Are you in the market for a modular building? Great! This article is intended to help you make informed decisions about the features your building will need depending on your industry. No matter what the building’s end use will be, there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind and prepare for!
Is it permanent or temporary modular building unit?
— Have a plan for how long you want to utilize the modular building. Depending on your timeframe, it might be more appropriate to rent or lease-to-own instead of outright purchase. Remember, modular buildings depreciate faster than one traditionally built, meaning you can get your ROI sooner! How? If you’re looking for a relocatable building in the U.S., tax laws allow taxpayers to claim a depreciation relief for the decline in value of their assets – and the quicker the asset depreciates, the quicker you can claim the asset and recoup your investment.
ALWAYS check your local town and zoning laws.
— You don’t want to move forward until you are intimately familiar and plan to adhere to them. Note: Companies like Aries are happy to assist customers in acquiring necessary documents issued by a local government agency or building department certifying your building’s compliance with applicable building codes and other laws. In fact, the best modular building companies will make sure you have any permit requirements needed to satisfy the appropriate approval agency; including special foundation systems, ramps, fire alarm systems, etc.
Know your location.
— Carefully survey the area you want to place your building. Will a concrete foundation be required? If you’re in a location where it will snow, you will require a deeper foundation and a roof capable of heavier loads than a building where there isn’t snow.
When going modular, there are many things to consider — electricity, water connections, septic systems, and leveling the land. Aries has a full design and engineering team that can assist customers throughout the entire process.
What Is modular construction?
Modular construction is when a building is constructed offsite. It uses the same materials, same codes, and same standards as conventional construction, but it’s done in half the time under controlled settings. Modular construction can be either permanent or relocatable. Permanent modular construction (PMC) is when the buildings are completed offsite, transported to the final building site, and assembled on a foundation. Relocatable buildings (RBs) are partially or fully assembled buildings that comply with codes and regulations, constructed offsite, then transported to the building site. They are designed to be reused and repurposed multiple times and are not permanently affixed.
Modular buildings are flexible. They allow you to contract and expand space quickly, minimize operation disruption, have a low environmental impact, and maximize construction budgets. Building offsite in a well-controlled factory means no site disruption, improved safety and security while building, and eliminates many of the construction hazards that conventional construction can experience.
Modular units may also be designed to fit in with external aesthetics of any existing building and modular units once assembled can be virtually indistinguishable from a site-built structure.
MODULAR BUILDINGS FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING
Providing a clean and functional living space is a top priority when seeking accommodations for your workforce. Aries’ sister company — Aries Residence Suites — is a full-service provider of workforce housing focusing on quality, value, comfort, and service. We understand the large-scale housing needs of oil field and energy companies, seasonal workers, and other remote labor industries.
Aries takes great pride in meeting those needs with our experienced team of engineering, manufacturing, facility management, and sales professionals. We are here to deliver your workers a home away from home. Besides having existing extended stay locations within the U.S., Aries is also able to customize any workforce housing project to suit your location and needs.
Things to consider when buying or leasing relocatable workforce housing:
- Can my workforce housing modular units be delivered within the time frame I need?
- Do the modular communities come with additional options such as turn-key services like food service, cleaning service, and waste management?
- Do my modular housing units come with maintenance contracts?
- Are the units high-quality and comfortable?
MOBILE BUILDINGS FOR COMMERCIAL USE
Whether it be an office building expansion or a full retail space, you’ll want to ensure that you’re providing a clean, aesthetically pleasing space. Retail and hospitality industries can plan on earlier occupancy, giving them a faster return on investment when they choose to go modular. Buildings can be designed to look and function as traditional facilities.
For commercial buildings, it is advisable to include features like reflective membrane roof finishing, prime insulation, and efficient air conditioning units.
It can cost more upfront, but in the lifespan of your use, these features will keep maintenance costs way down. Employee productivity goes up when given an open, naturally-lit working environment. Dedicate a lot of space for your employees to maneuver around in.
Things to consider when buying or leasing my mobile building for commercial use:
- Do I need new mobile construction, or should I consider used modular building inventory?
- Will I be best served investing in a permanent or temporary structure?
- Will I eventually need multiple locations and expansion ability?
MOBILE BUILDINGS FOR EDUCATION
Is the student population growing larger than your classroom space? Have no fear! Modular classrooms offer affordable and quick solutions. Modular buildings bring with them no disruption to students and staff because they are built offsite. They can be designed to “fit in” with your existing facilities’ exterior materials and color.
