Offsite Construction of Prefab Products Offer Efficiency, Added Benefits for Contractors

Offsite construction has grown in recent years due to the changing landscape of the construction industry.

By Metal-Era.

Building away from the construction site allows for more work to be done to the building itself while simultaneously getting other parts of the building finished. The more work that can be accomplished offsite, the more time can be saved on the project. As deadlines become shorter, budgets tighten, and the skilled labor pool continues to shrink, offsite construction will continue to be the answer to some of the issues that the construction industry is currently facing.

Brad Van Dam, Vice President of Sales at Metal-Era says, “We’ve witnessed a growing trend among roofing and sheet metal contractors over the past five years, who are regularly incorporating pre-manufactured roof edge into their business model, as a supplement to their own sheet metal shops. They’re finding it helps move them onto their next roofing project faster, optimizing their limited labor force, and customers are realizing tangible cost savings.”

Prefabricated products are engineered with the installer in mind. Being able to quickly install entire sections or pieces of a building helps contractors finish projects faster. Prefabricated products come in a variety of price points based on many factors, including whether standard product options are chosen or if custom fabrication is needed. Prefabricated products allow contractors to take on more jobs as well as save on labor costs. The time and cost savings related to offsite and prefabricated construction helps improve margins. A contractor might pay more up front for a prefabricated product but save far more in labor expenses on a project, achieving greater profits.

Van Dam continues, “Prefabrication and modular construction is not new, it’s logically expanding to address labor shortages. Enabling contractors to reduce their inventory, increase cash flow, and shift labor to installation and supervisory roles from fabrication is a substantial benefit that many owners consider. Combine these financial benefits with the assurance of knowing this critical component will meet building codes and local wind uplift requirements, and it is very rewarding for all stakeholders.”

Quality control and consistency are more reasons offsite construction is gaining popularity. When products are fabricated in a controlled environment with multiple quality check points, products are more likely to arrive to the jobsite ready to install without defects. On site construction is reliant on the schedule and expertise of the contractors working on the project.

“We work alongside contractors every day who supply sheet metal products yet integrate pre-manufactured roof edge into their lineup because it keeps projects on schedule and allows them to easily meet building codes and install the edge faster with a smaller crew,” adds Van Dam. “Plus, pre-manufactured roof edge offers contractors more options that are not easily shop fabricated.”

Currently, only one person is entering the construction workforce for every five retiring. This skilled labor shortage will continue to drive construction cost up while diminishing the amount of experience in the work force. With prefabrication, experienced crews work with precise equipment to make a quality and consistent product, every time. Many prefabricated products are designed and tested to meet rigorous building codes, offer more robust warranties than shop fabricated products, deliver greater long-term performance, and simplify the installation process.

As innovations in technology continue to shape the construction industry, these advancements will expedite the construction process and bring more consistency in building products resulting in greater longevity. These innovations and process improvements will also be instrumental in alleviating some of the difficulties brought on by the labor shortage, while still increasing profitability. Future success and profitability in the construction industry will come from growing integration of prefabricated components, increased collaboration and discussion, and openness to adapt.

Learn more about Metal-Era’s solutions at www.metal-era.com.

Editor’s note: this article first appeared on Metal-Era’s blog and can be viewed here.