Modular/prefab extension?

[SpidersAreShitheads]

There has been lots of threads on here recently about rising costs of extensions/building materials.

We've been caught by this too, but we have other complications (DM isn't very well and might struggle with 6 months+ building work).

Just browsing the renovations group on FB and the idea of modular extensions caught my eye. Delving further into it, there seems to be lots of people who have had it done who are really pleased with the result.

Most of the work is done off-site and it's about two weeks work at your house. Brick-clad exterior to match main house and rated A for energy efficiency - which given the soaring energy costs could be really helpful!

We won't be selling for years - probably two decades or more - so I'm not too fussed about whether it could put buyers off.

Has anyone here had a modular/prefabricated extension - if so, what was your experience? And do you have any companies to recommend/avoid? Vita Modular and EazyBase are two that seem pretty good....?

Hello - sorry, mad week here between the building work, working and DP's 40th birthday!

@dreamersdown - thanks v.much for that article! We were told when enquiring that modular builds are much greener, both in terms of construction and also the insulation they offer which reducing the need for heating. The structural engineer in particular was very passionate about not pouring oodles of concrete down into the earth and I remember him explaining at length why these screws were better for the environment. Hands up, the eco benefits weren't the reason why I chose a modular build - there's just no way DM could cope with a traditional build, that's become very clear these last couple of weeks....but I am really happy that it is a greener build, even if that wasn't my primary motivation.

@CellophaneFlower - I asked this question before, and I can't actually remember the reply....! My brain is spilling over with stuff at the moment and I can't remember what was said 😅I will ask again when I next see the engineer and will report back. Might have been the size of the space?? The annexe isn't being extended by much - it's more of a reconfiguration with just a little extra. I'm guessing though - I really can't remember 😅

FFS! I keep pressing enter by mistake!!

@C4tastrophe - yes, the screws make perfect sense and I'm really happy this is what's holding up our extension. It feels extremely solid.

@Floppy12 - the screws replace any need for concrete. They're drilled deep into the ground and they really are huge - the photos don't really do them justice! They don't corrode or rust etc, and neither does the framework so it's a very long-lasting method of construction.

@TheRealKatnissEverdeen - thank you! It took a very long time to pick the company to use - I literally spent hours and hours poring through everything but I think I made the right choice. What's impressed me is that they want to get things right, rather than just get it done. I know they have contracts with some of the local councils where they're based to build adaptive spaces for disabled people. They've been really understanding with DM's needs.

@TFMinx - yes, lots more progress here! Things were slowed slightly as building control caused a delay but that's all sorted now. That wasn't to do with the build, but the knock through and the big steel needed.

So the knock through couldn't go ahead last week but now that building control has given the green light, that's all happening tomorrow with the steel being put in place.

Other than that we have doors/windows and skylights in, the outside has the base insulation and base layers on with the final render next week. The base board outside has gone on and I think they're landscaping this week/next week to fill the trench in. Electrics are being run through now so the wiring is all in the right place for the second fix.

Trying to remember what else has happened 😅 I only have photos up to Friday but will take some more tomorrow when I'm there. The roofing guys turned up on Saturday to finish off the job which was a bit of a surprise!

They seem to have specialist teams that tackle each element - it's a very well-oiled process with each team doing their bit, and sometimes overlapping with another team. So far there's been a ground screw company, a digging team, a construction team, and a roofing/rendering team. Not sure who was running the electric cabling as I wasn't there on that day.

Here are a few of the latest pictures - also for you @Delectable 😊

I don't have photos of the roof they finished off on Saturday or the outside with the full base coat on - those are very much work in progress pics.

Also, the doors and windows are black - they have a very tough white protective tape over the top so it looks a bit weird at the moment.

You can see on one of the photos how much more flooring there is to still add. It's almost a foot I reckon that needs to be added which will take the floor level up to the bottom of the doors. So it's quite interesting to see how much more will be added underfoot!

OP thank you for posting so much detail. I'm about to go down the same route and you've persuaded me to look more closely at OffPod.

This is so interesting, can't wait for the next instalment.

Looks amazing already can't believe how quickly it's been put up!

Can I please ask what are the walls made of? Concrete panels? Or SIPS? Will it be brick slip clad at the end to match the house?

