Should you’ve by no means heard of them, prefabricated houses – usually often called prefab houses – are houses which might be constructed off-site after which transported and assembled at their closing vacation spot.
A lot of these houses are usually cheaper and quicker to assemble than conventional constructing strategies as builders don’t must spend as a lot time on-site constructing the home from scratch.
Despite their reasonably priced worth, prefab houses are literally pretty sturdy and are a protected and reasonably priced various to conventional brick and mortar houses.
The historical past of prefab houses within the UK
Picture supply: Le_Deluge
Following the housing scarcity within the UK after the Second World Struggle, then-prime minister Winston Churchill made prefabricated houses a significant a part of the push to construct new houses shortly and affordably.
It was thought the Blitz had prompted roughly 450,000 houses to be both utterly destroyed or uninhabitable. Consequently, the Housing (Temporary Accommodation) Act 1944 was handed to assist clear up this challenge. Churchill deliberate to construct 500,000 prefab houses, every of which had a lifespan of as much as 10 years.
Or so it was thought. Despite their proposed 10-year lifespan, various prefabricated houses from the Forties are nonetheless standing at present. That is testomony to the sturdy design and building of prefab houses.
Not solely this, however the prefabricated houses constructed within the UK after the Second World Struggle have been removed from missing. In truth, they included various improvements that made them appear positively luxurious by the interval’s requirements.
Submit-Second World Struggle prefab improvements
The Ministry of Works, the federal government division in control of the housing undertaking, created various improvements to the house. Maybe probably the most notable of those was what they known as the “service unit” within the prefab residence, which was the place the kitchen and toilet have been positioned back-to-back. This meant all plumbing was in the identical place so was very straightforward to put in.
The service unit additionally included various gadgets we take as a right now, however have been a luxurious within the Forties. This features a again boiler for central heating and scorching water, in addition to a built-in oven, fridge and water heater. These improvements have been truly forward of their time, with most conventional residential houses nonetheless relying on an outdoor lavatory and a coal hearth with which to warmth water.
Not solely have been the houses filled with improvements, however their location was additionally one thing of a luxurious. Many individuals who had been affected by the Blitz have been used to cramped metropolis situations, however numerous the brand new houses have been developed subsequent to inexperienced belts and parks. This was to assist pace up building, nevertheless it had the additional advantage of giving the residents a style of rural life.
What are prefabricated houses constructed from?
Picture supply: Adobe Inventory
These houses have been made out of various completely different supplies. This included timber-framed designs and even aluminium, which was made out of surplus plane supplies.
Sadly, it was discovered that British prefabs have been truly costlier to assemble than conventional brick and mortar homes regardless of cautious analysis into America’s success for maintaining prices low whereas producing prefab houses.
And because the UK financial system started to recuperate, the price of manufacture rose. This led to the development of prefab houses drawing to an in depth.
As an alternative, the federal government turned to precast bolstered concrete (PRC) houses. These have been made out of concrete panels and bolstered with metal and have been fast to assemble and simpler to construct. Like prefabs, they have been made in a manufacturing facility, however they’d a for much longer lifespan of 60 years.
What are the issues with prefabricated houses?
Picture supply: Adobe Inventory
As talked about above, many prefab houses survived lengthy after their proposed 10-year lifespan. Nonetheless, many prefab houses have been constructed with previous supplies and even asbestos, and plenty of have rust and decay points, and have needed to be up to date to satisfy at present’s requirements.
Consequently, many native councils select to take away prefab homes utterly in favour of newer housing developments. The variety of prefab houses has halved every year since 2000. Regardless of this, many residents nonetheless need to save their houses from demolition. Sadly, this appears to be a dropping battle for the time being.
For instance, the Excalibur Estate in Catford, Lewisham, was made up of 187 wooden-framed bungalows and a flat-roofed church. Regardless of residents making an attempt to avoid wasting all of the houses, stress from the council meant solely six of the properties will stay and shall be added as grade 2 listed properties.
Many houses are actually being demolished in favour of newer builds, with just a few examples of prefab houses being lifted from their web site and displayed in museums.
Trendy prefab houses: are they making a comeback?
Though the post-WWII houses are structurally unsound by at present’s requirements, trendy prefab houses appear to be making a comeback – with many updates to make sure they’re appropriate to be used. These are “factory-made” houses, however are made to run effectively and to satisfy the security requirements we comply with at present.
Taken with uncommon houses? Read our blog on 3D-printed properties.
Are prefab houses sturdy?
There are quite a lot of advantages to purchasing a prefabricated residence, together with their uncommon options and worth for cash. Regardless of what many imagine, modular houses – particularly extra trendy properties and post-war prefabs which have been up to date to satisfy at present’s well being and security legal guidelines – have a excessive normal of building and are constructed for longevity as a lot as brick-built homes.
They’re made out of supplies that may stand up to put on and tear and all the weather houses face within the UK.
Are you able to get a mortgage on a prefab home?
You need to be capable of get a typical residential mortgage on a prefab home, nevertheless it’s doubtless the property shall be seen as a non-standard building. This implies high-street lenders might not give you a mortgage so you will want to go to a specialist lender.
On the lookout for prefab residence insurance coverage?
Though prefabricated houses are available all sizes and shapes and their trendy equivalents are reportedly far safer than the post-war prefab housing, some owners nonetheless report points with securing reasonably priced prefab home insurance.
Many insurers imagine prefabricated homes have non-standard dangers. Consequently, some insurers even refuse to insure these homes – or they hike up premiums.
We cowl a variety of prefab and modular houses. This contains self-built houses, listed buildings, post-war properties and trendy package houses. Name 0333 270 3569 for a quote or book a callback at a time that fits you.
