Dutch houses, colloquially called houses on wheels, have been known in Poland for at least a dozen years. This is an interesting solution for gardeners or people who like to spend time outside the city. But how do they differ from modular houses, what are their advantages and disadvantages, and can they be lived in all year round?
What are Dutch houses characterized by?
Dutch houses are most often built on the basis of a steel frame with wheels, which is the support for the entire structure. The walls and the roof are usually skeletal, and the exterior of the houses is finished with siding, sheet metal or wood. But what does the interior of a Dutch house look like? As a rule, it is finished with materials such as linoleum, light boards or possibly wood. Dutch houses are equipped with electrical and plumbing installations and have a finished bathroom and a kitchenette.
Dutch houses and modular houses - what's the difference?
Contrary to appearances, an equal sign cannot be put between Dutch houses and modular houses. Not infrequently good quality materials are used in the construction of Dutch structures. The situation is different in the case of modular houses, which are made of ecological raw materials, such as kiln-dried KVH wood of C24 CE class.
In addition, in Dutch houses, the walls, floors and roof are usually quite thin and there is little or no insulation. And although you can find a year-round Dutch house on the market, the facilities made of prefabricated elements provide a much greater comfort of use. Modular year-round houses are similar to traditional buildings in this respect - they are equipped with modern insulation systems and windows and doors, thanks to which they can be successfully used regardless of the prevailing weather.
The Dutch house differs from the modular house also in the standard it offers. In Dutch houses, as a rule, cheap and not always the highest quality finishing materials are used. Modular structures, on the other hand, in terms of aesthetics and finishing standard, do not differ from brick buildings, guaranteeing the residents maximum comfort and convenience. Dutch houses will therefore be an optimal proposition for people who like to spend time outside the city but put the price above the standard of accommodation.
Advantages and disadvantages of Dutch houses
As with any solution, also Dutch houses have certain advantages and disadvantages. The following may speak in favour of Dutch houses:
- - relatively low purchase price,
- - variety of offers in terms of size or offered standard,
- Mobility - Dutch house can be transported anywhere,
- - functional room layout,
- - the possibility of buying a finished house on the spot - you do not have to wait for its construction.
Dutch houses are not without their drawbacks, however. Among them are listed:
- - susceptibility to corrosion,
- - insufficient ventilation, with the risk of accumulating moisture,
- - not the best thermal properties - the interior of the Dutch cottage heats up and cools down quickly. interior of the dutch cottage It heats up and cools down quickly.
The last two mentioned disadvantages may turn out to be surprising for some people - it is often said that you can live in Dutch houses all year round. And although among the offers available on the market you can find a Dutch all-year-round insulated house, in most cases the quality of the insulation will not be as high as in modular houses.
Are modular structures better than Dutch houses?
The answer to the question posed above is: it depends. On what? First of all, on the expectations of the future users - a Dutch or modular house. If they want to enjoy independence and be able to spend time in nature almost anywhere and at any time, have a very limited budget, and do not pay much attention to the standard - a Dutch house may be a worthwhile option to consider.
However, it is impossible to remain indifferent to the numerous advantages of modular construction, such as short construction time, environmental friendliness, the possibility of erecting a house even on a plot with difficult terrain conditions or high aesthetics and standard of finish. As they enjoy ever-increasing popularity in Poland, modular house designs are also characterized by increasing diversity. So you can successfully find small, also inexpensive to build homes without a permit. An example of such concepts can be CUBEEKO MINI with a usable area of 13.9 m2 or the slightly larger CUBEEKO MEDIUM "L" / "Z", where the usable area is 28 m2. Larger building designs are also available - such as CUBEEKO MAXI "C", where the usable area is 42 m2. Importantly, the modular houses are also mobile, so they can be dismantled and erected elsewhere if necessary.
Comparison of the costs of building a Dutch house and a modular house
The costs of building a Dutch house and a modular house depend on many factors. You can buy cheap Dutch houses for 20-30 thousand PLN, but there are also sales offers on the market, in which the amount fluctuates in the range of 150-200 thousand. zloty. It all depends on the size of the house and the standard of its finishing.
But what is the price of modular houses? At MARKAEKO, they cost from PLN 1999 net per 1 m2. This amount includes the skeleton of the building with the roof, windows and doors, installations implemented at the stage of prefabricated elements production as well as external and internal finishing in accordance with the selected standard. The price does not include the cost of furnishing the house with furniture and appliances.
Although Dutch houses will still be popular, modular houses are becoming increasingly competitive for them. They are a great alternative, especially for people who value not only freedom and mobility, but also quality, durability, aesthetics and a higher standard.