Building a New Home a New Way

Over the years, people have chosen to build a home because they wanted the freedom to choose the design and the decorating options that best reflected their needs and tastes. The last decade has brought a flood of innovative building techniques that has added another important decision to be made: how the home will be constructed. Today’s home buyer is offered the choice of several different construction methods beyond traditional, on-site stick framing. 

Paul Foresman, Director of Business Development at Design Basics, one of the country’s largest home plan design companies, compares seven alternative building systems with regard to their advantages, and things to consider.

STRUCTURALLY INSULATED PANEL (SIP) CONSTRUCTION

Taking the concept of panelized building a step further, SIPs are panels created by sandwiching a foam core between two exterior “skins.” The skins are typically made from sheets of engineered wood. The panels are set into place with a crane. The resulting panels are extremely strong and energy efficient.

Homeowner advantages: 

• Because SIPs are constructed in a factory by a permanent crew, quality is consistent.

• Fewer workers can erect a house is less time, reducing labor cost.

• Less waste on the construction site reduces material costs.

• A shorter construction time frame reduces weather-related construction problems. 

• SIPs provide improved structural strength (in terms of strong winds and seismic considerations) plus better fire protection.

• SIPs also offer superior energy efficiency. Coupled with a fresh air exchanger, this ‘tighter’ home results in healthier indoor air quality.

Things to consider:

• Like panelized construction, the foundation must follow the plans precisely. 

• To maximize the tremendous insulating properties, a SIP roof should also be done. Doing a complicated roof design with SIP construction can be more expensive; simpler roof designs are preferable. 

The Greensboro Design 2326-33A-01 Builder's modifications to design include stretching the plan to make some rooms bigger and enlarging the garage

INSULATED CONCRETE FORM (ICF) CONSTRUCTION

Stay-in-place, hollow, lightweight foam blocks are stacked like building blocks, aligned, braced, strengthened with steel rebar and then filled with concrete. The resulting exterior wall is a solid, continuous, airtight, steel-reinforced, concrete wall surrounded by several inches of insulating foam.

Homeowner advantages:

• This construction method offers superior energy efficiency and sound-deadening qualities.

• Combined with a fresh air exchanger, ICF homes offer improved indoor air quality with reduced airborne pollutants and allergens.

• ICF homes benefit the environment by conserving lumber and fossil fuels.

• ICF walls resist strong winds and provide better fire protection.

• ICF basements have the same indoor qualities as the part of the house above-grade (no dampness or musty problems common to other basements).

Things to consider:

• Many home plans can be built with ICFs, but considerable modifications need to be made to accommodate the thicker exterior walls.

• Because of the weight of the walls, exterior walls must line up. ICF walls typically are not cantilevered over walls below them.

• Because proper bracing of the forms and pouring of the walls is essential, it is important to find an experienced crew.

The Newman Design 1689-33A-01 Builder's modifications to design include stretching the plan to make some rooms bigger and enlarging the garage

STEEL FRAMED FLOOR SYSTEMS AND ROOFING MATERIALS

Widely used in commercial construction, steel is gaining ground in replacing dimensional lumber in residential floor systems and as shingles. Steel floor joists have spaces knocked out for HVAC, plumbing and electrical wiring. They fasten to the exterior rim board at pre-notched spots so they are perfectly spaced. Steel flooring and roofing products are strong, relatively lightweight and do not suffer from volatile price fluctuations. 

Homeowner advantages:

• The superior strength of steel floor joists makes large open spans possible, particularly important for finished basements.

• Because the products are precisely spaced, floors have less bounce and deflection. There is also no warping.

• While steel roofing products may be more expensive than conventional shingles, they provide roofs that last indefinitely and may qualify for additional insurance benefits. 

• Steel floor and roof systems won’t burn and there is a reduced risk of problems with termites.

Things to consider:

• Floor members are delivered cut to builder specifications, so it is crucial that measurements be accurate or there may be considerable delays. 

• If modifications do need to be made, a heavier duty saw is required to cut steel joists as compared to wood.

The Nelson Design 7231-33A-01

WELL-CONNECTED HOME™
(a registered trademark of the Simpson Strong Tie Company)

All structural “loads” of a specific home design are analyzed to deliver a continuous load path from roof to foundation. Where needed, additional connectors and fasteners will be specified at the foundation, floors, walls and roofing members to withstand high winds (tornado/gale force) and seismic forces. 

Homeowner advantages:

• A much stronger structure is provided.

• This system works with virtually any building system, from traditional “stick-frame” construction to alternative methods.

• This system also works with virtually any home design.

Things to consider:

• There is a minimal cost increase, although this may be offset by incentives from homeowners’ insurance.

The Mansfield Design 1539-33A-01 Builder's modifications  to original design include stretching the plan to make some rooms bigger, converting tandem garage to covered porch and adding a third front-entry garage stall.

PANELIZED CONSTRUCTION

Panelized construction is the fastest growing of the newest home building techniques. Wall sections (“panels”) of the home are engineered and built in a factory and then delivered to the job site and erected. Wall panels come with or without windows, insulation, wiring and drywall. Many panelized manufacturers also supply floor systems and roof systems. Some manufacturers provide cranes and “set crews” to put the panels and floor and roof systems in place. 

Homeowner advantages: 

• Homes can be erected and made weather tight in a few days, as compared with a few weeks for traditional construction.

• Labor and material costs are typically lower (up to 80% less waste generated at the construction site).

• Weather-related construction problems and homeowner callbacks are reduced.

• Panels are constructed by well-trained crews using computerized machinery, providing consistent quality. 

Things to consider:

• If panels are ordered before the foundation is poured, the crew doing the foundation must follow the plans exactly so the panels match the foundation.

(picture on page 19 in Spec: Design Basics’ home plan, the Franklin, #2316, was built using panels constructed with engineered wood components by Homes by Design of Blair, Nebraska) 

The Franklin Design 22316-33A-01 Builder's modifications  to original design include converting the home to a  four car garage and enlarging the master bedroom, sitting area and walk-in closet.

ENGINEERED WOOD COMPONENTS CONSTRUCTION

Wood strands, veneers and other forms of wood fiber are bonded together to form construction materials which are used to create stronger, more durable floors, walls and roofs. They are also lighter in weight, making them easier to use.

Homeowner advantages:

• The superior strength of engineered wood floor joists allows for more open spans.

• Engineered wood benefits the environment by using less wood fiber than similar traditional wood products and uses faster growing trees, preserving old growth forests.

• When used as exterior sheathing, it contributes to superior wall strength.

• Virtually any home design can be built with engineered wood components. 

Design Basics Inc, a national home plan design company, works with manufacturers representing these leading edge construction methods. For more information, visit their website at www.designbasics.com.