Giving students an aesthetically pleasing and functional learning facility increases productivity and retention — things like having higher ceilings, attractively painted walls, and great natural lighting.
For a more optimized and excellent learning space, noise distractions from the outside should also be controlled using soundproof wall systems. These features will add little to the overall cost but will significantly increase the value of the building, both to your students and potential resale value.
Things to consider when buying or leasing my mobile building for educational use:
- Do I need new, or should I consider buying used modular classrooms and buildings?
- Is this permanent or temporary, and does it need to be relocatable?
- How customized does it need to be?
- Should I consider a “piggyback contract” (bypass bidding)?
- Is the modular classroom DSA-approved?
Aries has the best to offer when it comes to modular buildings in the educational sector – whether it be modular classrooms, portable administrative offices, relocatable gyms or cafeterias… the list goes on! Offering quick delivery of portable classrooms for K-12 schools and universities, Aries is North America’s premier modular industry supplier of full turnkey solutions from design and logistics through leasing and financing.
MOBILE BUILDINGS FOR HEALTHCARE
Although patients’ needs are urgent, you should NEVER skimp on the details in a rush to meet demand when you need to expand. It is essential to know the ultimate goal your healthcare space is trying to accomplish.
The quality and safety of your portable healthcare buildings are paramount. They are under stringent codes and regulations. You’ll want to make sure your modular clinic is well insulated but be cautious about your insulation type! Porous insulation can support microbial growth.
Second, specialized medical equipment is heavy — when ordering, make sure that the floor can support all the weight. Floor load capacity depends on the material used to make the floor and the foundation underneath. Lastly, installing an HVAC system that allows you to control zoning, air filtration, and humidity is a must-have in a medical environment.
Things to consider when buying or leasing my mobile healthcare building:
- Do I need new, or should I consider used inventory?
- Is this permanent or temporary, and does it need to be relocatable?
- How customized does it need to be?
- Is the modular space company GSA-approved?
Are you looking to build a doctor’s office, medical laboratory, or fully-functional hospital? Aries has customizable modules and an expert team of engineering professionals to help you achieve the best modular healthcare facility that meets all your requirements.
MOBILE BUILDINGS FOR INDUSTRIAL USE
When using a modular building in an industrial setting, safety and precaution are your chief concerns.
To achieve an industrial modular building that’s safe and workable, many considerations are essential to watch for. When it comes to fire safety, one should never cut corners. The cost difference between ½ inch thick sheetrock and flame-retardant sheetrock is minimal, but implementing additional safety is invaluable. Making sure the soundproofing is good is key to keeping your employees happy and productive. Lastly, dust and other debris are often kicked up in industrial settings. You’ll want to be sure that your HVAC unit’s filters are constantly replaced to maintain acceptable air quality.
Things to consider:
- Does the modular company have experience with location permits of site installation services for utilities?
- Does the modular company provide a warranty?
- Is the modular unit weather-prepared?
- Do I require customizations such as blast-resistance or additional pandemic safety measures?
Luckily for you, Aries modular buildings are sturdier and more reliable than those traditionally built. From construction trailers to GLO’s, we’ve got you covered. (Check out GLO floor plans here!)
Aries is proud to be a General Services Administration (GSA) approved vendor for modular buildings for more than 16 years. We are fully capable of meeting the stringent budget and time sensitive needs of different branches of government agencies looking to expand using GSA approved modular buildings.
Full-service supplier of modular buildings: lease or buy buildings with Aries
Once you are clear about the type of building you want, it is time to entrust the project to your future modular building provider or your future full-service modular supplier.
Aries provides a wide variety of finance options for modular buildings, catering to the needs of our customers, no matter their industry. Our financing arm will structure a plan to meet your needs. Our financing solutions include operating leases and finance leases (lease-to-own) as well as short term and long term financing programs.
About Aries
Aries specializes in commercial modular space solutions and provides an array of financing options for the most demanding kinds of projects. Privately-owned, Aries is based in Houston, Texas, with a network in North America that provides modular spaces for government, construction, commercial, medical, oil/gas, and education projects.
As a company, Aries values excellent service and continuously promotes a philosophy of achieving together by learning from our customers, resulting in mutually rewarding results and outcomes.
Don’t miss out on becoming a customer! Visit Aries: www.ariesbuildings.com or call (U.S.) 1-888-598-8869. You can also contact us via our website!
