I am currently in the design-planning phase for our new home. I am exploring the idea of using a panelized system (prefab panels) for my home. How many of you builders have used this system before? Does it really save as much time over on-site stick framing as vendors suggest? How steep is the learing curve for these systems? I have home building experience and will be directly involved in the construction of my home and I see a panelized system as potential way to reduce the time it will take to get the shell up and also as a way to save me some money. Advice and info from builders and home owners is welcomed.
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I currently have two projects that will be done using Structural Insulated Panels. One is a partition wall in a four star restaurant that can't close down for the construction. Time is of the essence and the walls will go up in minutes as opposed to a few hours stick framing. We have about twenty hours to get the walls up, sheetrocked, taped and mudded, and hopefully painted. Using SIPs costs a bit more, but in time, I make it back.
The other project is a Habitat for Humanity home. They are stick framed here and we are going to try a new method. It's my understanding that many Habitat homes in Georgia are built using SIPs.
I went to a training course and was sold on the idea. The learning curve is pretty quick. The energy savings is phenomenal. Running electric takes some getting used to, but once learned, isn't that hard. If you live in a seismic or hurricane zone I would definitely use SIPs.
Check out http://www.globalbuilding.net.
Best of luck on your house.
Thanks for the reply. I should have been more specific in my post. When I mention a panelized system I was more referring to a system similar to this companies,
http://www.nelson-homes.com/index.php?page_id=benefitspanelization
SIP's are something I will surely explore, but my preliminary research has them being considerably more expensive compared to other panelized homes. Thanks again for the reply.
Man, I had a great experience building one of those recently. LoganGate built a custom 2000+ ft kit, (with 14 corners) from my and the homeowner plan; it all came in one full semi; 28 of us unloaded it before lunch and staged it on the floor structure. After a big lunch, 7 of us, including two women with no building experience, erected and braced all the load-bearing first floor walls before dark.
I could talk for hours about it, we've got tons o' pix, and my dad videoed the whole build. Dare me to start talking!
Forrest
I dare you! Seriously I'd love to hear about your experiences - do's and don'ts, things you would recommend or definetly not do again. I'd also love to see some pics. My personal email address is [email protected] if you don;t feel like sharing here. Thanks again.
I just called my dad; he'll make a copy of our build video in a week or so. I'll PM you when its done for an address.
Forrest
There is a lot of panelized stuff happening around here (Lake Placid, NY, in the northern Adirondacks), and some evolution is taking place.
First, it was "total package" panelizer outfits, selling only through dealer/contractors. They provide a total enclosure kit . . . floorframes, walls (with all window and exterior doors installed), roof trusses, sheathing, roofedge trim, flashing, felt, and shingles.
Typical 3200 sf 4 br 3 ba house goes up, mudsills to roof sheathing and paper, in 3 to 6 days, depending on complexity. All interior wallframes also. Just a little bit of detailing by you, maybe some miscellaneous framing and blocking, and you can call in the mechanical trades.
Now the "component" plants are selling through the lumber dealers. Bare bones panelized walls. Builder typically does floor platforms, structural work like beams and columns, and roof in stickframe or trusses. Speeds up things somewhat. Some guys are saying they can buy the panels delivered for what it would cost them in stick lumber and OSB sheathing. Avoid the big scrap pile, too.
What kind of supply resources are available to you?
Are you going to be the owner/builder, or hire a GC, or are you considering a turnkey shell package? Quite a difference between these approaches, and depending on the path chosen, you will have more or less panelized choices.
I will be an owner builder. And while a total package seems attractive in terms of one stop shop, there are some upgrades I'd like over what is offered in most packages. My idea of what I'd want is - I'll take care of the foundation, get the shell, interior walls and roof system from a panelizer. I'll supply the doors, windows, insulation, mechanical, fixtures, cabinetry and trim.
With my schedule with my regular day to day job, I don't have a lot of time to be spending on the jobsite except for my holidays (5 weeks per year). Once I get the shell up and get it closed in, I can work around my own schedule to get the rest done, and hire contractors to do the work I can't or don't have time for.
I've designed and built wall panels for about 15 years. And I've also bought and installed walls panels myself. So I have a unique perspective on this subject.
If you're going to DIY the job, I'd strongly recommend them. They'll save you a lot of time and aggravation. I generally tell people they'll save them a week if they're working on their house nights and weekends. (But that's just a guess, and there are a lot of variables)
I also highly recommend setting them with a crane, if the company offers that. We set all the exterior walls on my house in less than 2 hours.
BTW - The Spec House from Hell story is required reading for newbies wanting to build their own house.
(-:
What is a "free" gift ? Aren't all gifts free?
"Lots of friends and relatives said they'd help, but not many did. I don't blame them"
I was just reading that thread. The quoted line jumped out at me.
My wife & I are building our own house (attempting to do so w/ cash - so this is a long project).
Anyway, whe I started the project, everyone I knew said "give me a call & I'll give you a hand'. However, once the project started, they all vanished - Again, I can't blame them - they all have their own families & things to do. That's not to say I've never had any help, just that help was far more scarce than I thought it would be.
Definitely something to keep in mind when building on your own - not to scare anyone, but plan on doing all the work yourself & then IF you get help, take it as a bonus.
Back about November I helped a friend erect his panelized home.
We built the floor in the typical manner with TJIs and plywood supplied by the company. They sent just barely enough to do what was needed.
Then we erected the panels. They were 9' walls and the sections were 8-12' long each and came sheathed. They were flat and square and went in almost perfectly. One had to be retro-f&$ked to fit, at an angled intersection where the design software obviously couldn't get it.
Then we did the roof in the typical manner using trusses.
All in all, I'd definitely do it again. The panels are heavy, and using a boom truck would have been ideal, but we just threw ourselves at them and stood them up.
Recently I did the first floor walls for my shop in the same way. We built 8 panels, 4 at 9' tall x 12, and 4 at 9' tall x 16'. We got a boom truck in to set them. It worked out fairly well, and I'd do that again too.
The main advantages are probably in knowing the exact cost of the shell package up front, and in some time savings on the wall erection. Besides, building walls gets fairly tedious. Your ultimate success with this will doubtless depend mostly on the skill and integrity of the company you buy from, but I'd say do it.
Oh, my friend got doors, windows, siding, roofing, insulation, and other stuff all as part of his package. I think it was around $35/SF.