Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 15, 2000 01:49am | #1

   *
   Hey,

   I have been installing SIP's and Stress Skin Panels (SSP's) for the last 5 years exclusively, mostly residential, some commercial, walls and roofs.

   When I did my research before using them the first time as stand alone structure as opposed to skinning a timber frame, I found that most of the companies out there were just selling SSP’s but calling them SIP’s. They claimed that the system was 2 to 3 times stronger than conventional framing. Somehow I found myself not quite understanding how this could be so with only a couple of sheets of 7/16” OSB, two glue joints and some Expanded Poly Styrene (EPS). I am no engineer but I wasn’t building my first corral here either. The lack of structural headers over windows and doors (even below 4’) was a deterrent, but the capper was the siding I was using was 1x rough sawn spruce applied horizontally which I did not trust the 7/16” OSB to hold.

   In fact I looked up the minimum nailbase requirements for wood siding in the BOCA manual down at the building inspectors office and it said a minimum of 1 1/2” nailbase on 24” centers. So I had about given up on using panels until I found a company that advertised a system that utilized framing members on 16” or 24” centers. They also advocate the use of structural header systems over ALL openings and load posting can be carried no problem up through the wall. To make a long story short I used the product and found it to be pretty good. The first time experience was not the greatest but it was good enough for me to try it again. That first house I built with 4 guys and it took me 3 weeks to get the roof on from the ground. The last one I did from the foundation in the same time with 2 people.

   The biggest benefit I find with the SIP system is the ease in which it builds an energy efficient envelope. The EPS foam is a much better insulator than fiberglass with a whole wall R-value 8 or so points higher. The roof system is easy to put on (though you need the aid of crane usually) and the product I use has Pine 1x8 T&G as the interior face so I get a finished product in record time. The contractors that I use don’t mind working around the panels especially since I worked out the ways to be efficient for them! The first job I got them there for time and materials and now they won’t do that anymore, they will only bid and my costs for plumbing and electric have about doubled since that first house.

   I estimate that I have installed a couple of hundred thousand sq. ft. of panels now and have shown other contractors what I have learned. For the most part they have been acceptive of using SIP’s but there is alot of resistance to change in the building industry which I run into alot. 4 years ago I approached my local lumber yard about selling panels and they turned it down, in fact saying that if their customers had to use something like that for to build with they would probably find something else to do for a living! The same yard is now talking about selling panels----

   I don’t know what to say other than it works for me and my customers here. I am building mid-income housing in a high income environment (ski town, CO.) and my sq. ft. cost is currently 20% under stick frame. I would reccomend using SIP’s to all but just be careful about what the system you use if you care about what the house is going to be like in say 40-50 years. There are plenty of guys out there that are comfortable using Stress Skins as SIP’s but I for one am not. I have said this before on this forum and I guess I am saying it again. No offense, but to each his
   own.

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 16, 2000 08:11am | #3

   *Panelmal - I am interested in possibly using some SIPs and SSPs. Is the outfit that you found that created the SIPs to your liking a local Colorado outfit or are they likely to also have outlets here in Oregon. If so, I would be interested in the brand name of the SIPs.Thanks.

2. 
   Dv_ | Feb 16, 2000 08:11am | #2

   *
   Detailed specifics, & the pros & cons of
   working with structural Insulated Panels
   from one with experience.Will greatly
   appreciate any info. Lots of
   "commercial" sites out there but would
   appreciate hands on experienced
   opi