Building Your New Home
With Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)

Why SIPs?

Energy Efficient home-building by hands-on owner builders

Other than pure accident, you have come upon this site for one reason.

There is a new home in your future.

Perhaps it is your first home and you are astounded at the prices being
asked for quality that is not in evidence.

Maybe it is a retirement home, or seasonal second dwelling.

Your dream home.

You want this place to reflect YOUR lifestyle - not the convictions of
some contractor who cares very little about your dreams, and even
less about your wants, and not at all about your budget.

Consider each of the statements below.

If you agree with them, this is a site you should spend some time on.

If you disagree, then perhaps it is best to click elsewhere.

But before you do.

Invest a moment longer in this introduction to
a building system whose time has come.

1. I want an energy efficient home that will save me money every season.

2. The structure must be built quickly - in weeks, not months.

3. It is vital for me to take an active role in the selection of subcontractors.

Still with me? Great! Now let's take a look at two ways to build a home.

Obviously this a "stick built" home in its early stages.

And this is a SIP built home in its early stages.

Jim LeRoy, owner of Panel Pros says, "stick framed construction is a dinosaur."

"When stress-skin panels are two times stronger, 60% more energy efficient, and go up in half the time, stick framing is not a rational substitute"

Norm Abrams, after building his new shop, said, "structural insulated panels are the next evolutionary step beyond stud-and-rafter framing. "For new construction" says Norm, "I don't think there's any reason to use anything but the panels."

Take another look at the image above. See the notch in the far gable? That notch is for a beam to rest on.

Cathedral ceilings are popular, and they are a natural for SIP homes. Forget about fancy trusses and the labor to install them.

An 10" Structural Insulated Panel will easily span 10' between each beam - even with a heavy snow load. And the SIP roof will yield a very high insulation value, with none of the thermal bridging and air infiltration common in stick built roofs.

Six reasons to build with Structural Insulated Panels

1. Energy efficiency.

2. 60% savings in shell erection time.

3. Doesn't require skilled (expensive) framing crews.

4. Perfect for hands-on owner builders.

5. As the General Contractor you choose
your own subcontractors.

6. Build to any design you choose - or create.