We have compiled a wealth of useful resources on this page—and we’re continuing to add to it. If you don’t see what you’re looking for here, please let us know and we would love to connect with you to answer all your questions.
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
To receive our monthly newsletter with educational information, helpful news updates, and photos of recent projects we encourage you to sign up for our Unity newsletter. You can also read past newsletters from our newsletter archive.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
One of the best ways to stay up to date on all things Unity is to follow us on social media. We often post photos of our homes, both finished and in progress, along with day-to-day updates and educational resources.
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YOUTUBE VIDEOS
The best way to check out Unity’s videos, including home walkthroughs, helpful information and past recordings of our Lunch and Learn events, is to check out our various playlists on our YouTube channel.
EVENTS
We have many events such as factory tours, open houses, virtual Facebook Live Lunch and Learns, webinars, and more which are all listed on our events page.
BLOGS
We have many helpful educational blogs on our website covering a plethora of topics as you consider building a high-performance home with Unity.
RESOURCE DOCUMENTS
Below are downloadable documents to help you better understand what it’s like to work with Unity. Our aim is to clearly explain each step so you feel comfortable taking the next step toward building your home with us.
View our Home Plan Options
See all of our design options in one place and filter according to your needs.
7-Step Planning Guide for Building a New Home.
Building a new energy-efficient home doesn’t have to be confusing. We’ve prepared this guide to help you better navigate the overall process.
Intro to Unity’s Design Platforms.
Unity homes are based on flexible design platforms that are readily customizable to our clients’ needs, sites and budgets.
Guide to Unity’s Package Options: Shell and Tempo
We prefabricate and assemble the panelized, high-performance building shell and interior partition wall framing on the locally installed
foundation. There is also the option to choose our Tempo package and source certain finishes through us. Check out the guide below to see what is included in our packages and the breakdown of scope between Unity and the local builder.
Selection Standard and Upgraded Offerings
Our offerings include a number of different finishes and fixtures for various budget levels. Options are designated as standard or upgrade. Clients who stick closely to Unity’s standard offerings realize the greatest value.
UNITY’S MATERIALS, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS
At Unity, we’re not ashamed to be called “Building Geeks.” We offer the following resources that describe in more detail how Unity uses state-of-the-art materials and methods to build better homes for our clients.
High-Performance Shell
The panelized enclosure system (or “shell”) that Unity prefabricates for each home is the cornerstone of the home’s performance. This diagram details the key elements of our enclosure system.
Foundation Options
Unity Homes can be assembled on a variety of foundation types. The foundation choice for your particular project will be determined by the site, by the design and by the budget. This document provides an overview of the foundation options.
Insulation
Insulating well is key to comfort, health and energy efficiency. At Unity we use cellulose insulation because it offers many advantages over fiberglass and foam insulation. Learn more.
Heating and Cooling
Air source heat pumps are our system of choice for maintaining comfortable interior temperatures by providing heat in winter and cooling in summer. And if your home will be Net Zero or Net Zero Ready, these systems are ideal. Learn more.
Indoor Air Quality
Perhaps one of the most important attributes of a Unity Home is healthy indoor air. We achieve this by using tight construction and installing a “fresh air” system in every home, so that our clients can breathe easier and live healthier. Learn more.
Performance Specifications
Check out this page for an overview of the high-performance specifications of a Unity Home.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Introduction to Prefab and Modular Homes
Prefab and Modular homes are positive options that are well worth your consideration, with a number of different advantages and disadvantages depending upon your needs. We’ve developed this introduction to help get you started learning about them. Read the article.
Selecting a Building Lot and Siting Your Homes
Buying a building lot and constructing a home can be a wonderful experience – especially if you’re well-prepared. In this guide we offer practical suggestions for assessing land on which you’re considering building and then siting your home properly on the lot. Read the article.
Introduction to Passive House Principles and Design
Here at Unity Homes we don’t build Passive House certified homes, but our approach is very similar, and the performance of our homes typically matches that of Passive Houses in certain key aspects. This introduction will teach you about the history of Passive House as well as the principles and concepts that led to its inception. Read the article.
BOOKS BY TEDD BENSON
The Timberframe Home: Design, Construction, Finishing (1988)
Whereas Tedd’s first book focused on how to cut and assemble timber frames, his second book was about all the other steps required to design and build a timber frame home. Based on the experience of having built hundreds of timber frame homes throughout New England and beyond, this book provided a logical and necessary complement to Tedd’s first book, and was an indispensable handbook for anyone contemplating a timber frame home.
The Timberframe Home (revised, 1997)
As the timber frame revival gathered momentum, the materials and methods for building these homes evolved rapidly. Unity’s parent company Bensonwood was at the forefront of a flurry of innovation that improved the design, engineering, fabrication and construction of timber frame homes. In his third book, Tedd describes the state-of-the-art of building timber frame homes at the turn of the last century, with Bensonwood having played a key role in many of the most important developments.
Timberframe: The Art and Craft of the Post-and-Beam Home (1999)
Foreword by Norm Abram (former host of PBS’s This Old House and New Yankee Workshop)
Tedd’s fourth book celebrates the beauty and craftsmanship of timber frame homes. This coffee table tome includes case studies and gorgeous photographs of 29 homes built in a variety of styles across the country. Most of the homes were designed and built by Bensonwood, but the book also includes examples of work by other celebrated timber frame home companies. The book remains one of the most inspirational timber frame design books ever to be published.
