Passing any newly constructed home what do you see? Dumpsters filled with plywood and other waste that’s leftover of building a house that will probably end up in a landfill somewhere. According to research, up to 15% of all materials that are used in the construction of a regular home go to waste.
With 785,000 single-family units built in March of this year alone, that’s a lot of waste that ends up in the landfill. There’s a good reason why the United States alone is responsible for producing 250 million tons of waste a year which is a direct result of building homes. So, what do you do, stop building homes? Of course not. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a home that’s a good deal for the environment and your wallet. Enter the pre-fab home. For those who are contemplating getting themselves a sustainable pre-fab home here’s your chance to learn more about them.
Types of Prefab Homes
For starters, you will need to know the difference between various prefab homes that are available. The following are some of them:
Modular
As the name implies, a modular home is going to consist of either one or more modules, depending on the size of the prefab home that is put together to create a single unit. These homes are built in a factory before being shipped out to the site where they will become someone’s new home. Each of the modules in a modular home is fully outfitted by all the essentials for living, such as electrical features, plumbing, doors, and even stairs. This means, there’s limited work required during the assembly of the home at the site. The normal duration of building a home and getting it from the factory to the home site is a minimum of four months.
Pre-Cut Homes
These types of prefab homes are also commonly known as “kit homes.” These homes are cut by design in a factory and are then shipped as a whole kit to the site where all the sections are put together. It is normal for some pre-cut homes to similar to panelized homes, but not all panelized homes can be called pre-cut homes.
What differentiates these two is that the pre-cut home is designed for those home buyers who are looking forward to constructing their own home using the materials that are supplied by the pre-cut home supplier. This is usually the reason why many younger home buyers go the pre-cut route. Putting the pre-cut home together is also not a hassle since they come along with all the necessary instructions and guides to make the assembly process easier. This is one of the reasons why the pre-cut home is often likened to Ikea furniture, where the buyer gets to put together the pieces.
Since the pre-cut homes are usually assembled by the buyer, it takes longer to put all the pieces together on site because there’s not going to be professional builders and technicians of a company who will assemble the home on-site, like when getting a panelized home.
Panelized
Speaking of panelized or panel homes, this type of prefab home is pretty self-explanatory.The homes come in panels. For instance, the walls, roofs, and stairs are transported separately to the building site where they are to be assembled. Because the panelized homes have more panels, they usually require more finishing work to complete the home as compared to a modular home. This is because much of the finishing of the panelized home such as the painting and installing of cabinets and stairs need to be carried out on site.
When it comes to a panelized home, while it takes about the same time to build the different panels as it does to build the modules in a factory, putting the panels together on site usually takes longer for obvious reasons. This means that the total build time of a panelized home can stretch to six months. Some of the style options in getting a panelized home is, modern, French country, and ranch.
Size and Design
When it comes to both the size and the design of the prefab home, there are literally no limitations. From tiny prefab homes that are enough for comfortable single-person living to larger, more elaborate prefab homes that are more than enough for full families to live in, the prefab homes allow you to choose exactly what you want. This is also one of the main reasons for the growing popularity of prefab homes in the US because they offer aspiring homeowners with a way to build the home of their dreams on a budget. Since property prices are sky high for any size home, going the prefab route is a more viable decision for many folks looking for a home of their own.
When it comes to the aesthetics or design of the prefab homes, there aren’t going to be any limitations for the home buyer since all modular, panelized and pre-cut homes come with a variety of design and aesthetics options. This makes it incredibly easy for potential home buyers to get an affordable home that suits their personality.
What’s Included in the Prefab Home Package?
Needless to say, you will need to pay attention to what is and isn’t included in the prefab home package you have opted for. That’s because there are many prefab home providers, which means that their services and amenities may vary from company to company. To make sure you are getting the best deal possible, it’s always best to first shop around to find the prefab home company that is offering you the best deals with all the bells and whistles one would want in their home.
While you’re at it, also find out about any upgrades or personalization options that the company provides its homeowners. This will get you a better idea of how you can scale your home in the long run. While some companies offer plenty of personalization and upgrade options to their clients, others are more limited, which is why you need to make sure you make the right choice when getting a prefab home.
