Reasons Why Prefabricated Houses Are Cheap
The main reasons why prefabricated houses are cheap include controllable costs, fast construction speed with low labor costs, simple structures with low design and construction difficulty, and significant advantages in certain countries.
Cost Control: The selection of building materials for prefabricated houses is relatively concentrated, with fewer types used. This allows for more favorable prices through bulk purchasing when procuring building materials, thereby reducing procurement costs. For example, some common prefabricated house structures may primarily use a few specific types of steel or concrete materials, which naturally have lower procurement costs compared to the various specifications and types of materials that may be used in ordinary houses.
Fast Construction Speed and Low Labor Cost Proportion: The construction period for prefabricated houses is significantly shortened, leading to a reduction in overall costs. Taking prefabricated houses in rural Henan as an example, a team of several workers can assemble a villa in 4 hours, and it takes only two days to complete a building. For expandable container houses, it takes one month for factory production, one month for transportation, and just one day for installation. In contrast, the construction process for ordinary houses is complex, involving foundation work, main structure construction, and interior decoration, which require a substantial amount of time and labor, with labor costs accounting for a large proportion of the total cost. The fast construction feature of prefabricated houses significantly reduces the proportion of labor costs in the total cost.
Relatively Simple Structure and Low Design and Construction Difficulty: The structural design of prefabricated houses is usually relatively simple, without the complex design and structural requirements of ordinary houses. This reduces the need for substantial professional expertise and labor during the design and construction processes, lowering the difficulty of design and construction. For example, some prefabricated houses adopt standardized modular designs, allowing for quick assembly of modules and reducing the complexity and uncertainty of on-site construction, thereby lowering costs.
Significant Advantages in European and American Countries: Taking the United States as an example, its construction industry is in decline, with a shortage of construction workers and high wages. Workers earn at least $200 a day, and those with better skills can earn $500 a day, and they do not work overtime. Building a house can easily cost over a million RMB in labor and material costs. In contrast, prefabricated houses produced in China have a significant price advantage and offer excellent cost-effectiveness.
