Services

Will a prefabrication approach work for your site? We will test this for you by putting together a very simple, conceptual block plan based on your early design thoughts, features of your site and some fundamental prefabrication principles. We then assess the opportunities and risks of your site, conduct a review of existing services (electrical, water, waste, etc.), explore how modules can be delivered and installed on your site and provide preliminary cost estimates for the build based on square metre rates. We go into a lot of detail and maintain complete transparency over all the risks and benefits so you can decide if you are comfortable to continue down the prefabrication path. This service is open to anyone considering this method of construction for their single or double-storey project.

Are you already working with your favourite architect but want them to consider prefabrication principles in a design they are creating for you? BlokHuis will consult with like-minded architects to help them work through some of the nuances of prefabrication. It can be a bit of a mind field, but we can help translate the process.

This is aimed more towards architects and design professionals who want to start considering prefabrication as an option in their projects. Register your interest in one of our seminars by filling in the EOI form under “Education” in our menu.

Once we have completed a Feasibility Study for your project and you are more familiar with a prefabrication approach, we will suggest that a survey of your site is completed. We also start talking with you about what you are planning. Using tracing paper, some digital modelling or some quick 3D renders, we will sketch out some first thoughts. We will check in with you when we feel we have something that works to make sure we are on the right track. Finally, we will always do a quick viability check to make sure your design as using prefabrication methods is still possible for your brief and your budget. At this point, you can either take your Concept Design to your preferred prefabrication supplier for pricing and they can take it on from there, or you can continue developing your design with BlokHuis until it is detailed as you want it.

If you are happy with where your Concept Design is heading, the next step would be to make sure that the local council is on board with the design. We will check local and state requirements for the design and incorporate them into a set of drawings that can be used for a Planning Approval, which you can submit or we can submit on your behalf. We suggest putting a hold on the project until approval is granted. Once approval is received, we will develop architectural and services (electrical, plumbing and air conditioning) drawings to a level sufficient for accurate quoting by a local prefabrication supplier. Architectural and services drawings developed for pricing would include preliminary input from our Structural Engineering, Energy Efficiency and Compliance Consultant partners.

We can’t provide these services ourselves, but we know the right people to use who have specific experience in the prefabrication industry. These are necessary services when building your home to make sure that it meets sustainability targets and that it is compliant. Final reports for Building Permit Applications will be done by your selected prefabrication supplier down the track, however, the architectural and services drawings that we prepare for pricing will include any preliminary feedback we receive from our engineering and compliance consultants. This way, we know that the design is being priced appropriately.

In our past life, we certainly knew how to put together a solid package of construction drawings for fabrication. These days, it makes sense to leave this to the prefabrication supplier that you choose to work with. Once you get to this point, we are happy to stay in the picture and do what we do best - checking the construction drawings and visiting the manufacturing yard to make sure they are building what you want. The supplier will look after the engineering, final compliance reports and Building Permit applications.

Sometimes you need a little more help to visualise your project (or show it off to your friends and family). 3D digital renders or “walk-throughs” are a great way to do this. Although we can provide some basic 3D images through our drafting software, we can arrange more impressive imagery through our 3D visualisation contacts.