Are Structural Insulated Panels Right For You?
Structural Insulated Panels—also known as SIPs—are high-performance building panels that consist of two sheets of OSB and a layer of rigid expanded polystyrene or extruded polystyrene foam insulation in between. Trying to decide if using SIPs are right for your project? Let us help you with your decision.
Structural Insulated Panels for your walls, roof & floor
We believe SIPs are the superior material for building and think everyone should use them. But are SIPs right for your project? If you want the cheapest building material, SIPs are probably not the right choice. However, if you are willing to invest a little more now to build a higher quality structure for the future that provide benefits for decades, then yes is your answer. The check-off list below will help you with your decision.
Choose SIPs if:
- YOU are you building a Net Zero, Passive House, Energy Star, LEED Certified, EarthCraft, or just a darn good building. A building envelope made from SIPs (roofs, walls and floors) is the simplest way to build a superior performance structure. Achieving higher continuous R values, low air infiltration rates and satisfying program criteria has never been easier.
- YOU care about the environment and want your decisions to help create a better future. Buildings and their construction together account for 36 percent of global energy use and 39 percent of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions annually. A high efficiency building made with SIPs saves hundreds of thousands of pounds of CO2 emissions over the life of the building. An efficient house made from SIPs provides a greater reduction in greenhouse gases.
- YOU worry about Hurricanes? High Winds? Flying Debris? SIP buildings withstand the extreme forces of nature better than stick framed buildings. SIPs buildings are up to 4x as strong at resisting lateral forces such as wind and each panel acts as a shear wall for added sturdiness. Panel walls also make the building safer from flying debris and projectiles.
- YOU are building or managing the project yourself. Short on framing labor? SIPs (roofs, walls and floors) go together extremely easy to create a high quality building envelope with accuracy in construction. Your building envelope can be erected quickly and correctly the first time to give you more time to manage the rest of the building.
- YOU are building with a Timber Frame or Post and Beam Structure. Structural Insulated Panels are the natural choice for completing these buildings – they can be quickly installed in large sections to provide a strong and efficient shell to get you roughed in fast. Panel ceilings provide longer spans between beams when designing elegant vaulted ceilings.
- YOU want a certified quality control and warranty. Our SIPs (roofs, walls and floors) are made in controlled environment with a documented Quality Control program that is certified and audited four times per year. Engineering values are set through extensive testing of our SIPs and are documented in an NTA Code report and monitored with periodic testing.
- YOU are building to newer IRC or IBC Codes? Newer IRC and IBC building codes have higher standards for R-values, continuous insulation and lower air infiltration requirements, which are increasingly difficult to meet with Stick Frame construction. Hence, requiring more steps from the builder to get right with an uncertain result. SIPs are designed to go together to make it easy to meet the new building code requirements with confidence.
Build with SIPs
Stick with Sticks
Build a Better Building
Type of Builder
- Custom Builder
- Emphasis on Quality & Performance
- Timber Framer
Building Standard
- IRC/IBC 2015 or later
- High Performance
- Net Zero
- PassiveHaus
- Energy Star
- Leed
- EarthCraft
Structural Evaluations
- Building in high wind zones
- Vaulted ceilings
- Fewer trusses
Financial Profile
- Likes to invest smart. Looking to Invest a little more for long term performance
- Excellent rate of returns
- Wants higher air and living quality
Environmental profile
- Feels strongly about the environment
- Wants choices to contribute to less emissions as a solution for global warming
Build a cheaper building
Type of Builder
- Production Builder
- Emphasis on low price
- Most house for least money
Building Standard
- IRC/IBC 2012 or earlier
- Speculation
- Code Minimum
- Least expensive
- Large development
- Largest house for least money
Structural Evaluations
- Low regulations
- No wind requirements
- No need for insulation
Financial Profile
- Lowest upfront cost
- Cheapest build
- Views building as just a cost
- Looking for a quick sale
Environmental profile
- Not particularly concerned about environmental impact of building
- Doesn’t believe in global warming
