Best Prefab and Modular Chalets
Whether you are looking for the perfect ski house or just a mountain-inspired home, our selection of some of the best prefab and modular chalets should help expedite your search process. With both large and small, modern and rustic designs, there are a wide variety of homes to choose from. Furthermore, we have answered some of the most common questions surrounding building a prefab chalet: How much will it cost? How long will it take? And what is the difference between a prefab and a modular chalet? If you would like assistance building your own prefab chalet, speak with a member of our prefab concierge team.
Understanding Prefab and Modular Chalets
What is a prefab chalet? What is a modular chalet? And what’s the difference between the two?
A chalet-style house is characterized by design elements such as a triangular profile made up of steeply pitched roofs, exposed beams, and large windows. From a technical standpoint, a prefab chalet refers to any chalet that is built using prefabricated construction techniques. This includes modular construction, kit home building, panelized home construction, and manufactured construction.
Modular chalets are a subset of prefab construction where box-like module(s) are built off-site, shipped, then set, and finished at the final build site. So, there is very little difference between the two as both will have the design elements of a chalet.
How much does a prefab chalet home cost?
The chalets included in our list have turn-key costs ranging from $262,000 to $1,450,000. These estimates are based on the all-in costs to build each home, not including land. It is worth noting that there are both more affordable and higher-end, fully-custom prefab chalets beyond those that are included on our list, depending on your budget and preferences.
To determine what it will cost for your own prefab chalet, there are a number of factors to consider:
Land
Permitting fees
Site preparation - site assessment, excavation, utilities, foundation
Home cost - modules, panels, kit components from the builder
Delivery - many prefab companies serve large areas of the U.S., if not the whole country. It is worth inquiring if they have regional manufacturing facilities or if they ship materials from their headquarters, in which case, long-distance shipping costs can add-up
Installation/set - setting modules on a foundation & tying them together, or the assembly of the materials kit or panels
Finishes - depending on the company and your project’s needs, some modular homes can be delivered in a highly-finished state (around 90% complete). This means homes can arrive on-site complete with flooring, cabinetry, electrical, and plumbing; this requires little on-site work for the home to be move-in ready. Kit homes and panelized homes require significantly more on-site work to assemble and finish, increasing the local cost section of your budget
How long does it take to build a prefab or modular chalet?
Like other styles of prefab and modular homes, a prefab chalet can often be built quicker than a site-built home. While the exact timeline of your project will be determined by the length of the design/engineering process, permitting approvals, off-site build times, and on-site assembly & finishing, it is our experience that a prefab chalet can be move-in ready anywhere between 9-16 months.
Prefab and Modular Chalets For Sale
Mountainside by Davis Frame Company
Mountainside by Davis Frame Company - Best Prefab and Modular Chalet
The Mountainside by Davis Frame Company is a 3,220 square foot cottage that is built using either timber frame or panelized construction. With 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, the Mountainside is a large, mountain-style home that is well-suited for entertaining. Davis Frame Company’s home has interesting features such as vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Davis Frame Company is based in Claremont, New Hampshire, and works with buyers throughout the entire U.S. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building the Mountainside, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $1,450,000 to build the Mountainside chalet by Davis Frame Company, not including land.
Dakota by PrecisionCraft
Dakota by PrecisionCraft - Best Prefab and Modular Chalet
The Dakota by PrecisionCraft is a 2,421 square foot cottage that is built using timber frame structural shell kits which are assembled and finished on-site by a local builder. With 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, the Dakota is is a mid-sized chalet with options for complete customization. PrecisionCraft’s home has interesting features such as exposed, custom timber trusses and large windows.
PrecisionCraft is based in Meridian, Idaho, and can work with buyers throughout the entire United States. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a Dakota, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $1,210,000 to build the Dakota chalet by PrecisionCraft, not including land.
Chalet 3000 by Purcell Timber Frame Homes
Chalet 3000 by Purcell Timber Frame Homes - Best Prefab and Modular Chalet
The Chalet 3000 by Purcell Timber Frame Homes is a 3,000 square foot cottage that is built using a timber frame structural shell that is packaged, shipped, assembled, and finished on-site. With 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, the Chalet 3000 is a chalet-inspired timber frame home kit. Purcell Timber Frame Homes house has interesting features such as a covered deck, lofted ceilings, and a rustic aesthetic.
Purcell Timber Frame Homes is based in Nelson, B.C., and can work with buyers throughout Canada and the United States. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a Chalet 3000, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $1,259,000 to build the Chalet 3000 chalet by Purcell Timber Frame Homes, not including land.
Tahoe I by Impresa Modular
Tahoe I by Impresa Modular - Best Prefab and Modular Chalet
The Tahoe I by Impresa Modular is a 949 square foot cottage that is built using modular construction. With 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, the Tahoe I is a small footprint home with the character of a chalet. Impresa Modular’s home has interesting features such as high ceilings and large picture windows.
Impresa Modular is based in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and can work with buyers throughout the entire U.S. via a network of builders. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a Tahoe I, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $262,000 to build the Tahoe I chalet by Impresa Modular, not including land.
Key Takeaways of Building a Prefab or Modular chalet Home
Just like site-built chalets, prefab and modular chalets are characterized by: a triangular profile made up of steeply pitched roofs, exposed beams, and large windows
As with most types of residential construction, the turn-key cost of your chalet will be heavily influenced by several factors: location & local labor cost, standard vs. custom, site work costs, and degree of finishes. That being said, buyers with mid to high-end costs can expect turn-key pricing from $400 - $600 per square foot, while low-end costs can range from $200 - $400 per square foot
Similar to cost, the timeframe to build your chalet will be largely determined by factors like permitting time, standard vs. custom, and whether or not your selected company has a backlog of orders. While some modular homes can be built in as little as a few weeks, the entire process: from the time you put your deposit down until your chalet is move-in ready is often between 9 - 16 months
There are a number of builders that sell prefab and modular chalet homes including Davis Frame Company, PrecisionCraft, Purcell Timber Frame Homes, and Impresa Modular