What Builders Need to Know About Building Systems

Committees and Councils
Published

As home-building professionals continue to look for ways to grow and expand their businesses, one of the innovative solutions they may consider incorporating is building systems. There are a number of different options available, depending on what type of system or material may work best for the builder:

  • Concrete: Concrete homes offer solid, disaster-resistant construction, greater comfort and security, reduced energy bills, lower maintenance, as well as a home that is healthier to live in and easier on the environment.
  • Log: Log homes can be sold as kits or packages with the bulk of building materials delivered at one time. This method reduces fuel costs and carbon emissions compared to traditional site building. Additionally, pre-cut log home packages go up quickly and leave less waste on the job site than conventional construction.
  • Modular: Modular homes are constructed in factories, then transported to the home owner's chosen lot and placed on a permanent foundation by a crane. Each home is designed and constructed to meet all state and national building and fire codes, and a local builder does the final finish work.
  • Panelized: Panels can be engineered and fabricated in a manufacturing plant in just a few days before being shipped to a home site. Once at the home site, the shell of a panelized home can be erected and made weather-tight in a matter of days.
  • Timber frame: Timber frame homes are built from large wood posts and beams that form the structural support of the home and require no interior load-bearing walls. The timbers are joined by connecting a mortise (hole) on the end of one timber with a corresponding tenon (tongue) that fits precisely and tightly.

All of these systems offer benefits to builders who adopt them — including less on-site build time, as well as less labor and greater reliability because of the controlled factory environment in which the components are built — with additional considerations based on where they build.

"I personally feel the builder must take the time to determine what building system makes the most sense for their business and geographic part of the country," noted Michael Weber of The Euclid Chemical Company.

"Due to their strength, it makes sense building with a concrete system in frequent high-wind areas, or since concrete is non-combustible, where wildfires are a threat. Each system's competitiveness and product benefits have geographic considerations," he added.

The education component is particularly critical, Ken Semler of Impresa Modular stated, as many builders assume that, because the home components are built in a factory, the home is going to be easy to put together.

"They think it's just two or four modules to put together, and it's an instant home. And that's not what it is by any stretch of the imagination," he added, noting that builders should familiarize themselves with the design parameters for building systems first and find a contact they can turn to with questions.

Builders also need to allow themselves some time to adjust to a new building method and understand that the first few homes are going to present a bit of a learning curve.

"The biggest issue I see when I’m consulting is it takes at least two to three, or even four, homes to work out the kinks and the little nuances in the home-building process before builders become proficient with building systems," observed Dan Mitchell of Eagle CDI Inc. "Once they do get the systems in place, they become extremely efficient and are able to schedule much more effectively."

Builders can then increase the speed of their construction, Mitchell added, completing five to 10 homes in a row in 10% to 15% less time.

Those looking to get into building systems can learn more about the benefits of building systems and how to get started through the Building Systems Week webinar series. Weber and Mitchell will be presenting "Panelized Construction: Versatility for Every Project" on Sept. 22 at 10:30 a.m. ET, and Semler will be presenting "First Time Success with Modular Construction" on Sept. 22 at 2 p.m. ET.

Register today to reserve your seat.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Environmental Issues

May 30, 2025

NAHB Members Provide Final Recommendations for New WOTUS Rule

NAHB members concluded their participation in multiple “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) listening sessions with strong showings in Washington, D.C., and Salt Lake City. In total, 12 NAHB members and four staff members from NAHB and state home builder associations (HBAs), representing 11 states, provided oral statements at listening sessions.

Workforce Development

May 30, 2025

Statement from NAHB Chairman Buddy Hughes on DOL Decision to Pause Job Corps Center Operations

NAHB Chairman Buddy Hughes issued the following statement after the Department of Labor announced it was pausing Job Corps center operations nationwide.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

May 30, 2025

Multifamily Absorption Moves Lower for New Apartments

The percentage of new apartment units that were absorbed within three months after completion continued to trend lower, according to the Census Bureau’s latest release of the Survey of Market Absorption of New Multifamily Units (SOMA).

Economics

May 29, 2025

Treasury Yield Increase Drives Mortgage Rates Higher in May

Mortgage rates continued their upward trend in May due to market volatility triggered by fiscal concerns and weaker U.S. Treasury demand. According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 6.82% — a 9-basis-point (bps) increase from April. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage increased by 5 bps to 5.95%.

Economics

May 28, 2025

Aging-in-Place Remodeling Work Fell While Familiarity and Receptiveness Remain High

Only 56% of professional remodelers undertake projects designed to allow homeowners to Age-in-Place (AIP), according to results from NAHB’s Q1 2025 Remodeling Market Index (RMI) survey.