Prefabrication and Modular Construction: Paving the Way Forward
If you’ve been working in construction for some time now, you’ve heard the term prefabrication thrown around before. The term itself refers to a general process in which various structural components are built and assembled off site, transported to the jobsite, and installed. In the past, construction professionals saw prefabrication as a cheap, low-end option that made mass-produced construction easier to pull off. But now the industry is coming around, and prefabrication is used frequently for a host of environmental and financial advantages. Follow along with us as we lay the groundwork for prefabrication below…
Waste Not
It’s no surprise that construction operations generate waste – quite a lot of it. Modular construction and prefabrication is changing this as we speak, and in ways people never envisioned. When project subassemblies are completed in a warehouse, waste and excess material can be scraped and immediately recycled into the manufacturing process in-house. No longer does a blemished or poorly spec’d item need a trip to the landfill to contribute to our growing trash problems when it doesn’t work onsite.
Another prefabrication benefit that supports the environment by reducing material waste is more accurate construction. Since subassemblies are completed in a controlled setting, these prefabricated sections have tighter tolerances, better joints, and an overall fit-and-finish that is a notch above. Forget about assembling complex pieces on site, knowing full well your finished project will have to account for some deviance in measurements. Precise, prefabricated pieces are the way to go, meaning your subassemblies fit better and are more energy efficient in the long run.
Save Money
Part of the theory behind prefabrication and modular construction holds that certain components and structures can be assembled in bulk, meaning manufacturers can optimize procurement at volume discounts, which saves the firm sourcing monies. Prefabricated pieces may seem like the initial custom or high-priced option, but they actually will save you time and money as the project nears completion.
Another huge savings that prefabrication and modular construction makes possible is time…which is just as good as money. No longer will you be waiting for unreliable subcontractors and ancillary staff to finish certain pieces of the project so you can work on a related part of the structure. Simply order the prefabricated assembly, prepare the jobsite to receive said piece, and install it – done. The labor required to finish an installation is drastically reduced, meaning you can focus efforts elsewhere and finish projects in far less time.
Less Disruption At The Site
Construction jobsites can be really dangerous, busy places. You have human collateral laboring all over the place, trucks constantly pulling in and out, heavy machinery blasting away at every turn. As the head of the project, you also have to manage equipment and materials deliveries, planning the logistics of where raw materials, sub assemblies, and specialty equipment needs to sit before final installation. It can get to be a headache…
Long story short – jobsites are a mess. Prefabrication and modular construction are changing this, while creating more productive jobsites in the process. Since components are assembled in a remote factory, there’s less equipment and materials deliveries to the jobsite. Disruptions and distractions are reduced to nearly zero, as pieces show up onsite ready for install. No more managing stockpiles, enduring logistics nightmares, and having to put projects on hold to shuffle raw materials and equipment around the site.
Speed Kills
As a philosophy, prefabrication and modular construction is changing the landscape of how construction professionals see and plan projects. In the past, construction progress was largely conditional: to start on B, you had to finish A…to start C, you have to finish A and B. This process is slow, manual, and dependent on employee scheduling and availability, meaning your project can bottleneck in a hurry with one element holding the rest of the crew back. Modular construction and prefabrication is changing the game, cutting traditional on-site construction times in half.
Prefabrication and modular construction eliminates poor project planning, weather factors delaying installations, subcontractor and staff availability issues, and project bottlenecks that hold up work. When subassemblies are ready, they are placed in their final locations – no more juggling progress based on the rain, people on staff, or delays. These divergent construction philosophies also allow you to work on multiple pieces of the project at the same time, which in turn gives you the power to manage multiple builds at once – more projects, more revenue.
In conclusion, modular construction and prefabrication are paving the way forward in the construction industry. As we see these philosophies grow in popularity, construction companies are able to create high-quality, cost-effective, eco-friendly installations that can be finished in half the time. Ready for safer, cleaner, quieter, and more efficient jobsites? Give prefabrication and modular construction a shot.
About CSLS:
CSLS is the largest contractor licensing school in California with over 25 locations throughout the state. We have the highest success rate of any school – 99% of our students pass their exam on the first try, and that’s guaranteed or your money back.
Our teaching process prepares you in a step by step manner for everything you need to know to pass the law, business and trade portion of your exam. Our programs are designed for convenience. We have online programs, home study, crash-course and in-school options, making it easy and affordable for you to become a licensed contractor.
