How Are Park Bungalows Built & What Are They Made Of?

One of the biggest differences between a Park Bungalow and a traditional house is where it's built. Instead of being constructed on the plot where it'll eventually sit, a Park Bungalow is manufactured off-site in a purpose-built factory. This allows for a high level of precision, with each section built on a production line under controlled conditions. There's no waiting on the weather, and every measurement can be checked in a consistent environment.

Once complete, the sections are transported to the residential park and assembled on the designated plot. Most Park Bungalows arrive as two separate halves, which are joined together on site and connected to mains electricity, water and drainage.

One of the biggest differences between a Park Bungalow and a traditional house is where it's built. Instead of being constructed on the plot where it'll eventually sit, a Park Bungalow is manufactured off-site in a purpose-built factory. This allows for a high level of precision, with each section built on a production line under controlled conditions. There's no waiting on the weather, and every measurement can be checked in a consistent environment.

Once complete, the sections are transported to the residential park and assembled on the designated plot. Most Park Bungalows arrive as two separate halves, which are joined together on site and connected to mains electricity, water and drainage.

Every Park Bungalow begins with a steel chassis. This serves a similar purpose to the foundations of a traditional house. The chassis is typically made from hot-rolled steel channel beams that run the full length of the home, with outriggers and cross members welded in place for extra strength.

The chassis is what makes a Park Bungalow technically mobile. It includes axles and wheels used to move the home from the factory onto a lorry and into position on the park. Once sited, the wheels are raised using jacks and axle stands, and the home is levelled and secured. In practice, most Park Bungalows won't be moved again after they’re placed on site.

With the chassis in place, the next stage is the floor. High-density wooden boards are fixed to stress-graded timber joists, which are bolted directly to the steel frame. Insulation is then added beneath and between the floor joists to keep heat in and cold out, and any pipework for plumbing and heating runs through this space too.

The walls are built using timber stud work, which forms the structural frame. On the inside, walls are lined with plasterboard, the same material used in traditional houses. Under BS 3632, the plasterboard walls are constructed to include additional insulation and sound-dampening properties. This means you can mount shelves, TVs and picture frames on the walls just as you would in a bricks-and-mortar property.

On the outside, the walls are clad with a weather-resistant finish. Two of the most common options are textured render (a hard-wearing cementitious coating applied to exterior walls) and CanExel cladding, which is a composite timber product that gives a modern wood-effect look with less maintenance. Many Park Bungalows use a combination of both, with the cladding used to create feature panels on the exterior.

The roof is built using pre-formed timber trusses, assembled at ground level during the factory build and then lifted into place. Lightweight metal roofing tiles are fixed to treated timber battens over a breathable membrane, and some manufacturers also use EPDM rubber roofing as an alternative. Both options provide durability without adding excessive weight.

Insulation is packed between the roof trusses, typically mineral wool at a depth of 200mm or more. The ceiling below is finished with either foil-backed plasterboard or tongue-and-groove boarding. This layered approach keeps the home warm in winter and cool in summer, and it plays a big part in keeping energy bills down.

All residential Park Bungalows in the UK are expected to meet BS 3632, the British Standard for residential park homes, and reputable manufacturers comply through the National Caravan Council's self-certification scheme. First published in 1963, the standard has been updated several times. The current version (BS 3632:2023) sets out detailed requirements for thermal insulation, ventilation, fire safety, structural stability, sound insulation and energy efficiency.

In practical terms, BS 3632 means a Park Bungalow has to meet minimum U-values for walls, floors and roofs, ensuring effective heat retention. It also requires proper ventilation to prevent condensation, along with fire-resistant materials in key areas. Many manufacturers actually exceed these requirements, adding thicker insulation and better acoustic performance than the standard demands.

This standard is published by the British Standards Institution (BSI), and it's what separates a residential Park Bungalow from a holiday home or static caravan, which falls under the less demanding EN 1647 standard.

🏡You can read more about what BS 3632 covers and how it affects daily living in our complete guide to Park Home living.

Park Bungalows are subject to maximum size limits under the Caravan Sites Act 1968. A twin-unit Park Bungalow can't exceed 20 metres in length, 6.8 metres in width, or 3.05 metres in internal ceiling height. While those dimensions might sound restrictive on paper, modern manufacturers are very skilled at making the most of the available space.

Clever layouts, built-in storage and open-plan living areas mean today's Park Bungalows feel spacious and comfortable. You can browse Regency Living’s full range of home types to see how different floor plans make the most of the space.

Modern Park Bungalows come fitted with double-glazed uPVC windows and doors as standard, and some manufacturers offer triple glazing with argon gas-filled units for even better heat retention and noise reduction. Fascias, bargeboards and guttering are typically uPVC too, keeping exterior maintenance to a minimum.

Inside, the home is finished much like a traditional property. Kitchens are fully fitted, bathrooms come with modern suites, and flooring is laid throughout. Fixtures and fittings are freestanding, so you can arrange furniture exactly as you'd like.

From the moment a design is signed off, the factory build typically takes around eight to twelve weeks. Transport and on-site assembly typically add a few more days.

Once the home is in position, electricians and plumbers complete the connections, a bricklayer builds the skirting around the base to cover the chassis, and steps and railings are fitted at the entrances. The turnaround from order to move-in is considerably faster than building a traditional house.

With the right care, a well-maintained Park Bungalow can last upwards of 80 years. The combination of a strong steel chassis, quality timber framing, modern insulation and weather-resistant cladding creates a home that's durable, energy-efficient and comfortable all year round.

If you're considering a move to a Park Bungalow, it's well worth visiting a development in person to see the build quality for yourself. And if you'd like to know what else to look into before buying, take a look at the key factors to consider before you buy.