Frequently Asked Questions
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Steel framing offers multiple advantages over wood—particularly in British Columbia’s environment and for modern housing needs:
Steel doesn’t warp, twist, rot, or shrink over time.
It is termite-resistant, mold-resistant, and noncombustible, which enhances durability and potentially reduces fire risk.
Greater precision: factory production ensures dimensional accuracy, minimizing on-site errors and fitting issues.
Strength-to-weight ratio is superior: steel can carry loads while using less material mass.
Longevity, lower maintenance, and recyclability: steel is one of the most recycled materials and can be reused at end of life.
That said, steel framing also has trade-offs (e.g. potential for thermal bridging, higher initial cost) — see below in “Pros & Cons”.
Manufactured home
Built in a factory under a national standard (in Canada, e.g. CSA Z240/Z241/A277) on a permanent steel chassis or frame; transported to site.
ADUs, laneway homes, standalone homes
Modular home
Built in modules (sections) in a factory, then transported and assembled on a foundation on-site
Full-sized houses, multi-unit dwellings
Prefab / Prefabricated
Broad umbrella term: portions (walls, roof, modules) are prefabricated off-site
Panelized systems, volumetric modules, hybrid builds
Tiny home
Homes with a small footprint, often 100–400 sq ft (though definitions vary); can be built on wheels or fixed foundations
Guest homes, studios, minimalist dwellings
It depends on the quality and comparison of manufacturers, our homes are made from structural steel and built to higher standards than traditional housing. The cost savings come in the speed and efficiency of manufacturing, we can build effectively so you can usually go from 18-24 months construction to 4-6 months as well as a lot less invasive on-site construction. We build in BC and ship across Canada and USA so our modules are built for a variety of weather conditions including the PNW, since they are built in factory, they are properly sealed with zero moisture allowing for longer lifespans. You do require land or access to land which can be a barrier.
We manufacture, prefab and create modular housing construction in BC. If you have high standards of care and quality then these homes should last longer than their wood counterparts if properly maintained. We use structural steel, spray foam insulation and they are designed for Canadian winters across the continent with heat and AC so comfortable all year long. Keep close attention to how they are built from a structural stand point, what insulation standards are being maintained, are they built to withstand transportation (ie. we use BX cable throughout our homes so they will be no issues during transport). Make sure you're comparing apples to apples, it's hard to compare a wood built to steel built manufactured home, they both have pros and cons.