Do You Believe These 6 Common Myths about Pre-Fabrication?

Pre-fabricated buildings and components are among the most rapidly growing construction trends world-wide.

At the same time, however, there exists a number of myths and incorrect information floating around about the process. While pre-fabrication might not be the right fit each and every time, those who take the time to investigate pre-fabrication, reap the benefits.

Myth #1 – It’s Off the Shelf Only

Many people believe that if it’s pre-fab, it’s also ready made and simply waiting to be put together.

Although there are some companies out there who specialise in standard prototype designs, most pre-fabrication elements are custom made directly to your specifications. A design team works directly with you to engineer the perfect structure from start to finish – nothing off the shelf, nothing standard, just the perfect solution each and every time.

Myth #2 – Flimsy Construction

Another myth that some people may struggle with is that the finished product is going to be flimsy or not built as well as it could be on site.

In fact, the opposite is true. Highly trained and specialised workers manufacture components just for your project, working in highly controlled environments without weather delays or intrusions. Put simply, each element is given the attention it deserves. Remember, prefabricated elements are transported from the factory to job site before being installed, so they are built to endure.

Myth #3 – Too Costly

With custom framing, superior construction, and detail-oriented plans, maybe you’re assuming that a pre-fab building is going to be too costly to put up. Is pre-fabrication too much of an unknown quantity? Are you basing your costs and cost comparisons on traditional building methods, assuming that pre-fab will be the same if not more?

The truth is that pre-fabrication improves overall project profitability. Pre-fabrication removes costly interruptions such as weather delays, difficult on site access and is not hindered by RDO’s and other trades. Pre-fabrication reduces the amount of labour required on site and elements can be quickly and efficiently installed once they arrive on site.

Myth #4 – More Difficult to Put Frame Together than to Build On Site

People that are intimately familiar with traditional building methods may assume that it’s easier to simply build the structure on site than it is to put pre-fabricated frames together once they arrive. It’s assumed that because the frames weren’t built together into one structure in the first place, that putting them together will too complicated and will slow things down or cause unnecessary delays.

Each set of frames is delivered with detailed instructions for fastenings, as well as a plan for finishing. This is one of the benefits of using pre-fabrication; design and build teams work with you from start to finish to make the entire process smoother and easier than traditional building processes.

Myth #5 – Design Limitations

The words pre-fabrication often call to mind something ready made – not something built just for you. So even people who grasp the concept that the frames are built to order may not realise that there are fewer design limitations with this type of framing than there are with traditional building methods.

With a controlled building environment, different frame types, and various materials, there are virtually no limits on what you can design and build using pre-fabrication. Every component is custom made directly to your specifications. At the same time, pre-fab building methods often allow you to overcome challenges that traditional building may present such as difficult on site access, resulting in a faster, lower cost design.

Myth #6 – Substandard Materials

Some people upon hearing that pre-fabrication allows for the use of more innovative building practices and the use of lightweight materials like aluminum will go on to assume that these materials are substandard or subpar in quality to those used in traditional building. In fact, the opposite is true.

Pre-fabrication allows for the use of lightweight and alternative materials and building practices because of the methods used in constructing the prefab modules. Lighter materials and innovative building methods simply allow you to create less expensive buildings more quickly and easily, solving design limitations that are frequently found in traditional building methods.

Consider Pre-Fabrication

If you’re looking for innovative designs that overcome traditional building challenges, high quality craftsmanship and materials, and a building process that is smoother and faster than you thought possible, consider pre-fabrication. Once you see what’s possible with factory-built frames, you’ll never want to go back to traditional building methods again.

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