Is A Modular Or Prefab Cabin Right for you?
What is The Difference Between Modular and Prefab Cabin?
Modular and prefab cabins offer an enticing blend of convenience, lower costs, faster construction, and sustainability.
These cabins are essentially customizable rooms, crafted off-site before being transported and assembled on your plot of land. This streamlined process ensures precision and efficiency, minimizing construction waste, time, and costs without sacrificing quality.
A modular home will come in semi-complete sections that are mostly complete upon arrival. These sections (modules) are connected on-site and only require minor finishes. On the other hand, a prefab home is framed and flat packed. Upon arrival, the frame members are constructed on-final location. A modular will have most of its fixtures in prepositioned in place while a prefab has more components that are completed at the job site.
Modular cabins offer many advantages over site-built homes. The savings are usually 15-20% less than a traditionally built cabin. The biggest downside is that the modules need certain clearances to be transported to the home site. Because prefab homes come in smaller sections, land access can have more constraints.
Depending on the budget, single-story homes can be built for as low as $225 per square foot (excludes land costs). Those with a higher budget can fully customize the cabin to the most luxurious chalet standards. However, it’s not just about aesthetics and reducing costs —they’re also champions of sustainability. Many are built using eco-friendly materials and practices, minimizing environmental impact without compromising on style, build quality or functionality.
Pros of Prefab and Modular Cabins
What Are The Steps To Building A Prefab Cabin?
Most of the steps to building a prefab or modular cabin are the same as a site-built log cabin. It begins with a dream that moves to a concept. From there a budget is established that will help shape the final home. Why build with a prefab or modular? The advantages are plenty. The only reason to build a site built vs modular is if the home site has limited access. Areas with restricted access points may pose challenges. Sometimes these can be worked around, other times, a site-built home may be the only option.
Pros and Cons of Off-Site Construction
1. Establish Your Vision & Budget
Like any other major purchase, you need to have a budget before you begin shopping or designing the cabin. If you need financing, the first step is a knowledgeable lender. Your lender will discuss your downpayment options, and how to buy land if you don’t already own the land. Regardless if the cabin style is modern, pine, oak, or cedar log cabin, financing a modular or prefab construction requires specialized knowledge. Once you have your funds secure, the next step is to select a home that fits into the budget. Your budget should be allocated for your hard and soft construction costs. Soft costs are land, appraisal, utility connections, plans and permits, contingencies, project management, and other predevelopment costs. Hard costs are your actual materials and construction expenses. Because each cabin is a unique home, your design is the most important soft cost and your land is the most important hard cost.
Important Notes
2. Secure the Land & Design your Cabin
Once you have your land selected, the next step is the design process. It’s important to select a cabin that integrates with the land and your budget. Once your floor plan, drafting (aka architecture) and your engineering (aka building plans and blueprints) are complete. I’ts now the best time to choose your materials selections. Items to consider are cabinetry and tile options, appliances and kitchen layout, bathroom fixtures, flooring, and features such as your fireplace(s), spa or pool, and garage.
Things to Consider
3. Apply for Permits
The permitting process can be a long, and frustrating experience. It’s important to note that while bureaucratic, the permitting process was designed with your safety in mind. The good news is that modular and prefab cabins benefit from an expedited permitting process. Pre-engineered cabins benefit from reduced engineering costs. Although the buildings are inspected and certified for building code at the factory, there is still permitting for the site plan, attached or detached structures such as decks, driveways, wells, solar, swimming pools, outdoor kitchens, or garages. Some municipalities may require fire department approval, clearing setbacks, etc. A standard submission will require at a minimum; civil and structural engineered plans, elevations, and certifications that the home meets applicable codes and measures.
Modular and Prefab Advantages Over Site-Built
4. Breaking Ground / Horizontal Construction
Now that your home is approved and ready to build, the next step is breaking ground. In this phase, the site is staked; the land is cleared, graded, and compacted; utilities are connected to the grid and placed on site; retaining walls and foundations are built; access is secured, and anything else you need to prepare for the building is completed. A word about safety. Construction sites can be hazardous places. Failure to follow the safety protocol may result in death. Check-in with the project manager and ask about current hazards. Be aware at all times, avoid trenches, wires, and wear appropriate shoes.
Things To Consider
5. Building The Cabin / Vertical Construction
Depending on your building type, the vertical process can be amazingly fast. Prefab construction where the building’s frame and other components are made off-site is much faster than any of the site-built structures. Modular is the fastest way to build a building. The difference in speed is dependent on how much of the cabin is ready before it is installed on the land. During vertical construction, the cabin structural, systems, and trim components are built and/or installed on-site. Any final plumbing or electrical connections are made. The roof and siding are trimmed out. Once your building frame is established and the utilities are connected, any remaining structures are completed. This is the stage where your home begins to feel complete. The last major stage of the vertical construction process is to complete the final masonry work. This will involve paving the driveway and finishing any walkways and any swimming pools or decks.
Things to Remember
6. Finishing Touches
Before the home is move-in ready, you would now install features like decking, landscaping, items like your hot tub our outdoor grill. At this stage, you will complete your final walkthrough and then undergo a deep clean. Once the deep clean is complete is the best time for the punch list final inspection. and now, your cabin is move-in ready.
Protip
7. Warranty / Service
We build quality cabins. Our best-in-class, 10-year craftsman warranty proves it! Whether you are buying our most affordable cabin or the most elaborate ski chalet, the exceptional construction is apparent. Solid wood cabinetry faces; natural materials like stone, iron, and real wood; slab or pier foundations; and thick structural columns and beams are all standard features.
Warranty Highlights
Conclusion
Building a cabin is a complex process. It is always best to make a pre-development plan before you begin. It can be self-managed for those adventurous and willing to take on the challenge. For those seeking to avoid stress and beginners mistakes, its best to work with a solid team.