You are considering two different methods for constructing a new warehouse site. The first method would use prefabricated building segments, would have an initial cost of $6.5 million, would have annual maintenance costs of $150,000, and would last for 25 years. The second alternative would employ a new carbon-fibre panel technology, would have an initial cost of $8.2 million, would have maintenance costs of $650,000 every ten years, and is expected to last 40 years. Both buildings would be in CCA Class 1 (at a rate of 4 percent) and it is expected that each would have a salvage value equivalent to 25 percent of its construction cost at the end of its useful life. The discount rate the firm uses in evaluating projects is 11 percent. The tax rate is 35 percent.
What is the annual cost for each option?
Which would you pick? Carbon-fibre technology or Pre-fab segments?