Key information
- Prefab - short for prefabricated - means the building has been constructed off site, it’s not about the style or design
- Going down the prefab route could be cheaper and will certainly allow you to budget more accurately
- Prefab homes tend to be quicker to build, more durable and more heat efficient
Building a bespoke home from the ground up is a dream for many. But unexpected problems that delay construction or blow the budget can turn a self-build into a nightmare.
With that in mind, many self-builders are turning to prefab homes as an alternative. With the construction done offsite and to high factory standards, prefabs can remove a lot of the uncertainty - and a lot of the risk - from a self-build project.
If you’re looking to build your own home and wondering if prefab is the way to go, our guide is here to take you through everything you need to know.
What is a prefab home?
Prefab homes come with a lot of connotations, and not all of them are good. For many people, the term conjures images of identical and uninspiring dwellings erected on the cheap - or worse, the squat “tin town” emergency housing of the postwar years.
But the modern prefab means something very different. Prefab, short for prefabricated, just means that the building is constructed off site in a factory and then delivered to the plot to be assembled. Modular construction like this is a method, not a specific style or design.
Using a prefab doesn’t necessarily mean you have any less freedom to design your house than if you were building it the traditional way. It is true that some types of prefab are more prescriptive than others. Kit houses for example come pre-designed with little to no input from the buyer, while some cheaper prefab packages offer only a limited range of flexibility.
However, the majority of prefab house suppliers will work with you to ensure the house is built to your design and specifications. From the roof and walls to the internal layout and fittings, you’ll still have enough design control over your prefab home to create a completely bespoke project.
Are prefab homes cheaper than building?