Modular Building Foundation Options

Modular Building Foundations, Which Is Best?

Choosing The Right Modular Building Foundation For Your Commercial Modular Building

Prefabricated commercial buildings and modular buildings can be set on all types of foundation systems. There are permanent foundations, temporary foundations, earthquake foundations, adjustable foundations.  How do you tell which foundation system is right for your application and use?

Some quick options and tips:

• Steel piers on concrete or treated wood or ABS plastic pads:  This method is utilized when there are shifting soil conditions & quick relevel is the solution.  This method is also used for temporary installations. 
• another very frequent type of foundation that is flexible is called "dry-stack" foundation.  CMU blocks are stacked and shims are used to level the building.  There is not any solid grout or any rebar used in this method of installation.  You see this much in the central US.
• When clients are looking for a more permanent solution and do not intend to move the building they will choose a CMU or Concrete foundation.  This has a wall around the entire perimeter of the building, and ribbon footings with sono tubes or block piers to support load bearing areas

The key to successful foundation systems is to choose one that meets the short and long term goals for your site location.    For example if you have really bad soils that shift and are expansive it is expensive to dig down & put in the footers for this type of soil.  some sites are excavated down 20' - 30' deep to bring in good soil that will support the building and the use.     In this case even if the use is permanent it can be more cost-effective to utilize the adjustable steel piers and concrete or treated wood pads and then you can relevel the site as required.

We suggest a soils engineering report for best results.  for a few thousand dollars you are able to identify the type of soil and the best foundation system for your modular building.                                                                                                   

Let our team help you identify the best foundation solution for your modular building needs.

Contact us at:
Modular Solutions, ltd
Toll Free Phone:  800-441-8577 x 1 (sales)
Email: Information@mod-sol.com
website:  www.modularsolutionsltd.com

Can I Get A Heavy Duty Floor Load In My Modular Building?

Many customers assume that since a modular building typically has wood sub floor, they can only use it for office space or light residential use. This is a huge misconception. When you are getting a commercial FBB modular building you can "BEEF" up the floor load in many ways to accommodate the need. Modular buildings have been used for commercial retails sales facilities, filing rooms, manufacturing, mini-storage/storage, fire stations, and hundreds of other industrial occupancies. The key is to design the modular building properly to accommodate the floor load requirements.

Tips to upgrade a floor load:

1. Upgrade the wood decking from 5/8" or 3/4" to 1 1/8"
2. Place your piers or foundation system in a much closer design. The closer the piers the stronger the floor load
3. Upgrade the floor joist size or use a steel perimeter frame. Making the joist closer together also helps. There are some great floor joist designs that are specially designed for this type of use and occupancy
4. Choose an alternative floor such as a "B" deck concrete floor or MPANEL panelized concrete floor system

By making these few minor changes you can use your modular building to store or hold virtually any design criteria, Just like a traditional site built structure.

For more information contact our preconstruction team at Modular Solutions, Ltd
Phone: 800-441-8577
Email: information@mod-sol.com
Website: www.ModularSolutionsLtd.com

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Deck UP Your Mobile Office

Modular buildings have a reputation for being "spongey" or having floor movement. This is common in "industry-standard" units that build to meet the code. If you are steering away from a modular building because you don't like the way the floors feel, learn more about the sub floor or "DECKING".

A great solution is to just upgrade the thickness of the sub floor and you will see huge results. Our classroom modular buildings are typically 1 1/8" thick and this holds up to the daily traffic of children with stupendous results.

If you are looking for a short term or long term space solution it is great to have a stable floor underfoot. Clients looking for a permanent space solution will choose the concrete floor modular buildings and know they have selected a 50 year+ life cycle option. Architects will generally suggest you consider this in your total budget.
Since the cost of materials goes up with each grade of OSB or Plywood selected budget is often a concern, but once you feel the difference underfoot, you know you have made the right choice.
If you are not sure take a stroll through your local hardware store and look at the different decking materials, by seeing and feeling the difference you can have a complete understanding of the variables in quality and life cycle.


For more detail contact our preconstruction team at Modular Solutions, Ltd
PHONE: 800 441-8577 x 1
Email: Information@ModularSolutionsLtd.com
Website: www.ModularSolutionsLtd.com

all rights reserved, copyright, trademark ©

Can I have a concrete floor in my modular building?

Choosing a permanent structure that is built off site is still considered modular factory built construction. There are many ways to accomplish concrete floors and get a prefabricated building. Four of the most common are below:
1. 4" lightweight concrete poured in plant, finishes are completed in the plant, and saves time on site
2. Slab on grade...floorless modular. Utilizes steel beams and no floor is included. this lags to the concrete slab on site requires very meticulous planning on plumbing & electrical stub connections.
3. MPANELS, panelized construction, wall & roof sections built in plant with stubs. Attached to slab on site
4. Prefabricated steel buildings, comes in a "kit" and is put together on site

The key to finding the right modular solutions for your site is to have a vendor that has designed, and built all types of concrete floor structures. Modular Solutions, Ltd has been providing quality modular and prefabricated buildings since 1996.

For more details on permanent buildings constructed off site, call our preconstruction team (800) 441-8577 or
visit our web site http://www.modularsolutionsltd.com or email us :
information@modularsolutionsltd.com

Do steel piers really make a good foundation for modular buildings?

Do steel piers really make a good foundation for modular buildings? Depending on the use of the building typically steel piers make an excellent foundation. You can use precast concrete pads under the pier that are 4" thick x 16" x 16", this really enhances the durability of the foundation. By being able to "re-adjust" your modular building in the future as soils expand and contract the piers are easily adjusted with the soil conditions. In most cases you are required by the local jurisdiction to get a PE stamp or engineering design stamp on the foundation plans you choose. Make sure you hire a local engineering team with experience to make sure your foundation system will not fail. Other types of foundations include concrete or block stem walls with matching piers & footings, precast wall systems, or insulated wall systems. For more details on the best foundation system for your modular building contact the professionals at Modular Solutions, Ltd - www.modularsolutionsltd.com or (800) 441-8577 or email your questions to information@modularsolutionsltd.com