Hi, I am new to this site and have decided on SIP construction on our new family home. We live in north Louisiana near Shreveport and are now on the search for where to order our SIPs from. I have a few questions and this site seems to have a lot of ready advice to share. We have a house plan from a home plan book. The plan needs a few mods, which the book tells us how to order/request. We decided to go with SIP after choosing a drawing from the book. My question is what do we do next? Do we pay the home plan book company to do our plans and then take them to a SIP manufacturer, or do we have them make us plans? Also, we would like to get some recommendations for companies somewhat close to us inconsideration of shipping costs. I have heard horror stories about some and raves about the same ones depending on the person. We want to get the Energy Star seal and we need to keep our heating/cooling costs down as retirement is near at hand, so we don't want to end up with an energy nightmare because of botched manufacturing or installation. Also, would steel skinned SIPs be the way to go because of termites? I know that is a lot of questions, but I think I drank too much caffeine this evening. Thanks in advance, Marie

Marie,

Talk to your building department first. You need to get an idea of what he/she will need on your plans in order to get approval and pass inspection. Your options start to vary from there. Most SIP companies will probably want finished plans rather then do the changes for you but you can probably get a local dratsperson to do that. Again be careful about whether you will need an architectural stamp. If you are using a truss roof, you might find someone willing to do your plans from the truss company. Ultimately your SIP company will stamp the SIP components but you might need an engineer to stamp the whole structure. If you are getting plans for an architect rather then a broker of house plans, they might provide a reasonable service. It will just take a little investigation.

SIPs will be a great asset in your area and provide a more secure structure to help weather the storms. Steel might be a good upgrade for water and termite issues although most OSB SIPs get treated. And you still have your interior walls to worry about. you could also consider steel studs but they are an upgrade as well.

The Energy Star is great to have, but you will need an ES builder certified for the home. There is a cost for inspecting/certification. If you plan to live out your days in the home, this may not be necessary. And if you use a SIP roof as well your builder can certify it using a prescriptive method. There has been lots of debate about whether to use a SIP roof or not as it tends to be an upgrade in cost. Shipping will probably be your biggest concern in determininig whether to have a SIP roof. If your roof uses a lot of cuts and hips, you will probably find a truss roof to be more practical.

I get SIPs out of Kerrville, TX. There may be some closer suppliers.

MM,

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer me. Yes, my husband and I are planning (want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans) to live out our lives in the house. We want the best we can afford, but a completely upgraded using every possible new technology is not within our budget-so I see your wisdom.

I was all ready leaning towards a truss roof instead of a SIP roof, so your answer helps with that. I had looked at steel studs and was leaning toward using a company called Excalibur, but the cost of SIP plus steel studs like you said is making the house a bit pricey.

I will go to the building dept. this week and speak to them before doing anyting else as it would be bad to run full steam ahead and then find out they are going to be our worst nightmare.

The problem is that we are in a town of only 30k full-time residents and Louisiana is not famous for its forward thinking. I love living here most of the time, but some things will make you pull your hair and scream.

I also don't know how difficult finding a framer with any experience with SIPs. I would think that Shreveport would have somebody. Also, I read a post about how important a perfectly square foundation is. What happens if the foundation is laid and is not perfectly square? We don't have ours laid yet, but I am worried. Are your SIPS then useless?

I guess what really matters is our comfort and utility bills, not so much extra resale based on Energy Star. We do, however, want to qualify for an EEM.

Any other information out there, that we should know please pass along. I'm listening.

Marie

Marie;

We are licensed state certified Louisianna General Contractors, we specialize in steel SIPs costruction. I'll be happy to guide you through the process of plans and permitting with no obligation. DO NOT ORDER from a plan book, they are of no value to you if you go with sips


[email protected]

Chris, I saw your posts as I was looking through this site last night. I e-mailed a number of companies and I think yours was one of them. Marie

Never got an e mail?

