Modular houses gain ground in the villages of Romania. “The advantage is that if you are a walk, you can take your house with you”

The modular houses gradually gain ground in the villages of Romania, having the advantage of the speed with which they are built, unlike the classic houses built. Among them, container houses are preferred for the lower arrangement price, but the conditions offered have often aroused controversy.

In some villages, the houses in prefabricated take the place of the old, made by craftsmen. Freepik.com

A journey through the mountain villages of Romania, with archaic households scattered on the slopes, often offers the image of visible changes in the architecture of the housing.

The old stone and wood houses “of grandparents”, once with straw roofs, have been replaced or completed more and more by modern constructions, among which the modular houses, “A-Fams” (modular structures in the form of letter A) and even container types.

Prefabricated houses, the advantage of speed

Modular houses are preferred for the speed with which they can be raised, for low costs compared to classic villas and for their accessibility in terms of utilities.

In just a few months, the owners of a land in a picturesque area can add a house from prefabricated structures immediately. The price of such a construction is close to that of a new car, generally being between 20,000 and 50,000 euros, depending on the area.

Houses from Apuseni. Photo: Daniel Guță. TRUTH

“The execution time of a prefabricated house varies between three and six months, depending on the size and complexity of the construction. Therefore, the prefabricated houses are built much faster than those built, which require at least one year to be completed.” shows representatives of a company that provide such homes.

The renovation of traditional houses

The rehabilitation of old houses can mean maintaining the authenticity of the settlements and, in some cases, a financially inspired choice, if the structure is solid and does not require major interventions.

Old house. Photo: Daniel Guță. TRUTH

But some builders point out that the price of renovation can exceed expectations, especially when the foundations are weak or old, infiltration or there is a risk of landslides. In addition, rehabilitation works can take more than a year, and in general, traditional houses have low energy efficiency and require additional investments in thermal insulation.

“A plan of consolidation and renovation takes into account: restoration of the foundation; restoration of the roof; rehabilitation of the resistance structure; the interior re -compliance; the restoration of the electrical and sanitary installation; the connection or reconnection to the utilities; the choice of the construction materials; the restoration of the facade; the restoration of the roof and of the water collection; rehabilitation or replacement of floors; the specialists quoted by the building site were informed by Storia.ro.

Old houses from Apuseni. Photo: Daniel Guță. TRUTH

However, for many Romanians, the renovation of an old house has proven a more pleasant and satisfying experience than waiting for a house from prefabricated structures.

“Everything is to find your balance and be satisfied with what came out,” He writes, on the Facebook group “moved to the country – life without clock”, a Romanian who invested almost 300,000 lei in the complete rehabilitation of an old house, works that lasted two years.

Container houses, choices that arouse the most controversy

Container houses, a special category of modular houses, are considered among the most accessible homes. Some of those who gave up the idea of ​​buying old houses for renovation and chose the containers have remained convinced that they made the right choice.

“We purchased, over two years ago, two containers with dimensions of 3 × 8 meters and made them a holiday cottage. We do not live there, but we go quite often and we are satisfied with the result. In winter, if a constant temperature is maintained, there is no condensation, and in the summer, being in the mountain, but there is a lot of air conditioning. We isolate on the outside, for the cold season.tells, on a Facebook group, a Romanian satisfied with the investment.

Another owner says he bought two 7 × 3 meters containers that he turned into a holiday home. Later it isolated them and covered them with thick cabinets, to get a eaves and to reduce both the noise of the rain and the solar heat.

Container type. Photo: moved to the country. Facebook

“Summer I do not use air conditioning, and in winter I was there on sunny days-in the evening I started the air on the heating and the temperature kept well. There is a little more noise inside than in a concrete house, but for me it is not disturbing. Obviously, you can tire on the outside with 15-20 cm thick mineral wool, and you can be a tan. The location was simple: only gravel on the floor and the containers put on the curbs. he says.

The space is sufficient for a bed, a sofa, a table, a wardrobe, a small bar area (mini-free, sink, countertop, microwave, drawers) and a shower bath, adds the Romanian.

“The great advantage of prefabricated houses remains the construction speed and the fact that such homes can be brought almost wherever a crane trailer or a bargain on water. However, the main problem is the isolation: these houses must be very well isolated and, obligatory, equipped with a ventilation system,” says another owner.

Container -like -term container houses

The use of containers and prefabricated houses has been originally regarded as a cheap solution, but prices have increased over time, so the investment is no longer as profitable as in the past.

Houses at the mountain. Photo: freepik.com

“The modern man is fascinated-like the monkey of beads-of all kinds of solutions that are apparently handy: fast, he said cheaper, ready to solve everything. These include metal containers. A metal container works like a Faraday cage, isolating people from the inside of the beneficial natural waves that come from the universe-as well as the water. It means, in time, devitalization, disconnection and shortening of life.supports another Romanian.

Some Romanians say the choice of container houses disappointed over time.

“I experienced! A house is much more expensive, but it is worth every penny! In the summer container it is very hot, very cold in winter, plus the noise outside”says another owner.

A standard container, even clean, remains only a metal skeletal sheet box, considers another Romanian.

“However, there are already equipped and isolated containers, specially designed to be inhabited, sometimes even with precise destinations. And the advantage is that if you are walking, you can take your house with you!” he concludes.