Alternative Construction Technologies
Please note: While Design Basics takes great pride in designing homes to be built using these building systems, Design Basics neither builds homes nor supplies products for these building systems. These pages are for informational purposes only.
Insulated Concrete Forms
As the saying goes, “Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.” The popularity of building homes with Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) seems to be proving the old adage true. Of course, for home builders, erecting forms and pouring concrete walls is nothing new, at least below grade. But the advent of lightweight, stackable, interlocking forms that also incorporate interior and exterior insulation has opened the market for ICFs for virtually all exterior wall applications.
Structural Insulated Panels
In the story of the three little pigs, the first two brothers were interested in building their homes quickly, so they could get on with enjoying life. Too bad they didn’t look into building with Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs – High-quality foam core panels that are strong, energy-efficient, and suitable for many residential and commercial building applications). That big, bad wolf would have had to look elsewhere for dinner!
Panelized Home Building Systems
In the high-tech approach known as panelized construction, pre-engineered wall sections are produced for a new home in factory-controlled conditions, then shipped complete to the building site for final construction. A panelized home can be weather tight in just a few days.
Leading panelized home manufacturers offer tremendous flexibility in design and can provide any amenities desired in a new home. Some panelized manufacturers work through networks of general contractors (professional home builders). Others deal directly with home buyers looking to build their own home.
