Four Seasons Price Comparing ??

[trmimo]

Site built homes with full length doors have ducted return air which still has a return air grill.
Some manufacturers including 4 seasons offer ducted reurn air, but most customers are unwilling to pay for it.
particleboard failures are moisture issues, and moisture issues are created by among other things poor perofrming hvac systems.
And particleboard is not prohibited in site built construction.

[trmimo]

dual pane windows are standard on Summerbrooks

[trmimo]

A vapor barrior is a layer of plastic vovering the ground under your home.
The cement slab of your basement floor will meet the factory spec for a vapor barrier.
It is a good idea to still put the plastic down though, and it may be required by your local inspector.

[Tabitha]

How much does it usually cost to have the ducted return air and what should I say when asking for it?

[Bill Fry]

Some do,but most don't have return air ducts in every room.Particleboard is not prohibted in site built but even the cheapest builders are not naive enough to actually use it.If you feel comfortable with particleboard you are free to put it in your house. We will just have to agree to disagree.

[Pendragon]

I have the 6 panel doors.. and I had the overdoor vents removed and drywalled over. They only installed them on 3 bedrooms, but not the fourth, and then over the study door (which opens to the unvented bedroom). The doors are 'undercut' by 1.5", as are pretty much all interior doors. The only way you will get a door that truely goes all the way to the floor (and drags and damages the carpet) is to get a door too tall for the opening and size it down.

No issues with heating, cooling or humidity, and I don't miss the extra noise that would have traveled through a 3x10 vent.

As for steps. I'd check on that, here code requires all doorways have steps. The dealer CANNOT setup a home without them, even if you will be installing your own steps later, he must provide steps for all entryways.

[Tabitha]

Where wowuld I check something like that? I live in Newcomerstown Ohio 43832.

[trmimo]

Ask the local building inspector, he or she will tell you if steps are required for every door.
Most places do. Some allow the dealer to put a safety rail across the patio door instead of steps.