I love Thermasteel.  this is their website

I recently received my third quote from Thermasteel in Roanoke VA.   I have been moving very slowly on our project, completely changing designs three times.  Mike Meyers, the sales rep, has always been helpful via email.  I grew tired of the expense of an architect and his attitude toward SIPS so I purchased the Chief Architect product, transferred my plans in (three months from novice to pretty darn good) and now I email .pdf files of my plans/changes to Kinkos in Blacksburg VA (home of VA tech GO HOIKES!!).  Kinkos will print 3'x4' to scale drawings (7 pages) for $35 and Mike picks them up and adjusts my quote.

My quote for 4032 sq ft of 5.5" wall panel, with openings, including screws, base track, corner metal, but not including shipping and taxes is $29,149.38 or roughly $7.23/sq ft of SIP.  Is that a good price?

I did receive another quote from a distributor that was 50% higher but included Trade Ready floor joists, something else i like, ttp://www.dietrichindustries.com/traderea.htm  so it is not really an apples to apples comparison.

My only dissapointment, and unresolved problem, is the plan calls for a hip roof with living space in what would be the attic. Thermasteel says they cannot quote the roof since it is a hip roof.  Anyone have a suggestion?

Our site is heavliy wooded, 85% shade, flat lot and we receive about 40" of rain per year so I am worried about the long term integrity of OSB SIPS.  I have not found a suitable builder yet.  Anyone out there work in the 22101 zip code?

mmacgowa,

My current thought is to use truss framing with sprayin insulation.  Blown in on top will not work because there is no space.  I will end up with a site built SIP like roof.  Meaning under the shingles will be sheathing, under that will be spray in insulation between the trusses, under that will be the drywall finished ceiling.  I would like to have a way of not having the sprayed insultion adhear to tightly to the roof sheathing just in case it needs to be replaced someday.

mmacgowa,

Answers to some of your other questions.

On Chief Architect.  You are right.  The software can only do so much and you have to check everything.  I have had to build some things using the CAD mode to get the correct dimensions.  I find the libraries fairly extensive and you can change the dimensions of any item.   I have changed the sizes on all the appliances to match our current selections including clearances.  I correctly sized furniture based on things that we like at the stores and placed them on the plan to see how things fit and clearances.  Auto building the stairs was fast but then I spent a lot of time changing the rise and run. I hate steep stairs.  My wife laid in the electrical plan.  She started with the 'auto build' which lays in the wall sockets to code including specing GFI's in the kitchen and baths.  You still you have to go room by room and adjust the ones that end up in the door and window trim.  She also laid in the can lights based on a free package she got that specs lights based on lumens required for functions in different rooms.  It even shows you where to put them in the ceiling.  It was time and money well spent.  Only dissapointement is the materials list which gives totals for the entire house not by room. Cool part was I built an SIP wall type so it shows how many Sq FT of the stuff I need.  It showed the same number as Thermasteel came up with off the printed plan.  The plans need to get engineering approval and I can send them in AutoCAD format.


Shipping costs are estimated at $1000 for one flatbed traveling a distance of 270 miles.
Do not know about labor costs, not that far along.  Not doing it myself.
SIP Engineering is included in the price as well as all the openings.
I live about ten miles west of the White House. I do not know what I will save in energy costs but the house that is there now is a 1958 rancher with no insulation in the walls, two fireplaces, and the original windows, so I think I will save something.

We too are looking to use Thermasteel panel, although don't quite fully understand the use of it.
Do we still need a house frame with thermasteel ? or does it work like panelized home (such as Eaglenest home). We built Eaglenest home, like it , but quite complex to construct.

Leonard,

My supplier was PorterSIPs out of Holland, MI.  My experience with them was very good.  Granted this was my only experience but their quote was quick, thorough and one of the lower ones I received.  I was welcomed when I asked to tour their facilities and see the manufacturing process.  Nothing fancy but impressive nonetheless.  Their engineering department was easy to work with and the panels were built exactly per spec.  I know that I am blowing sunshine but with all of the other horror stories I have read, these guys deserve the publicity.

Tmsu