arhawgfan
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| 04/12/2009 12:25 PM |
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| I am considering using SIP construction on my new home. I would like to know the best sub-floor to use. I don't want to build on a slab and won't have a basement. Crawlspace under house but want to use something better and more insulated than standard 2x4/floor decking construction. Sorry for what seems to be a simple question but haven't found anything yet. Thanks. |
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Alton
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Posts:662
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| 04/12/2009 2:15 PM |
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| You can use SIPs for the floor, but I have not found it to be economical. As far as the subfloor decking, I usually specify AdvanTech OSB. |
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Alton C. Keown
Residential Designer and Construction Technology Consultant
Auburn, Alabama
E-mail: alton at auburn dot edu |
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Brawler
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Posts:127
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| 04/12/2009 4:13 PM |
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| i will second that. Just used it 2 weeks ago. A little heavy, and aliitle costly but great piece of mind as a thunderstorn blows your tarps all over the place. It also has no formaldehyd how ever you spell it. i paid $19 dollars for 4+8. |
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cmkavala
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| 04/12/2009 6:34 PM |
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arhawgfan;
we have used SIP floors over crawl spaces and stilt homes, it needs to be evaluated for economics.
Another alternative is to use joists over an unvented insulated crawlspace, which we have also successfully done |
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Chris Kavala
chris@southernsips dot com
1-877-321-SIPS |
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want to build
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| 04/15/2009 3:22 PM |
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I'm curious to know why you want a crawlspace rather than a full basement or slab. Personally, I've seen too many wet basements, but I expect that crawlspaces would be just as prone to wetness, only with less headroom. Slabs appeal to me, except you lose the ability to easily run pipes and wires, should you want to modify or remodel down the road. A slab would also mean a mechanical room on the main floor, which could go in an attached garage, I suppose.
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cmkavala
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| 04/15/2009 3:49 PM |
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WTB;
Personally slabs appeal to me too, many parts of the country do crawlspaces just because that the way its been done for years.
But they are usually damp & musty and after several years you can't pay anyone enough to get back under there due to all the critters.
I like the feel of floor over a slab, but its not for climates where frost is a problem
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Chris Kavala
chris@southernsips dot com
1-877-321-SIPS |
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wes
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Posts:637
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| 04/15/2009 4:31 PM |
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Chris and WTB,
Having spent most of my life in an area where crawlspaces are the norm, you are both pretty much correct. A crawlspace is a wet basement with absolutely no head room.
But in my part of the country, basements have traditionally been terrible problems and slabs are for barns and commerical. No 'self respecting' homeowner would consider anything but a crawlspace.
A few years ago, an out of state builder came in and built a spec home on a slab.
During a time of very active home sales, the house sat for 14 months, and finally sold for 25% below market value--simply because of the slab.
Now the same people who would not consider a home on a slab here in KY will go to TX or FL and buy second home built on a slab, without a second thought. Go figure.
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Wes Shelby
Design Systems Group
Murray KY
wandr@ainweb.net |
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cmkavala
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| 04/15/2009 4:40 PM |
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Wes;
coming from PA originally is was all basements, great for extra storage, not so great for the smell of mildew on everthing.
My next personal build in North Georgia will be on a not so traditional slab on grade. I went out of my way looking for a suitable building lot for that purpose, keeping in mind this will eventually be my retirement home, you can't discount that my wife or I may be wheelchair bound in our old age and a slab helps with entry accessability |
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Chris Kavala
chris@southernsips dot com
1-877-321-SIPS |
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arhawgfan
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Posts:7
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| 04/15/2009 6:02 PM |
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Want to Build, I have nothing against slab on construction and agree crawlspace is not the greatest method, in
fact my current home is built on a slab, but for the reasons you mention is the reason I am considering my options. I also know of 2 other homeowners who have had problems with plumbing under their slabs and have had to bust into their slab thru one of their rooms to access. A real pain in the butt and very costly. I know these are isolated incidents but also need to be considered. Slab on construction also requires a great deal of pre-planning to get all connections spot on-no run for error. Crawlspaces have come a long way. Just inquiring about different ways to make them more insulated and user friendly. I may end up going with a slab. Will have to run the numbers and see about cost difference also. |
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Susie
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Posts:4
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| 04/15/2009 6:07 PM |
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We are using SIP's for our new house. We are building on a slab but putting a sub-floor over it called Dri-Core. www.dricore.com.
