CONSTRUCTION METHODS
We have experience working with multiple construction methods and are always looking for the best option for a given project. Our minds are open to your ideas and we can also suggest construction methods that may benefit you.
Stick Built:
Standard wood lumber site-built construction. Individual pieces of lumber are delivered to the project site and skilled craftsmen assemble the project one piece at a time.
Pros:
High customization allows any design to come to life. More recently, man made joists, rafters, and studs are increasing the quality of stick built framing.
Cons:
Low level of quality assurance. Highly dependent on the craftsman skill level. Construction is weather dependent.
Insulated Concrete Form:
Insulated concrete forms (ICF’s) have been available for decades but continue to gain popularity. They are essentially a Lego block made of foam that gets stacked together with rebar reinforcement placed inside and filled with concrete. Can be used just for the foundation but the best result is to use ICF block for all exterior walls.
Pros:
Very strong, highly insulating, noise suppressing.
Cons:
Slower than stick-built framing and generally more expensive.
Panelized:
Panelized construction can be done in multiple ways. One is to pre-build sections of walls with stick built methods. A flat stack of pre-built wall sections are delivered to the construction site to quickly assemble the project. Another option is Structurally Insulated Panels (SIP’s) where a layer of foam insulation is sandwiched between panels of sheathing. The SIP’s are cut to size at a factory and delivered to the construction site ready to be set in place.
Pros:
Speeds up construction time on site. Higher level of quality control over panels assembled in a climate controlled space. SIP’s offer high insulation value with few thermal breaks.
Cons:
Can delay the start of construction waiting for panels to be assembled. Any mistakes made at the factory can be hard to correct on site. Manufacturing and delivery can cost more than stick-built construction.
Modular:
Modular construction does not have to be the typical double-wide modular home everyone pictures! Many of the large modular home manufacturers are now offering modern modular home construction methods. Pieces of the home are built within a climate-controlled factory and shipped to the construction site for final assembly.
Pros:
High level of quality and no weather delays when building within a factory. Site construction time is far less than stick-built.
Cons:
Very detailed designs are required along with additional transportation engineering. Some sites may not be accessible for modular delivery methods.