Prefab homes are becoming an increasingly popular choice for people looking to build a new home. Unlike traditional home building, which can be expensive and time-consuming, prefab homes are factory-built and delivered to the site ready to be assembled. Homes that are prefabricated usually come in separate pieces, which are then assembled on the property where they will be used.

Prefab homes can range from single-family houses to large buildings like schools and libraries, as well as commercial structures like warehouses, shopping malls, and even churches.

Prefabricated homes are built in a controlled environment under ideal conditions. What this means for homeowners is increased quality control and fewer construction mishaps. This may be an attractive option for homeowners who desire a home that does not require a foundation.

What are Prefab Homes?

Prefab homes, also known as prefabricated homes and manufactured homes, are built in factories and transported to a site (or multiple sites) where they are erected. These structures may consist of modular sections delivered on flatbed trucks or installed on foundations using cranes. Construction can be finished quickly, with the entire home built in a few days or weeks. Prefab homes are built using either modular construction or panelized construction.

• Modular Construction: Modules are constructed in the factory and then shipped to the building site like prefabricated homes, but they are put together on-site like traditional home building. They take about one to three months longer than prefabricated homes to build, but they are less expensive.
• Panelized Construction: Are also constructed in the factory, but the panels that make up the home are shipped to the building site and assembled there. Panelized homes are typically more expensive than modular homes, but they can be built much faster- often in just two to four weeks.

Benefits of Prefab Homes

There’s plenty of reasons that prefab homes have become so popular to many people. Some of the main reasons include: 

1. Faster construction process: Many prefab homes can be completed and delivered within a few days or weeks, while traditional site-built homes may require months to years. The time savings associated with the construction process also enable significant cost savings for homeowners due to reductions in labor.
2. Increased quality and customization: Prefab homes are often built in a factory under controlled conditions, which results in increased quality control. In addition, homeowners have more options for customization than they would with a traditional home.
3. Reduced environmental impact: Prefabricated homes are built in controlled factory environments, which results in significant reductions of construction waste and energy consumption. Prefabricated homes may be recycled or disassembled if the owner relocates to another home.
4. Resale value: Some industry experts suggest that prefabricated homes will increase the resale value of your home. Many prefab homes are built with higher-quality materials than site-built homes, which helps to protect against damage due to extended or extreme weather conditions.

Disadvantages of Prefab Homes

There are some disadvantages of prefab homes that people do need to consider however. 

• Higher costs: Many factory-built homes are significantly more expensive than comparable site-built homes, which may be an important consideration for potential homeowners.
• Limited design flexibility: What you see is often what you get when it comes to prefabricated homes. What's more, these structures are often built with a traditional housing style in mind. The homes may be large and bulky, making them less ideal for narrow lots or other tight spaces.
• Limited options: Prefabricated homes provide homeowners with fewer selections than site-built homes when it comes to exterior and interior finishes, appliances and more. Hence cannot custom design these structures to their specific needs.