What is Prefab Houses?

Published by cravat | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Real Estate

When you hear prefab, do you instantly think of a “trailer on wheels” or a mobile home? Does your mind tell you substandard or cheaply built? You are not alone. Let me try to explain what prefab means. In dictionary prefab means a prefabricated building or structure. When you split the word pre and fab which means before and to fabricate or to put together; it is also means to build something ahead of time. So let’s explore this.

When we talk about building or structure, it can suggest a lot of applications but let us focus on the top three common types if construction that are prefabricated, these are modular, panelized and manufactured homes.

1. Panelized homes are basically a stick framed home and pre-framing the wall sections usually in an enclosed structure, walls does not include any wirings and insulations and are called open panel walls. You can get several advantages on an over stick framing that includes lesser waste, more accuracy, no setbacks for weather and allows you to frame a standard home in half the time. The plus bonus is that banks consider them stick framed for owner/builder loans.

2. Modular homes are more popular nowadays and apparently for good reason. These are constructed to the similar standards of a regular home in your area and sometimes surpass the quality in some occasions. These type of homes are pull-together in a huge enclosed facility and comes out in several parts ready to be craned in the project site. Plumbing, electric and heating chases are embedded in the walls and are done and installed on site. It takes about thirty days after assembly to finish the drywall, include cabinets, flooring, plumbing fixtures and exterior finishing. All the work is done way ahead and the completion of it are on site. But there are always restrictions on designs because this style requires a gable roof to come together.

3. Manufactured or mobile homes are not what they used to be. These styles are a lot more attractive, with vaulted ceilings and are mostly come in two parts which are completed inclusive of cabinets and flooring. It is like ordering a home and simply waits for it to arrive and just to move your furniture in. The drawbacks is that some areas do not allow them since manufactured homes have the tendency to depreciate value but not in all areas. You can check and know with your realtor.

Prefab homes and structures does not limit residential homes, it can also include commercial building, recreation cabins, as well as churches and schools.