Why is the microclimate in solid construction more pleasant than in prefabricated buildings? The possibility of expansion is a significant advantage of traditional construction. Additionally, solid construction experiences a smaller decrease in value compared to prefabricated construction
The popularity of prefabricated houses remains high. This building concept offers numerous benefits, such as precisely defined costs and construction deadlines, not to mention energy efficiency. However, traditional solid construction provides advantages that should not be overlooked and can sometimes be decisive, depending on specific needs.
Potential for Future Expansion
The ability to expand the structure later is crucial for many individuals considering solid construction over prefabrication. With a certain budget, you can build a traditional single-story house and add another floor in ten years due to a growing family or other reasons.
Related Articles:
PREFAB HOUSES – HOME OR TEMPORARY SHELTER?
ADVANTAGES OF ASPHALT SHINGLES COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL ROOF TILES
This option isn’t available with prefabricated construction. Although prefabricated houses can have multiple floors, they tend to be much more expensive. If you erect a single-story prefabricated house, there’s no opportunity to add another floor later.
Greater Customization and Adaptability
Prefabricated houses are pre-designed and well-thought-out to provide a high level of functionality. However, there are limitations to what can be implemented with prefabricated buildings. With traditional solid construction, every “imaginative” project can be realized.
Admittedly, this freedom can sometimes have negative consequences, especially when inexperienced or unqualified individuals are involved in the design process. However, traditional construction offers many more opportunities for project customization. It also allows for adapting to challenging terrain configurations, such as sloped plots where buildings need to be constructed in terraces.
Pleasant Microclimate Year-Round
Prefabricated structures are made of sandwich panels combining wood, gypsum, and insulation material. While this construction principle ensures high energy efficiency and minimal heating costs, these buildings have lower thermal stability.
In contrast, traditional construction involving clay block walls and external insulation layers provides a much more pleasant microclimate. During winter, the massive walls retain heat, maintaining comfortable temperatures even after heating stops. In summer, these buildings, with their good external insulation, require less air conditioning usage, enhancing comfort and reducing electricity consumption.
Increased Load-Bearing Capacity of Walls
Solid construction ensures that all walls in the house have strength and load-bearing capacity. This means that shelves for heavy objects can be installed on any wall as desired. In contrast, the sandwich panels of prefabricated buildings can only support lighter loads and shelves.
For heavier items such as boilers and kitchen elements, positions for hanging must be foreseen during the project phase to ensure that load-bearing beams are located within the sandwich panels.
Significantly Lower Depreciation
Despite manufacturers of prefabricated houses offering multi-year warranties, the situation in practice differs—prefabricated houses experience a much greater depreciation in value compared to houses built using traditional construction methods. Therefore, if you anticipate selling the house in the coming years, solid construction might be the better option.
Photo: Nexe, Wienerberger