Why Prefab Toilet Buildings Outperform Concrete/Masonry Construction
For decades, traditional masonry and concrete have been the default choice for public toilet construction in Australian parks and open spaces. However, local government asset managers and landscape architects are increasingly moving away from these legacy methods.
While concrete appears solid, it often brings hidden liabilities, from porous surfaces that trap odours to long, disruptive construction programs. In contrast, modern prefabricated toilet blocks in Australia have evolved into sophisticated, architectural assets that solve the specific headaches of public facility management.
At a Glance: Prefab vs Concrete Toilet Buildings
Prefab toilet buildings are purpose-designed for public open space projects, while traditional concrete blocks are often legacy solutions that carry hidden costs. For most councils, prefab delivers a better balance of whole-of-life value, construction speed and user experience without compromising durability.
Here is how they compare on the key factors for asset managers:
- Vandalism and repair: Concrete is hard to damage but expensive to fix when it is. Prefab linings and cladding are impact resistant and individual sheets can be replaced quickly without major works
- Maintenance and cleaning: Concrete walls sealed to the floor are slow to clean and can hold odours. Prefab layouts and materials are designed for fast wash downs and easier deep cleaning
- Upfront and lifetime cost: Concrete buildings usually cost more to construct and can be harder to maintain. Prefab is often 40–50% cheaper upfront with lower whole of life cost
- Construction speed and disruption: Concrete builds need multiple trades on site for weeks. Modular prefabricated buildings install faster with less disruption to the park or streetscape
- Design and appearance: Concrete can look solid but is limited once poured. Prefab systems offer more flexibility with floorplans, claddings and colours to suit the surrounding environment
The Hidden Costs of Concrete Toilet Construction
The traditional approach to constructing an amenity building involves engaging an architect, engineers and multiple trades to build a unique structure on site. While this offers total customisation, it introduces significant risks regarding budget and timeline.
Concrete toilet blocks are heavy, wet-trade reliant structures. This means curing times, weather delays and a busy construction site that remains fenced off from the public for weeks or months. Furthermore, once the concrete is poured, the design is rigid; future modifications or refurbishments are difficult and expensive.
Advantages of Modus Prefab Toilet Buildings
Modus allows councils to bypass the complexity of traditional construction. As a specialist public toilet manufacturer in Australia, our system is engineered specifically to withstand the harsh conditions of remote, coastal and urban public environments, ensuring full AS1428 compliance.
1. Superior Hygiene and Cleaning
One of the biggest complaints regarding older concrete blocks is the smell. Porous blockwork and grout lines absorb urine and cleaning chemicals over time, creating permanent odours. Modus buildings utilise continuous materials and raised wall gaps that allow for effective pressure washing and airflow. This simple design choice helps councils significantly reduce maintenance costs while keeping facilities fresh.
2. True Anti-Vandal Design
A common misconception is that heavy masonry is the only way to stop vandals. In reality, large flat concrete surfaces are a canvas for graffiti, which is difficult to remove without ghosting. Modus uses corrugated MiniOrb internal linings which are difficult to tag and easy to repaint or replace. As an anti vandal toilet manufacturer, we design our structural framing and fixtures to offer superior vandal resistance, ensuring the asset remains operational even in tough areas.
3. Faster Project Delivery
By shifting construction off-site, we remove the variables of weather and trade availability. A Modus ablution building arrives as a prefabricated panel system, ready for rapid installation. This minimises disruption to the community and reduces the safety risks associated with long-term construction sites in active public parks.
The 20-Year Cost Advantage
For council asset managers, the initial purchase price is only one part of the financial equation. A 20-year cost study comparing a standard Modus prefab building to a traditional concrete block revealed that the prefabricated option provides a substantial saving over the total life of the asset.
