Guidance · Updated on 10 October 2026
System, material and scope are not the same
One proposal may describe the structure, another the external walls and another a manufacturing process. Labels such as concrete, block or prefabricated therefore do not on their own explain what the entire house will be like.
Ask for the structure, façade, roof, installations and finishes to be explained. The solution and its feasibility must be defined with the project's technical advisers and the company carrying out the work.
| Family | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Traditional construction | How structure, external walls and coordination of trades are handled. |
| Prefabrication and industrialisation | What is manufactured off-site and what is built on-site. |
| Concrete | Whether the proposal covers structure, panels or external walls. |
| Clay blocks or aerated concrete | The role of the blocks within the project. |
| Wood or light-gauge steel | Which complete system is proposed and which company will build it. |
Which system is cheaper?
You cannot decide by comparing only the advertised price per square metre. Scope, transport, foundations, access and finishes may be treated differently in each offer.
Request proposals for the same floor area, performance and quality levels. Ask for included work, taxes and items to be contracted separately to be distinguished. The platform's calculator does not compare verified prices by construction system.
Questions that help you choose
Ask about the company's experience with your planned system and request references for comparable houses. Clarify who develops the project details and who coordinates the construction as a whole.
The timeframe should cover the entire agreed scope. If a quick assembly phase is advertised, ask what happens before and after that assembly.
- Architectural project and planned performance.
- Foundations and plot conditions.
- Transport, access and assembly equipment.
- Installations, finishes and commissioning.
- Exclusions, phases and responsibilities.
Traditional construction: brick by brick
Brick or block walls and enclosures built on-site. Depending on the design, the structure may be concrete, steel or masonry. A brick facade does not mean the entire structure is brick.
Timber-frame houses
Light timber framing, glulam or cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. Ask how moisture, fire, insulation and maintenance are addressed: each system needs its own design and a specialist company.
Steel-frame houses
Metal structures or light steel framing. The quote should specify the enclosure, insulation, corrosion protection and fire performance.
Modular houses and hybrid systems
Modules manufactured off-site or combinations of materials, such as timber and concrete. Modular describes the process, not one material. Check transport, assembly, foundations and utility connections.