There is a clear housing shortage in Kenya especially for affordable housing. Majority of the houses being constructed are targeted at middle-income to high-income earners due to their relatively high sales price. It is important that more affordable houses are constructed so as to cater for low-income earners, who compose majority of the population.
The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the viability of prefabricated construction as a means of providing affordable housing. Specifically, using the same four-bedroomed maisonette, the study compared the costs of construction using conventional methods to the costs of prefabricated construction. It also compared the time prefabricated construction takes to the time conventional construction methods take.
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) panels were selected as the main material for prefabrication due to their light weight, fire resistance, ease of manufacture and presence of several manufacturers in the country. EPS is a thermoplastic material manufactured from styrene monomer, using a polymerization process which produces translucent spherical beads of polystyrene.
Quantitative research methods were applied in the study. Secondary data was collected from sources such as documents and price lists while primary data was collected through conducting interviews and making observations. The data was analysed and presented in form of bills of quantities which highlighted the different costs and work schedules that showed the time difference for the different construction methods.
It was found that construction using EPS panels saved both time and money by a significant margin. Cost savings arise from the lower cost of EPS as compared to concrete and the need for fewer structural members (beams and columns). Time savings arise from the fact that less time is required for curing in prefabricated construction and the walls also take shorter time to be put up.
Prefabricated construction is therefore a viable alternative to conventional construction and could help solve the shortage of affordable housing in Kenya. The government, being the most significant stakeholder in the construction industry, should be on the forefront of promoting the use of prefabricated construction. Furthermore, other materials and methods of prefabrication exist that can be investigated for their feasibility for use in the Kenyan construction industry.