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I live just south of Houston and interested in building with SIP’s Most articles/advertisements seem to address issues in folder climates. I’d like some feedback from users in southern climates. I’m also concerned about windstorm resistance and of course, cost. Thanks
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By considering things like energy-efficient mechanicals, window orientation, and renewable energy sources, homes can be evaluated to meet the energy codes. Here's what the IRC has to say.
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Being in a Northern Climate, I can't speak to the southern aspect of it, but I have used them a few times, and think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. Now, you have to remember that 1) I usually work alone or with one guy, and 2), what I particularly like is being able to ship the plans off and have the things show up ready to go. I'd really like to do more, but unfortunatenly, the market usually doesn't like to spend money on energy effeciency (but hey, that might change real quick).
As for your other questions; although we don't specifically plan for wind resistance or other sesimic events here, I'd imagine, since you're basically creating a totally sheathed strucutre, both inside and out, that it is pretty good. As a matter of fact, if you go to http://www.r-control.com (at least I think that's correct), they have specifications on line about racking and loading. As for cost, if you're an owner-builder, it doesn't look good; SIPs are about two and a half times as expensive as regular stick framing, but, and the real but is that I, and one other slightly fat guy (maybe that was me), can totally enclose a timber frame in one day; a 1500 square foot ranch in two (that's 2 people, with trusses; walls one day, roof the next). There is no labor on any wall insulation, and I think the dryin time speaks for itself. BTW, drywallers love em, electricians hate them; but now you can order panels with wiring chases; you just have to make sure to "line up" the holes with ones you drill in your plates. R-Control, Winter-Panel, AMOS, and a number of others make VERY detailed instruction manuals that they give out for free; it's interesting stuff. You don't say if you're a builer or owner; in either case, I think that the long-term energy effeciency makes them well worth while--I have a SIP coated timberframe, and use less than half the LP gas my neighbor, in a smaller home, does each month.
Also, if you go to http://www.sips.org, they have a lot of information. Hope this helps.
*Jason,Thanks for the info. I am the homeowner. How much do you think would be added to the total cost of a single story, 3000 sq. ft. house when using SIP's vs. a traditional stick-frame construction? Thanks again.
*steve, I just started stick-framing a house for a customer who priced sip's. Here's the scoop. After he saw my stick frame bid, he told me to start tomarrow. I think a 5 1/2" sip 4' by 9' on average runs about $160 for material only, no labor.
*Just my opinion, but it seems to me you are better off spending the money on better windows than on SIPS. My experience is the same as others - I looked at them for the house I am building and found them economically unviable (2-3 times the cost of stick framing). I am not convinced of the energy efficiency because when you run the heat loss calcs for a house, a huge portion of the loss is through the windows. The walls and ceilings amount for a relatively small portion of the loss (depends on the window area and orientation, of course). Something to consider.sami
*Steve, Winter Panel has a good website (www.winterpanel.com)(installation, tech info etc) that you might find interesting. I have heard that there are some issues in your climate ......insects boring and nesting in the foam for one. There are solutions. Ditto the comments on windows ....shame to put up an efficient house and ruin it with some cheap inefficient mill finsh aluminum window.
*Mike, could you post those figures or email me? I'm curious, because my partners and I just spent quite a bit of time planning out our next spec, and the difference between SIPs and stick was about .50 per square foot of exterior wall area more. That puts our price about $1000 more than conventional. We included everything that we could conceive of (and we've done both SIP and stick), including labor, materials, shipping, electricians time, etc. I definitely agree with the window idea, however, and a lot of other effecient ideas. However, and this might make me a biased participant, but my humble opinion is that they are FAR superior to conventional framing. All I have to do is compare my SIP home bill to the guy next door living in the "sticks" to see that. I'd appreciate you keeping this conversation going, as I have a great interest in this subject and would like to make it my major focus. Thanks.
*Jason, that $160 price is for a single 5 1/2" sip. Window cut outs, door cutouts, wire and plumbing chases, top and bottom plates, splices, fasteners, etc. are all extras. You might as well double that price for the extras. Type in structural insulated panels on your search and there are several companys with a price list.
*Okay, I can the same, with windows, door cutouts, wiring chases, plus the glue they use for just under $90. I can see where our problem is... Now, did you go back and figure in all the other goodies for conventional? I was figuring 2x6 walls, full sheathing, blow-in cellulose, plus labor on each.
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I live just south of Houston and interested in building with SIP's Most articles/advertisements seem to address issues in folder climates. I'd like some feedback from users in southern climates. I'm also concerned about windstorm resistance and of course, cost. Thanks