Field Examples

A discussion on panels and trusses is on the LeanBuilding Group site in LinkedIn (members only... contact us for an invitation to join).

The question posed was, "Is a home framed with wall panels and trusses automatically lean (at least the framing portion)? It appears to waste considerably less material but it is still the minority method." LeanBuilding Group members addressed the need for capable local suppliers, reasonable travel distances, comparative costs, framing crew differences, and other important considerations, concluding panels or trusses are not 'automatically' Lean. One member submitted this photo as he made his point:

Fort Worth, TX -- August, 2011

"Historymaker Homes builds in my community and it is always fun for me to watch when they have a house going up next to [national brand name omitted] which uses no panels or trusses. The difference is spectacular. The Historymaker Home goes up faster, better and with HUGE reductions in waste versus the [national brand] home. And with the Historymaker homes there is rarely lumber laying around the job site because they can schedule drop packages & dates. As soon as panels and trusses drop, they have men there pulling them together. Very impressive to watch. I am going to try to find a [national brand] home going up in the same stage and take a pic of the difference in waste and duration it takes just to get the framing complete.

--submitted by a non-builder involved in neither trusses or panels (for more discussion on panels and trusses, join the LeanBuilding Group on LinkedIn)