Dry vs Wet Construction: A Global Comparison

operations2870
May 20
3 min read

The Nextec Engineering Team

Introduction

In the 20th century, cement and concrete curing-based (wet) construction gained in popularity for its durability and design flexibility, compared to historical methods like timber and mud construction. However, it is slow, water-guzzling, and weather-dependent. It becomes prone to delays, especially in India’s monsoon months. On the other hand, ‘dry’ construction uses factory-made, prefabricated elements, which simply need to be transported to the final site for assembly. In the 21st century, dry construction methods have grown rapidly in popularity, valued for speed, precision, and sustainability.

Sub-framing—lightweight frameworks that support internal and external Drywalls, roofs, and ceilings—is a crucial part of the drycon revolution. First, it enables faster installation of components, eliminating the waiting time for curing, and reducing reliance on the traditional plaster-and-paint façades. Second, it is a better fit for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services – gone are the days when a change of plumbing or wiring meant breaking open walls and recementing or replastering them. Where needed, sub-framing even improves acoustic and thermal performance. Modularity in their assembly not only delivers consistency and long-term durability, but also easy repairability and replaceability.

Dry Construction in India

India has kept pace, with the prefab sector estimated at around USD 15.07 billion in 2025, and estimated to grow at 8.9% CAGR to INR USD 23.13 billion by 2023. Major infrastructure firms like L&T and construction firms like Tata Housing report clients increasingly willing to accept modular methods. As an example, L&T built a seven-story DRDO facility in just 45 days using hybrid modular construction. Prefab is also becoming the norm for emergency construction, like flood-relief housing.

A recent report valued the global prefab market at USD 146.5 billion in 2024, projected to reach USD 208.1 billion by 2030. Governments and developers favour dry methods for large projects, such as metros, expressways, high-speed rail etc., due to the rapid installation and minimal site occupancy. Dry construction now also accounts for a growing share of new residential and commercial projects.

Nextec, as one of India’s fastest-growing sub-framing systems company, has kept its date with the breakneck speed of this sunrise industry.

Time and Quality

Traditional wet construction, is a slow and labour-intensive process, requiring the laying of layer upon layer of cement/concrete and waiting for it to cure (i.e. dry and harden). It is by design a series process, wherein the next stage cannot be created before the previous stage ‘sets’. It is also vulnerable to water availability in dry conditions, and to delays during wet weather, like storms or in South Asia, the monsoon season.

Dry construction follows the method of prefabricating panels and modules (including those requiring cement/concrete) in controlled conditions off-site. These prefab components are then transported to the site and assembled quickly. As dry construction allows for parallel production, it minimises curing delays, significantly shortening schedules, enabling cost savings, and driving faster delivery. Controlled conditions also improve precision, yielding more consistent, high-quality results with fewer defects.

Cost and Sustainability

Though prefabricated components may have higher upfront costs, dry construction reduces the time spent on site, lowering labour, equipment, and safety costs, without compromising on quality. The modularity of this method also allows for more precise estimation of material needs. Dry methods also cut waste: factory cutting to exact sizes means lesser waste, compared to wet construction that generates more spoil, raising disposal and environmental costs.

Sustainability is another benefit: dry systems use less water and energy. Many elements like the metal used for sub-framing are recyclable and reusable.

The Nextec Advantage

One of the criticisms of prefabrication is that it does not support creativity in construction, instead producing identical units leading to architectural monotony. At Nextec, we took this as a challenge, with our motto “Innovation is Continuous Improvement”.

Specializing in top-notch metal sub-framing systems and technical solutions, Nextec has introduced concepts such as value engineering and tailored sub-framing systems. By analysing client and site needs, we design made-to-order sub-framing systems considering project cost, the right materials by quality and quantity, expected wear and tear, and aesthetic appeal. This makes it easy to manufacture to precise measurements leading to seamless integration, while achieving the aesthetic appeal as originally conceived.

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