Benefits to Home Owner

Significantly Lower Heating and Cooling Bills: Expect to save 50% or more in annual heating and cooling expenses versus a comparable stud framed home. Next to the mortgage payment utility bills are one of the largest costs items associated with home ownership; as energy prices continue to rise, utility costs will become increasingly burdensome to homeowners.

Structural Superiority Provides Superior Extreme Weather Survivability: The structural integrity of SIP’s is outstanding. Bonding the EPS foam core to the stiff outer veneers of OSB produces a structural element with continuous load bearing capability across the length and breadth of the panel, much like a steel I beam. SIP’s have 3 times the load bearing capacity of 16 inch on center, 2 x 4 stud framed walls. With the capacity to handle axial, bending, racking, and shear loads, properly designed and assembled SIP’s have withstood sustained hurricane force winds and seismic events that have demolished stud framed homes.

Design Flexibility: The structural superiority of panels allows for more design creativity. Cathedral ceilings, for example, are much more economically built with panels, allowing for very open living spaces without the substantial incremental cost typically associated with this type of design.

Reduced Fire Risk: The flame spread of EPS has a rating of 5 on the UL scale of 0 – 100, with asbestos being 0 and red oak being 100. The combustion gases of EPS have been declared non-toxic in accordance with the Federal Hazardous Substance Labeling Act. Also, because SIP’s have a solid core, they do not process the chimney- like fire spreading character of traditional wood stud framed buildings.

Reduced Air Leakage, Dust and Pollen Infiltration: The government's Oak Ridge National Laboratories (ORNL) has conducted identical laboratory tests of the air leakage characteristics of a 2x6 stick-framed, fiberglass-insulated wall and a 4 inch thick SIP’s wall. Test results showed that the SIP’s wall allowed 5 times less air leakage than the stud framed wall, providing a more energy efficient and cleaner home environment.

Reduced Mold Risk: EPS is a solid, closed cell material that does not readily absorb water. In contrast, the fiberglass batt insulation that is typically used with stud framed homes readily absorbs and retains water. Additionally, stick-built homes allow far more air leakage, carrying humidity between walls to where mold often grows. Stud framed structures are thus a much more fertile environment for molds and mildews than SIP’s buildings.

Eco-friendly Building Material: EPS does not contain CFC's, HCFC's, HFC's, or formaldehyde; it is an inert, non-nutritive and highly stable compound and that does not decompose, decay, or produce undesirable gases or leachates. EPS is also 100% recyclable. Oriented Strand Board is manufactured from sustainable, fast-growing trees such as aspen poplar, southern yellow pine, mixed hardwoods, and other suitable species.  The manufacturing process utilizes nearly 90% of the plant mass, with the balance used to supply energy to the manufacturing process. OSB is also formaldehyde free.

More Peace and Quiet: SIP’s have outstanding sound dampening attributes, muting weather, traffic and neighborhood related sounds and providing a quieter home environment.

Insulation Performance Uncompromised by Time and Water: The insulating quality of fiberglass insulation is compromised by both the passage of time and exposure to water and humidity. EPS does not degrade with the passage of time, nor is its effectiveness reduced by exposure to humidity or water.

Possible qualification for Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM): Homeowners purchasing homes built with SIP’s may qualify for an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM). These special mortgages stretch debt to income ratios to reflect the expected future savings in heating and cooling bills, enabling homeowners to obtain a larger loan than would otherwise be possible. Contact our SIP mortgage specialist for details.