At Cardea Homes, we spend a lot of time thinking about the future of housing—specifically, how we can meet growing demand without compromising on the values that guide us: sustainability, wellness, and thoughtful design.
One topic that continues to spark discussion is prefabrication, sometimes called modular or factory-built construction. Prefab means building major components of a home in a controlled environment, then transporting them to the site for assembly.
Across Canada, prefab is gaining momentum. The federal government has launched initiatives like pre-approved housing designs, faster permitting, and the Homebuilding Technology and Innovation Fund, all aimed at accelerating housing starts and improving affordability. The promise is clear: cut timelines, reduce waste, improve quality, and create healthier, more energy-efficient homes.
But I believe we need to be honest: prefab isn’t a silver bullet. It won’t solve every challenge in housing. What it can be is one of the smartest tools we have, if we’re willing to use it wisely.
The Reality of Available Labour
The labour shortage is one of the clearest reasons prefab matters. We used to build over 100,000 new homes a year in Canada. Today, we’re well below that. And now we’re looking at a government target of 1.5 million homes by 2030. The reality is, we don’t have the skilled labour to do it.
Years of retirements and fewer young people entering the trades have left our industry struggling to meet demand.
Factory-built construction helps address that labour gap. Instead of relying on more trades on-site, much of the work can be completed in controlled environments. That efficiency matters more than ever.
Time Is the Real Currency
For me, prefab’s biggest advantage comes down to one word: time. Waste reduction is part of it; efficiency is part of it—but the big one is time. Time is money. And we often neglect to look at it as a major variable in the housing equation.
Prefab doesn’t just speed up on-site construction; it has the potential to transform the approval process itself, a factor too often overlooked in housing timelines.
Imagine a standardized kit of parts—fourplexes, sixplexes, mid-rise buildings. The structure is the same, but you can vary the cladding, the interiors, and the skin of the building. You’re not reinventing the wheel every time. Now imagine if these kits were pre-approved by municipal authorities. Instead of waiting months—or even years—for approvals each time you propose a building, you could get the green light almost immediately.
The real savings come from eliminating repetitive administrative steps. We could focus on building homes and communities instead of navigating bureaucratic hurdles. That’s how prefab becomes not just a construction tool, but a way to accelerate meaningful, high-quality housing at scale.
The Red Tape Barrier
Of course, prefab’s promise only works if municipalities adapt. It varies from municipality to municipality. Some officials grasp the concept as they see the efficiencies and are willing to approve repeatable structures quickly. Others are still hesitant, because prefab is new to them.
The government supports housing at a high level. But when it comes to innovation in the weeds—things like modular bathrooms or new factory-built methods—the programs and approvals aren’t there yet. In this case, we don’t need the government to get more involved; we need them to get out of the way.
Beyond the Word “Modular”
Perception is another hurdle. That’s why I prefer to talk about “factory-built” rather than “modular.” Because what we’re really doing is creating high-quality homes with less waste, fewer deficiencies, and better efficiency.
And prefab doesn’t have to mean cookie-cutter. Look at Paris: all the buildings are the same height, the same distance from the street. But the cornices, the balconies, the skins, that’s where the beauty comes in. We can have the best of both worlds: efficiency in structure, individuality in design.
Innovation has changed what factory-built homes can be. They’re not just faster to build, they’re smarter. They can be energy-efficient, healthier, and more sustainable. That has value for the homeowner, for the community, and for the planet. We need to help people see them as a smart purchase: good for the earth, good for the wallet, and built to last.
Photo credit: Assembly: https://assemblycorp.ca/project/1602-1604-queen-street-east-leslieville/
Good for You. Good for the Earth. Good for Your Wallet.
From a homeowner’s perspective, prefab’s value goes far beyond speed or cost. Factory-built means fewer deficiencies, higher consistency, and the ability to redirect savings into much-needed wellness features.
At Cardea, that’s our focus: not compromising our values, but using innovation to enhance them. Wellness at home isn’t a luxury—it’s essential. The design of a home, the quality of the materials, and the efficiency of the construction all contribute to a healthier and more comfortable living environment. That’s what we mean by building wellness into everyday life.
This approach benefits not only the occupants but also the surrounding community. Efficient factory-built construction reduces waste and energy use, which is better for the planet. And because we can control quality and efficiency at scale, homeowners get better value without paying a premium simply for innovation.
Our goal is simple: to make homes that people love to live in, that help them feel good every day. Using factory-built methods doesn’t mean compromising on quality or care; it means we can deliver that focus on wellness more consistently, more reliably, and more sustainably.
The Bigger Picture
The bigger picture is clear: Canada has built at scale before, and it can do so again, but only with a shift in mindset. We were once capable of building 250,000 homes a year. We had the capacity. But today we’re stuck in our tracks.
To move forward, we need two things: the government to remove unnecessary barriers, and the industry to embrace innovation that truly scales.
Factory-built isn’t the solution in itself. But it’s one of the smartest tools we have.
For me, the conversation around prefab is often oversimplified. It’s not just about speed or affordability. It’s about rethinking how we build altogether: balancing efficiency with individuality, innovation with wellness, and speed with quality.
At Cardea Homes, we’re not going to risk using factory-built approaches if they compromise what we stand for. But if they help us build better, healthier homes, then it’s a win-win for everyone.
Prefab can help us build not only more homes, but better ones. Homes that are sustainable, human-centered, and designed for wellness.
Up next, I’ll be sharing thoughts on how prefab can help us create not just houses, but communities that are greener, healthier, and more people-focused.
-Paul
Building Wellness into Everyday Living
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ARTICLE NOTES:
Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) reported that the province needs to build 1.5 million new homes in 10 years, which requires a doubling of quarterly starts from their reported 2024 levels, indicating that the actual average over the last decade was lower than necessary to meet targets.