Thanks "sips disappointment" - - I use the court records for various things so researching lawsuits/issues is not a problem for us. What are you referring to when you say "fit and finishes"? My husband wants SIPS, I'm a skeptic. Not many home being built with it, around central/west coast FL anyway. We have a SIPS manufacturer locally but we would need to find contractors to put it up. I love the idea of less a/c usage, lower electric but is this truly the case? How do you like your SIPS home aside from the "fit and finishes"? Is it strong/sturdy? One story/two? How many SF is the home? I have yet been able to find a homeowner who actually lives in one of these homes. What state are you in? Any info is greatly appreciated.

Meg there are plenty of us SIPs homeowners. I can tell you the energy savings are true. People all around me in the neighborhood have two (or even three!) AC units to cool their conventional stick-built homes, while I have just one that handles the entire house, same square footage or more.

I agree with "sips disappointment" that you must be careful with choosing the right contractor, but that's true of any construction method. Where I don't agree is that the fit and finish is different. You can have your SIPs home look any way you want, and from looking at it nobody would know how it was built if that's your goal.

My disappointment with the fit and finishes could very well be a contractor issue and not a sips issue but this was my first experience with sips construction. I was disappointed as the sips panel was the finished product for the porch ceilings and eaves. The finished sips panel porch ceilings and eaves have numerous dents, scratches, poor fitting/uneven seams between panels. The front and back doors at the base where your foot would step is unlike a cement block, it was just painted wavy looking metal. The 6" wall panels also require special order wider door jambs. I have approximately 2000 sq. ft. of sips single story. I am still on the fence about the "energy efficiency". You ask about how I like my sips home, the next time I build I will use traditional building methods (concrete block) and use foam spray for insulation. The sips panels tend to make popping sounds when the sun comes out in the morning and sets in the evening. I am guessing as to why you are unable to find homeowners with sips, people are skeptical and building a new home is expensive. Wood, concrete and stone have been around for hundreds/thousands of years. What is the lifespan of sips???

Posted By sips disapointment on 06 Nov 2014 09:31 PM
My disappointment with the fit and finishes could very well be a contractor issue and not a sips issue but this was my first experience with sips construction. I was disappointed as the sips panel was the finished product for the porch ceilings and eaves. The finished sips panel porch ceilings and eaves have numerous dents, scratches, poor fitting/uneven seams between panels. The front and back doors at the base where your foot would step is unlike a cement block, it was just painted wavy looking metal.

The sips panels tend to make popping sounds when the sun comes out in the morning and sets in the evening

Can you upload any pics of the issues you are describing?

As far as the lifespan of the EPS SIPs they should be OK as long as the glue bond between the EPS and skin is intact but it's always uneasy to think that 1/8" inch of glue is what is holding everything together. I think the oldest SIP is around 50 years

What you describe about the SIPs and sound transmission is due to the STC rating of SIPs which is very low, around STC 23. Steel expands and contracts at very fast rates due to its thermal properties.

If you want something that lasts forever, masonry is the way to go.

lbear,
the dents and scratches do not seem to show in pictures to good.
The 50 year old sip you mentioned is that residential or commercial?

lbear,
the dents and scratches do not seem to show in pictures to good.
The 50 year old sip you mentioned is that residential or commercial?

https://prezi.com/zksofrzy8bu_/the-history-of-structural-insulated-panels-sips/

Wish they would show pictures of the devastation where only the SIPS home was standing. Were block homes destroyed too? I guess we are leaning toward block... with glue issues, etc on the SIPS I am still concerned. We don't have the kind of money to be able to take a gamble and hope we can stay there forever. Love the idea, but one person here says he is still on the fence re: cost of electric and may not do it again... Wish there were more homeowners to talk to - every time we ask for names of homeowners around here, we can only get Chris Kavala, who is a nice guy, but he builds them too... need a regular homeowner in the Tampa Bay area.

The "glue issues" are a red herring.

Innova Eco Building System located in Miami Florida manufactures James Hardie Cement Fiber board SIP Florida product approval #16712.1.

Innova Eco Building System, manufactures cement fiber SIP panels, Florida Product approval #16712.1.

Posted By Innova on 10 Feb 2015 02:21 PM
Innova Eco Building System, manufactures cement fiber SIP panels, Florida Product approval #16712.1.

Question is if your panels are approved by the IBC and approved/tested by ASTM?

I can't find approvals for either one.