@Polpette and @userxx - thank you! I'm really pleased with everything so far. I know I keep saying it but I really do feel quite self-indulgent posting in so much detail but I don't feel quite as bad if I know it's helping others 😅😊 Polpette, I looked at lots of other companies. Vita Modular seemed pretty good too but I think OffPOD have the edge over them as one of OffPOD's directors is a structural engineer and he's been involved all the way through. There might be others out there who are also good but I wasn't impressed with the others I found (various reasons). I know some traditional builders are starting to offer this now (look for Durabase). I like OffPOD because it's their speciality. Feel free to DM if I can help with anything.

@mimicracra - I know, it's mad isn't it?! It would have been even quicker if the building control bods hadn't slowed things down.

I'm not a very technical person and I'm new to all of this so the easiest way is just to show you the info they sent to me with the original proposal re the construction. I know it says garden room on the literature but it's the same thing for the extension. Our traditional builders (who are putting in a kitchen etc later) were REALLY impressed by the layers, and they said to us later that the construction/insulation was really top notch. That obviously isn't in their own interests to admit that haha but luckily we've found some really decent builders who have been honest about being impressed with OffPOD.

It's not at all self indulgent. It's incredibly kind of you to share your knowledge and your journey.

I'm loving all the updates. I think we're as excited by this as you are. It's like we're all wandering around the building site with you!

It's the timeline that I find the most incredible, I'd resigned myself to endless months of living on a building site. Knowing it could be just a few weeks is mind blowing.

Second what @Polpette says - having completed renos with vague builders before, just the idea of a structured timeline is heaven. I’m also in early stages of inquiries with OffPod as a result of this thread, they should give you commission!

Thanks for this OP.

Can I ask how long should the structure "last"?

Does it impact insurance in any way.

Would it put sellers off? someone mentioned it may impact mortgages , surely that can't be right.

In terms of fittings & fixtures is there only one option or can you choose your own floor & doors for example & then pay the difference?

yes the timescales are particularly appealing.

I spoke to the engineer again about this to get an answer to this question because I was annoyed I couldn't remember what he said 😅

So...

The screws are absolutely huge and they were concerned that the screws would disrupt the foundations of the existing annexe. That was built/converted a long time ago and wasn't subject to building regs. It's sturdy and and in good nick, but to save potentially disturbing it and making it unstable, they did a concrete base (which was approved by building regs). The annexe extension is very narrow at one point - it's not a symmetrical shape - so this complicated the use of the mega screws even further because they'd have to be really close to the existing foundations to fit them in.

Bit of a waffle but hope that makes sense!

@SpidersAreShitheads thank you! That does make sense!

More photos soon please!

Also, do you have a 3rd username on the go at mo? If not, I saw a user whose name you'd covet 😂

@Polpette and @dreamersdown - I'm just happy I've got somewhere to share all my excitement 😅😅

If I had to choose again, I'd go with a modular build in a heartbeat. I'm busting with impatience and it's only been a couple of weeks - can you imagine how I'd be having to wait 3-4 months to see it go up?! 😅😅 In all seriousness, my DM's health is so poor it just wouldn't be feasible any more and OffPOD have been amazing in accommodating her needs and making sure they don't block off access, leave the floor level etc. DM resolutely refuses to leave her annexe and use other parts of the main house and I'm sure that's a giant nuisance for OffPOD but they've just worked around it without a single complaint.

Dreamers - I should suggest that to them haha! Honestly, it's just that I couldn't find anything at all about modular builds when I was looking so I thought it might be helpful for others to see the process step by step.

Just as a heads up, if you do go with them and you can't stretch to the price, they can alter bits and pieces to bring the total down to your budget. So for us, we switched from brick slip to render (because we also want to render the main house too in the near future). We also said we'd do our own painting etc - they're getting us to a plastered finish with first fix plumbing/electrics. I can't remember what else we changed but we knocked off about £15k with various tweaks.

I do have a third username but for a change, that one is nothing to do with those eight-legged bastards 😅 I think I saw another user with an arachnoid-related username that gave me a smile the other day - was that the one you meant?

We had a bit of an issue to sort out the last couple of days - nothing to do with the extension but black mould under flooring in the existing annexe. We were supposed to be getting it new flooring/self-levelling concrete and then new laminate laid so we've had to quickly alter the plans and get someone out to treat it.

So I've not been to the house for the last couple of days and I'm busting to get there haha! I have to fit in full-time (self-employed) work and home-educating two DC around all the house stuff so with ringing round trying to get the mould issue sorted and getting the flooring rescheduled I just haven't had time to drive back over. It's about a 45 minute round trip from where I live now so been very reluctantly reining myself in. I'm going over on Monday though!

