I have an idea... let's put our knowledge together and come up with a comprehensive list of manufacturers who offer SIP modular construction and their location. 

After my personal extensive and exhaustive web search, I was under the distinct impression that our house was the first of its kind.  If this is not the case, I feel I/we owe it to the world to let people know where they might get a house like this (which is why I built www.GouinGreen.com).

Here is a description of the SIP/modular product I am talking about...

1 - The product must use some form of structural insulated panel (SIP) (OSB, steel, concrete, etc skins) for exterior walls/shell in lieu of traditional framing lumber.
2 - Their product must be almost entirely constructed in a modular factory (kitchens, baths, finished ceilings and walls, etc), trucked to the job site, and craned into place.
3 - The product must be a "real" modular home.  (No HUD homes, no trailers, no panelized homes, no empty shells, etc.)  Any steel sub-frames should be for structural reasons and not for ease of future movement.
4 - The product must meet all state and local building codes - no "exempt" homes (this disqualifies HUD homes).

If you have something to add to this, please do.

Thanks,
Ed

Hi Carol,

I think Murus is a great company, however, our personal visit was interesting, but anti-climactic.  I thought of it this way... it's a factory where they make building products.  I never visited a plywood factory or a carpet factory so I have no real concept of what these things should be like.  Beyond that, I don't really know what to say.

My personal experience has been that site-built SIP construction is significantly more expensive than traditional stick-frame.  It is fairly easy to find studies (and contractors) that are reporting it is less expensive (labor savings), but I have not seen that in reality.  You may find that these "home packages" appear to be a good deal, but it has also been my experience that the carpenters, electricians, and plumbers will charge you more to finish the house because it can be a little more work for them.  In the end, I've found that modular is the way to go because they fully utilize the construction efficiency of SIPs and that savings is passed on. 

In terms of actual cost, we are building a larger sized house.  The cost to go from R19 fiberglass and 2x6" construction to R23 SIP was approximately $2000.  Polyurethane SIPs are more expensive.  The real number is buried so far in our GC numbers that I may never really know.  For arguments sake, let's say the cost to upgrade to R40 was in the neighborhood of $10,000 (assuming it would cost less for a smaller house).   Keep in mind, I am estimating.  Very few people know the actual cost of the upgrade.

I would encourage you to contact Penn Lyon directly: 1-800-788-4754.  They can put you in touch with a local builder who can provide you with some real numbers.  If you are near Selinsgrove, you will save many thousands of dollars in transportation costs alone (ours are ~$15k+).

It will take us several weeks of "button up" work before the house is complete.  Countertops, hardwood floors, HVAC, finish electric and plumbing, painting, deck, etc.  Some of these things could have been done in the factory, but for various reasons we chose to do them onsite.  We are hoping to move in around September 1st.

The benefits of SIPs, in general, are too numerous to list (and can get pretty technical pretty quickly).  The added benefit of cost savings and quality building with modular construction are real.  I will have to let you know later about the energy efficiency, but I've done enough research to believe it on faith right now.

Hope this helps.

Ed