How it works
From floor plan
to finished home.
An AbodeMOD kit gives your builder a complete, insulated structural shell in days. Here is every step of the project, who handles it, and what to plan for.
The journey
Seven steps.
Three players.
You choose the home, AbodeMOD supplies the shell, and your contractor builds on it. The panels replace framing, insulation, sheathing and vapor barrier, so the slowest part of a conventional build becomes the fastest.
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01
You
Choose a model and package
Pick one of the seven floor plans, from the 560 sq ft AbodeMOD 560 to the 2,681 sq ft courtYARD, or ask about a custom layout. Then choose PRO (the ThermaSteel panels plus jacks, kings and accessories) or DELUXE (everything in PRO, plus headers and structural beams, factory-cut openings, track, and the screw package and plates).
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02
AbodeMOD
Get your quote and plans
Tell us where you're building and when. We confirm the package, the delivery cost for your address and your lead time, and share detailed floor plans and construction drawings with you and your builder.
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03
You & your builder
Zoning, permits and engineering
Check your town's rules for ADU or home size, height and setbacks, then apply for a building permit with the plans. ThermaSteel panels are designed to comply with IBC/ICC and ASHRAE 90.1 and have been evaluated by IAPMO-UES, Intertek and ASTM. Where your town requires it, a local engineer stamps the drawings.
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04
Your contractor
Site prep and foundation
Your contractor clears the site, brings utilities to the building and pours the foundation to the plan. A level, square foundation is what lets the panels go up quickly.
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05
AbodeMOD
Delivery day
Your kit arrives by freight, with the panels pre-cut, numbered and labeled in wall-line order and factory shop drawings to match. Standard curbside delivery is included in the Northeastern states. The carrier books an appointment with you; inspect everything before you sign. Shipping details
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06
Your framer
Raise the shell
In almost every case your own framer sets the panels, following the numbers on the drawings. A crew that has framed before typically needs under two hours of training, and the main tool is a screw gun. One framer and two helpers can close in an average-size house in about three days.
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07
Your contractor
Finish it your way
With the insulated shell standing, your contractor adds the roof covering, windows and doors, and siding, stucco, brick or stone. Then come plumbing, electrical and HVAC (wiring runs through the pre-molded chases in the panels), drywall, flooring, kitchen and bath, and final inspections.
Why it's fast
Less to build.
Less to wait for.
- Four trades, one panelFraming, insulation, sheathing and vapor barrier arrive as a single engineered piece, so there are fewer crews to schedule and fewer handoffs to slip.
- Pre-cut and labeledEvery panel is numbered to match the shop drawings and bundled in wall-line order. No measuring, cutting or sorting on site.
- Nothing to dry or cureSteel and EPS don't need to dry, cure or acclimatize, and moisture doesn't rot them, so the shell can go up in cold or wet weather.
- Insulated on day oneExterior walls reach R-51 the moment they're set, with the steel thermally broken from the exterior face.
- Built-in wiring chasesPre-molded electrical chases run through the panels, ready for your electrician.
- Your finishesThe panels take stucco, siding, brick or stone, so the house can look like anything you want.
Plan your budget
In the kit.
On your list.
The kit is the structural shell. Everything on the “Not included” list is part of your project too, so price it with your contractor from the start.
- ThermaSteel xPanel exterior walls & gable ends (R-51, 5.5")
- iPanel interior walls (R-51 load-bearing, R-28 non-load-bearing)
- rPanel roof panels
- Jacks, kings & accessories
- Factory shop drawings & assembly guidance
- Pre-molded electrical chases in the panels
- Standard curbside delivery in the Northeastern states
- Foundation & site prep
- Roof covering, siding & exterior cladding
- Windows & exterior doors
- Plumbing, electrical & HVAC
- Drywall, flooring, kitchen, bath & interior finishes
- Permits, engineering & assembly labor
- Delivery outside the Northeast, ferries, tolls or off-road access
Before you order
Your project checklist.
Work through these with your builder before you place an order. If anything is unclear, ask us. We're happy to help you think it through.
- Zoning. Confirm your town allows an ADU or new home on your lot, and check its size, height and setback limits.
- Access. Make sure a delivery truck can reach the site. Ferries, tolls and off-road access are quoted separately.
- Your team. Line up a contractor or framer for the foundation, assembly and finishing work.
- Permits. Plan for the permit application, and an engineer's stamp if your town requires one.
- Budget. Price the foundation, roof covering, windows and doors, cladding, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, interiors, permits and labor alongside the kit.
- Package. Decide between PRO and DELUXE, and confirm exactly what ships with your kit.
- Policies. Read our shipping and returns policies.
Good to know
Common
questions.
Do I need a specialist crew?
How long until my kit is delivered?
Can I change the floor plan?
Can my own architect or engineer work with the drawings?
What does my contractor need to know?
Ready to start
your project?
Get pricing for your site, a delivery estimate and detailed floor plans.