I have a job coming up,mulling strategies.Always intrigued by SIP’s,fairly familiar with structural/thermal claims.
Heard from a friend,a friend has a timberframe,SIP’s infill.Major ant problems,he finds piles of foam at the base.Apparently begun to lose sleep.
Anybody know about problems like this?Any strategies,where the solution isn’t worse than the problem?
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Replies
Borate treated Sips and Icfs are available. Kills ants/termites/mold. What I would call a no brainer.
I saw a EIFS house once where the foam went below grade. Termites had burrowed thru the foam and eaten the band joist and part of the wall framing....
The borate ICFS are the only ones code approved way down south I read, cuz the termites are so much worse.
I am looking at sips for my addition just for the fact that I can get it dried in quicker and that means less weekends lost!
Our new timber-framed house features urethane SIPs. Haven't had any problems with ants yet in New Hampshire. Our timber framer ordered them (from RI) with OSB on both sides. Some try to save $$ and order the blueboardon the inside face - don't. You'll probably see reflective cracking after taping since the SIPs will move ever so slightly. With the OSB on the inside, the owners can hang pictures, screw wall-mounted stuff much easier.
One more tip: our timber framer ordered the foam thickness to match 2x6 lumber (so OSB and other sheathing match outsdie faces) and placed a 16" high utility chase on 1st floor decking to run wiring thru. Beats fishing for wires, but you need to sketch out the details for your configuration.
Good luck.