Chris, I thought I had sent you one last night, but I guess I didn't. Anyway, I just filled out the contact form on your website. Thanks, Marie

Marie,

I thought Chris was in Florida but he should be a great resource. But still do your homework to get a competitive bid from a local builder. Alternate techniques are a great concept and can save a lot of energy but one has to be careful of the expense. I get criticised for being a naysayer but some here forget that most projects have to be financed and that an investment should produce a value or a return. If you have to sell in a buyers market, you may end up eating your investment. But if you plan to stick out the hurricanes and live their the rest of your lives, it might be worth the bells and whistles to make it strong, enegy efficient and healthy.

mmacgowa;

Chris ... is in Florida with branch office in GA., but wasn't soliciting work in LA. , just wanted to help guide Marie in the right direction

Now, boys. Please don't fight on my behalf. I appreciate any and all attempts to help us in our endeavor to embrace the new building techniques especially green and energy efficiency. Actually, Chris did e-mail me, but when he found out that I was all the way in the north part of the state, he referred me to Hercules. He didn't even try to get a dime of my money. I do also agree with MM. For one thing, where I live almost never receives the storms that south Louisiana gets. So that is not my main concern. Energy efficiency, cost, speed of building, and comfort are my main concerns-not hurricanes. I have to consider costs or we are going to end up building a much smaller home than what we need as we are near retirement with 3 kids still at home, grown kids who have all ready started having children of their own and elderly parents. Our home is to be the central gathering place for all of our family plus we want to make it available for our church gatherings as well. That is why we are trying to build as large and energy efficient home as possible without going over budget. We need the space, but we need to keep operating costs at a minimum as we will be retired and just starting a home-based business for extra income. I agree with MM that we could spend so much on upgrades that we would end up shrinking our sq footage or ending up with a bigger mortgage or taking 20 years to realize a return on our investment. I am studying the PATH concept house, Energy Star guidelines, green building websites, and anything else I can get my hands on. Unfortunately, I don't know that there is a local builder who specializes in energy efficiency around here. So, we may be kind of pioneers in this in our town. That is why I am so appreciate of the time all of you are spending trying to help me. I don't know about you, but I am sick of being dependent on terrorists for any type of fuel. Marie

That's the attitude! Now if you could just convince our government!

Chris,

You commented: "DO NOT ORDER from a plan book, they are of no value to you if you go with sips."

This is NOT a challenge -- I don't know enough to do that -- I'm just trying to understand. Why would the plans not be of value? Is it that they're showing how to stick build the floor plan?

Stupid question time: I've found several plans designed for SIP construction, would they be of more value? Would a county board be likely to accept the design and analysis in them?

Very respectfully,
Larry

I guess that would depend on the SIP company. It's very easy for us to convert from a standard 'Stick' plan to a SIP plan. Every plan that we receive(SIP specific or not) is redrawn by the manufacturer for approval. After approval it is then 'panelized'. So, we can handle 'plan book' plans w/o a penalty.

Chris,

Thanks for the meaningful response and the offer.

I'm in the central East Coast, but I'm still in the long term planning mode. Right now we're looking at sites in Virginia and N.C. After we select a site (hopefully, in the next year), then the games begin. I'm trying to learn in advance of my need.

Very respectfully,
Larry

In an ideal world, yes. But to insinuate that a set of 'stick' plans can't be converted to SIPS is incorrect. What does a good set of plans contain:

• All Dimensions...
• Point Loads...
• Special Connections...

Can those not be duplicated? And, now that SIPS have been added to the IRC it's even easier.

If your company can't accomplish this simple task, tsk, tsk. Just don't assume that all SIP manufacturers can't get the job done.

JC;

I never made that insinuation, you made that assumption, but why do things twice when you can do it right from the get go.
We have converted many plans, but if you know you are going SIPs from the start plan it that way.
I never made any such assumption, I am merely trying to help the fellow out.I have no business interest in his project

Maybe because the original question was regarding a 'plan book'. And your response was that it would be a bad idea.

Good Morning Marie.

Louisiana System Built Homes in St. Martinville, LA will be manufacturing SIP panels in the next few weeks.

 

We are located at the old Martin Mills factory in St. Martinville, LA.

 

We are currently building SIP panel homes inside the factory and delivering them to developments through out Louisiana.

 

If you need further information please contact us at the number below.

 

Louisiana System Built Homes, Inc

 

337-342-2701

 

Thank you,