The need for housing in India will increase exponentially, especially with the development of smart cities in the planning stages. To cater to this huge demand, experts believe that prefabricated homes in India and offsite construction are the best solutions. Although offsite technologies are not in their most progressive state, the demand for such technologies is increasing at a rapid rate by the second.
Prefabricated homes: What are they?
Prefabricated homes can be defined as specialist dwelling building types that are manufactured before off-site in standard sections that can easily be assembled and shipped.
Currently, many engineers & contractors in India are shifting their focus onto mass housing and prefabrication technology is touted as the ideal solution for mass housing schemes and affordable homes. Prefabrication technology has proven to be cost-effective, efficient, fast, and accurate. The construction industry is often plagued by limited cash flow and increasing debts. In such scenarios, being able to complete projects early can save interests cost which can be passed on to the customers. Prefabrication technology can help build hospitals, hotels, portable classrooms, etc, at a faster rate than conventional methods coupled with a longer shelf life.
Advantages Of Prefabricated Homes
Prefabricated or prefab homes help to save on water usage, and electricity, making them highly energy-efficient. They also have the added advantage of customization at any time. A minimal amount of investment is required for prefabrication construction maintenance. Though cities like Bangalore have openly wholeheartedly embraced the concept of prefabrication, other parts of India are still reluctant to welcome the idea due to the lack of availability of suitable land for construction and the necessity to acquire various government permissions.
In the case of prefabrication constructions, the wall panels are made inside a factory. Compared to structures that are built traditionally, prefabrication technology greatly reduced the construction period. Prefab constructions also help reduce structural deviations such as cracking of walls, leakage issues, other quality issues, etc.
Some of the issues that may arise with implementing prefabrication construction techniques include difficulties in site inspection, upfront payment to the manufacturer, finding land for construction, etc. With careful consideration and research, such mishaps can be avoided.
Cost Of Prefab Homes
Prefab construction is very cost-effective as it reduces material cost, water consumption, construction cost, and labour cost, significantly. Compared to conventional construction techniques, offsite construction cuts delivery times by 50 per cent and project costs by 30 per cent. India’s construction industry faces a myriad of issues such as increased raw material prices, wastage, shortage of skilled labour, longer gestation periods, etc. Implementing offsite construction methodologies can help developers in receiving various benefits from the timely construction of projects. When there is greater usage of the system, prefabrication technologies prove to be the most cost-effective. In simple terms, wherever mass construction of campus or building projects are needed, prefabrication construction techniques prove to be the most effective.
Factors That Determine The Cost Of Prefab Homes
The cost of prefab homes varies depending upon the factors considered, mainly the size of the home to be built, the design of the home, etc. Here let’s look at some of the major factors in detail.
1. Location
Whenever the conversation is regarding real estate or houses, location is one of the biggest concerns. It is a matter of great concern where you decide to build your house. Building a home in a city varies greatly in cost compared to building a home on the outskirts of the city. Additional costs may apply based on the nature of the location such as permit costs, transportation costs, excavation costs, land development, sales tax, etc.
2. Size
Once you have reached an agreement regarding the per square foot size, it becomes easier to determine the overall cost of the house based on the size. It’s just purely mathematical, Price per square foot multiplied by the square footage that you plan on. The important question that needs to be considered is how much square footage is enough for you. Whether you need to go according to the standards, or maybe less or more?.
3. Design
Base prices of prefabricated homes are fairly the same all over India. The price range differentiation is mainly brought by the change in the design. It is to be noted that based on the desired customizations, the price of the prefabricated homes climbs drastically. For example, plumbing systems, utility hookups for electrical pieces of equipment, etc, will incur additional costs. Also, additional enhancements such as custom countertops, custom flooring, etc, will increase your total cost of ownership. If you need additional luxury, then the cost of the final product may increase accordingly.
