What are Prefab Homes?

Precast vs Cast in place concrete

Awakening the curious cat in you, let me ask you what do you know about pre-fab homes? Well, you probably heard about it or stumbled upon a post regarding it but haven’t paid so much attention to it. A prefab home, also known as a prefabricated house, is a house that is constructed in sections at a factory and then assembled on your property. Prefabricated Houses are appealing because they make it possible to construct a home more quickly, more cheaply, and sustainably than with conventional building techniques. There are records of the Romans using prefabricated components to build forts quickly in newly conquered lands, demonstrating the idea of manufacturing a building’s components in one location and assembling it in another. Although these types of houses are commonly seen in Western Countries it is now starting to invade ASEAN Countries which includes the Philippines. Pre-fab houses are starting to sprout in the Philippines and here are the different types of prefab homes you can choose from if you happen to add prefabricated house in your list of housing option.

TYPES OF PRE-FAB HOUSES

  • MODULAR HOMES

Modular homes are multi-sectional buildings that are also built off-site; however, the sections don’t come together until they are placed on the actual building site. With modular homes, substantial portions of the structure are occasionally finished in a factory before being transported to the building site. Electrical, plumbing, doors, closets, and other significant interior fixtures are all incorporated into the sections in the factory.

  • PANELIZED HOMES

A panel home, also known as a panelized home, is constructed at a factory in smaller pieces, with the majority of the interior work being done on your construction site. These pre-built homes frequently include the floor plans, roof trusses, and exterior walls; the interior walls, plumbing, and electrical systems, however, must be completed by building contractors. Depending on the size, each face of the wall, floor, or ceiling will be treated as one panel. manufactured in a factory and then delivered to the location to be put together in accordance with the plans.

  • KIT HOMES

A kit containing a pre-cut house is delivered to your construction site. You receive the pieces after they have been cut at the factory, and you must assemble them according to the provided instructions. These come with all the building materials you need, but they aren’t as finished as panel homes. It is delivered to the location as a complete house. Other than the foundation, which the home must rest upon, no additional work is needed at the location. The size of this kind of prefabricated home is constrained by the accessibility of the construction site and the availability of transportation.

Prefab homes have many advantages, such as affordability and quicker construction times, but there are many factors to take into account before making a choice. Here are some considerations if you’re thinking about building a prefabricated house.

ADVANTAGES OF PRE-FAB HOMES

  • COST

Prefabricated homes are much less expensive than traditional homes. This is due to the fact that the parts are produced more skillfully in a factory’s controlled environment. Because cut parts are typically used on other models, waste is also reduced.

  • TIME-EFFICIENT

A stick-built home requires more time to construct than a prefab one. Stick-built homes typically take one to four months longer to construct. With a prefab home, building can start in the factory while your land is also being prepared. You save time because site preparation and building take place simultaneously. In addition, it takes less time to construct a home inside a climate-controlled factory than it does outside, where the weather and a lack of supplies can delay construction.

  • QUALITY AND MOBILITY

Superior quality is offered by prefab houses, which is not the case with traditional homes. Standardization of fabrication and construction processes is only possible in tightly controlled factory environments that offer a level of quality unheard of in traditional homes. Prefabricated homes are portable and can be moved to a different location. This increases the homeowner’s level of flexibility when it comes to owning real estate. Prefabricated buildings can be easily disassembled and moved to new locations without difficulty. Unlike traditional homes, it substantially reduces the overall demand for raw materials, energy used, and time expenditure. In addition, prefab homes offer flexibility in the structure’s design, ensuring an endless supply of options. Although prefab construction units can be used in a variety of locations, they complement almost any style of building thanks to their neutral aesthetic.

  • CUSTOMIZABLE

Many people believe that prefabricated homes come without any options directly off an assembly line. You can customize or upgrade a prefab home to make it uniquely yours. For instance, you might replace the bathroom countertops, kitchen cabinets, and flooring.

  • ENERGY EFFICIENT

The features of prefabricated homes that promote sustainability and energy efficiency are well known. Utilizing additional materials can frequently result in additional waste when it comes to traditional construction. Prefabs are made in factories, but any extra materials can be recycled on site. Prefabricated homes may have a significant advantage over conventional housing in this regard. Additionally, because factory-built homes are prefabricated, it is simpler to ensure accurate construction, airtight joints, and minimal air filtration and escape. Prefabs have all these characteristics that make them more insulated and, therefore, more energy-efficient than homes constructed on-site.

  • BUILT IN ACCORDANCE TO LOACL CODE

Prefab home builders typically collaborate with one or more house manufacturers, and prefab homes are built in accordance with the same state and local building codes as conventionally constructed homes. Real estate includes prefabricated homes. With the exception of market fluctuations, they typically maintain or increase in value over time, just like homes that were built on-site.

There are also some considerable downsides of Pre-fab home such as the following:

DISADVANTAGES OF PRE-FAB HOMES

  • TRANSPORTATION COSTS

It takes work and money to move a prefab house from the factory to a piece of land. Expect higher transportation costs if you live in a remote area.

  • TOO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE

Although purchasing the house is simple, there are still many details to arrange. Additional responsibilities include purchasing land, obtaining funding, preparing the site, establishing utilities, and purchasing a home insurance policy. Compared to purchasing an existing home that is currently on the market or having a general contractor handle some of these tasks with a stick-built home, it can be a lot of coordination.

  • LIMITED OPTIONS

Prefab homes can be modified, but there aren’t many options. You might only have a few options for cabinet finishes or flooring colors, for example, in order to keep the process straightforward and reasonably priced.

Whether you’re searching for your first or third home, purchasing a prefab home might be the best option for you. Prefab homes have many advantages, but as with any home purchase, it’s important to do your research before deciding. If you’re thinking seriously about purchasing a prefab home, find out what to anticipate when working as your own contractor to see if you feel confident managing these steps of the process. Furthermore, construction takes much less time than before, which reduces costs. With the recent rise in interest in environmentally friendly construction, more prefab options have emerged that are anything but inexpensive. You will pay more for higher-end finishes and environmentally friendly building materials, but you will still enjoy the benefits of swift construction and strong building.

However, if you are still leaning towards the traditional housing option then you can always consider checking out the offers of Bria Homes. Bria Homes is considerable one of the best options for you being the main player in the real-estate industry in the country that is geared towards providing quality and affordable homes for every Filipino.

Written by Noelyn Kate O. Cabrera