Prefabricated housing can be used as an extra additional office space or bedsitter and placed within an existing compound. This can be rented out for extra income or used when a family unit increases in size.
Shipping containers vs Prefabs.
Current options for such additional spaces in Kenya are from use of shipping containers. These usually have a disadvantage in that they are more costly since additional cost to insulate their inside , cut windows and doors and hire forklifts and trailers to transport them push their costs to around kes 400,000 for a 20 ft container.
There is also the additional risk to health since most of the used shipping containers get decommissioned after transporting harmful substances and chemicals.
A slightly larger prefab house compare to the 20 ft container costs approx. kes 350,000. This is well insulated from vagaries of weather through the steel sandwich roof and wall panels.
Bedsitter/Office room prefab portability.
The prefab room , at a cost of kes 350,000 has the added benefit of being easily dismantled and moved to another location. This is especially beneficial for those who want to increase liveable space within leased or rented properties.
With such a unit, someone can simply rent or lease space in their desired neighbourhood and set up the room to be used as office, bedsitter or store, depending on their space requirement.
With the ever increasing cost of land in Kenya, such an option will enable people to save alot as opposed to buying expensive land since lease/rent of vacant land is quite low compared to sale price. For example, an acre of land in Karen is approximately kes 60 million. The same acre rents for kes 100,000 or less per month, hence much more profitable to rent/lease the land than to buy.
For purchase inquiries of steel prefab houses, contact info@a4architect.com.
Arch. Francis Gichuhi Kamau,
0721410684.
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