We are about to build a house in Georgia and are about to commit to using SIPs to increase energy efficiency. I am looking for advice on how to choose among the many SIPs manufacturers and how to compare what I am getting (and what I should be getting). We’ve never built a house, only restored a couple of old houses. Thanks for any insight/advice.
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Replies
Hi,
My wife and I have built two houses with SIPs. Will you be doing the work?
Things to consider:
What is included - predrilled holes for the electric wires? Borate treatment to keep away insects? (Very important!)
How do the SIPs connect together? (Important if you are the one doing the work.)
What size? Do you select the thickness and the height and width? The first house we built the panels were 4 x 8 and 4 1/2 inches thick. Later on the panels were 9 x 12 and 6 1/2 inches thick.
Delivery costs and set up. Will there be a crane onsite to hoist larger panels onto the deck?
Any feedback from the Better Business Bureau? How long has each supplier been in business? Go talk to some customers if you can.
We like the SIPs. In addition to the energy savings, they make a house very quiet and very solid.
My opinion is: Go for it! You should be hearing from others on this forum who've gone and done likewise.
Dusty and Lefty
Are resident architect built a house using sips
and had another thread(besides this one) posting pictures but I
can't seem to locate it. He has a lot to share and a lot to be
learned from his experience.
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages/?msg=53963.1
Michell, what part of Georgia are you in? I am in the process of planning an SIP house and should be breaking ground next month. I have some contacts in Georgia that are quite knowledgeable about SIP construction.
You may also find that prices vary pretty wildly between panel companies for precut packages. I have quotes for 20-37K for the same package. From my experience panel companies are pretty evasive about how they're actual pricing works. I would be happy to talk to you about specifics if you are interested.
Tom
Douglasville, GA
The profile says ISRAEL, so maybe Chechnyn Soviet Georgia? Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
let's be entrophatic, you start
Hmm, could be. I didn't look at the profile.Tom
Douglasville, GA
I've had two Michelle's in my past, I check to see if just maybe, one came back to haunt me..LOL
Both from below the "manson/nixon " line, my good it were neither of them , or the other one in PA. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
let's be entrophatic, you start
TomW,
I'm in Statesboro, GA. So far I've been talking with Miles Kath, SIPs of North Carolina. However, I got a bit worried about sending him a check when I couldn't find him on the BBB or the SIPs sites I checked.
Please, I would very much like to talk specifics.
Thanks, Michelle
Michelle - I can't vouch for the contractor or not, too far away. But, don't go by the lack of a listing in the BBB. That is a voluntary organization and most contractors don't bother. From what has been written here in recent months, it's largely created to make money for the BBB, has no real enforcement power and doesn't impress builders.
You are better off checking with the local licensing bureau to see how his license is, and check with the SIP manufacturer to see what they say. Make sure he has current insurance too.
Don
Hi Michelle,
I know nothing about SIPS! However I do know that members of the BBB pay to be there. My brothers used to sell membership.
Kevin
How long has this person been building with SIPs? I wouldn't even consider a contractor that has less than five (5) years experience. I would check the references, in detail, find and visit some of the projects this builder has done with SIPs, etc.
BTW, is this contractor a builder, builder-supplier, or something else in terms of SIPs? Have they stated which SIP product? What the heck is a check for at this stage of the game? Red flags are going up all over the place on the check bit.
Finding an sip builder in GA with a five year reputation may not be all that easy. I suppose it depends on what part of Ga you are in but I haven't seen a whole lot of interest here and very few people even are aware of sips. I hope to be pretty familiar with the process in the next few months. I don't really think that it is imperative to find a builder that already uses SIPS. A good carpentar that is open to the process should be able to do a good job with minumal training. There a quite a few people that will come out for a day to get a crew trained on the special techniques needed. The biggest factor is having the design and enigineering correct and having good prints and a good plan.
Tom
Douglasville, GA
I have only used SIPs once as a laborer but the company was Murus panels out of PA. They were excelllent to work with and the homeowner loves his house. The only people who had any concerns were the electrician and the media{sound and TV}guys. These panels use a cam lock and were easy to install.
Having helped design, build and now having resided in a SIP home for 3 years, a couple comments:
In addition to a getting good contractor, get a rep from the SIP manufacturer to make sure the local inspectors are invited to a tour with somebody who can explain the theory of SIPs.
We had one inspector who was going to make us rip open the panels to install stud bracing so the walls wouldn't rack (!!!) and also to provide more mounts for tie downs. This took over a month to resolve, and finally the structural engineeer had swear a blood oath at midnight of the new moon that the house wouldn't fall over. A couple chickens were involved as well. Ok I exaggerate, but only a little.
We used 8" SIPs for the floor as well and put 3/4" T&G over the top. The floor has a little different feel, but it's not spongy or springy at all. I might use 5/4 if I had my druthers. I like solid.
The electricians started out hating the panels and ended up loving them. Found panels really easy to work with.
The plumbers didn't like the fact that they could only use certain walls and we ended up stick-building a plumbing chase for the kitchen.
The sheet rock crew was downright giddy - they couldn't miss a stud.
SIPs keep heat in as well as out. If you allow the house to heat up on a hot day, it will stay that way for a long time. Plan your HVAC accordingly. Heat pumps are a good solution, if they work in your area.
Think carefully about outlets and faucets, as retrofitting them is a pain.
We used Hardiplank for the siding and are 100% satisfied. After 3 years the paint still looks new. However, Hardiplank cannot be blind-nailed to a SIP, it has to be nailed top and bottom, or installed over a 1X3 nailing strip because of the limited holding power of the OSB.
The house is definitely quiet, and definitely solid. I would use them again, but they have their quirks, like any material. That's where the experienced contractor comes in.