With the fast pace of life comes the solution of modular homes; where foundations are poured at the same time the portable home is being constructed. Making for more efficient building processes. Even the banks are happier as transportable homes are more systemised; less likely to compromise bridging loan arrangements and deadlines, if approved. Also, home-owners are not having to store their furniture and live in an expensive rental property for months on end.
Weather isn’t a factor. It could be snowing or having a heat-wave; it makes no difference to modular homes. When relocatable homes are built undercover, the internal structure of the home is protected. How many times have you seen the frame of a new home standing out in the wind and rain for weeks waiting for the weather to be more favourable? This doesn’t happen with portable homes.
The great advantage to having transportable homes is when you are growing weary of your surroundings, you just load your home modules onto trucks and move to a better location. With computers, the internet and the ability to work online; people are becoming more and more transient. Even the older generation in Australia is increasingly mobile and choosing to live in smaller modular homes with large sheds attached to accommodate their motor-homes. Motor-homes are predicted to reach 4.1 million seniors exploring Australia within the next 10 years (according to KPMG and Sixty Minutes).
It seems everybody wants the stress and inconvenience of home building to become a faster and stress-free experience; leaving people free to enjoy their life.
In general, relocatable homes have more building materials included in the construction. Built to withstand the riggers of multiple moves and demanding conditions.
Once the modules of a portable home are assembled, there is a ‘double wall effect’. Where the modules meet, as each module is a mini building in it’s own right, when sandwiched together, the internal walls are effectively doubled.
The benefits of doubled internal walls are –
extra insulation properties
sound proofing effect
additional structural strength
These insular properties are especially valuable if you live in a hot or cold climate, as the extra insulation helps to further regulate internal temperatures. Providing a more comfortable living space whilst reducing your heating and cooling costs. Or, if you live near an airport, highway or industrial area with high noise, the double walling makes your home a lot quieter inside. Great for night-shift workers who sleep during the day, or an elderly family member who is poorly and frail.
An exception to the rule would be granny flats, as they are usually one module and therefore do not have the doubled wall effect.
Many blocks of land are a challenge to access without causing potential damage to relocatable homes. It is important to discuss the accessibility to your block of land with your building contractor well in advance of signing contracts.
A portable home on a steep section of land can pose problems and even a road entrance for a level site can have its problems.
Some things to look out for include –
letterboxes
fences
deep storm-water drains
gates
overhanging and close trees
mud or soft land
power lines
water ways
trenches
utility paths (power, water, gas, etc)
french drains or other sewage lines, tiles or tanks
under ground tanks
swamp or soft soil
garden
other buildings
pergolas
narrow driveways
concrete/brick/stone walls
If your building contractor is unable to visit your block of land, consider providing video-footage of the site, photographs, maps and an indication of soil type and drainage. The more information you provide your building contractor with, the better. Obviously a site visit would be preferable.
Solutions to problems may include –
temporarily removing letterboxes, gates and fences
pruning or rope-down tree branches
reinforcing deep storm-water drains and building a makeshift bridge
making a new alternative driveway entrance to the property, specifically designed for the delivery of modular homes.
From Signing a Transportable Homes Contract to Having it Delivered.
Transportable Homes Video – Tracey explains the ordering process.
Once you have signed a contract to have a Transportable Home built by a pre-manufactured homes building contractor, it usually takes 3 months, (on average) to have it delivered to your block of land.
There are however, circumstances which can make the process of building modular homes much faster. For instance, if you were to select a relocatable home from a standardised floor-plan and not alter or modify it in any way. Also, depending upon the manufactured homes factory scheduling, as they may be producing similar modular homes in a run. If this was the case and everything fell easily into place, you could get a transportable home in as little as two weeks!
Transportable Homes Video – Tracey talks about the various sizes of portable homes.
The size of modular homes is purely determined by what is required; there are no limitations as such.
Anything from a small, budget, one bedroom, open-plan, self-contained studio; to a luxury 4 bedroom 3 bathroom 3-storey abode featuring an enormous kitchen complete with island in the center, floor to ceiling windows down the entire north-facing side and a master bedroom with a top of the range ensuite.
It is up to you. If you want something custom-made, it all depends on your floor-plan, budget, and property access.
There are transporting laws, for example in Tasmania you can’t exceed 4.8m wide and anything larger requires an escorted journey by an approved pilot vehicle; which alerts on-coming traffic of the wide-load ahead. If your custom design is wider than allowable for your State, talk to your Contractor about the freighting and segmentation of your building and the transportation laws.
What is the difference between a Cabin and a Granny Flat?
Transportable Homes Video – Tracey describes characteristics of Granny Flats and Cabins.
Cabins
A cabin is small with limited facilities. Most commonly found in tourist parks, they normally have a small bathroom and toilet facilities. Cabins tend to be plain in design with a verandah at the front and a sliding door for access. The living area is small because cabins are designed for people to sleep in, instead of ‘live in’. Cabins ideally suit tourists, as they only require a comfortable place to refresh themselves and sleep after a big day of sight-seeing.
Granny Flats
Granny Flats on the other hand are a small complete home with all amenities inclusive. Usually one or two bedroom with a couple of external doors. Granny flats are merely a miniature version of a normal family home, just with smaller rooms; designed for one person, … usually a grandparent.
Today, granny flats are more popular as an extra source of income for people with room on their block of land. Granny flats are low in price but command the same rentals as normal units making them very affordable housing for tenants and a source of extra income for landlords.
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