Prefab houses have numerous obvious advantages compared to traditional construction methods. However, there are frequent comments about how their drawbacks disqualify them for family living…
Prefab houses have become very popular in recent decades. Maybe biggest reason why prefab houses aren’t even more popular is question abut how long they last. After all, how can something of a prefab nature be passed down through generations? As usual, the truth lies somewhere in between.
Durability of Prefab Houses
Materials and construction processes for prefab houses have been greatly refined in recent decades, so many manufacturers claim that their prefab houses are guaranteed to last a hundred years. It’s true that a masonry structure can last longer, but that certainly doesn’t apply to houses in the same price range as prefab houses. It’s a big question what condition a traditional masonry house will be in after a hundred years and how much investment will be needed for its adaptation. If it’s not a historically significant building, it’s much more cost-effective to demolish it and build a completely new structure.
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The advantage of traditional construction over prefab, in this case, is that if you decide to sell the house after a few decades, you’ll definitely find it easier to do so if it’s not a prefab type. Some manufacturers provide a 30-year warranty for their houses, which clearly indicates that with proper maintenance, they could last much longer. Of course, this warranty does not apply to craftsmanship, such as electrical or plumbing work.
The warranty period for craftsmanship is much shorter. Also, it should not be overlooked that many domestic manufacturers produce materials that are exported to EU countries, and those same companies assemble them there.
Of course, there are dissatisfied customers, but can’t the same be said for those who have embarked on the adventure of traditional construction? Just like when you buy a new car. If you’re not knowledgeable, before buying a specific model, you research it online – what it’s like, does it break down often, are the maintenance costs high… Likewise, you should choose a company to build your house.
Speed of Construction
Yes, prefab houses are much faster to build than traditional ones. All the elements that are assembled on-site are already manufactured, and that’s the main time-saving factor. Essentially, instead of building walls on-site, they are brought and assembled. Most manufacturers guarantee that the construction of a house of around 80 square meters (8611.2 square feet) is completed in a maximum of one month, including the initial rough work, such as pouring and drying the concrete structure on which the house is mounted.
Of course, this time factor may not be so important when it comes to things that are done practically once in a lifetime. The bigger advantage is that there’s less stress, the material specification is much clearer, and there’s less chance of unpleasant surprises in the form of unforeseen costs, as is the case with traditional construction. True, it’s possible to plan everything well with traditional construction, but it requires a lot of experience.
This involves hiring a contractor, which certainly increases the overall costs. So, the construction speed of a prefab house is faster, but the main advantage is easier cost control and less stress. You engage a company that is supposed to build an immediately habitable structure for the agreed amount of money.
Construction Costs
The construction costs of prefab houses are lower than the costs of building traditional masonry houses. It’s not easy to make an accurate cost calculation. The construction price can depend on many factors. One of them is, for example, location. If the land where the house is built is directly accessible by road, the costs are much lower. If the house is in a location where heavy machinery and trucks cannot access easily, the costs can easily increase.
If you opt for the so-called “gray phase,” the price can be below 500 dollars. Let’s clarify, the gray phase involves a prefab house without hydro and thermal floor insulation, without electrical installations, without plumbing and sewage systems, without tiles and sanitary fixtures.
If you’ve opted for a prefab house to spare yourself worries because you’re not knowledgeable about construction, the gray phase is excellent for avoiding them. Some who understand those final works may choose the gray phase to save money but also to influence the final arrangement of the house.
Energy Efficiency
Prefab houses have a clear advantage in terms of energy efficiency. Traditional masonry houses can certainly be more energy-efficient, but in that case, the construction cost per square meter is disproportionately higher. When they are in the same or similar price range, a prefab house is incomparably more energy-efficient than a traditional one.
In masonry construction, to achieve the level of energy efficiency as in a prefab building, it requires an additional ten centimeters of thermal insulation. This increases the thickness of the standard external wall to over 40 cm (aprpx. 16 inch), which directly affects the reduction of the usable area of the building.
Specifically, a prefab house has about 10 percent more net usable area than a masonry house of the same characteristics. This means that with a gross area of 100 square meters (1076.4 square feet), and the gross area is the one you pay for, by choosing a prefab house, you get, at least in theory or in total area, one extra room compared to building a traditional masonry house.
Without going into too much technical detail, unlike masonry buildings, prefab houses have walls that do not accumulate heat.
A standard brick or block wall accumulates heat, while external insulation (polystyrene or mineral wool) prevents its loss. Thanks to this, prefab buildings heat up much faster, but likewise, they cool down much faster after heating stops because there is no heat accumulated in the walls. Masonry houses have an advantage in this regard because they have a more stable internal temperature.
Conclusion
As usual, there’s no straightforward answer to the question of which house is better, masonry or prefab. It all depends on your needs and capabilities. You can’t go wrong with traditional construction, but the fact is that prefab structures are often more practical and better solutions.