Hope this helps |
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arhawgfan
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Posts:7
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| 04/15/2009 6:24 PM |
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| Very interesting concept and info. Something else to consider. Noticed they are manufactured in Canada so shipping and handling also needs to be considered not to mention no dealer or installer in my area so have to special order thru Home Depot or Lowes so that means more mark up. Where are you building and what kind of charges did you pay ballpark for S/H. Thanks for the info and please post on your experience with this system along the way and final install. |
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Masi
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Posts:1
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| 04/15/2009 6:25 PM |
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I built with SIPs in Calif in 2000, and went with slab on grade. This worked beautifully as the house was modern and the polished concrete floors were great looking and easy to run radiant heat through (clean, quiet, and warm where you need it).
As for plumbing/electrical, the SIP chases worked well, especially if you go with pex for plumbing. |
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arhawgfan
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Posts:7
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| 04/15/2009 6:31 PM |
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| I also considering polished/etched concrete floors if I go with a slab. I intend to go with PEX but didn't consider using electrical chases for the PEX. Is this allowable per code ? Thanks for the input. Also what has been your experience with the PEX ? |
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TerryJ
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Posts:41
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| 04/15/2009 6:37 PM |
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Posted By cmkavala on 04/15/2009 3:49 PM
WTB;
Personally slabs appeal to me too, many parts of the country do crawlspaces just because that the way its been done for years.
But they are usually damp & musty and after several years you can't pay anyone enough to get back under there due to all the critters.
I like the feel of floor over a slab, but its not for climates where frost is a problem
Slab on grade is no problem if you do FPSF. We do it here all the time and it is cold in Canada. Polish, stain the floors and they are beautiful!
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Susie
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Posts:4
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| 04/15/2009 6:38 PM |
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| We are buildingin Northern California and purchasing the product from dri-core. We are not going through Home Depot. This was arranged through our designer/architect. It migth be woth a shot to contact them directly and see if you can buy direct. I cannot remember the actual cost but I remeber being pleasantly suprised at the price. We are also purchasing our SIP panels from Canada and the shipping for a 6,000 sq ft house was very low, I think it is $3500. We break ground next month so I wil keep you posted. |
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Susie
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| 04/15/2009 6:46 PM |
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Polished and stained concrete floors are very appealing, and we considered it for awhile but frankly it is too hard on my back when I am in the kitchen cooking. The dricore is a perfect solution for us becasue it will not ony raises the floor up of the concrete it gives us an R factor as well. |
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TerryJ
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| 04/15/2009 7:32 PM |
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For comfort, put in a cork floor in the kitchen on top of the slab.
For R-value, insulate the concrete slab.
Dri-Core is an expensive solution to your concerns.
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Susie
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Posts:4
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| 04/15/2009 7:51 PM |
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| You are correct that cork is a nice flooring, but wood flooring goes better with the style of the house and also with our antiques. It is a 2 story house so we only need to put teh dricore on the first floor. |
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Air Gap
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| 04/16/2009 7:13 AM |
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Terry,
You are correct, it is expensive.
Here is a method that uses the same principals for about 1/3 the cost.
- http://www.systemplaton.com/flooring.html
If used on the external basement wall and floor moisture should not be an issue. External drainage ir required of course.
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barkri12
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Posts:23
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| 05/04/2009 1:34 AM |
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One of the most frequent questions I get from my clients centers around
quality. As an owner builder building your own home, naturally you want
to ensure a quality product. But, how do you do that? Are you alone
responsible, and how do you judge it?
You can't just purchase a packaged or kit home and rely on that!
For most, the achievement of the quality you seek will be a direct
result of the professionals you surround yourself with. Add to this the
use of quality building materials, a properly engineered structure,
well-prepared blueprints, and periodic inspections by the building
department and you have a winning combination.
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