Instead of spending months working on and building a house, you can simply purchase a tiny home that’s already been made. Prefabricated homes, or better known as prefabs, are built off-site and are delivered directly to you. Depending on the type of house and manufacturer, some tiny homes can be assembled in almost any location in under a day, satisfying even the most impatient of people.
Forget the heavy bricks and concrete – houses today are all about minimizing your ecological footprint by using sustainable building materials. When tiny homes are on wheels, it’s even more important to use lighter materials to make it easy to travel with. The quick and simple set up of prefab homes means building a house no longer needs to be a stressful or lengthy task. Nor does it have to be costly; it’s possible to get a budget prefab home from the likes of Amazon or eBay.
How to get yourself a prefab house
Once you’re set on living the tiny life, it’s time to decide on a location and type of house. You can get prefabs for both permanent and tiny homes on wheels, and it’s a matter of finding out which manufacturer’s style you prefer. From rustic (such as Tumbleweed) to more modern homes, there are plenty of options so take your time in browsing the design that you really like.
The complexity of your prefab tiny house will vary among manufacturers and the design. More affordable options may have less inclusions in the prefab and will require you to purchase additional add-ons to finish the house. Depending on how many modules your prefab tiny home has, the time it takes to assemble may vary. Regardless, it will still be faster to complete than a house that has been constructed on-site.
Efficiency of a tiny prefab house
A big part of the attraction to tiny living is the efficiency of it all. It’s more efficient to insulate due to less space inside, it’s easier to clean, and it’s also energy-efficient. Most importantly, it’s also more efficient to build than a conventional house.
Tiny homes use less material in general, making it efficient from the get-go. However, being prefabricated also means designers and builders are working in a controlled environment, which allows them to gauge how much material is used and if it’s being used optimally.
Another advantage of working in a controlled environment is being able to be cost-efficient. Cost can be controlled and the process can be easier to predict. It can be easy to lose track of how much material or overtime you green light when working on-site.
Since all prefab modules have been made in a factory, bad weather is unlikely to get in the way of production. However, when it rains or snows while building a house at a home site, construction will have to be paused, resulting in delays.
Pros & cons of tiny prefab homes
Tiny homes thrive in various shapes and sizes, but do they work just as well when it’s a prefab? Read on below for a breakdown on the advantages and disadvantages of owning a tiny prefab home.
Pros
- Compared to a stick-built home (a house that’s constructed on-site), prefab homes are cheaper to own. Laborers take up a huge part of any building budget, and since tiny prefabs only take days to assemble, you can already see some savings coming through. Other cost-cutting aspects of a tiny prefab include insulation – as heating and cooling is more affordable in prefab homes – and the finer details, such as fittings and customization.
- Move-in ready. Prefabs were originally built with convenience in mind. To visualize what an easy solution it is, you can buy a prefab tiny house on Amazon without breaking the bank. Although it’s much preferred to work directly with a professional, this can give you an idea on how quick the process can be.
- Ecological benefits. It’s true that tiny homes are a beacon of light in these trying environmental times. But, did you know a prefab tiny house is even better at minimizing your ecological footprint? Many builders utilize sustainable and reclaimed materials when constructing prefabs to lessen the environmental impact even further.
Cons
- Utility hook up. Unless you’re living off-grid, you’re going to need utilities installed into your prefab tiny home. When your home site isn’t leveled, it can pose challenges when it comes to hooking up utilities, such as electrical connection or plumbing. When your prefab home that you’ve already designed doesn’t match up to the site’s existing utilities, it can be hard to arrange. Luckily, there are manufacturers that can also help with this part.
- Restricted design. Although you have creative freedom over the design of your house, you may be limited in the size. This is because most manufacturers will deliver the prefab modules on trucks, which is restricted to road widths and heights. Additionally, if the design you had in mind is a little too unique, it would make it hard for machines to pull off.
- Land prices. To have a prefab home, you’ll need to have land ready. Land is not cheap, especially ones that are more sought after. On top of that, there are inspections and permits that can factor into your total cost. Be careful, as some lands may not allow you to put up a prefab. Although you may save costs on going for a prefab, the price of the land you are eyeing could up the budget more than you expected.
Final Thoughts
With the fast-paced environment that we are used to, it’s no surprise that we also envision our future home to be built in a matter of days without sacrificing quality. Thanks to prefab builders, it’s possible to have it both. While there are certain cons that can drive people away into settling for a stick-built home instead, there’s nothing like careful planning that will make the benefits of a prefab home worthwhile.
