30 May Types of Prefabricated Buildings Popular in South Africa

Construction costs have risen steadily over the past few decades, forcing many South Africans to seek less expensive alternatives to traditional forms of home and office accommodation. In practice, the increased price of materials and labour rather than a growth in demand has caused this trend. While new forms of technology such as 3D printing promise to revolutionise the construction industry, it’s still in its infancy. By contrast, there is already a well-established option to create prefabricated buildings that eliminates much of the cost of a conventional build.

Recycling Shipping Containers

Recycling is no longer a mere buzzword. Much of the waste materials once consigned to landfills and furnaces are now harvested and processed to provide materials to manufacture new products. Scrap metal from old vehicles and discarded plastics, paper, cardboard, and fabrics are ground up and treated appropriately for reuse, reducing the pressure on natural resources and limiting pollution. Although used shipping containers are frequently sold for scrap, many are now being repurposed by companies specialising in the design and manufacture of prefabricated buildings.

The Rise in the Popularity of Prefabricated Buildings

These rectangular metal boxes are well known for their exceptional durability. They survive handling by dockside cranes and perhaps hundreds of sea voyages while exposed to the elements and the corrosive effects of saltwater. They are not only strong. Their regular, uniform shape makes them ideal for use in modular structures. The ability to create functional accommodation quickly and comparatively cheaply has prompted interest from both the private and public sectors. Many homeowners in South Africa have seized the opportunity to enhance their outdoor entertainment areas with summerhouses. These often luxurious prefabricated buildings are commonly made from repurposed shipping containers.

While a summerhouse typically consists of a single converted unit, more complex structures are possible when combining two or more containers. It is possible to assemble a comfortable four-bedroom simplex or duplex home for a fraction of a conventional build, given a suitable piece of land with access to essential utilities.

While the interest in this form of housing is substantial, the most significant demand is from businesses and the public sector. Surprisingly, construction companies are among those who most frequently rely on prefabricated buildings. On-site, they provide secure storage space for equipment and materials. During construction, they serve as site offices. Later, when the first showhouse is complete, they can double as sales offices.

Converted shipping containers also serve as mobile clinics, libraries, laboratories, and classrooms in impoverished rural areas where such facilities would generally be unaffordable. Designed and assembled off-site, they are readily transportable by road or rail.

Absolute Containers is the local industry leader. Click here for more details about our prefabricated buildings and how they could benefit your family or business.