SIPS / Discussions

...sips for the roof.

...SIPs (structural insulated panels), which can be fastened to the outside of the frame. A SIP wall would offer a seamless envelope of insulation, and if you tape the joints properly (see our page on how to do an air barrier properly) then it can also be airtight. The foam within the core of a SIP acts as the vapor barri...

Building a 24 X 50 Post and Beam barn.  Thinking of applying 2 layers of 4 " (8" total) of rigid insulaton, offset seams on top of 1 X 8 sheathing.  Seams of top layer would be taped / sealed.  Layer of Roofing Paper / Water screen followed by 2 X 4's for strapping using 10" RSS type screws through to the sheathing and...

The building will be in U.S. climate zone 4. 60 inches of annual rain. Hot and very dry summers. Since it is wildfire prone, fire resistance is needed. Simple gable roofline with minimal eaves. Rect floorplan, slab on grade aligned on east west axis.  Being a timber frame home means you have a lot of options for insula...

...SIPS (structural insulated panels) usually made of rigid EPS (expanded polystyrene) panels. There are also companies that will take your building plans and create walls to match that can be delivered and assembled, that can be a great option as it is often cheaper as there is less material waste. And, you’re not leavin...

We have a cabin in the Bershires of Massachusetts ceilings and floor have been insulated, dense pack celluose in ceilings 4 in Amivic graphite EPS under floors. Walls have no insulation, siding is T-1-11 from the sixties would like to put 1 inch EPS under vinyl siding. the building is pretty well built. no sagging part...

...SIPs on the outside of a shipping container home, but I’m not sure it is your best use of your money or resources.  The thing is – SIPS stands for Structural Insulated Panel, so they would effectively make the metal shipping container little more than an insanely heavy and expensive interior vapor barrier, since the pa...

I have seen your recommendation for the Legalett concrete slab technology, but I wonder how their wall-insulation system compares to the wall systems that you propose. I see a number of advantages to their system--it's much less labor intensive and is potentially much faster to install. Also, one would only need to use...

I want to save money on my build so I am considering slab on grade 2 story rather than the allowable 2 1/2 story with SIPS. Most of the builders I've talked are suggested the 2 1/2 (to maximize sq ft) and stick frame.  What do you think? An important thing to remember is that builders make more money the bigger the hou...