Why Use Prefabricated Insulated Panels for New Home Construction?
Traditional construction of a new home usually means erecting a wood frame and then putting up drywall panels, with insulation between those panels. Prefabricated insulated panels are made in a factory and then delivered to a construction site, and they take the place of walls, ceilings and even floors. If you're having a new home built and can decide for yourself on the type of construction and materials, you might note some advantages of prefabricated insulated panels installation versus standard construction materials and processes.
1. Better insulation
The materials used for prefabricated panels provides for better insulation than standard drywall and either blown foam or fiberglass insulation. The material inside the panels is much denser than these options and is made to fit every crack and crevice of the panels; the insulating material used for prefabricated panels is cut to fit the panels exactly and is attached to all sides of the panels, providing the best insulation possible.
This insulation can mean lower utility bills as your home is less likely to be drafty or to allow your heating and air conditioning out. It can also mean less sound traveling inside your home from the outside. If your new home will be near high-traffic areas, a school, production facilities, or anywhere with high noise levels, this type of insulation with the prefabricated panels can be the better option and provide maximum comfort.
2. Faster construction time
Because panels are cut to size in a factory and not on the jobsite; the construction time can actually be faster than if you chose traditional wood frames and drywall. Erecting a frame and then putting drywall over this is a two-stage process, so it takes longer than erecting prefabricated panels simply because of the added steps involved. Drywall then also needs to be cut around window frames, ventilation fans, and other features of the home's frame and this too can mean more time needed than when using prefabricated panels. These features can be integrated into the panel's design before it's manufactured and, in turn, there is less time needed for overall construction.
3. Straighter panels, no studs
Wood frames can eventually start to warp and bow over time and, in turn, the drywall can begin to crack. This movement can also mean creaking as the home 'settles', but this doesn't happen with prefabricated panels.
Prefabricated panels also mean that there are no studs behind the walls, so you can hang fasteners, picture hooks, shelves, and anything else you want from the wall in any spot. This can be a great convenience for homeowners.
