Avalon Building Systems Blog

Modular “SIPs” or Structural Insulated Panels were first designed by Avalon Building Systems. These panels are used in their modular homes. SIPs are prefabricated insulated sides of the modules which make up the walls, ceilings, floors, and roofs. They provide more superior and uniform insulation than stud or "stick frame" construction, with energy savings of 12%–14%. Because of their insulating qualities, SIPs also make the home quieter. These modular homes easily exceed "Energy Star Standards" and are certified to meet LEEDS platinum standards for new residential construction. LEED certification is based on a point system in which a building can obtain a Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum level certification and is an internationally recognized certification system that measures how well a building performs in energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor air quality, and more.
 
Structural Insulated Panels are made in a factory and shipped to the manufacturing facilities. Manufacturers then connect them together to construct a house. When using SIPs, the speed of construction is much faster than stick built residential construction. Shells can be erected quickly, saving labor time and money, without compromising quality. These savings help compensate for the fact that SIPs usually cost more than other construction systems, but through the modular manufacturing process which is far more efficient than traditional construction, the overall costs are much lower, so the higher costs of SIPs are negated. 

One of the many ways we serve you is to share the multitude of consumer "lessons learned" that we've compiled over the years.  This blog post is a natural follow-on to the frequently asked questions that we have featured as a dedicated web page.  At Avalon Building Systems, one of our top objectives is to NEVER hear you utter the words "We wish we would have....". 

Whether you choose to build an economical Colonial Style modular home or a sprawling Ranch Style modular home, please consider the conclusions of those who have gone before you.  They will help you to never look back:

• Build floor joists at 12-in. on center versus the stick-built standard 16-in. The stability of the floor and feeling of structural rigidity are a simple thing and overlooked by most people. The additional cost is fairly small, but well worth it!

• Nine foot ceiling heights. The feeling of expansiveness is great and the additional cost is value based.

• Comfort height commodes. Size does matter and a few inches in height contributes to your comfort greatly, hence the term comfort height.

• Upgraded door hardware and solid core doors. Again hollow core doors work just as well, but can't compare in imparting a feeling of quality.

• Using a quiet floor system and gluing the wood flooring in place wherever possible.

• Staggered 42-in. kitchen cabinetry.

• Utilize 18-in. floor tile if the space allows. Again it is a small thing, and more difficult to install, but it's something you see up close each and every day. So prioritize quality here.

• Upgrade the windows as nothing cheapens a house as skimping with cheap windows.

• 2-in. x 6-in. exterior framing. The energy savings created by the increased insulation cavity will pay for itself in no time.

• Ample high hat recessed lighting. Again the showcase type effect is great and additional cost is minimal at construction.

• Energy Star, Green or LEEDS Certification... the energy savings are truly amazing.

These are just a few tips on where to prioritize your new home budget. We will spend hours together with you on these and other subject when the time comes for your to build your dream home with us at Avalon Building Systems.

Green building, or construction that is environmentally responsible, is becoming increasingly popular as more and more people have become conscious of the impact that construction has on the environment, both while the structure is being built, and for years afterward. Homeowners who wish to build a green home are to be commended for making the commitment to construction that works in harmony with the environment. However, for those in rural areas or smaller markets, finding both the materials to build a green home, and contractors who are familiar with green building techniques can be a challenge.

Modular homes can be an excellent solution for homeowners who find it difficult to build green with local materials and builders. Not only are modular homes as attractive both in appearance and in financial terms as traditionally-built homes, but they offer just as many customization options; everything from the floor plan to the green building plan can be chosen specifically by the homeowner.

Unlike traditionally-built homes, modular homes are by design an environmentally conscious choice. From the ground up, a modular home’s impact on the environment is smaller than that of a traditional home. The home site isn’t the only aspect of the modular home that ups its green factor. The construction process of a modular home is much less wasteful – and has a smaller environmental impact – than that of a traditionally-built home. Be sure to contact us today to learn more about modular homes and our green efforts in building safer and more eco-friendly homes.

• What budget you are trying to stay within?
• Your time-frame for building your new home.
• The style of home you are looking to build.
• The area or area(s) you have interest in.

In today's time, making the decision to open up a new business or even facing the need to build additions to existing location in order to meet the growing demands of a company's increase in productivity can cause tremendous concern for most any company's finances. It is also a business decision that numerous companies must make every single day. Thanks to the turn-key solutions provided with the construction of modular office buildings, company owners have the ability to save a large amount of money and time that it would otherwise take for more conventional modes of construction.

To list just a few of the reasons why modular office buildings are such a cost-effective solution for a wide variety of businesses such as health-care facilities, educational classrooms, commercial and governmental offices include the following:

• The amount of both money and time that is required for construction can literally be completed in half the amount of time and cost that that it takes for traditional methods. Not only does this mean less money required for the overall construction, but it also means less down-time in the production of a company's services or products.

• Maintenance requirements are very minimal. Over time and with exposure to elements of the weather, you can almost guarantee that offices built using other construction modes will begin needing different types of maintenance requirements that can be extremely costly and time consuming. A large portion of future maintenance requirements are eliminated with prefab buildings, which is another benefit that can save money and time when a businesses uses modular office buildings.

• The relocation of a company is never a worry with prefab buildings. It is often much easier just to completely rebuild a business instead of trying to move it when business owners would like to move to a different area or location. Relocation is an easy achievement when modular office buildings are used.

• More can be achieved using less space. While a company can save large amounts of money and time using modular office buildings, they can also save on construction space requirements. With unique design plans, the area for production can be obtained using a lot less space with prefab buildings than what is required from conventional methods to obtain the same amount of production area.

Recent trends at the end of 2009 and thus far in 2010 has seen new customers considering modular homes in greater numbers. The largest group is those that normally spend $200,000 for a home but are looking to maximize their value while keeping the price within their budget. Modular homes boast greater value through better durability, larger square footage and more amenities compared to most equally-priced site-built homes. Given the continued pricing instability of new and existing homes, modular homes give a more stable value.

The sub-prime mortgage crisis has affected just about every form of housing within the country. Lending is more restrictive, current home inventories are still tremendous, and a large percentage is unable to make their current mortgage payments. And while the modular home industry has felt the effects, the impact has been much less than on the site-built housing industry.

In addition to modular homes offering a better value solution, modular home manufacturers and retailers are expanding their markets. By being more creative with the usage of SIPs, Avalon Building Systems has found new customers who benefit from this technology. Residents in MA, CT, RI, ME, NH, VT and NY area starting to look more and more at modular homes as well. Contact us today should you have any questions regarding modular homes or if you'd like to take a look at our custom built homes we have to offer.

1. All current monthly loan payments.
2. All other monthly expenses
3. Records of variable expenses from the last 12 months. This will give you an estimate of your monthly expenditures.
4. Records of annual or semi-annual expenses
5. An estimate of what your new mortgage payment will be.
6. Records of other non-fixed expenses for the last year.
7. Records or an estimate of personal expenses
8. Having a current copy of your credit report can be very helpful.