What Are Pre-Built Walls?

Definition

• Pre-built walls are walls, or large wall panels, that are built off-site by an independent construction company and sold to a contractor for use on a specific construction project. They typically include lumber studs, window and door headers, and plywood exterior panels, which are ready for installation when they arrive at a construction site. Not all residential construction relies on pre-built walls, as builders can produce very similar walls on-site if they have access to the right materials and crew members.

Types

• Pre-built wall manufacturers offer many types of pre-built walls. These include walls specifically designed for homes, garages and sheds, as well as custom walls that have unique shapes and window openings. Some pre-built wall manufacturers only offer standard sizes, simplifying their construction process. Others specialize in unusual shapes for bold architectural designs that builders may not want to attempt themselves.

Benefits

• Builders use pre-built walls due to several advantages that they provide. Pre-built walls speed up the construction process. They also reduce labor costs by eliminating the need for a full framing crew to construct walls according to a set schedule, which may include the need for overtime pay. Using pre-built walls allows builders to arrange for the walls to arrive when they're needed, eliminating the requirement for storing and securing building materials at the construction site. Finally, pre-built walls reduce the amount of waste material that builders need to collect and dispose of, since the construction takes place elsewhere.

Considerations

• Pre-built walls are just one of the prefabricated components builders can use to their advantage. Pre-built roof panels and trusses can have the same effect on the speed of the construction project and the reduction of labor costs, allowing builders to submit lower bids and maintain reasonable profit margins. As a homeowner, your builder offers the same warranty for pre-built walls as for the rest of the home, which protects you from financial responsibility if the wall has problems due to an error on the manufacturer's part.