The benefits of a prefab home

Western Australians certainly have a love affair with the traditional double-brick home, but did you know there are a range of new and sustainable building products on the market that provide a bit more choice when it comes to your new home?

While brick homes will always have their place in our market, the growing shortage of bricklayers, combined with the sustainability and efficiency benefits of alternative products means that we are seeing more homes in Perth built using timber or steel frame construction, prefabrication and other methods.

One area that is emerging as a growing trend in Perth is prefabricated or prefab homes.

Prefab simply means the home is constructed offsite and assembled and installed onsite.

In Perth there are companies that are producing and delivering timber frame walls and building homes in a matter of weeks or even days as compared to months for traditional builds.

Reduced construction timeframes means if you are building a new home, you’ll potentially be spending less on a rental while you wait for the completion of your home, which in the current market is certainly a bonus.

This type of building method is not only faster, it can be beneficial when looking at tighter lot sizes or medium and high-density construction where space is at a premium and build times can be significantly decreased.

Using modern methods of construction can also assist where lots are not necessarily flat or easily accessible.

These methods of construction can allow for building on more uneven terrain without the high costs of footings and concrete slabs that are required for a double-brick build.

In terms of sustainability, benefits include higher energy ratings and lower thermal mass.

The issue with rolling out these new methods more broadly still comes down to cost.

This is because there is a perception that the market in WA is not ready for a different type of product, therefore risk margins are often built in to the end cost by builders and developers.

However, we are confident that over time, as buyer awareness grows about the different types of materials available, the costs will come down further.

Brick homes are sure to remain a popular choice for many buyers over the coming years, however it would be good to see a greater choice of materials made readily available to those building a home to address individual needs, budgets and preferences.