Panelized Home Costs – Costs & Savings of Panelization For Your Home Building Project
Panelizing can streamline your home’s framing. Almost all experienced framers use some form of panelization when they build. Should you buy these framing panels to build your home?
What is a Panelized Framing Approach?
Panelization is:
- Factory made wall framing sections for homes or buildings
- A way to reduce on site labor costs and time
- Potentially a way for owner builders to use less experienced framers on site
- Created according to framing specifications from supplied blueprints
- Designed to be built to Uniform Codes
- Delivered to the building site to be assembled by local labor
These things come at a price. Naturally, you pay for the labor, time, shipping, and convenience you receive when buying panelized framing wall sections. Sometimes this extra value can add 50{17ef88a264f735d53e23f577c1aef39f82da91f2d0cb03d25ab21c9f41dcfb41} to 200{17ef88a264f735d53e23f577c1aef39f82da91f2d0cb03d25ab21c9f41dcfb41} (sometimes more) to the cost of the raw framing lumber.
But, Panelization …
- Is not for the novice alone
- Does not usually provide for the complete shell of your home
- May or may not be a part of a home building kit or packaged home
- May not be the least expensive or fastest way to frame
- Could require reparations on site that add time and costs
What Are You Paying For With Panelization?
You should look primarily for high quality wood, excellent framing quality, low delivery costs, and rapid customer service and response time when needed. Demand these things at the very least and demand references that can substantiate their claims along these lines. My experience tells me to never believe claims of perfection in the panels.
Buying panels can make the framing experience economical. As far as what that price is, there’s no way for me to answer that here. But, as mentioned above, you will pay a premium for this.
The price you pay will depend on factors like the quality of the wood, the quality of the framing job, the type of panels such as SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) and steel framing as well as shipping costs. To keep costs down as much as possible and to help with customer service work, use a company that is close. It’s usually best to find a manufacturer within 500 miles.
Where Does Your Potential Savings Come From?
The goal when purchasing panelized framing won’t always be for money savings. Time savings, quality framing, and less hassle would be better goals. If the panels are made well, if there are few issues, and if any problems are handled quickly, then dollar savings can come from quicker overall building time for your home.
Research and shop well. Google panelized home building, panelized walls, wall panels and the like. Call references and ask a lot of questions. There’s no substitute for being informed.
