The Learning Curve Of Building With SIPs
Changes To The Construction Industry
Builders and designers are starting to catch onto the perks of building with SIPs. Going into the busy summer months of construction ramping up, the industry increasingly faces a number of challenges this year. With BC step codes implementing the third step of their tiered update, builders have been adapting to more stringent sustainability measures including increases to airtightness and R values of homes.
There also continues to be an ongoing labour shortage in BC right now, which doesn’t help the demand for construction. Like many industries, the pandemic made many reconsider career paths and pursue new avenues. With an aging demographic, it also pushed many into early retirement. Although the BC government recently administered a 540k investment in the industry.1 for providing new training opportunities for skilled workers, there will need to be more done for the time being for these training incentives to keep up with the current demand.
Innovative Designs With SIPs
The sustainability push, along with labour shortages, have caused the construction industry to innovate and find new methods to push out high performing, time saving methods of construction to keep up with the demand of residential and commercial work. Structurally insulated panels have been proven to be ideal for contractors and designers who’ve been keen to adopt more sustainable practices that also won’t blow their clients’ budgets.
The hesitation that designers often face is the learning curve that comes with incorporating SIPs into more innovative building designs. CNC routers have changed the way that SIPs are produced and offer an extremely precise and customizable method of panel production. Advanced CAD softwares allows for CNC machines to take dimensions directly from construction drawings, adapting to virtually any design. From archways, to curves, to unusual opening sizes, our team has seen it all. Our consultants at West Eco work with your design team directly to adapt your shop drawings so they’re cut-ready.
These custom cut panels are also delivered to your site pre-cut as per your design. This allows for contractors to cut days off on-site construction when they would otherwise be framing out complex openings on-site.
Construction Benefits
As soon as architects and builders see the ease that SIP panels bring to the construction process, that’s when they start to truly see the benefits.
It can not be overstated that SIPs provide fast and reliable installations. Depending on the project, SIPs can save time on installation for up to 50%. This includes overall time spent on framing, trimming, millwork, and window and door installations. Since this process is also overall less labour intensive, this means that fewer skilled workers are required to install SIPs.
Material-wise, SIPs also come in with many benefits. With less lumber involved, this also means there’s reduced construction waste and overall project costs compared to a conventional stick frame build. SIPs are also engineered so you don’t have to deal with the imperfections of bowing lumber. Finished wall assemblies are typically straighter than stick framed walls, which helps contractors save on drywall installation, painting, and other finishing trim work.
Better Quality Living Spaces
From comparisons between blower door tests and whole wall building performance, SIPs continually outperform their stick framing counterparts. Their precise assembly methods allow for reduced thermal bridging during the assembly process, which allows for higher insulation values and increased air tightness. These more airtight spaces allow for better quality indoor environments, leaving homes that just feel more comfortable to be in.
Clients and homeowners quickly see these benefits after moving in, and are reminded monthly when they see their monthly utility bills. SIPs can increase the performance of the overall assembly from between 40 and 60 percent, which means that savings on heating and cooling can match this.2 Learn more about the performance benefits of choosing SIPs from one of our West Eco consultants today!
Sources:
- Kelly, Alanna. (April, 2023). We need more people: B.C. ‘s struggling construction industry gets $540K boost. https://biv.com/article/2023/04/we-need-more-people-bcs-struggling-construction-industry-gets-540k-boost
- West Eco Sips. (2023). The Benefits. https://westecosips.com/sips-advantage/