FAQ – 20 Popular Questions

One core value of the AvrameUSA system is the ability to customize!

Customizations to floor plans, window schedules, dormers, fireplaces, decks, garages, and more are feasible. The first step is to sketch out what you envision on top of an existing floor plan to assess for feasibility, we call this a redline mark-up!

From this sketch, we can provide feasibility feedback. We estimate drafting hours, per your designs, at $150/hour. The average client customization time is between 4 and 12 hours. Some customizations require engineering calculations (basements, decks, breezeway) and those are priced out per item.

The Avrame concept was developed in Europe and has offices in Estonia. The AvrameUSA team has designed and engineered kits to be compliant with US building codes. AvrameUSA sources, packages, and ships all kit parts domestically. Our facilities are located in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Current custom home builds in the United States average over $200-$500 per square foot.  AvrameUSA kits are designed to be considerably more affordable, from the foundation on up! The original concept was conceived with a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach in mind which will drive significant savings.  However, when using a builder you also drive savings on pre-construction costs (architectural sets and engineering) and framing labor.  With our pre-cut pre-drilled custom truss system, the structural assembly will happen in days vs. weeks or months with traditional practices.

The materials you choose to include in your kit, access to your building site, sourced finish materials, sub-contracted help, and local market rates will all impact your final build cost. Use the budget worksheet to get estimates and research options that work best for your land, budget, timeline, and building experience.  We also offer Prep Plans which can help you get more accurate budgets by performing a full take-off yourself or with your builder.

Yes! No matter your floor plan, you always have a top collar tie that is structurally required in the Trio series. The Duo series does offer an open truss without the collar tie in some areas.

Because this is LVL material and not architectural lumber, you will want to wrap the beam in a finish material of your choice for aesthetics. The roof side beams can also be finished and exposed though it is not recommended and usually cost-prohibitive.

We have a Duo75 mock-up available for scheduled site visits at our fabrication facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Duo is not a model home but is finished to show the level of materials our system offers. We have a portion of the mock-up unfinished to be able to best discuss the structural components with visitors. Even if you’re interested in a Trio, the Duo can be helpful to visit as it is approximately the same size as the second level of a Trio.

As clients finish their homes, some may be available for site visits on a quarterly basis or nightly rentals. Be sure to follow along at AvrameUSA on Instagram for updates. If you plan to be in the area, we would love to connect in person! Please allow 2 or more days to schedule your site visit appointment to ensure availability.

The best place to follow along with current builds is our AvrameUSA Instagram page. Some US clients are documenting their builds along the way as well. Soon, there will be Avrame homes in the US available for nightly rentals as well.

We have two engineered foundation options in the US:

A standard crawl space design is included with our plan sets. This is with four perimeter walls and center support for the floor load for the Trio series. This is designed for a flat plot of land. For a Trio, the foundation is typically an 8” foundation wall with #4 rebar on 12” vertical centers and 12” horizontals (single mat). The footings are typically 36” wide and 12” deep on the two sidewalls and 24” wide on the gable walls.

A basement option that can be added to your Trio plans ($1,500+) which can work on a sloped lot. This includes a custom floor plan based on how you plan to use the basement space.

A basement option can be added to the Duo kits as a custom foundation option ($2,500+). Basements in Duo do not usually have interior access points from the basement to the home due to the available width of the series.

AvrameUSA no longer offers a strip-footing foundation design for the following reasons:

• Most building departments to not allow an open foundation
• Freeze thaw and plumbing related issues are more cost effective with a crawlspace
• Vermin-related issues are eliminated with a crawlspace
• Insulation requirements are mitigated with a crawlspace

Due to the way our structural truss is engineered, attached, and the required loads a slab foundation is not feasible with the AvrameUSA system.

Slab foundation styles are common for prefab homes or modular homes. Because Avrame is a traditional stick build and not a prefabricated home, we are unable to use slab foundations.

Pier or post and beam foundation styles are feasible but not offered by the AvrameUSA team. You may use a 3rd party engineer to design and stamp this foundation style. They are generally not a cost-effective option with the loading and point forces of our system but can be necessary in flood zones.

Permitting is your responsibility. In your research phase, you should become familiar with local limitations for building shape and size as well as permitting requirements. Most building departments will have a checklist you can review.

After you engage in the drawing phase of our process, you will have your plan sets from us, along with anything you need to supplement, to use to apply for permits.

Because each jurisdiction is slightly different in how they like to see details on their plan sets, our process allows for one round of redline revisions, or plans review notes, sent back from your jurisdiction. This is for anything included in the AvrameUSA plan set inclusions. We are unable to offer services for other jurisdictions or HOA requests.

Our basic floor plan is available for this purpose. This should provide you enough information to gain initial approval.

Upon permit approval, your account manager will help you select and reserve an available kit delivery week (minimum 8 weeks out), with a $1,000, non-refundable, ship date hold. Payment is applied to your kit. Once your ship date is 6 weeks out you will receive an updated production invoice for all requested kit materials at current market rates.

