Why go modular?

  • Less waste

    Current data shows modular construction creates on average 83% less waste per project by than traditional on-site construction. With construction making up over 40% of greenhouse emissions, it is vital we go modular and prefabricated if we hope to save the planet for future generations.

    We use the most sustainable materials available and push the use of renewable energy where we can. Eco-radiators and sun tubes/skylights are some of the staples in our pods helping to achieve this. All our timber is sustainably sourced and nearly all excess material is used elsewhere or recycled.

    Any waste we end up with we try and reallocate to the next project.

    Durability

    We hope to change preconceptions of ‘pods’ and modular design. Our product will have a lifespan comparable to that of traditional construction, not the temporary, cheap and poorly made ‘prefabs’ of the past.

    Recyclability

    Not only are our materials recyclable, so is the entire pod! If the building needs to be relocated, we can crane it away the same day with little to no damage to the original site. This can be especially beneficial when working with end of life care.

    Reduced carbon footprint

    Our workforce is local to our factory and the majority of our materials are locally sourced, many within walking distance.

  • Predictions suggest that modular construction could claim $130 billion of the market by 2030 in the US+Europe at moderate penetration, delivering annual savings of $22 billion and helping to fill a $1.6 trillion productivity gap (report by Mckinsey & co 2019).

    Our product is less expensive than many other comparable methods of production.

    Hidden and unforeseen costs are reduced significantly due to our construction process.

    Our low carbon, highly insulated pods support green energy, leading to significantly reduced running costs for the user. With energy bills increasing by over 50% for people in UK in April (2022), quality insulating products like ours will have a significant impact not just on the environment but also customers’ bills over the long run.

  • This is where the magic happens. We can take a product from approval to fully installed in less than ONE MONTH.

    Compare that to traditional onsite build where housing extensions average four months to build and often times end up taking YEARS.

  • Advantages of utilising off-site production

    Not affected/damaged by weather

    Reduced defects and snagging in final product

    Only one party to deal with

    Constant innovation and optimisation.

    Exceeds current building regulations.

    Each job monitored from start to finish by a trusted chartered surveyor.

    Quality materials

    We aim to provide a wide array of guarantees, some of which are unavailable in traditional construction as we believe in our product and use the best materials and methods.

    Fully accredited

    We are fully CHAS and RICS accredited

  • Our product is highly customisable. We make each unit bespoke to the individual’s needs

    Interior

    Choice of layouts, fixtures, fittings and finishes

    Exterior

    Choice of render, brick slips, timber cladding, roofing and openings

    Eco options

    We can fit solar panels, ASHP and smart technology

    Disabled adaptation

    Our structures are designed to allow for hoists and can be customised at the design stage to fit clients needs/restrictions e.g ramps

  • Construction is ranked in the top five most dangerous industries in the UK in terms of injury and fatalities. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics indicate that the serious and fatal injury rate in construction is around four times as high as the average rate across all industries, including the manufacturing sector.

    Benefits of off-site production

    Off-site manufacture moves a greater proportion of the end-to-end delivery of new housing into climate-controlled factory environments, reducing exposure of both the workers and products to dampness and temperature changes.

    Process engineering reduces the chances of hazards, injuries and accidents. Hazards such as falls from heights and equipment accidents are more likely to occur onsite than offsite in a factory.

  • Fewer parties involved

    Same trusted team every time from start to finish.

    Single point of liability and communication

    One point of contact making project management easier and more transparent.

    Upfront cost calculations

    House price calculated and finalised at design stage. No hidden costs at the end of the project.

    No need for compromise

    No excuses from contractors about things taking longer, being more than expected or having to pickup a previous contractor’s work.

  • For the homeowner

    Limited time on-site reduces disruption is less invasive.

    Less mess which is especially good for active business (like in education and healthcare who need limited on site activity and construction).

    Community friendly: Traditional builds traditionally create more noise, traffic, mess and disruption.

