Lean prefab if:
- The dimensions are standard and locked
- You need repeat quantities of the same part
- The design will not change
- A part that is slightly off is easy to swap
- The schedule has room to order and wait
British Columbia
British Columbia
PICK THE RIGHT OPTION BEFORE A WRONG ONE PICKS YOUR SCHEDULE
You have a part to source and two quotes that do not really line up. One is cheap and far away. One is custom and local. Same part on paper, completely different bets. Here is how to tell which one your project actually needs, before a wrong guess costs you a week on site.
No theory yet. Find the column that sounds like your job and start there.
Most jobs lean one way fast. If yours is on the fence, score it.
Tick every row that sounds like your job. Whichever column fills up is your answer.
| Your project | Lean prefab or imported | Lean custom |
|---|---|---|
| The part is a standard size | ✅ | |
| The design is completely finalized | ✅ | |
| You need hundreds of identical pieces | ✅ | |
| Lowest upfront price is the priority | ✅ | |
| The part has to fit an existing condition | ✅ | |
| Dimensions are unusual or still changing | ✅ | |
| The quantity is small | ✅ | |
| A wrong part would delay the project | ✅ | |
| You need someone local to troubleshoot | ✅ |
Predictable, standardized, and flexible? Prefab or imported is likely the smarter buy. Riding on fit, timing, or a one-off problem to solve? Custom earns its place.
Price is one number. These six decide whether the cheap number stays cheap.
Does the part fit the project, or does the project have to bend around the part? Prefab is built for common conditions. Custom is built around yours.
How many do you actually need? Hundreds of identical parts reward volume pricing. One-offs and small runs are where a local shop gets competitive.
What happens if something changes late? An import is a long, fixed pipeline. Local work still has room to adjust before metal is cut.
What does a bad part actually cost? Rarely just a refund. It is an idle crew, a missed inspection, and every trade behind you waiting.
Are the requirements actually locked? Prefab and imported need certainty. Custom can absorb a design that is still moving.
Who fixes it if it does not work? With an import, that answer lives an ocean away. With a local shop, it is a phone call.
A cheaper part looks cheaper until it shows up wrong. Then the real number lands.
The most common pushback we hear: "the metal is only $200, so why is the finished part $1,500?"
Fair question. The answer is that custom fabrication is not priced by the material alone.
The metal is only the starting point. The final price includes everything it takes to turn raw material into a finished part that fits your project.
This includes reviewing drawings, planning the build, setting up equipment, cutting, forming, welding, finishing, and checking the final result.
The metal is a small slice of the work. A custom piece pays for the process around it.
A one-off carries most of those steps whether you order one piece or fifty. That is how a $200 piece of material becomes a fabrication job many times its size.
| Cost driver | What it covers | Typical planning range* |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Sheet or plate, alloy, thickness, and offcut waste | $50–$1,000+ |
| Design review | Reading drawings, reviewing requirements, catching missing details | $100–$500+ |
| Programming and setup | Preparing machines, layouts, tooling, and fabrication steps | $100–$750+ |
| Cutting | CNC cutting, shearing, layout, handling, and material prep | $100–$1,000+ |
| Forming | Bending, rolling, shaping, and fit-up preparation | $100–$1,000+ |
| Welding | Assembly, structural joints, TIG/MIG work, and fabrication time | $200–$2,000+ |
| Finishing | Grinding, blending, polishing, deburring, and surface protection | $100–$1,500+ |
| Inspection | Checking dimensions, quality, and final requirements before delivery | $50–$300+ |
Illustrative ranges only. Actual fabrication costs depend on material, size, quantity, complexity, finish requirements, drawings, and project conditions.
Making one custom part takes many of the same steps as making a larger batch: reviewing drawings, setting up machines, and preparing the process. The difference is that a large order spreads those costs out, while a one-off part carries more of them on its own.
Setup and programming: $500
Fabrication: $300
Total: $800
Per piece: $800
Setup and programming: $500
Fabrication: $300 x 100
Total: $30,500
Per piece: $305
The work did not disappear. The setup just got spread out. That is why volume favours prefab or imported, and one-offs and small runs favour a local shop.
| What matters | Prefab or imported | Custom fabrication |
|---|---|---|
| Unit price | Often lower | Usually higher |
| Real landed cost | Freight, duties, brokerage often hidden | Quoted local and complete |
| Fit to your site | Only if it is a standard condition | Built to your dimensions |
| Small quantities | Often blocked by minimums | One piece is fine |
| A late change | Restart the pipeline | Adjust before cutting |
| Lead time | Long and fixed | Shorter, rush sometimes possible |
| If it arrives wrong | Reorder and reship | Fixed locally |
| Who owns the fit | You, mostly | The shop, when it measures |
Before you decide one option is cheaper, put both on the same terms. The imported quote is a starting price. The real number adds up on the way to your site.
Starting price: $2,000
| Cost item | Example impact |
|---|---|
| Factory price | $2,000 |
| Freight | +$300–$800 |
| Brokerage/customs handling | +$100–$300 |
| Duties/taxes (varies by product and origin) | +$0–$1,000+ |
| Storage before installation | +$100–$500 |
| Local modifications to make it fit | +$300–$1,500 |
| Delay impact if the part is wrong | Depends on project |
Potential landed cost:
$2,800–$6,000+
(Illustrative example only. Actual costs depend on part size, origin, shipping method, duties, and project requirements.)
Starting quote: $3,500
| Included in the project | Value added |
|---|---|
| Scope review | Confirming requirements before fabrication |
| Local communication | Direct discussion when details change |
| Fabrication | Cutting, forming, welding, finishing |
| Adjustments before production | Changes can be addressed before metal is cut |
| Local accountability | Someone nearby to solve issues |
Project cost:
The quoted fabrication price
(Final pricing depends on material, complexity, finish, quantity, and project conditions.)
Custom is not always cheaper. The point is to compare the finished, landed cost of both, not the first line on each quote.
The imported option may still be the right choice. But the fair comparison is not $2,000 vs $3,500.
The fair comparison is: What does it actually take to get the correct part installed and working?
Should we fabricate it or buy it standard?” sounds like a simple question. The answer changes depending on the job in front of you. A new build, a retrofit, a production run, and a deadline-driven project all have different priorities. Here is how the decision changes when the real-world details come into play.
Best fit: prefab.
Fixed dimensions, repeat quantity, no unusual constraints. Buy the standard part.
Best fit: custom.
The existing condition dictates the part; it has to fit exactly, and a field modification only adds labour.
Best fit: imported or prefab.
Production volume changes the math, and the setup spreads across every unit.
Best fit: depends.
Ask three things: is the finish critical, is the date fixed, and what happens if it needs replacing?
The honest part: We do not think every job needs custom fabrication. Sometimes prefab is exactly right, and we will say so. Our job is helping you see when custom protects the project and when it does not.
Line both options up against the same list. Half the "cheaper" quotes stop being cheaper right here.
Got clean drawings? Great. Got a rough sketch, a deadline, and a part that has to fit around something already installed? Also fine. Send what you have, and we will tell you which option fits, what is ready to quote, and what still needs shop eyes.
At Duct Duct Goose, we specialize in sheet metal fabrication and stainless steel services for commercial and industrial applications, including HVAC systems, ducts, and custom metalwork. Please note that we do not offer services for automotive-related projects, such as vehicle parts, repairs, or modifications.