A 50% production payment is due at that time, to lock in your pricing and to keep your reserved ship date on target.

In the US, it is not necessary to hire an architect or engineer for your project in most cases. We have full sets of engineered plans and architectural drawings available, plus a team you can work with for customizations.

Heating and cooling is up to you and not part of our kit or plan sets. Our recommendation is a mini-split wall or ceiling mounted unit that is optimized for heating and cooling. The way we have optimized the living space in the AvrameUSA home does not leave a lot of extra room for a full ductwork forced air system. There are other options such as electric baseboards and various types of stoves you could consider. You may also consider a ceiling fan in the open vaulted areas of your home to help with airflow.

MINI-SPLIT

PROS

• Low purchase and install cost
• Heating and cooling in one unit
• Can run unattended

CONS

• Relatively low cost of operation until you hit sub-zero outside temperatures, at which point, you kick over to straight electric heat

PELLET STOVE/WOOD BURNING STOVE

PROS

• Low operating cost
• No propane or NG
• Relatively low purchase price

CONS

• Can’t leave them alone for more than a few days (pellet)
• Would need a secondary electric heating source for the abandoned time periods

TRADITIONAL FURNACE

PROS

• Even instant heat

CONS

• Higher install cost
• Needs propane or NG
• Second floor heat runs are problematic
• Valuable space you give up to install

Radiant heating is wonderful, though sometimes cost prohibitive. Our engineering includes using a floor truss as part of the structural system, thus a mud-radiant system with 2 x 2 sleepers is the recommended approach for this. There is an under-mount system with a reflector shield as well, however it requires a bit more space. In that floor joist you would have little room left for insulation and have a loss of efficiency. There are some options here and we would be happy to discuss this further with you.

NOTE: Our system can not use a slab-on-grade foundation thus radiant heating through a slab is not possible with the AvrameUSA system.

Anything you like. Insulation is sourced locally by you and according to your local jurisdiction’s R-value requirements. AvrameUSA systems offer a deep cavity between 6 to 12 inches (floor to exterior) to work with for insulation, depending on the series. This provides lots of options for insulation like rigid foam, spray foam, batting, blown glass, etc.

Our favorite approach for affordability and maximizing R-value is to spray a few inches of spray foam and then fill in with another type. Your builder may be able to provide some feedback on what works best in your area.

We do not offer financing directly through AvrameUSA. Most clients have found success seeking a construction loan (some loans will allow you to bundle land and home together). One key element to keep in mind when talking to lenders is AvrameUSA is not a prefabricated, modular, or tiny home. It is really a traditional stick-build home, with full sets of architectural and engineered plans, that sits on a fixed foundation. Simply stated, we offer a sophisticated materials order kit with accompanying plan sets. It may be necessary and beneficial to you to educate your lender on the AvrameUSA flexible building system.

An initial payment of $3,500, plus any customization or additional drawing fees, is due at the engagement of the drawing phase. The payment is non-refundable and is applied towards your final payment balance. Then, upon securing a permit, you may select and reserve an available kit delivery week (minimum 8 weeks out), with a $1,000, non-refundable, ship date hold payment (applied to your balance). At six weeks out from your ship date 50% of your invoice is due as kit production begins and the final balance is due when your kit is ready to be shipped.

We have money-saving opportunities for qualified AvrameUSA home builds. If you choose to document your build and share it on social media we offer small discounts. This works best for clients who are already a good fit for our system as a way to thank them for sharing with the Avrame community.

We also offer multiple discounts starting at 3 or more kits of the same size and floor plan. This discount starts at 3% and goes up to 10% for 20 plus units. This offer pertains most often to developers.

Yes, AvrameUSA kit can easily be finished to be an off-the-grid home. The nature of the roofing easily allows for solar panels. You will be responsible to source solar equipment and other off-the-grid options locally.

All AvrameUSA kits are engineered, sourced, and packaged in the United States. The kits are prepared and shipped from our facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah on a flatbed truck.

You and your team would greet the truck upon arrival at the site and unload the components and building materials directly onto your site. A construction forklift is required. The shipping cost is $3.25 per mile. Estimates for delivery range between $2,200 to $7,800, depending on proximity and accessibility.

Your shipping cost is the same with the minimum Structural Kit order or if you max out the truck’s height and weight capacity. We can often fit multiple structural kits on one truck depending on the model.

Depending on your build schedule, location of your land, comfort level and potential exposure to weather elements, you may consider having a pod or storage container on-site to hold materials while you build. AvrameUSA homes are designed to be assembled quickly. With efficient planning, you may not need storage on-site at all.

No, we do not sell plans only. Because of our custom engineered and fabricated hardware plates, which are factored into our plan sets, our minimum package is our Structural Kit. The Structural Kit includes permit drawings, assembly instructions and structural lumber and hardware.

Good question! Check out the three main steps we take our clients through here.