5 Reasons Why Prefabricated Buildings Are More Affordable

Although the construction industry continues to embrace prefab commercial buildings more each year, many contractors remain somewhat hesitant to embrace prefabrication. This is due to several misconceptions surrounding this construction method. Perhaps the most pervasive is that, because prefab commercial buildings are less expensive to create than the alternative, they are of lower quality.

In general, Americans often associate more expensive products with higher quality. Not only is this simply incorrect, but it also creates a somewhat problematic approach to construction. If more cost-effective options like prefabricated commercial buildings are dismissed simply because they’re less expensive, those who commission projects will have to wait a lot longer for structures to be built. Furthermore, the many benefits of working with prefabricated methods will be ignored simply because these buildings are less expensive.

That’s why it’s important to explore exactly why prefab commercial buildings are more cost-effective. Some of the answers may surprise you.

1. They Take Less Time to Build

There are so many reasons why prefabricated buildings are less expensive than their alternatives, but one of the main reasons is that they simply take less time to construct. When constructing prefabricated metal buildings, contractors are working off of pre-set components. Therefore, there are fewer decisions that need to be made regarding how to proceed and the process is much more straightforward.

With that in mind, prefabricated buildings take less time to construct and therefore cost less in the long term. But it’s important to emphasize that less construction time does not equal a lower quality product. Simply, the product can be assembled more quickly due to the fact that it is prefabricated.

2. They Require Less Labor

At times, prefabricated buildings also require less labor due to the aforementioned prefabricated components. There is certainly less of a need to pay architects and designers, as the design of the building has been predetermined. While some prefabricated buildings will still require a good amount of laborers due to the size of the building, many can be assembled with fewer workers on site.

In the same sense, it’s often safer for laborers to work on prefabricated buildings as opposed to the alternative options. These buildings offer less room for error, and accordingly, less opportunity for injury.

3. They Can Be Made of Sustainable Materials

There are a lot of elements that can make a prefabricated building more affordable than the alternatives, but perhaps most intriguing is the fact that they can be constructed out of recycled materials. Prefab commercial buildings can actually be made of used steel and other metals. It’s not uncommon for steel to be recycled, as it’s actually the most recycled material in the world, with 90% of all steel being recycled. Therefore, prefabricated steel buildings, in particular, are excellent candidates for pre-used metal. Used metal is often less expensive or easier to source than metal that hasn’t been recycled.

Therefore, prefab commercial buildings are not only less expensive than buildings that aren’t prefabricated, but they may also more sustainable. This makes them more environmentally friendly.

4. They’re More Convenient

Think of prefab commercial buildings as one-stop shops. This means that you can buy all of your materials, as well as your design and sometimes even your labor, in one place. In most cases, this cuts costs.

Rather than needing to source your materials and designs from different providers, stacking costs over time, you can simply buy in bulk from one builder. Oftentimes, when buying from one source, you may receive a discount.

5. Less Waste

There is naturally more waste when a home is built “from scratch.” Designs that are created from the ground up may be changed as the building is constructed, therefore creating more waste. Wasted materials equate to money lost — and it’s all too easy for those who commission buildings to buy more materials than they really need.

The reality is that not only are prefabricated buildings less expensive than buildings constructed from the ground up, but they’re also remarkably accessible. These prefabricated designs can be used to construct not only warehouses but church buildings and even airplane hangars. Their convenience and affordability makes them not only comparable to the alternative options, but preferable.