Structural Insulated Panels (otherwise known as SIPs) can be an alternative to the traditional framed building. An SIP is a composite material with an insulating rigid core which is compressed between two layers of structural board. This board which goes either side of the core can be made of a wide range of materials, including plywood, cement, and sheet metal. The core can be expanded polystyrene foam (or EPS) among a number of other suitable materials.
These panels are quite versatile in the way that they can be used, in that they could be used as a wall, a roof, a floor or as a part of a foundation system. A well-built home, using SIPs will have a better building envelope with fewer gaps and therefore, fewer drafts and higher insulating properties which in turn lead to lower heating bills. They’re also a lot easier to build a home with, as they come ready made from a factory, there is not so much labour involved in construction, and fewer tradesmen are needed to put it together.
Some of the results of using this material when building your home is that you will have an extremely strong building, as well as being energy efficient and cost effective.
Despite these positive points, most people still choose to have their homes built using the traditional framed building method. Whichever direction you choose to take when building, Building Tectonics are here to help.
Written by Jade Turney – Building Tectonics Ltd.