I started out with a dream to retire to a home where we could live inexpensively, and  generate our own energy. My dream is in serious jeopardy because I trusted the wrong people and paid a big price for doing so.

My wife and I just completed our home exterior shell using a product called Thermobuilt. They sell alternatives to SIPS that are supposed to be cheaper. Their web site makes all sorts of claims that I now seriously doubt.  Here is an example: The product has built-in chases for wires and other things to run. However, when your electrician takes a look at what he has to work with, they will likely do what mine did and start laughing, saying this will cost you two or three times the regular rate because of having to remove a bunch of foam, causing their time on the job to triple. Yes you can run a wire, but you can’t mount a box without removing a bunch of foam. I could tell you many more, but that was not my main problem.

So, after doing my research into green building and talking to some folks with experience, even some who have commented here, I decided to go with this company. My primary reason was, of course, building a net zero home, and they gave me assurances that they would be there to answer questions along the way to help ensure I didn’t hit any snags or issues. What I soon learned was that they were in constant “CYA” mode. At the time, it was a mystery, but now I have a pretty good idea why.

The Thermobuilt process starts with an estimate, to build just the frame, to buy their insulation for walls and roofs, and a Thermobuilt guide that was supposed to help you figure out how this home would be built. The estimate  was a little over $50,000.  This estimate was made a little more than a year ago, and since then, wood prices have either stayed consistent or dropped.

Fast forward to when it came time to purchase framing wood, The owner of Thermobuilt suggested I purchase the wood to save time. He said I’ll give you a list of what to buy; all you have to do is hand it to the lumber yard, and they will understand what to do. The wood he recommended cost over $30,000, which was more than 150% higher than I was quoted, which was supposed to be included.  By buying the wood myself, I was then not going to have to pay it to Thermobuilt but rather to the yard. Why was this so much higher than the estimate? As I looked closer, I believe they made several mistakes in the original estimate, so when he priced the wood rather than purchasing it as was planned, he talked me into doing it. The mistakes included incorrect floor joists, which they changed when doing the plans but didn’t bother to tell me. If I had received an accurate quote, I would have said no.

The result is that now I am way over budget, and he is telling me he can’t help. I wish someone had come on here and talked about their experience before I purchased this system, if so, I might have saved thousands of dollars. My plan was to be able to retire, but that looks like it won’t be possible now. If you want to know more about my experience with this company, let me know, and I would be happy to tell you more.