Prefab homes in Brisbane, and what that word buys you.
Four different products get sold under the same word. They are not the same thing. The gap between the cheapest and what we build is roughly $100,000 and a Class 1a certificate.
Four things people mean by prefab.
If you are comparing quotes, this is the table that matters. Two of these are not permanent dwellings.
| What it is | What turns up |
|---|---|
| Kit or flat pack | A pile of parts on a truck. You or your builder assemble it. The cheapest headline number and the longest path to liveable, because the finish, the trades and the compliance are still yours to organise. |
| Transportable or relocatable | Built elsewhere and moved in one piece, often to a standard below permanent residential. Frequently not certified Class 1a, which is what causes the finance and valuation problems later. |
| Container conversion | A shipping container cut and lined. You inherit its dimensions, its thermal behaviour and a lot of steel where you wanted insulation. Councils treat them inconsistently. |
| Modular, what we build | A complete home built in our factory to residential standards, craned onto footings, connected and finished. Certified Class 1a. Architect-designed, and it holds its value as living space because a valuer can count it as living space. |
We are not against the other three. They suit different jobs and different budgets. But they are not interchangeable, and the quote that looks $60,000 cheaper is usually cheaper because it stops well short of a finished home.
It turns up finished.
The module is built inside at Laceys Creek while your site work happens in Brisbane. Frame, cladding, roof, windows, doors, kitchen, bathroom, electrical and plumbing are done before it leaves. That is the advantage of building off site, and it is why weather stops mattering.
On delivery day it is craned onto prepared footings and connected to services. A 3.4m wide module travels as a standard load. The 4.0m series needs a pilot vehicle, which is a cost worth knowing about before you fall in love with a floor plan. In tight Brisbane streets the crane and traffic control are usually the biggest single line in site costs, and we quote that against your actual address rather than an average.
Walls are either structural insulated panels or light gauge steel frame, depending on the job. Roof is a 5 degree skillion with raked ceilings throughout, including the bathroom. The 3.4m series runs 3000mm at the high side and 2650mm at the low.
What it costs, before your site.
Complete dwelling, inc GST. Site costs are quoted separately against your address because they are the part that varies.
| Model | Size | GFA | Beds | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact 4.8 | 4.8 × 3.4m | 16.3sqm | Office or gym | $99,900 |
| Studio 6.0 | 6.0 × 3.4m | 20.4sqm | 0–1 | $109,900 |
| Standard 8.4 | 8.4 × 3.4m | 28.6sqm | 1 | $139,900 |
| Wide 8.4 | 8.4 × 4.0m | 33.6sqm | 1 | $144,900 |
| Flex 10.8 | 10.8 × 4.0m | 43.2sqm | 1–2 | $169,900 |
| Family 13.5 | 13.5 × 4.0m | 54.0sqm | 2 | $199,900 |
Every model here fits under Brisbane’s 80sqm secondary dwelling cap. See what a granny flat costs in Queensland for the site cost side, and modular home costs for every number on one page.
The Brisbane specifics.
Overlays are what change the picture in Brisbane. Traditional building character across the pre-1947 suburbs, plus heritage, wetland and flood mapping. An overlay does not rule it out, but it can move you onto the development application pathway. Full detail on the Brisbane council page.
What will it cost on your block?
The prices above are the module. Your block decides the rest. Send us the address and we will come back with what Brisbane allows on it, the site costs, and the model that fits.
Which model fits Brisbane.
Six models, two widths. The 3.4m series travels without a pilot vehicle. The 4.0m series needs one.
Prefab homes in Brisbane, answered.
What is the difference between a prefab home and a modular home?
How much does a prefab home cost in Brisbane?
Do prefab homes need council approval in Brisbane?
How long does a modular home take to build?
Can you get a loan on a modular home?
The detail behind the price.
- Granny flats in Brisbane: rules, sizes and costs
- Modular home costs, every number on the page
- What a granny flat costs in Queensland
- What is a secondary dwelling, and what is not
- How to finance a granny flat or modular home
- Crane delivery for modular buildings
- What the hardware chain kits leave out
- All councils and the granny flat hub
Start with the site, not the brochure.
A Site Check tells you what your land allows before you spend anything on design. Straight answer, your address, no obligation.