- Approximately 38 percent lower initial capital expenditure
- Roughly 32 percent lower total lifecycle cost over two decades
- Significantly reduced financial risk from onsite construction variations
- Predictable maintenance schedules that simplify long-term budgeting
See the Numbers: Concrete vs Prefab 20-Year Cost Study
Cyclone-Engineered Performance
Public infrastructure in coastal Australia must withstand extreme weather events without becoming a maintenance liability. Our buildings are engineered for high-wind environments, including Region D cyclone zones such as Cape Keraudren in Western Australia. By utilising hot-dip galvanised steel and high-grade aluminium components, these facilities remain operational and structurally sound following significant weather events with only limited routine maintenance required.
Proven Flood Resilience: A Tale of Two Structures
In May 2025, a major flood event in Taree, NSW, provided a clear comparison between the resilience of traditional masonry and prefabricated toilet structures. While a masonry toilet block at Winham Brush was completely destroyed and buried in sediment, a nearby Modus prefabricated building remained anchored and structurally sound despite being almost entirely submerged.
Following the event, the prefabricated facility required only a professional clean before being successfully reopened to the public. Several specific design features ensure our buildings can withstand such extreme conditions:
- Gaps engineered beneath walls to relieve intense water pressure
- A lightweight structure securely integrated with a concrete slab base
- Water-resistant materials that allow for easy cleaning and do not absorb moisture
Comparison: Concrete vs Modus Prefab
| Purchase consideration | Masonry / concrete toilet buildings | Modus prefab toilet buildings |
|---|---|---|
| Vandalism | Large flat surfaces like painted concrete, masonry or tiles are a prime target for graffiti. Concrete toilets withstand impacts well, but when serious damage occurs sectional replacement is not possible and patching or repainting is costly | Internal MiniOrb sheeting resists graffiti and tagging through its ribbed surface and robustness, and can be cleaned more easily. Tough linings and cladding with fully welded steel framing are highly impact resistant, and individual sheets can be replaced quickly if they are damaged |
| Maintenance | Walls are usually sealed to the floor, so achieving a high quality clean is time consuming. Grout lines and porous materials tend to retain dirt and odour over time | Durable, easy to clean materials and gaps under walls allow efficient wash downs with a pressure cleaner and suitable chemicals so a consistent, high quality clean is easier to achieve |
| Asset life | Typically 30+ years, but long term condition depends heavily on maintenance quality and timely repairs | Comparable 30+ year structural life, with details and materials selected specifically for maximum durability in harsh public environments |
| Upfront cost | On site construction with multiple trades generally results in high upfront cost that is difficult to justify on a whole of life basis | Often 40–50% cheaper than concrete or blockwork options while delivering comparable lifespan and lower maintenance requirements |
| Lifetime cost | More difficult maintenance and repairs can drive higher whole of life costs and may lead to earlier replacement | Lower upfront cost, easier maintenance and better design for cleaning combine to reduce whole of life cost for the same or better service life |
| Construction speed and disruption | Built entirely on site with multiple trades, leading to longer programs, higher labour costs, more waste and more disruption to the community | Prefabricated modular kit form system enables fast, accurate installation with less waste, lower on site cost and reduced disruption |
| User experience | Can perform well initially, but concrete finishes and retained odours can make buildings feel dark and uninviting as they age | Designed to stay fresh, light and comfortable for users throughout the asset life, with better ventilation and internal finishes |
| Design and appearance | Blockwork is flexible but concrete is limited in form once poured. Appearance is generally solid but can be harder to adapt or refresh over time | Modular system supports a wide range of floorplans, materials and finishes so the building can complement the surrounding open space and future changes |
In Closing
While concrete will always have a place in specific architectural applications, the benefits of prefabricated systems are difficult to ignore for standard public infrastructure. By choosing a Modus system, councils can deliver high-quality, durable and hygienic facilities that serve the community for decades, all while significantly reducing upfront capital expenditure and long-term maintenance costs.
Still deciding between fixing an old block or building new? Read our guide on Refurb vs Replace to see if a patch-up is costing you more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are councils replacing aging brick toilet blocks?
Can a modern building match the visual style of a heritage or park area
What makes these replacements "futureproof" compared to the old facilities?
