Prefabrication is undeniably beneficial in the long term for contractors, installer and site owners. However, some perceive prefabrication practices as difficult. Although the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, such apprehensions can deter contractors from making improvements to their processes. We’ve addressed some common concerns about prefabrication:
| Perception | Reality |
|---|---|
| Necessary parts are more expensive. | Prefabrication reduces the total cost of the project. |
| In most cases, the parts needed to prefabricate a component are more expensive than their traditional counterparts. | Labor is the single largest expense with most projects. Prefabricating decreases the time necessary for proper installation, ultimately saving the contractor money. |
| Installation demands additional training. | Hardware is designed to make the job easier. |
| Old methods may be slower, but contractors are more familiar with them. They do not want to compromise the quality of the job and do not have time for additional training. | Although some instruction may be necessary, prefabrication hardware is designed to be easier to use properly. In many cases, the hardware is so simple that assistants or apprentices can complete more work and leave high-level tasks to more experienced contractors |
| Speed compromises quality. | Inspection is easier. |
| When pieces are installed so quickly, contractors spend less time with each piece, increasing the likelihood an error would go undetected. | Although assembly and installation are much quicker, it does not compromise quality. In fact, when finished components are assembled before installation, inspectors can more easily view and interact with the product before it is mounted. |
| Moving prefabricated pieces to the job site is more complicated. | Fewer trips are necessary. |
| When pieces are complete, they demand more transportation costs than they would if shipped in pieces and assembled on the job site. | Although the finished components take up more space, fewer trips are needed to transport prefabricated components than individual pieces. |
Download the Introduction to Prefabrication white paper to learn more about how prefabrication can help your next project.