I want to thank the industry and our own team for making Eco-Panels the premier structural insulated panel manufacturer on the market today. We can show you how we have the most advanced insulated panel system – and I sure wish more homes in tornado or seismic prone regions were made of our panels. But I do want to take a moment to establish some expectations that often come to light at the wrong time. We certainly try to head these off, yet they persist.
1. We have been told by some clients that our panel system will come in at about the same cost as stick construction, but that is not always the case. We will certainly save you money in the long run relative to stick if our panels are installed properly and the HVAC system is sized accordingly (not according to a traditional stick-built rule of thumb). Please do not assume that a panel system will be “cheaper than stick”. And we are most often more expensive than EPS panel systems, but there is a reason for that – we have a better foam and panel system. You get what you pay for – kind of like “do you really want your home built by the cheapest thing on the market?”
2. We do our best to interpret your drawings – or sketches scanned and e:mailed or drawings marked up countless times or interpret phone conversations referenced from three weeks back – and we will send you a panel plan based on what we believe that you want. And with your design approval that is what you will receive. And if we make a mistake relative to our plans then we will fix it, but if you or your builder have given us incorrect dimensions or approved drawings with an improper interpretation of your drawings, we will certainly show you how to fix the issue, but please don’t ask us to pay for it. We have a pre-engineered system that is meant to minimize work on the jobsite. Check your window rough opening dimension. Check your electrical placement. And turn us on to build panels. Please do not turn us on to build panels prior to receiving your final RO’s for we may make an assumption you meant what you said about wanting us to start.
3. Finished exterior siding materials can be great, but do not expect them to always survive the build site in pristine condition. And you may not be able to use the batten schedule you would prefer if we were not told early in the process what this would be – and even then your own window and door placement may disrupt the batten schedule you wish to have – so please keep an open mind about finish trim details.
4. Lots of people ask us to use Magnesium Oxide siding materials for a panel skin. Until that material has been shown to be of sufficient structural strength as tested through ASTM E72 standard tests or similar, then we do not feel comfortable using it for structural applications (non-structural applications OK). We realize that other panel companies may be pushing this product because it is new on the market but at this time we do not feel comfortable with it.
5. Panels have joints. There is a seam where two panels come together. Sometimes this is a seam you can barely see and sometimes it is more visible than that. It does not mean that the assembly is defective as that joint is still sealed through the width of the panel. Traditionally built homes will have this same issue. We have clients that want to see ZERO gap between panels, and the OSB manufacturer wants to see a minimum of 1/8″ gap to handle the natural wood expansion that may occur. Tough to have it both ways so we do our best.
6. We need some runway. As a pre-engineered system we will actually produce an assembly drawing for each and every panel in your home – and it will be custom built and injected with our specially formulated closed cell foam. But this process can take weeks or even months for each home. We start the formal process with a deposit from the client, and that process can often take 8-10 weeks from deposit to panel delivery, sometimes shorter, and sometimes longer. And we often are able to work people in if another client pushes out – but not always. If you are planning to have a foundation complete, you need to plan accordingly so that our panels are ready when your floor platform has been assembled.
7. We will be a partner in your building effort and will be available for advice – and will probably even freely offer advice – on how to build a great structure with our panels. But we are ultimately a component supplier – we are not your builder. Asking us to do lots of extra things that should be within the purview of your builder – or a structural engineer or an architect – or yourself if you are acting as the builder – may be considered, but if it is outside of our normal scope of work then please be patient and realistic – and we may ask you to pay for the extra effort.
These are some of the more popular issues we see arise, but they are all surmountable, and in the end, it’s all going to be fine. Yes we can all get excited about new projects – from doghouses to research stations in the Arctic to your home in Anycity USA. But it is a process, a journey. There may be a few bumps, but we’ll do our best to give you a great home, offering you great value over the long term. Stronger, safer and significantly more energy efficient than stick construction.
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