Monday, February 23, 2009
Panelization, the most widely-used form of systems-building, refers to a construction method where housing components are prefabricated in a climate-controlled facility before being shipped to a home site.
- A majority of today’s production and portfolio builders use factory-made floor and roof trusses, the most commonly known form of panelization.
- Component panel types include simple pre-cut floor and roof trusses and strong and efficient structural insulated panels (SIPs).
- Geodesic domes, the highly energy-efficient housing pioneered by Bukminster Fuller are constructed of hundreds of triangular panels. The National Dome Council is part of the BSC’s Panelized Council.
- A BSC study, in conjunction with the Wood Truss Council of American, found that construction of a 2,600 sq. ft. home with trusses and panels used 26% less lumber, generated 76% less waste, and was constructed in just 37% of the man hours of a similar, stick-built home.
I personally love panelized homes. They do tend to cost more then modular homes, but offer incredible design flexibility, construction speed, and virtually unlimited customization. Building a custom panelized home in Maine and New Hamsphire is a great idea. Forget trying to build a custom home stick by stick, its time to use a building system to help get you in your new home faster, at less cost, and with more precision.
