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What is a SIP (Structurally Insulated Panel)? Should I use SIPs?
Welcome to Owner Notes, a free newsletter for anyone planning (or dreaming about) building a custom home.
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Last week, we looked at a discussion among GCs about who pays to fix a problem during construction. This week, our focus is building a home with SIPs (Structurally Insulated Panels). We'll learn why they are used and how they are installed.
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Are you a homeowner facing challenges in planning your home? Are you curious about anything specific related to the homeowner experience? We're here to help and would love to know what's on your mind. We'll share our answers and perspectives in the future.
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What is a SIP? Should I use SIPs for my project?
We often think of homes being built with lumber, like 2X4s. Lumber is reliable and easy to manage, but it's not the only way to build a home. Many homeowners are opting for a building system made of manufactured panels that serve as the home's support and insulation. These are Structurally Insulated Panels or SIPs.
You can think of SIPs like interlocking ice cream sandwiches. They often have wooden sheathing on the outside and insulation on the inside.
There are many different types of panels, but they all have a few things in common:
- They are produced in a factory using precise computer controls
- They serve as both structure and insulation
- They are delivered to the site and installed panel-by-panel
SIPs are similar in price to traditional construction materials and can reduce construction labor costs and waste. Because the panels are fabricated so precisely, they are known for increasing the efficiency of a building by making it more airtight, which relates to lower heating and cooling costs.
The Process
One of the amazing elements of using SIPs is how quickly the house's structure is built. An entire house can come together in a couple of days.
The pre-fabricated panels arrive on the building site ready to be installed.
They are like puzzle pieces. Each one has markings that ensure correct installation.
A crane is used to move the panels into place.
This is a two-story SIP wall being put into place.
Keep in Mind
SIPs are not for every project or homeowner. SIPs work best when the architect, GC, and structural engineer have experience in working with them. A SIP installer may do the installation and then hand it off to the GC. A mutual understanding among the team helps ensure that the overall home is designed and constructed with SIPS in mind.
Homeowner Perspective
Build Livable contributors Jon and Mari provided the images above and had this to say about their experience:
π We cover this subject and much more in our Custom Home Construction Navigator Course.
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Lee LeFever, Build Livableβ
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We're homeowners helping homeowners navigate custom home construction via online education. Owner Notes is a weekly email with expert tips and advice for anyone planning (or dreaming about) building a custom home.
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