Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)- a building material that
consists of panels made from a thick layer of foam (polystyrene
or polyurethane) sandwiched between two layers of Oriented
Strand Board (OSB). Structural panels offer very effective
insulating qualities, rapid installation, and consistent quality
(minimizing waste). The use of OSB or waferboard for facings is
considered a positive use of wood resources. In addition, less
wood is wasted at the construction site than stick built homes
making structural insulated panels favorable materials to "green
building" organizations.
What are Structural Insulated Panels?
Structural Insulated Panels still gaining popularity in the U.S.
Even though the housing market has decreased as a whole, the decrease in homes
using SIPs was significantly less than the overall new housing market last year.
Panelized homes have been gaining in market share for the last few years for a few
reasons. One reason SIPs homes are an attractive option is because oil prices
have risen and many Panelized Homes are much more energy-efficient than
traditionally built homes. Some Panelized homes can save up to 50% in energy
bills. These savings add up over time and they provide the home buyer with less
variance in monthly costs since an increase in energy will not be as dramatic to your
bottom line if energy use is much less. The potential for cold winter weather in
Kansas makes building a Panelized home here a good choice, as is evidenced by
the number of Panelized home builders now in Kansas.
Kansas SIPS Builders