SIPs Building

1 / 9
This home in Kansas was built with structural insulated panels, also known as SIPs.
This home in Kansas was built with structural insulated panels, also known as SIPs.
2 / 9
Building with SIPs is an alternative to the more common stick-frame construction, shown here.
Building with SIPs is an alternative to the more common stick-frame construction, shown here.
3 / 9
SIPs consist of a layer of insulation sandwiched between two skins of oriented strand board. The entire panel is one unit that functions as a monolithic whole.
SIPs consist of a layer of insulation sandwiched between two skins of oriented strand board. The entire panel is one unit that functions as a monolithic whole.
4 / 9
After a SIPs home is complete, no one will be able to tell it was constructed with SIPs.
After a SIPs home is complete, no one will be able to tell it was constructed with SIPs.
5 / 9
SIPs are constructed in a factory and then shipped to the job site.
SIPs are constructed in a factory and then shipped to the job site.
6 / 9
Building with SIPs minimizes construction waste because the panels are assembled in a factory. Any waste can easily be recycled long before the panels reach the job site.
Building with SIPs minimizes construction waste because the panels are assembled in a factory. Any waste can easily be recycled long before the panels reach the job site.
7 / 9
Once underway, SIPs construction happens quickly.
Once underway, SIPs construction happens quickly.
8 / 9
SIPs can be used for roof and wall panels. For the roof, a crane is usually needed to lift the panels into place.
SIPs can be used for roof and wall panels. For the roof, a crane is usually needed to lift the panels into place.
9 / 9
SIPs construction is versatile — nearly any style of home can be built using this method.
SIPs construction is versatile — nearly any style of home can be built using this method.

As an architect, I’ve been using structural insulated panels (SIPs) since 1992, when they were relatively new. Since then, I’ve designed several hundred residential and commercial projects using SIPs. In my opinion, they are superior to conventional framing systems in almost every way — SIPs are simply better insulated, stronger and faster to build with than standard stick-frame construction. SIPs also help conserve forest resources, because they produce almost no waste.

As worldwide timber quality and availability continue to decline and the costs of labor and energy increase, SIP construction should become more popular and cost-effective. I predict that in the next 10 years, the U.S. construction industry will adopt SIPs as the system of choice.

Advantages of SIPs

Structural insulated panels are typically composed of rigid foam insulation sandwiched between two skins of oriented strand board — kind of like a s’more. The exterior skins are attached to the foam core with a high-strength adhesive.

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368