What Are Prefabricated Homes? Here’s What You Need To Know

Building your dream home is an exciting idea, but it can also be incredibly intimidating. Traditional construction time frames can be long — even longer if you’re designing a home from scratch. Meticulous planning, gathering materials, and ensuring your design is up to code are just some of the things you need to take into consideration. Thankfully, there’s another great option for people looking to build their own home: prefabricated homes.

But what exactly are prefabricated homes? In this post, we’re answering the questions, “What is a prefab home?”, “How long do prefabricated houses last?”, “How much do prefabricated homes cost?”, and more. Let’s dive in.

Prefabricated homes are reshaping the future of residential construction, with plenty of options available, from compact modular units to sprawling custom designs. Prefab homes are manufactured off-site in sections that are transported and assembled on your plot of land. This means faster construction, reduced material waste, and a cost-effective alternative to traditional, on-site building methods. 

Prefabricated homes follow a streamlined and controlled manufacturing process that maximizes efficiency and quality. Here’s a step-by-step look at how these homes come to life:

The design phase typically uses digital models to allow the homeowner and architect to collaborate. They can customize the home’s layout, select materials, and finalize structural details. This digital approach reduces the risk of costly errors later in the process since designs can be checked and optimized for maximum precision.

Rather than constructing everything on site, prefab homes have their components manufactured in a factory setting. Wall panels, roof trusses, floor systems, room modules, and even complete houses are constructed under controlled conditions to ensure precision and quality. Building components off-site also helps prevent weather-related delays to further speed up construction.

Quality control inspections take place throughout the factory construction process. Each component is thoroughly examined for structural integrity, adherence to design specifications, and safety compliance before leaving the factory.

Once all the components are inspected, they are packed and transported by truck to the building site.

The prefab home is assembled on a prepared foundation. Depending on the type of prefabricated home, this can range from stacking modules together to piecing together wall panels and roofing systems.

After the main structure is assembled, finishing tasks are carried out to ensure the prefab house is move-in ready. These activities include installing roofing, siding, windows, and interior elements like flooring, cabinetry, and electrical systems.

Final inspections are conducted before move-in day to ensure the home meets local building codes and safety standards. Once approved, the home is ready for its new owners.

This combination of factory construction and on-site assembly takes a fraction of the time required for traditional homebuilding.

This makes prefabricated homes an extremely efficient way to create new homes even when working with tight timeframes and streamlines the process to make it more accessible for first-time builders. There are also quality and construction advantages to prefab homes because everything is meticulously planned and inspected during both the manufacturing and assembly stages.

While prefabricated homes may make you think of limited designs and customization options, there are actually several different types of prefabricated homes, each with its own characteristics and benefits. Let’s take a quick look at some of the options available:

• Modular homes: Modular homes are built in large, fully assembled sections called modules in a factory and then assembled on-site.

• Panelized homes: These homes use flat panels for walls, floors, and roofs. Panels are constructed in the factory, then shipped and assembled on-site.

• Manufactured homes:  Manufactured homes, also known as mobile homes, are fully built in a factory and transported to the site, often placed on a permanent or semi-permanent foundation. Manufactured homes are built on a fixed steel chassis and usually come with wheels, which are removed once the home reaches its final location.

• Kit homes: Sometimes called DIY homes, these prefab homes are delivered as a complete package of pre-cut materials with instructions for homeowners or contractors to assemble on-site.

• Shipping container homes: As the name suggests, these are repurposed shipping containers transformed into modern living spaces. Homeowners can combine multiple containers for a larger home, or some prefer the tiny-home lifestyle using just one container.

• Barndominiums: A relatively new and upcoming option, barndominiums are a hybrid of a barn and condominium, offering spacious, open-concept living with rustic charm.

While prefab home prices are often lower than traditional builds, the final cost can vary widely based on several factors, including:

• Type of prefabricated home you choose

• Size and design complexity of the home

• Land costs at your chosen location

• Labor costs in your area for assembly and finishing work

The average cost of a prefab home currently ranges from $40 to $300 per square foot. At the lower end, you’ll find simpler models or kit homes, while larger, custom-designed modular homes with high-end finishes will be closer to that higher $300 figure.

As mentioned, additional expenses like land preparation, utility connections, permits, and inspections are key considerations for prefabricated homes. However, even with these added costs, prefab homes often remain more affordable than traditional builds.

Prefab homes have come a long way from the temporary or “cheap” reputation they once had. In fact, well-maintained prefab homes can last 50 years or more, with many lasting just as long as traditional builds. This has made prefabs an incredibly attractive investment, especially for first-time buyers.

The longevity of your prefab home depends on factors like the quality of materials used during manufacturing, durability and type of foundation, the quality of assembly, and adherence to proper building standards. As with any home, regular maintenance is key. Keep up with inspections and carry out repairs promptly, and your prefab home can offer a lifetime of comfort and reliability.

Building a prefabricated home is an ideal option for new and experienced homebuilders looking for an efficient building process and design flexibility at a price that doesn’t break the bank.

As with any construction project, planning ahead is the key to a smooth design and build process. MySitePlan can help you build your prefabricated home with confidence. Get a detailed site plan that simplifies the design and permit process and ensure your prefab home project runs smoothly. Get started with MySitePlan today.