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Looking for Steel/Fiberglass SIPs for custom owner-builder project in Hawaii

Last Post 02 Dec 2011 08:08 PM by Sip Supply Inc. 10 Replies.

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cwm9

New Member

Posts:9

01 Dec 2011 05:53 AM
I'm building a home on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. We have the occasional hurricane and some nasty termite infestations here. I wish to build a 2700 sq. ft. house on some land I own. (Rough draft floorplan bottom and top...) I had planned on using PolySteel ICF (due to the PerformGuard core), but the cost of concrete out here is near $300/yd. Then I found the "American Structural Composites" video on Fiberglass SIPs, and got really excited - until I learned they couldn't get fiberglass panels certified due, it appears, mostly to paperwork problems and concerns over trade secrets. (As far as I can tell, fiberglass is still not an option. Too bad!) That led me to find steel skin sips. They seem ideal for my project. They can be shipped in a container to my location, are light weight, termite proof, hurricane resistant, energy efficient, and are low infiltration -- exactly the combination I was looking for. Now my problem is that I need to find a company that will work with a Hawaii based owner builder and a custom design. Does anyone here fit that description or know a company that does?

slenzen

Basic Member

Posts:434

01 Dec 2011 08:59 AM
try durasip in MS for fiberglass sips.

Alton

Veteran Member

Posts:2164

01 Dec 2011 10:32 AM
The last I heard from John Pardue some time ago is that DuraSip is not producing fiberglass skin panels yet. If you find they are, then please let me know because I have clients that want them. Metal skin SIPS with polyurethane cores can be purchased from Kingspan in Deland, FL or LEEP, Inc. in KY. Ask them if they will work with you in Hawaii. For coastal areas, the steel skins should have a G90 galvanization. Using Galvalume is also another option.

Residential Designer & Construction Technology Consultant -- E-mail: Alton at Auburn dot Edu Use email format with @ and period . 334 826-3979

Torben

Basic Member

Posts:216

01 Dec 2011 12:48 PM
I would be concerned about the structural integrity of connections using fiberglass panels. I thought this could be a reason for their delay in coming to market. You do have some closer options for poly core metal panels. Kingspan also has a plant in Modesto, CA (I used panels from their Deland, FL plant to build as an owner-builder, Fortunately for me I'm only about 20 miles from their plant) MBCI, Atwater, CA Metl-Span. Las Vegas, Nevada

Alton

Veteran Member

Posts:2164

01 Dec 2011 02:55 PM
Torben, I have a client now in the process of evaluating Kingspan KingZip roof panels. Have you use this type of panel from Kingspan? Anything that you can pass on to me about Kingspan or their panels that would benefit us. Use the following e-mail address if you do not want to post your comments in this forum: Alton at Auburn dot Edu

Residential Designer & Construction Technology Consultant -- E-mail: Alton at Auburn dot Edu Use email format with @ and period . 334 826-3979

cwm9

New Member

Posts:9

01 Dec 2011 04:21 PM
Kingspan seems to be more of a cladding product for use in curtain wall/stick framing construction. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a structural SIP? Permatherm seems more like what I am interested in, but when I call I just get a busy signal. =/

Torben

Basic Member

Posts:216

01 Dec 2011 06:01 PM
Kingspan thinks of themselves as a curtainwall/cladding provider (call their product 'insulated metal panels'). Apparently Permatherm now thinks of themselves as a Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) manufacturer (I thought I remembered their website mostly in reference to cladding). Quite frankly the strength of their respective panels is almost identical. Kingspan has a slight edge in documented strength from what I have seen. The poly core panels like Kingspan have significantly more insulation value per inch than EPS core panels like Permatherm. I personally prefer the Kingspan core and joints but both of these items make the Kingspan panel harder to work with (poly cores cannot be sliced with a hot knife and the joints are not symmetrical making there a set in-side versus out-side of panel). If you plan on calling any one of these companies and asking for a panel take off on your house plans you will be disappointed. They tend to be cladding companies because that is a much more efficient and uncomplicated way to sell panels.

Torben

Basic Member

Posts:216

01 Dec 2011 06:09 PM
The following is an example of a Kingspan cladding project in Orlando. The building is 115' tall. Think about how many houses you would have to build to use this many panels. e

Torben

Basic Member

Posts:216

01 Dec 2011 06:35 PM
Posted By Alton on 01 Dec 2011 02:55 PM Torben, I have a client now in the process of evaluating Kingspan KingZip roof panels. Have you use this type of panel from Kingspan? Anything that you can pass on to me about Kingspan or their panels that would benefit us. Use the following e-mail address if you do not want to post your comments in this forum: Alton at Auburn dot Edu Kingspan has been great to deal with (just be careful of self-proclaimed intermediaries), however I've not used their Kingzip. The only thought I would add to your evaluation is what do you do if you get something like hail damage to your roof. You can no longer just replace shingles, tiles or standing seam panels.

slenzen

Basic Member

Posts:434

02 Dec 2011 06:41 PM
Posted By Alton on 01 Dec 2011 10:32 AM The last I heard from John Pardue some time ago is that DuraSip is not producing fiberglass skin panels yet. If you find they are, then please let me know because I have clients that want them. Metal skin SIPS with polyurethane cores can be purchased from Kingspan in Deland, FL or LEEP, Inc. in KY. Ask them if they will work with you in Hawaii. For coastal areas, the steel skins should have a G90 galvanization. Using Galvalume is also another option. Sorry, didn't mean to imply that they were approved and rolling. I guess they are stickin w/ third world type housing for awhile? Yeah I would be curious to see how they handle the panel connections as well.

Sip Supply Inc User is Offline

New Member

Posts:44

02 Dec 2011 08:08 PM
Posted By cwm9 on 01 Dec 2011 05:53 AM I'm building a home on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. We have the occasional hurricane and some nasty termite infestations here. I wish to build a 2700 sq. ft. house on some land I own. (Rough draft floorplan bottom and top...) I had planned on using PolySteel ICF (due to the PerformGuard core), but the cost of concrete out here is near $300/yd. Then I found the "American Structural Composites" video on Fiberglass SIPs, and got really excited - until I learned they couldn't get fiberglass panels certified due, it appears, mostly to paperwork problems and concerns over trade secrets. (As far as I can tell, fiberglass is still not an option. Too bad!) That led me to find steel skin sips. They seem ideal for my project. They can be shipped in a container to my location, are light weight, termite proof, hurricane resistant, energy efficient, and are low infiltration -- exactly the combination I was looking for. Now my problem is that I need to find a company that will work with a Hawaii based owner builder and a custom design. Does anyone here fit that description or know a company that does? We can certainly supply to Hawaii , we recently shipped 2 steel SIP building being used for Agricutural purposes(medical marijuana) to California, We also ship to all pioints in the Caribbean and South America

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