LESS WASTE

Prefab homes are inherently sustainable because they use resources more efficiently: It’s easier to gauge how much material is required for a prebuilt home since the same formula is followed for each model. This means that prefab manufacturing results in far less material waste than traditional builds, thanks to the reduced risk of damage to materials or an unused surplus. And since materials are stored in a factory instead of on a construction site, they’re less likely to be stolen, vandalized, or damaged.

Modular homes are often built as more tightly sealed structures, too, which means that in addition to less material waste, they also waste less energy and can lower your heating and cooling costs, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

DURABILITY

Not every house could stand up to the long journey of being shipped from the factory to a homebuilding site. To reinforce the house frame for delivery, Prefab homes require sturdy materials, making them more durable out of the gate than traditionally built homes. 

SHORTER CONSTRUCTION TIME

By the time a traditional site is prepared for the building process, a prefab home will already be built. And since building takes place indoors, weather delays won’t pose any problems. The NAHB estimates that modular home projects can be completely finished in around three months.

ACCESS TO SKILLED CRAFTSMEN

Did we mention there’s a shortage of skilled labor among the construction industry? Several factors have contributed to it since the 2009 recession, and the impacts of Covid-19 have only served to compound the issue. Choosing a prefab home automatically connects you to skilled tradesmen at the factory. 

LOWER AVERAGE PERMIT VALUE

Permitting, one of the hidden costs of home ownership, delivers better value to prefab homes too. According to the NAHB, permit value is a more useful figure than the home’s sale price. It’s because about 80 percent of prefab homes are built for the owners who will occupy them, “unlike site-built homes that are often built speculatively for sale at some point in the future,” explains Paul Emrath, NAHB vice president for survey and housing policy research. 

READY TO EXPLORE? HERE ARE 18 INEXPENSIVE SUSTAINABLE HOMES.

Note: For comparison, we have included base prices at press time. These may have changed. Please check with each manufacturer for current pricing and additional costs involved.