Recently, Signature Building Systems has begun to witness a shift in the modular market. I’m referring neither to an increase nor a decline in interest overall, but rather a lateral move. We’re seeing a boost in interest in Cape-Cod style homes – “4-box” Cape-Cod style homes to be more precise.

“Traditional” Cape-cod style homes or “2-box” capes have always been a good seller. A traditional cape is delivered with an “unfinished” attic – this area is then completed by the builder to the customer’s specifications on-site after delivery. In the past, this was the road most traveled. Everyone knew there had to be an alternative, faster way to build a cape and began to search for a better way. With the goal of time savings in mind – the “4-box” cape was born.

A “4-box” cape is delivered with the “attic” completed to the same factory specifications as the first floor of the home. Essentially the factory construction is much like a two-story modular home. This coupled with Signatures standard practice of pre-fitting the boxes in the factory eliminates countless hours of on-site construction. Thus, allowing the home to be completed in a fraction of the time.

You can see by the pictures that we have a home in production that is having polyurethane open-cell insulation applied to the exterior walls. This type of product not only works as an insulation giving you an effective R value, it also works as an air infiltration barrier. Icynene is applied as a liquid and expands to 100 times it’s initial volume! This effectively seals gaps and crevices that can compromise air tightness. Other benefits claimed by the manufacturer include improved air quality, effective moisture management and increased sound control.

This home is a custom 1,600 square foot “salt box” that will be delivered to Essex, MA.   The builder is Distinctive Modular Home Builders, LLC. This home will also feature radiant floor heating and solar hot water heating.