Prefab vs. Traditional Construction: The Real Cost Breakdown
"Is prefab cheaper than building on-site?" It's the first question almost every customer asks us. The honest answer is: it depends — but rarely in the ways people expect.
What's cheaper about prefab
Labour efficiency is the biggest win. Building in a climate-controlled facility, with the same teams doing the same tasks across many units, eliminates the rework, weather delays, and trade scheduling overhead that drives traditional builds.
What costs the same
Materials cost roughly the same in either model. A nice tile is a nice tile.
What can actually cost more
Site work, crane logistics, and transport — none of which exist on a traditional build. For some properties these are minor; for hard-to-reach lots they can add tens of thousands.
The honest summary
For most BC properties, a prefab ADU lands at or modestly below the equivalent on-site build — with a far shorter on-site disruption. The savings show up most clearly in time and predictability, not just dollars.