A selection of prefabricated homes under 50k

Prefabricated homes are naturally cost-efficient, built to a high standard and eco-friendly, because they are built in a controlled factory environment, using standard pieces, that can be adapted to fit the needs, budget or style of different customers. There is an increasing range of prefab options in Europe, with a concentration in Latvia and Estonia, supplying the Scandinavian housing market.

The rising cost of land and construction materials, innovative production technologies, and increased awareness of climate change all contribute to the success of companies that create prefab or other factory-built houses, such as tiny houses on wheels. For this article, we’ve focused on homes with around 30m2 living space or more, though there are many options for smaller plots, with some beautiful buildings available at around 10-15m2 living space for 20K Euros.

Here we explore permanent prefab homes that can be built for under 50K Euros. They are all compact, incorporating clever internal layouts to maximise living space and storage. They all require minimal foundations, representing a considerable cost saving compared to standard construction, and they can all be relocated later. Some offer the possibility of modular addition ‘as the family grows’. In any case, they all offer the option of installing a neighbouring prefab neighbour as the landowner’s financial resource develops and another.

The cost of land varies enormously, and the cost of foundations depends mainly on the landscape too. Still, determined self-builders would be able to lay the foundations for these houses themselves. We’ve picked a few innovative models and companies to give you a deeper view of some key themes and styles on the market.

Nidus Condor 4M

Eco-focused high-standard low-cost home roughly rectangular with an apex roof.

The NIDUS Condor 4M costs 33,600 Euros, including VAT. It has two bedrooms and 72m2 living space. It is made in a factory in Brezoi, Romania, and is available for delivery across Europe.

NIDUS Home is a fast-growing start-up aiming to accelerate the realisation of sustainable prefabricated solutions for housing across Europe. They have two established ranges with various configuration options, including rectangular and T-shaped plans.

NIDUS is one of many companies from eastern europe offering a roughly container-shaped home with variations on two bedrooms and about 30-40m2. It is the dominant style in the European prefab market at this price range.

But NIDUS has a unique extra feature: It is insulated with straw, blown into the void between the wooden planks in the wall structure.

The NIDUS wall

The NIDUS wall construction is filled with Thermopay shredded and blown straw insulation, so their walls are twice as effective at keeping the heat (or cool) in than a typical masonry wall of the same thickness. This creates a massive reduction in energy consumption for heating (or cooling) and an enormous saving in energy bills.

Straw is combustible, but the fire resistance of the house is determined by the materials that cover the straw insulation, which is clay panels on the inside and heat-treated wood or laminated metallic sheets on the outside. Free straws burn well, but fire resistance increases when they are pressed together in bales, panels or a wall because oxygen availability is reduced. High silica content prevents the spread of fire because, as it begins to burn, a charcoal layer isolates the straws from the fire locality.

Another common concern about straw is about animals. Still, due to the large number of minerals and silicates in straw, it’s difficult to digest for most animals, apart from guinea pigs, horses and cows. The high density of the material in the wall makes it very difficult for potential rodents or other animals to penetrate the compressed straw. Polystyrene is easier to penetrate. NIDUS walls are covered in the factory with a layer of wood and then on-site with the clay panels inside and the heat-treated wood or laminated metallic sheets on the exterior.

nidushome.com

 

 

Suuna Bee House

Innovative shape and nature-inspired, sold more typically as a garden house, but room to be a standalone dwelling.

The Bee House has a unique honey-comb-inspired hexagon shape. It costs 27,420 Euros, including VAT. It’s made in Riga, Latvia, with one bedroom, one bathroom, and 36m2 of floor space.

A significant aspect of the design concept is that additional Bee Houses could be connected in future to create a larger structure or that your first Bee House can be an addition to an existing building, using one of the six sides to bring in a connecting corridor.

The wall panels are built in the factory, and the manufacturer points out that this product is well-suited for self-builders. It’s made with eco-friendly materials a wall-mounted HVAC system provides high-quality ventilation whilst efficiently retaining heat.

A concrete base is included in the standard package though a more complex timber version is available. An IKEA kitchen and sofa are also included in the standard package. The Bee House can be delivered anywhere in Europe.

 

Wooden Log Houses by Zaskov-Grup

Traditional Scandinavian-esque Beauty and the roomiest prefab for under 50K Euros.
https://www.laukinisrastas.lt/lang/en

Wooden is a log house with two bedrooms, one bathroom, and 81m2 of space. They have kits stored and ready for shipment and can be delivered in 3 weeks. It’s made with 33cm diameter mountain spruce wood logs, which are cut down precisely in winter to reduce pests in the timber. Wooden is remarkably roomy for the price, with two open spaces of 40m2 each.

The log kits are produced at a factory in Vilnius, Lithuania. Wooden costs 41K Euros, including VAT, leaving you a slightly tight 9K budget to build your foundations, source and fit windows, and cover the roof. Wooden and Zaskov-Grup represent a broader trend in prefabricated homes in this price range: Classic, cosy wild log homes, more traditionally associated with Scandinavia, though this is dominated by a new generation of laminated timber technology innovated in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Zaskov-Grup uses wild logs, which they point out makes your house absolutely unique.

Zaskov-Grup has previous project examples in Bulgaria, Slovakia and Ukraine. However, their kits can be delivered across Europe, for instance, to a previous chalet in Scotland, and even further afield, shipping a sauna project to Australia.

Though it looks distinctly Scandinavian, Zaskov-Grup uses Canadian cutting technology and standards. Selected logs are brought from the higher regions of the Carpathian Mountains and processed manually.

Alongside standard house models, they offer to produce bespoke furniture or structures other than houses, including saunas, restaurants and hotels. They offer an entire catalogue of interior and roof finish options.

Whilst a price is given for a basic log house, they say that to calculate the final cost of construction, you should visit their factory to discuss the project, after which they can give a final price for the required kit.

Additional extras include the windows and doors, roof coverings, and timber finishing.

In conclusion,

We’ve looked at three distinct prefab styles for under 50K Euros to uncover some industry trends: Rectangular container-like shapes, log cabins, and innovative shapes and configurations are all growing in popularity as people across Europe look for more affordable eco-friendly housing. Traditional materials such as timber and straw are a hotbed for manufacturing innovation. Meanwhile, tiny homes, with or without wheels, continue to gain traction.

 

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