SIPS can be added for efficiency
Q. Exactly what are insulated SIPS panels for houses? I want to add an efficient apartment to my house for my elderly mother. Can SIPS be used for large room additions or are they only for new construction?
Betsy K.
A. "SIPS" stands for structural insulated panel system and it is very energy efficient. Although the panels are most often used for new house construction, they can be used for efficient room additions of any size.
SIPS are a subset of standard foam insulated panels which have a thick foam core sandwiched between two rigid skins (sheets) of various materials. The standard panels are often used for the exterior walls to enclose post and beam framed, steel framed, etc. houses for super-insulation level.
What makes SIPS panels unique is the skins are made of OSB (oriented strand board). This creates a very strong, highly insulated panel which is self-supporting without the need for additional basic wall framing.
Once the panels are attached to the foundation and are connected together, the SIPS panels support themselves, the floors, ceiling, and roof.
You may actually drive past many finished SIPS houses each day and not
know it because they look identical to any other house construction method, indoors and out. The interior surface is usually finished with drywall and the exterior can be brick, siding, stucco, etc. You may notice the walls are thicker by the depth of window and door openings.
SIPS panels are made with either polystyrene or polyurethane foam between the skins. Polyurethane has a higher insulation R-value per inch thickness, so thinner panels provide the same insulation level (up to R-45) as thicker polystyrene ones. This is a benefit if there are space constraints; otherwise, either type of foam performs well. Some have lifetime warranties.
Once your building plans are complete, the engineers at the SIPS panel manufacturer design the panels for your addition. The window and door openings are cut into the panels and electrical chases are created. The panels are numbered for easy assembly and the walls can be enclosed immediately at your site. Being made in a factory, the tolerances are accurate.
What makes SIPS houses and additions extremely energy efficient are the high insulation levels and the airtightness. The panels can be made in lengths up to 24 feet, so there are very few joints to seal as compared to a typical stick-built lumber house. SIPS panels also block outdoor noise.
There are several methods for connecting the panels together. Vertical splines in grooves form a strong, airtight connection. Tongue-and-groove is another commonly used design. A cam-lock design uses cams and double grooves to draw the panels together.
The following companies offer SIPS panels: AFM Corp., (800) 255-0176, www.r-control.com; Enercept, (800) 658-3303, www.enercept.com; Fischer SIPS, (800) 792-7477, www.fischersips.com; General Panel Corp., (866) 774-0530, www.generalpanel.com; and Winter Panel Corp., (802) 254-3435, www.winterpanel.com.
Q. I am planning to remodel my kitchen. I want to locate the range in a spot where I cannot vent the range hood outdoors. Is indoor venting effective and is it as efficient as outdoor venting?
Randy S.
A. Kitchen range hoods which vent outdoors are generally more effective for removing excessive moisture and odors from cooking. They are generally quieter than indoor-venting ones of the same air flow rating.
If excessive indoor moisture is not a problem, an indoor venting range hood is more energy efficient because it does not suck conditioned air from your house. The best ones have high-quality filters which remove many odors and grease.