    For clients

    Quick, easy process with only a single party to deal with.

    Same trusted product each time.

    Easier to make financial projections and have greater control over expenditure.

  • Built and run in Wales

    Our factory is based in Barry in South Wales. We want to ensure that we are the front-runners in Wales for modular construction. Being one of the few companies in Wales (and indeed the UK in our niche section of the market) currently, we aim to capitalise on a relatively unexplored market that is only starting now to gain exposure and traction.

    Using Welsh labour

    All of our workers both in the factory and the groundwork team are all local to us. This is important to us as we feel people shouldn’t have to travel silly distances every day to work, taking up the precious time in the day we have outside of work.

    Using Welsh materials

    Most of our materials are sourced locally, both providing business for local businesses but also reducing our carbon footprint in the delivery of materials.

  • Strive for greater sustainability

    Not only are we aiming to become carbon neutral by 2026 but we actively encourage the fitting of renewable/sustainable technology.

    Affordable housing projects/give back to the community

    ONS estimated that 274,000 people in England alone were homeless in 2021 with Crisis estimating a 6% increase in wales in 2021.

    We want to work with local government to help provide temporary or permanent homes for the homeless, helping tackle growing issue of homelessness.

Q&A- Commonly asked Questions

  • The pods meet the new thermal regulations introduced last November (2022) for both England and Wales. Please put in a request if you would like to see the U-Value calculations that YBS Superquilt produced for us. Using Superquilt (combined with rockwool) allows us to provide an air-tight structure that is far superior to traditional masonry construction.

  • To achieve the best soundproofing, it is necessary to construct a number of layers with different densities. our pods do exactly this. By having different layers of plasterboard, timber, mineral wool insulation, multi foil insulation, and extruded insulation boards, we are able to disturb sound waves that increases the sound resistance. We ensure all our layers are completely sealed (e.g taping all joints in the superquilt) and even partition walls are filled with insulation to help prevent noise from travelling between rooms.

  • The flashing detail we use at the junction of the extension and rear elevation wall is a metal angled strip, chased into the wall and sealed with specialist sealant. This is, what we believe to be, a far nicer and neater version of lead flashing which is tighter and better sealed to both wall and pod. Request our pod pack to see section drawings showing the layers of the external wall and how we protect it at multiple points. There is a 25mm void between the back face of the internal wall and the Superquilt (which is our vertical DPM), allowing plenty of room for fixings without piercing the vertical DPM. We tightly wrap our base in two layers of high thickness DPM to prevent any water ingress. Furthermore, a large majority of the time (especially when the pod is under ground level) we fit aco drains around the whole building. This ensures that all water that would go towards the base of the pod is channelled into a sealed chamber and taken away into nearby gullies/drains.

  • We use a BBA Certified silicone render, which comes in large number of different colours. Silicone render has a large number of benefits. For example, it is breathable allowing moisture to escape, reducing the risk of damp and mould. It’s also flexible which ensures longevity of the render as it can withstand the summer swell and the winter shrink. It is also hydrophobic; meaning that it is self cleaning. The waterproofness helps carry the moisture away from the property and when the water builds up on the surface and droplets are heavy enough to run down, the dirty droplets/particles are washed away in the rain. It is also easy to clean with a spray on solution should it be required. We can also do brick slips to match into brick houses or timber/composite cladding.

  • It is a common myth that timber frame is an inferior material for construction. Timber frame houses still stand from the 1700s. Currently in the UK, timber frame houses have been given a life expentancy of 25-30 years but if built properly 80-100 (which ours are). The timber frame home market rose by £70m in 2022 and are set to rise by more than £150m by 2026 with experts saying it has a real possibility to become a £1 billion market in the future. In wales 22% of all new housing is timber frame with England being 23% and Scotland being a massive 92%!

  • We have structural calculations to show that our construction allows for a pod of up to two storeys. We are currently designing two storey pods for Cardiff Council to provide additional living and sleeping accommodation.