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The major difference between on-site homes and prefabricated homes is that on-site built homes are built entirely at the final location, whereas prefabricated homes are built first in a factory before being transported to the home’s final destination.

What works and what doesn’t work

On-Site Homes

On-site built homes have the definite “pros” that your home is constructed bit by bit on your property, with as many storeys as you like and from whatever materials. You could choose to have a double brick or stone-walled home, the only restriction with materials is cost. On-site homes, however; can be more costly than prefabricated homes. Additional costs such as custom ordered building materials, on-site contractors working longer construction times, plus delivery and transportation costs, compared to prefab home costs, is a lot greater.

Weather conditions, which can affect on-site built homes, can lengthen construction times during periods of unfavourable weather. Delays in product and material delivery, as well as labour availability, can also be contributing factors slowing the building process, however; on-site homes can be built on any terrain or location.

Prefabricated Homes

Prefabricated homes, as they are built in a factory, have shorter construction times so you can move into your home sooner. The factory shelters aspects of the building process so even in poor weather conditions, aspects of construction can still resume in the safety of the factory workshop. This factor allows hired labourers to get more work done sooner whilst also saving the customer labour hire hourly rates over the short approximate 8-10 week duration of the build, depending on your home design.

If two identical homes were built, one on-site and one in a factory, the prefabricated home would also be cheaper due to the fact that building materials are for one, bought in bulk. Prefabricated home builder’s ability to buy materials in bulk and re-use any leftover materials for another home saves them money thus making your home cheaper for you. Made to the same quality as on-site homes, prefabricated homes’ features of being cheaper and faster are definite “pros” for most home buyers, especially with today’s housing costs.

Prefabricated homes do have the additional costs, however; of needing to be transported to their final destinations. With this in mind, transportation and movability factors by truck, crane and in some cases boat, require the home modules, which the home is constructed in which are put together on-site, need to be under a particular weight for easy transportation. This weight consideration adds some caution as to what materials the home is constructed with. Prefabricated homes are generally built with solid steel sub-frames. Strong exterior cladding, which is tested and designed to withstand transportation, helps protect your home from the elements and all that Australia has to throw at it, like an on-site built home. As transportation is usually carried out by truck, the location the home is to be placed needs to be accessible by truck, thus; not suitable for steep gullies or narrow inclines.