I’m in the idea / predesign stage of a small retirement house, for my sister and her husband. The lot and their desires, result in a single story on a basement/garage.
I am considering SIPs, and looking at the load tables, the SIPs would be suitable for all the floors.
I am wondering whether they would transmit sound between the basement and first floor.
Or, if any body has any good or bad points about them in general, I would like to hear them also.
Replies
Dealing with HVAC, plumbing and wiring in SIP floors has to be carefully thought out, designed into the SIP's and fully explained to subs or bids will come in at more than twice normal.
I wouldn't want to do it unless our subs could work through the specific system requirements they want, especially duct chases and plumbing. I'd strongly remind them if they later decide something isn't quite where they wanted it that it would be on their dime to have the SIP manufacturer's engineer decide if they'll let us move and cut to the new location.
Since flat SIP pannels have I-joists inside all that foam it's necessary to know where your drill bit is to not clip a top or bottom cord 4' into the foam, so even drilling through for electrical wires can be a pain if clearances are tight.
The project I'm helping out with now has flat SIP roofs, essentially the same construction as SIP floors, but with different loading. The architect decided against SIP floors since it causes so many headaches. The SIP manufacturer was also forthcoming that SIP floors are rarely included in the requests they see for that very reason.
Cheers
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.