YOUR LOCAL SOURCE FOR

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)

YOUR LOCAL SOURCE FOR

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)

What is a SIP?

Inner and Outer OSB panels
Foam core insulation
Provides quick and easy structure and insulation for your building needs

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE

The main purpose of insulation in a home is to reduce or prevent heat flow. And given what we know (that heat always invades cold); heat flow, or transfer of heat, happens like this, when it’s cold outside, the heat will want to escape there, and the same rule applies in reverse, when it's hot outside the heat comes inside. We all want to enjoy a level of comfort while conserving energy and money alike. That is why you should know about R-value.

WHAT IS R-VALUE

R-Value is a measurement of a materials ability to restrict heat flow. The higher the R-Value, the better its insulating qualities; at least in theory. Not all insulating materials provide consistent performance during changing conditions of heat, humidity and time. It's important to understand that not all insulations are alike. Some wall and roof insulations are better at resisting heat flow than others.

R-VALUE VS THICKNESS

Often times people when will ask for a panel by thickness rather than by R-value, but not all insulating materials have the same R-value. To be certain you end up with the energy efficiency and performance you are wanting for your new home, be sure to always ask for R-value, not panel thickness. Quality Sips insulated panels are available in different thicknesses with corresponding R-values.

Learn More About Structural Insulated Panels

The History

We can actually go back as far as the 1930s and find the concept of the Structural Insulated Panels began then, however, “Sandwich Panels” as we know them have been around since the 1950s. You will find some of the earliest examples of SIPs homes were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, who was seeking to build beautiful, but cost-effective home, however, these structural insulated panels did not contain insulation. Many people credit an architecture student of Wright, Alden B. Dow, (an environmentally conscious person who gave thought to energy efficiency). When he designed a SIP panel with an insulated core.

The most common structural insulated panel, Sandwich Panel SIPs, are made up of a foam core insulation material, sandwiched between two sheets of OSB and adhered with glue. SIPs are manufactured under factory-controlled conditions and can be fabricated to fit nearly any building design. The combination of the materials is what gives the panel its strength the result is a building system that is extremely strong, energy-efficient and cost-effective. Building with SIPs will save you time, money and labor.

How Does EPS Foam Compare?

Some foam plastic insulation materials (polyisocyanurate and polyurethane) use blowing agents (in manufacturing) that have high resistance to heat flow. This causes the material to have an abnormally high R-Value at the time of manufacture. As the blowing agents diffuse from the cellular structure of the foam over its lifetime, the R-Value of the material is reduced by up to 30%. EPS is stable at the time of manufacture and its cellular structure does not change as time elapses.

What Is Neopor?

Neopor is the next advancement in the EPS product development by BASF (they are in part responsible for seeing that new products are economically sound). This product has been in wide use in Europe and is being introduced in North America by BASF. Graphite is added to the manufacturing of EPS. Neopor – EPS foam cores have nearly 20% greater R-Value than panels made from standard EPS SIPs. This progressive use of the best possible insulating product is in keeping with our core philosophy of using the best components.

Structural Insulated Panels

I give this firm a 5 star rating. They are the nicest people to deal with. They go out of their way to make you happy, and the work they do is awesome. Absolutely love our panels for our home. Smarter financially and goes up quick. Will not stick build again! Thank you Vernon and the guys, for such A+ service.

XPS foam is made by melting polystyrene pellets and extruding them into rigid panels. It is a dense and strong product that has a higher R-value per inch than EPS foam. XPS foam is often in below-grade applications, such as foundation walls, as well as in roofing and other applications.

Benefits of XPS foam:

Dense and strong, with high compressive strength
Moisture-resistant
Resistant to mold and mildew
Higher R-value per inch than EPS foam