Hey all,
I posted a few days ago about wanting to learn how to build with SIPs, and don’t know why it never occured to me to post a job wanted ad here. Are any of you builders lining up SIP projects for this spring/summer? I live in Iowa, but we (married w/ 3 kids) will move. I’m 32, been framing for 6 years, and know my way around most framing jobs. I’ve been told SIPs are simple to learn, but nobody around here wants to try them. I will on my own house someday, but for now I need you to teach me. You’ll get a competent and reliable, good natured carpenter wanting to learn. I’ve got my own insurance, stocked work van (you’ve never seen such an organized Astro), clean driving record, and plenty of energy. My dad grew up Amish and I drove my first tractor at age 8. Machinery operation is not a problem, but I am not a mechanic. Don’t ask me to speak Pennsylvania Dutch or what the price of corn was last week (I wouldn’t know either one), but I’ll talk vapor barrier, R value, out gassing, and HRV. My income needs are modest if my wife can have her garden, she can stretch a penny farther than anyone I know. (Incidentally she AutoCads landscape plans and houseplans, has a 4 year degree in landscape design and loves to integrate landscape plans and house plans) Have I rung a bell with any of you? Drop me an email, or feel free to forward this to any builders you might know that’d be interested. I’d sure appreciate it.
Ben Miller
Clean Cut Construction Inc.
Replies
What is the SIP? I have not heard of this in So Calif.
Thanks and good luck.
Tony
Structural Insulated Panel...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Thanks I will have to look into this for general information.
Would you have a web site?
not me..
use the search function here and type in SIP or SIPS or Structural Insulated Panels and tell the search function for exact phrase..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
TonyCz
Sigh!
SIP's have been around for decades, first used as freezer panels but some Hippy in the 60's applied them to a timberframe home he was building and they slowly caught on..
They are panels which are basically foam with OSB on each side.. they are incredibly strong, extremely fast to build with and extremely energy efficent..
The main weakness they have is there is no-one touting their benefits.. Thus you have to know about them to know that you want a house built with them. Most builders are extremely shy about taking on new technology so they aren't out selling them.
My home is made with SIP's and I'm glad to tell you about costs benefits and whatever stuff you'd like to know..
Ben Millar,
Contact AFM plant in Prairie Du Chen Wisconsin.. ask them who their contractors are and you have your list.. There are other manufacturers out there but I lost my list of all of those here in the MIdwest..
Good luck in your job search. Too bad My panel work is nearly all done. I could have used someone like you. SIP's aren't hard to learn.. When you contact AFM ask them to send you one of their video tapes and manuals..
I'm a do-it-yourselfer who taught myself how to panel with SIP's and had the factory rep compliment me on my job.. First and only house I've ever built..
Frenchy,
Thanks for the info, I'll see if I can get ahold of the plant. I actually spoke with a local builder who is/ has used SIPs and we're going to see if we can work something out. I'm still looking to join a crew though if I can't swing something with him.
thanks,
Ben
I just put together my first SIPS house this winter, and it went very well. They were easy to install and the house turned out really well. We'll see about the energy conservation next winter, but I feel optimistic.
I've heard they're really simple to work with. Since I posted that ad I've met a local GC with some SIP experience. I'm hoping to be able to work with him on his next SIP project. Everyone says they cost too much. Did you find that to be the case?
Ben
The panels were purchased by the homeowner for that project, so I don't know offhand what the cost was. In pricing them for my own house, I found them to be pretty expensive, especially when you get into shipping over any significant distances. In labor, they were about even with a framed wall, if not a little quicker. This company had all the panels built in a kind of t&g form, and all the headers pre-built. Again, I'm not sure what the package cost, so I can't say if the minimal time savings was eaten up in material cost.