Help to not myth out on advantages of self-builds
AN Earl Shilton building society has compiled a list of common myths surrounding house construction.
Modern Methods of Construction, or MMC, have come a long way since the prefab homes were produced post Second World War.
Housing developers are eagerly incorporating these techniques in their homes, but they are not just restricted to the big builders.
Leicestershire building society esbs has addressed some of the lingering myths around MMC housing and why it could be the ideal solution for selfbuilders.
Paul Tilley, chief executive of esbs, said: “Building societies, including esbs, have enabled many generations to achieve their dream of becoming homeowners.
“As the housebuilding sector evolves, we do too, so we are proud to be supporting our members in the creation of their ideal home, whatever that looks like. I would urge anyone considering a self-build to get in touch with us to discover their options and get their project started.”
The myths and explanations by esbc are as follows: MMC are just like the “cardboard houses” - MMC can refer to any non-traditional method of building new homes, typically by creating the structural units of the building offsite then putting them together on-site.
A variety of materials can be used; frames are normally steel, timber or concrete, making them suitably sturdy.
They are no more environmentally-friendly than normal houses
Not only does the precision of MMC homes massively reduce the amount of wastage during the build stage, they can be much more efficient to run with better-insulated walls and fewer drafts from air holes.
Constructing an MMC home is much quicker than a standard build, meaning less money and time is spent on labourers. Additionally, MMC projects are a lot more predictable in terms of time and resources, making them much easier to budget for.
They are expensive to construct MMC homes are boxy and boring
The joy of designing your own home means it can be built exactly to your needs and aesthetic (subject to local authority restrictions). Panelled homes can be brick rendered if you prefer to retain a more traditional style, or certain build types provide a hyper-modern look.
They are hard to mortgage - While MMC mortgages are not as common, esbs is one of the providers who offer them. Esbs review applications on a case-by-case basis. Provided the nonstandard construction is Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme (BOPAS) accredited, then esbs may be able to help.