I'm an owner-builder so bear with me...

My wife and I are building a SIP home in Land O' Lakes ( Pasco county, Florida). We originally wanted to use cement skinned (ThermaSave) SIPs but the Florida supplier was not up and running when were looking for suppliers/ contractors for the shell of the house. We eventually got a good bid from a contractor we liked who uses steel skin SIPs. He arranged for his engineer to draw up our plans. Many months later we finally got the plans and they got approved by the Pasco county building department. In the mean time the contractor moved out of state and stopped returning calls and emails. We then got bids from the other local contractors who also use steel skin SIPs but they where way beyond our budget. We've gotten much more favorable bids from non-steel SIPs suppliers including ones that use cement / HardieBoard skin panels. The engineer ( who is only familiar with steel SIPS ) is telling us that we should be fine with our existing permit ( that specifies the steel SIPs ) and that all he needs to do is supply us with "change letters" specifying what changes we are making. Not only do we want to change the wall system but we also want to change it from a hip roof to a flat roof.

Can anyone confirm or refute what the engineer is telling us? Obviously I don't want to be caught in a lurch with a half built shell when the County suddenly tells us we can't do that.

Engineers have magic stamps with great and mysterious powers, as far as building departments are concerned.  That said, it really depends on your local regulations.  Have you asked the building department for guidance?

It is unfortunate, but this is not a simple yes or no answer.  Different States and jurisdictions allow different levels of change based upon the engineers notification.  You will need to check with your permitting agency to be sure.  Even the engineer may not know if he has not worked in the particular jurisdiction before.

 

Good Luck,

 

Matt B. Phelps, P.E.

 

Sort of. We already had the enginner draw up a new set of plans with the ThermaSave panels. My wife brought them to the building dept, who in turn said they would need to see several fixes to them. That bring us to our engineer telling us we don't need to re-submit the plans and that we can proceed just using his magic letters.

Time to visit the bldg dept again. They call the shots. The engineer has opinions but what the building department says is what it actually is. You can try to convince them but in the end it's their call.

Rob;

Your engineer is wrong, if you were just changing to a different steel skin mfg. a letter would suffice, but hardie, OSB are completely different attachment details, get your paperwork in order first! make sure your new panel s have Florida Product approval and check with the Pasco County Building official for what change order requirements are ............... do not rely on other opinions go right to the agency that will be doing your inspections.
 
Hip roof to flat change is absolutely Re-engineering and possibly additional footings
If you are considering Homefront Homes panel systems, Buyer Beware

feel free to call me directly on my cell # 727-243-2717 and I will help you with your dilemma

We have the following note on our permit, under the general conditions:

"If SIPS other than those captured in the ICC-ESS report are used, please provide new ICC-ESS report, the appropriate engineering for your application shall be provided, this should includes wind and snow loading and point loads as applicable."

What that would seem to say, in my jurisdiction only, and possibly only for my permit, is that if you've "We already had the engineer draw up a new set of plans" with the new panels and he's stamped them and so completed the "appropriate engineer" you could submit a permit change request, with your check and the official _should_ approve them. The roof should be the same in my book.

Was wondering if your home was ever completed. We would love to hear from you on how you like it, how energy efficient it is and if you have any issues with it. We have kids with asthma and hear it would be beneficial for them to live in a SIPS home. We been tooling with building for some time now but would love to hear from an actual homeowner on the likes/dislikes and find a builder. We already own the land, need a nice to home to help more children. :-) Thanks for any info.

Mv,

Where will you be building?  I might be of some assistance if you use alternative technology such as SIPS in the Southeast.  I do donate most of my free time to helping with interesting projects.  References available upon request.

Alton,
I sent you an email at the address provided. It would be in Dade City/Darby, Florida which is in Pasco County.

Alton,

FYI... there is a place in Oldsmar, FL - Structall Building Systems, that uses the steel and/or aluminum panels.

We are in Pasco County and have built 2 SIPs homes in Dade City, 2 in Holiday, 1 in Wesley Chapel,  2 in Zephyrhills and one Commercial building in Hudson

Hi Chris,
Do you have pics of the homes you built in Wesley Chapel, Dade City and Z-hills? Could you forward them to me at Nuttmeg1 at AOL? Where do you get your product from?

MV;

sent to your email address,  product comes from www.sipsupplyinc.com

Chris,
You had said you do dry in SIPS for $30/sf (windows doors,partitions). Is this still the same?

Posted By Meg on 05 Nov 2014 02:08 PM
Chris,
You had said you do dry in SIPS for $30/sf (windows doors,partitions). Is this still the same?

Meg, 3 years ago @$30./ sq. ft. we have had some increases in steel over the years, it depends on where your home is located and the complexity of the job

I would use extreme caution when hiring, a SIPS contractor. Do you research and check with the clerk of the courts where your potential contractor is located for pending or older civil actions. also check the surrounding county clerk of the courts. Florida has some great public information laws. I can't stress enough to research, research, research and a verbal agreement is like no agreement, always spell everything out in writing and leave nothing to chance. Please use caution when hiring a contractor

Posted By sips disapointment on 05 Nov 2014 09:30 PM
I would use extreme caution when hiring, a SIPS contractor. Do you research and check with the clerk of the courts where your potential contractor is located for pending or older civil actions. also check the surrounding county clerk of the courts. Florida has some great public information laws. I can't stress enough to research, research, research and a verbal agreement is like no agreement, always spell everything out in writing and leave nothing to chance. Please use caution when hiring a contractor

Are you referring to the SIP manufacturer itself or the installers?

Did you have a bad experience with a SIP install?

I had a bad install with a contractor, I still believe the sips product is o.k., but the fit and finishes are not the same a a traditional built home in my opinion. I just want any potential homeowner to use caution and research the contractor and the contractors business practices.