When I moved to Georgia back in 1996 there were no builders of residential homes using SIPs as the core technology. In a rare case, a higher-end custom builder might use them, but most if not all of the SIP building in GA was for non-residential use.
A couple of years ago, I discovered near me a manufacturer of SIP panels, but they were not offering (then) design and erection services. While watching DIY yesterday, I noticed a show in which a company called Pulte Homes (I may be wrong) was using SIP panels for the core construction technology along with other technologies.
Has anyone noticed if there has been any positive movement in the track-building philosophy toward SIP-use in Georgia? Strangely enough, I can go North, South, East and West to any of the adjacent states to GA and find them, but GA seems to be an anomaly.
Replies
Check out this thread RE: Pulte and SIPs
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=83409.135
Adventures in Home Building
An online journal covering the preparation and construction of our new home.
NeoNuke,
Having built with both SIP's and ICF's I would select ICF's for the walls and SIP's for the ceilings. There is a slight energy bias in favor of SIP's over ICF's but that could easily be offset with additional foam on the interior.
Speed of construction, strength and durability would make me favor ICF's for walls in the future.. Energy savings would have the nod for SIP's on the ceilings..
Interesting.
I always thought SIP's were faster than ICF's overall.
Admitedly, I've never done either.
bambam,
It sorta depends. If you buy your SIP's without window cutouts etc.. and cut in your own windows where you want them, then ICF's are slightly faster, definately easier. * If you buy a SIP package which is sorta like buying a prefabricated building in kit form then SIP's get the nod..
However when you buy the precut package the price more than doubles.
IF you have more money than time buy the package, if you have more time than money buy the raw panels.
The reason I would go with ICF's for the walls is three fold. Durability, an ICF will withstand a 200 MPH wind and has a 2 hour fire rating. Plus there would be no question of insect (termits, carpenter ants) infestation in areas where that is a problem.
There is a tiny bit of advantage with SIP's when installing sheetrock, any place you put a screw you hit a "stud" whereas with ICF's when you put screws in you have to hit an area about the width of a stud every six inches, sorta like having a stud six inches on center.
* ICF sections weigh maybe two pounds? (if that) a piece of rebar might weigh what 8 pounds? and that's the heaviest thing you handle.. whereas a SIP panel could be 8 feet x 30 feet and that's heavy enough you need equipment to move that into place.. if you have a telehandler or a crane panels like that go into place very quickly. If it's just you or you and a helper I'd go with ICF's for that reason alone..