CHAPTER 10: PRADU, STEEL-FRAME HOMES, AND THE DIY SELF-BUILD REVOLUTION
With the introduction of steel-frame affordable housing, more and more people today are choosing to build their own home. By that, we mean adopting a hands-on approach to the construction process as opposed to supervising a team of construction professionals. While there have always been a small minority of people who build their own home, they tend to have very competent DIY skills and a lot of knowledge, having invariably worked at one time or another in the construction industry. Why self-build is becoming such a popular option Today, however, the landscape has changed from 30 years ago, and there are four principal reasons for this revolution in the self-build community. Rising property prices First, property prices have risen to the extent where, for many, it is just too expensive to buy a property that meets all their needs. This has inspired many individuals to explore the possibility of building their own property as a less costly alternative. There is a reason why ADUs are also referred to as affordable housing: because they allow more and more people to become homeowners who, under most circumstances, can only afford to waste money on rent. The arrival of steel-frame skeletons Second, there is the arrival of the steel-frame home. Thanks to developing technology and the massive progress made in terms of production technology, it is now possible to buy a steel frame, or skeleton, for any number of pre-designed residential properties. For example, at FrameUpNow we have multiple designs for “ready-to-order” frames. Previously, one of the biggest hurdles to building your own property was having the necessary carpentry and brick- or block- laying skills, together with knowledge and experience to build the frame of the property, that part to which everything else is attached—e.g., the roof, the walls, internal partitions, and flooring. Today, these steel skeletons come ready for assembly along with clear drawings and precise instructions, enabling anyone with competent DIY skills to assemble a steel skeleton. Better still, with the creation of a global network of manufacturing outlets where the parts for the
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