My understanding is that they've knocked out the other window in the room that's going to be our shower room and utility (it's being split) and they've bricked it up. And they've done more of the boarding inside. Plus the beam has gone in on the end room that's being knocked through. DM says they've been working a lot "outside" but she doesn't know on what.

Photos from the last visit but will update when I get the latest as these are a few days old now. Base coat of render on the outside and boarding/wiring done inside.

It was spidershavetoomanyknees 😂 I was so sure it was you!

Gah to the mould, bloody stuff.

Thank you for the pics, it's looking fantastic!!!

Hi @safeplanet 😊

The structure should last as long as, if not longer, than a traditional build house. OffPOD use galvanised steel so it doesn't corrode and isn't susceptible to mildew/mould etc. I've attached a screenshot from another site which confirms life span of steel-framed builds should be 200 years+.

You can build whole houses like this and they do routinely in other countries, we're just late adopters in the UK. Councils are starting to use this method, including for blocks of flats, because it means they can get housing up more quickly and reduce costs. So that can only be a good thing because the more widespread it becomes, the less "specialist" it will be viewed as - which means more finance products to choose from/more firms offering this method of construction.

It's still classed as non-standard construction so that means lenders/mortgage providers will want to know more. But it's not the same as the older non-standard constructions of the past which were made from concrete because they crumble and often have to be underpinned. Historically it was quite hard to get a lender/mortgage on a non-standard construction but that's not the case any more. Lots of (most?) mainstream mortgage providers are happy with steel-frame extensions because the quality is no less than a traditional build and they don't fall apart.

This is going to be a home I stay in for a very long time so I wasn't really worried about re-selling. But from what I gather it's not an issue at all if you need to mortgage or secure against it - a PP confirmed this on one of the previous pages on this thread.

Re fixtures and fittings - you choose whatever you want incl style and colour. They have their own companies they use for doors etc but if you want something that's not on the site you can choose something different from somewhere else. So for example, I am having black windows/doors inside and out but DM wants doors that are black outside and white inside and they've accommodated that request. The render company have an enormous colour swatch to pick from, but you can have different finishes like wood cladding, brick slip - and I forget the others 😅

We aren't getting OffPOD to do the flooring because we need a new kitchen etc installed and that needs to be done first. OffPOD do fit kitchens and bathrooms but we don't have the money for that bit of the work until my house is sold. Otherwise I would have used them too and the same applies, pick your fittings, flooring, colour, style etc in the same way as you would with a traditional builder.

I think that answers it all? Do shout if you have any more questions. Any excuse to talk about this basically - I'm driving DP mad with my excitement so I need another outlet 😂

Gah!! Forgot the screenshot!!

They seriously need to pay you commission! Please show them this thread and negotiate a discount!

Yes!!! That was the username I saw!! Gave me a chuckle 😅 Definitely not me though.

Bloody black mould playing havoc with the plans - bloody nuisance. Thankfully I have found a firm to come in and treat it professionally. I asked on a few local groups for recommendations and all I got was lots of people telling me to pour white vinegar on it. Apparently that works but the floor is literally covered in black mould so it needs to be properly treated. Can't risk it recurring and then screwing up the new flooring.

And thank you! I believe the outside is being rendered some time this week so should start to see what the finished thing will look like soon - eek!

😂😂Honestly, I've had so many freebies and upgrades from them along the way - nothing to do with this thread, there's no way I could ask for a discount 😂

Perhaps 1 of their wives is a mumsnetter and has seen this thread 😂

FFS - pressed enter too soon!

My traditional builder who's doing the stuff on the rest of the house came along so they could synchronise what was needed and he was suggesting tweaks and extras that would be useful. OffPOD know we're at the limit of our budget so when I asked how much it would cost for the suggested upgrades/extras he said, don't worry, we're doing the work anyway, we'll just add it in for you.

Plus with DM refusing to budge from the annexe and them having to work around her needs (I haven't really talked about that here but honestly.....they've had unbelievable patience in the face of outright stubbornness 😳 ).

They're bloody stars. And I genuinely mean that from the heart. If they get more orders as a result of this thread it's because they really do deserve it but that wasn't the reason I started banging on about it here ahah! I'm honestly quite taken aback by people actually being interested - I thought I'd just be boring everyone with my obsession haha 😂😂

Maybe it's not one of their wives....maybe one of the two guys is a secret Mumsnetter..... 👀😂