Hi everyone,
I am planing to build a house in the next year. I want to have a very energy effiecient small house.(less than 1500 sf) I am wondering how do SIPs hold up in a very wet climate. I live on the coast of Northern Ca. We get a lot of rain. Some contractors I have talked to say they have heard of rot problems with SIPs, but they don’t have person experience. Any advice?
Thanks.
This floating home maximizes its waterfront location with seamless indoor-outdoor living, a unique two-story layout, and a design that prioritizes light and views.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial NowGet instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
Replies
I’ve seen two details that will go a long way towards keeping the SIP skin material (usually OSB) in good shape. One is to provide a ventilation space (one product I’ve seen is something called Home Slicker) between the siding and the sheathing. The other is to back prime whatever siding material is used.
jross -- FH Editorial
http://www.sipbuilding.wordpress.com
ibweavn.
MY SIPs sat exposed to the rain, snow, and everyother thing for 4 years before I finally got shingles over everything.. Solid as new.. SIP"s will decay if they sit in water just like any other OSB will..
All a SIP is is two sheets of OSB seperated by a block of foam.. the foam is impervious to water but the OSB will rot.. Good SIPs use a waxed or sealed version of OSB to avoid water damage issues during construction. Use normal building practices to ensure that the OSB is off the ground and out out of constant touch with water.
Contractors are in a way like little children, they are afraid of things they aren't familar with. Once they build with SIP's it's a piece of cake and they too will fall in love with the process. May I suggest that you have your contractors contact me if they'd like some personal information. There are plenty of others who have successully built with SIPs and find it very much a do-it-yourself kind of project.. anything that is easy for a do-it-yourselfer to do should be a real breeze for a pro to do..