As Western Australia’s housing struggles continue, creative approaches to meet housing needs are becoming more commonplace. Among the choices, the steel frame kit home continues to be a popular option.
Is a DIY Kit Home For Me?
Kit homes are a type of prefabricated home where the components are delivered in pieces to your building site. Because your home arrives in a number of pieces, the kit home is often compared to a huge jigsaw puzzle where a house is your reward. When your home comes, you need to know whether you are hiring a contractor or building the home on your own.
A kit home might be the right choice for you if you enjoy hands-on projects and have some construction knowledge, as it allows you to be directly involved in the building process. You’ll need to decide whether you’re comfortable assembling the home yourself or if you’d prefer to hire a contractor. Kit homes are ideal for those looking for a cost-effective and customizable housing option, as they offer flexibility in design and the satisfaction of constructing your own home. If you like the idea of a “huge jigsaw puzzle” where your efforts result in a fully-built house, a kit home could be a great fit.
Reasons Why You Should Consider a Kit Home
- Speed of Construction– There is no shortage of stories about people building a home who experience significant delays in completion. When you opt for a kit home, you are on track for the timely completion of your dwelling. Unlike custom-built homes, kit homes are created for construction efficiency. Whether you are working on a DIY home or if you are working with professionals, you have a head start because of the various completed steps in your kit home.
- Economically Sound Choice– The significantly lower price of kit homes has been a selling point for decades. You can expect no unpleasant surprises in the cost of your house because the listed price for a kit home is what you can expect to pay unless you request changes or upgrades. The fact that many larger home components like the Wall Frames and Roof Trusses are prefabricated and ready for assembly on site. This reduces the costs incurred if you hire workers to assist with various aspects of your kit home.
- Quality of the Product– When you work with Steel Frames WA, you can relax knowing that your pieces from us will hold up for decades. This is because of our commitment to bringing our customers the best products available anywhere. You can feel secure in your purchase because we stand behind our products; your satisfaction is our top priority. Additionally, the components of your kit home are standardised and will create a uniform finished product. You are not subject to the potential for varying levels of skill and quality found in traditional custom-built homes.
- Design Flexibility– There is a typical mistaken belief that kit homes offer little or no customisation. Our customers have a wide range of design choices and the ability to customise your house as you see fit. Alternatively, you are able to start from scratch and work with an expert to create your ideal home.
- Eco-Friendly– A vast number of kit homes are made from fully or partially recyclable materials. The steel used in building the frames is 100% recyclable, and recycling does not damage the steel’s quality.
Building a kit home means that components are at least partially assembled. This reduces waste prepping materials and means less energy for delivering the pieces by making fewer trips to the job site.
Is Constructing a Kit Home Difficult?
There is no definitive answer to the question, “Is building your kit home difficult?” because of the number of variables. Kit homes are designed to be manageable for a homeowner to assemble without a professional contractor. That being said, unless you have some knowledge about homebuilding, you may find the process quite challenging.
There are several factors that influence the difficulty of constructing a kit home. These include,
The style of home
You will have a more straightforward build if you are assembling a simple, one-floor structure than if you have an elaborate home kit with two or more floors. Design complexity plays a significant role in the challenge of building your kit home.
Site preparation
Consider the property where you are constructing your house. If the land needs clearing, levelling, or a concrete slab placed, you may need professional assistance and heavy equipment for the project.
Finishing work
The scope of the finishing work on your kit home will depend on your chosen details. Intricate patterns and high-end fixtures may need a professional’s touch. The same is true if you want very specific materials used in finishing work.
If you are considering a kit home, Steel Frames WA can help. Our designers have a number of options to fit your needs, and our steel framing solutions for a starter kit home are second to none. Whether you are interested in a cosy retirement home or a large house for a growing family, we can help you find what you need.
Building a steel frame kit home is not out of reach for many people. We provide what you need to be successful, and you can contact us with concerns or questions about the build.
