Prefabricated housing: What are they and what types exist?

Whether you’re interested in buying a kit home from a catalog or building your own home from the ground up, there are plenty of options to consider. But deciding what type of house is right for you depends on many factors, including financing and utilities. In this article, we’ll explore some of the pros and cons of prefabricated housing and what types exist.

Prefabricated homes are partially or completely built in a climate-controlled factory and then transported to the site for assembly. This saves time and money compared to the construction of an on-site house. The cost of materials is less because factories buy in bulk, and the labor costs are lower since the work is done in a controlled environment and they are popular and bought by all walks of life, both the average free essays writer and the head of an international company.

The type of prefabricated home you choose will determine how much customization and modification you can expect to do to your new living space. Some manufacturers offer limited floor plans and finishes, while others may give you more options like cabinet colors and flooring. You may also be able to add upgrades and additions such as garages, patios, or porches.

You’ll have to consider other costs associated with the home, such as arranging for utility hookups, land purchase or soil testing, and constructing a foundation. If you’re not a skilled DIYer, look for a company that will handle these details on your behalf.

The architecture sector is changing and adapting to the circumstances and the context in which society lives. Ways of building are being sought that are much more respectful of the environment, and more economical ways are being explored.

One of the trends that has experienced the greatest growth is that of prefabricated or modular houses. It is true that it occupies a minority share of the real estate market, but prefabricated houses are a trend in architecture, and it seems that in the near future they will be relevant.

What are prefabricated houses?

While a normal house is traditionally built from scratch on a plot of land, the prefabricated house is largely “manufactured” in a factory, and then moved in pieces or even practically whole to its final location for assembly.

The fact that it is largely produced in an industrial environment or in a warehouse helps to increase control over the quality of the finishes, improves the insulation and therefore the energy efficiency of the house and shortens construction times. In other words, prefabricated houses represent a high degree of energy savings. On the other hand, they are houses that stand out for their low cost.

Types of prefabricated houses according to their mobility

This classification takes into account the mobility of the houses, and is the simplest that can exist:

1) Fixed or static prefabricated houses: these are the most similar to traditional houses, houses built and cemented on a terrain designed to withstand weather conditions and the passage of time as well as any other house.
2) Prefabricated mobile homes: the way in which these homes are manufactured has allowed mobile homes to be manufactured more easily and of higher quality.

1. Concrete prefabricated homes
Concrete is one of the favorite and most common elements in any type of construction due to its characteristics. It is a robust, functional, resistant and sustainable element. For the factory process, concrete modules are built that will be reinforced, by means of a system of anchors, at the final location.

Prefabricated wooden houses
Without a doubt, prefabricated wooden houses are the best option to take care of the environment. On the other hand, its dry construction process and the techniques used for its elaboration, guarantee a lower cost both in money and time.

One of the most efficient variants that use wood is prefabricated houses with Sip panels. Sip panels are a type of dry construction that consists of two wooden boards with a high-density polyurethane core that provides greater durability and resistance, and acts as a great thermal insulator.

Prefabricated steel houses
Metal, in this case steel, is the material that completes this list of the most used for the production of prefabricated houses. Steel is a ductile material, with great resistance to weather conditions and corrosion, and withstands the passage of time very well.

For the factory process, each of its parts is meticulously prepared to be easily assembled, so that waste generation is very low and construction times are shortened.