Quick Guide to Prefab and Should You Buy One
Prefab Is Not New
For many homeowners around the country, the term “prefab” is a fairly new word that’s lived on the fringes of “new build” conversations. Although that may be true for many, the concept of prefabricated homes have actually been around for nearly 1000 years!
Today, those that have heard of the term may have a negative view of prefab homes, usually comparing them to “kit homes,” the likes of which were sold en masse by department stores like Sears once upon a time, where the only thing they shared were poor build quality, a lack of design, and their inability to customize.
Prefab 2.0
But a lot has changed in the world of prefabricated construction since the early 1900s. Over the last 20 years, prefabrication as a construction style has been chosen more developers and homeowners to replace traditional or conventional on-site construction methodologies.
You wouldn’t hire a mechanic to build your car in your garage. So, why would it be necessary to hire a contractor to build your house in pieces on your land?
While prefabricated buildings are far from futuristic, they are a different and more modern approach to building, which focuses on a few main elements:
prefabrication is like manufacturing, where the majority of the building construction is done in a factory
complete products are regulated by non-local agencies like state governing agencies (California Dept. of Housing and Community Development) or federal governing agencies (US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development)
complete products are “delivered,” typically in modules to be assembled on-site, using forklifts or cranes
site development, including running utility lines and pouring a foundation is still required and permitted by local agencies
Pros & Cons of Prefab Homes
There are many reasons a homeowner or developer might be interested in prefabrication, including:
predictable and dependable (on-time and on-budget)
efficient (minimal on-site issues, labor is more efficient a factory with proper tools stored safely and access to ladders and other safety equipment is readily available)
less waste and more affordable (specified components are cut to size before delivery)
effective (site conditions are predictable and many factories make us of heavy machinery or robotics to move large units where it would be impossible on-site)
safer (laborers can make use of site-specific safety equipment and are not forced to improvise on sites with difficult or unpredictable terrain)
There are also a few reasons a homeowner might not choose to go prefab:
utility hookup may require more due diligence (difficult to connect to old utilities without requiring additional upgrades)
unique site may cause installation issues (unique site conditions make it difficult to install a prefab home like power lines and soil composition)
zoning (not all municipalities will readily accept a prefab dwelling and traditional construction is preferred)