Kit Build Buildings Vs Conventional Buildings

Whether expanding the storage and manufacturing capacity on-site in a hurry or setting up a new base of operations, business owners have a lot of options when it comes to constructing temporary or permanent structures in a hurry on a new or recently bulldozed location.

These options can largely be separated into conventional buildings, where a permanent structure is made with the help of architects, building contractors and the needs of the business in the long term, and kit build steel frame buildings, which are prefabricated structures easily erected to a particular standard.

The concept of kit building has an exceptionally long history and at one point was a popular alternative to conventional construction, particularly in some parts of the United States where entire homes were sold in catalogues.

In the present day, however, both kit buildings and conventional buildings have an important use, and here are some of the reasons why you might choose one over the other.

Why A Conventional Building?

If time is not a factor and the added expense is not a short-term concern, a conventionally constructed building can be the best choice if a business has particularly specialised needs.

For example, if a business that uses a lot of specialised machinery needs a particular floor plan or amenities such as laboratory space, it can be potentially easier for an architect to devise that from scratch or adapt for an unexpected complication.

Why A Kit Build?

However, in almost every other way, a kit building has a significant advantage.

Because the parts are constructed before they reach the site and are assembled by professionals, it is significantly quicker to construct a kit building than starting from scratch.

They are also far less likely to be disrupted by environmental factors such as the weather. Whilst a patch of rain can seriously delay and set back a concrete structure, a steel kit building can be erected quickly and once it is assembled it is ready to use.

Prefabrication can lead to some considerable cost savings compared to conventional building methods, as the labour requirements are considerably lower, materials do not have to be constructed on-site and there are far fewer wasted resources.

This also makes them a more environmentally friendly alternative, especially if the kit building is only a temporary structure. It is made from recyclable materials and can be easily taken down.

A shorter construction timeframe also is one that is more amenable to the local community in cases where a build is taking place close to a residential area. Less traffic, less construction waste, less disruption and less noise are all factors to consider.

Alongside these, as prefabricated buildings are constructed to rigorous standards in factor conditions, there is far greater quality control and considerations for health and safety compared to a traditional build which can only be inspected for building snags at the end of construction.

Finally, a kit building can easily be disassembled, modified, customised, reused and relocated as desired, meaning that it will retain use and value on a business site even if it is replaced or superseded.