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1050 Leslie Drive
Victoria, BC, Canada
V8X 2Y8
Local: 250-381-6666
Toll-free: 877-366-2502
Fax: 250-381-6660
design@bcmountainhomes.com
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A "prefabbed" home is one option people are considering these days when they start thinking about building a home. Also known as "panelizing", prefab generally means that the home's components - typically floors, walls and roof, windows and doors and exterior finishes - are cut and pre-assembled to some degree in a factory environment and then shipped to the building site where they are put together. We get many questions about how this process works, what it costs and whether we make the kits. Below you will find some answers to your questions, and places to go for more information.
Do you make prefab packages?
No, because we are design specialists, we do not manufacture packages or kits. However, we do understand and appreciate the prefab process and have worked successfully with several prefab manufacturers to make sure our designs work for the requirements of prefab. Below we will give you links and contact information to those companies.
Isn't a prefab kit less expensive than the usual stick frame building?
It can be more, or less, expensive; it depends – on a lot of things. Some of these include:
- The design itself: the more complex, the less cost-effective it is to prefab.
- The level of construction experience of the builder. Prefab can be a good fit with an owner-builder who has some carpentry experience but has never built a whole house from the ground up.
- The remoteness and accessibility of your site: more remote or less accessible might mean savings from prefab in not having to haul crew and equipment in and out for too many days.
- The availability and cost of construction crews in your area; prefab cuts down on the time you need a crew, providing there are crews available who work with prefab. This is particularly helpful in places where the building season is short.
- Also, depending on where you live, the prefab manufacturer may have a crew that can go to your site and erect the structure.
- Your location and what that means for shipping costs.Shipping a package all the way across the continent can seriously reduce the economic benefits of prefab.
- The likelihood of theft from the construction site; there is less material laying around for less time, and the pieces are much larger and harder to steal
What are the key benefits and potential drawbacks of prefab?
Key Benefits
- The pieces of the home are measured and cut with precision equipment in a plant, partially assembled, and shipped with the major hardware needed to finish assembly.
- The wall panels, roof and floor components are made with kiln-dried lumber and thus are less prone to shrinkage and movement once the drywall is in place.
- A small structure can be assembled in a few days; a larger home may take only a week or two from foundation to roof sheathing.
- A faster build means potentially faster draws on your building loan and less interest expense.
- It can be easier to book a crew for the shorter period of time needed, or there may be a crew available from the prefab supplier.
- There are a variety of options available for the amount and type of finishings available from the prefab supplier.
Potential Drawbacks
- It may not be possible or economic to prefab the design you want.
- The cost of the prefab kit may end up being more expensive than doing the project locally with conventional framing.
- The shipping may be prohibitive.
- The prefab companies may be booked up well in advance.
- The prefab package is only one small part of the overall project and, since most prefab companies are not in the business of providing complete "turn-key" contracting services, this means that you will likely also need to hire a builder to create the foundation, assemble the prefab package components, co-ordinate sub-trades, install cabinets and trim and generally oversee the whole project. Finding a contractor who is willing to work with prefab and "give up" a sizeable part of the overall contract value to others may require some searching, and a bit of educating as to the value of this building approach.
- In British Columbia, where all new homes must carry a New Home Warranty, finding a builder who will take responsibility and provide the Warranty for the whole project when a substantial amount of the construction has been done by others can be the largest challenge.
How do I determine whether it's right for my project?
We strongly suggest you phone a few companies that can create a pre-fab kit of your custom home design or of one of our stock plans. Contact information for the companies we have worked with is below.
Pacific Building Systems – offices on Vancouver Island and Vancouver, BC
250.743.5584
Keith Vickers (south of Mill Bay)
Paul Latter (north of Mill Bay)
Ken Thiessen (Lower Mainland)
Or any of the three if your property is outside their regions
Ajia Canadian Building Systems – office in North Vancouver, BC
604.990.1133
Cory Herman
Chateau Building Products – office in Richmond, BC
604.434.8054
Peter Francis
Fiscus Homes – office in North Vancouver, BC
604.986.7670
Jim Johnson
Insulspan (Structural Insulated Panels) - office in Delta BC
604.540.0600
Toll Free Number: 866-848-8855
Dave Stevenson
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