Two Friends Started This Prefab Company to Beat the Weather and Build Homes Year Round

Welcome to Prefab Profiles, an ongoing series of interviews with people transforming how we build houses. From prefab tiny houses and modular cabin kits to entire homes ready to ship, their projects represent some of the best ideas in the industry. Do you know a prefab brand that should be on our radar? Get in touch!

About a decade ago, Rane Wardwell and Jan Pratschke bonded over one thing: how short the construction window was where their projects were taking place in Invermere, British Columbia. Feeling frustrated, they found they shared a desire to make ground even when the weather wasn’t cooperating.

Wardwell founded Collective Carpentry in 2006, and Pratschke joined the team in 2013 with the spark of a new premise. Instead of solely focusing on traditional construction projects, they began exploring prefab design. Things started small, with the pair mostly using software to create panels for energy-efficient projects in their area. Over time, these prefab panels—which include wood, insulation, and weather-tight membranes—grew more complex, and recently, Wardwell and Pratschke purchased two fabrication facilities to meet growing demand.

Since, they founded Collective Homes, which builds complete prefab residences and ADUs. The duo has used the business to experiment with designs while delivering customizable homes without the constraints of long lead times—or the foul-weather delays that trip up traditional construction. Here, Pratschke and Wardwell share what they see as a better way to build.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve realized to date?

The first Collective Home was built in Bozeman, Montana, in 2022 with Eesome Builders, and the next few are currently in design and will be put up in 2024.

The amount of direct interaction we had with the clients on the Bozeman project was really rewarding because we accompanied them through their choice of design and modifications to suit their needs. We also had several post-occupancy interviews and filming opportunities. Our favorite thing to hear Andrea, one of the owners, say in a short film we produced about the build was "they just have it so dialed in." Their favorite thing about the high-performance building assembly is that they feel comfortable in the home without having to turn on the heat.

What does your base model cost and what does that pricing include?

There are three base models and a total of eight standard variations available on our website, and in collaboration with local builders wherever clients are in North America. Collective Homes are designed in-house and optimized for the Collective Carpentry building system, a feedback loop of prefab optimization learned from 10 years of experience in design, fabrication, delivery, and assembly.

The cost is dependent on several choices, as well as the location of where the home will be located. All Collective Home packages include several amenities, including 20 complimentary design hours for minor modifications and a one-year warranty on all materials and labor provided by Collective Carpentry.

For a project within roughly 650 miles of Collective’s shop, prices range from about $162,000 for a 1,200-square-foot model, $185,000 for a 1,500-square-foot model, and $210,000 for an 1,800-square-foot model. [All figures have been converted to USD from Canadian]. This includes design, panels, parts, windows, doors, and installation. And lastly, buyers have the option of purchasing additional design modifications, including adding a garage or ADU.