Cottage Country Trends to Watch: Prefabricated Cabins 

Many Canadians have the common dream of owning a little slice of paradise that they can retreat to over the warm summer months. However, purchasing a turn-key cabin or building on a newly purchased lot can be expensive and out of reach, leaving room for alternatives in the market.  

A prefabricated cabin is a structure that is manufactured off-site and shipped to its final location. They can built as a whole or in sections, depending on the owner's requirements. Prefabs have been a popular choice in the past for guest cottages in a private setting or for professional hunting and fishing outfits to utilize as space for their customers to stay, and the trend is only growing. Now,  many Prefab Cabin manufacturers are marketing these structures as an option for main cottage living. Some of the main benefits include:  

Lower Cost: Prefabricated Cabins come in a wide range of costs, with some as low as 7000 dollars, to highly customized options upwards of 300,000 dollars, providing options for all income levels.  

Durability:Prefab and modular cabins are known for being durable. Factory-made cabins receive multiple inspections during every step of the manufacturing process to ensure they adhere to codes and regulations. In comparison, traditional buildstypically only receive one inspection, increasing the likelihood of missing critical risks.  

Energy Efficiency: Many of today's prefab cabins specifically offer sustainable and energy-efficient materials and features such as, Energy Star-certified appliances, tankless water heaters, and solar panels. Features that are not only kind to the environment, but also can save owners money in the long run.  

While there are some cons to prefab cabins, such as less room for customization, and the potential for hidden costs like the potential of needing to arrange your own utility connections, for many they are an option that allows them a chance at an otherwise expensive, hard-to-obtain lifestyle – making them a trend to watch.