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SIPs: The Innovative Panels Supporting Sustainable Prefab Homes

11/8/2021

10 Comments

 
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More and more New Zealanders are recognising the benefits of sustainable houses. That means the design elements that make them so effective are becoming more popular as well.
 
One such design element is SIPs, an innovative way to build the floor, roof, and walls of a home in a way that minimises both labour costs and build times and maximises energy efficiency. To learn more about SIPs and how they can be used as a vital element within a high-performance home, read on.
 
What are SIPs? 
SIPs, or Structural Insulated Panels, are high-performance, thermally efficient composite panels, in which an insulating layer of polystyrene is sandwiched between two layers of structural strand board. This alternative build material offers a new way to construct the building envelope—walls, roof, and floors—for residential and commercial buildings.

Our SIPs are made and cut by Formance in Christchurch, and Craft Homes is one of only four preferred installers in Auckland.
  • Learn more about Formance SIPs.
The Difference Between SIPs and Stick Framing
Traditionally, homes have long been built with stick framing, or frame and truss, but SIPs offer major advantages in a range of important categories, including:
  1. On-site build times and labour costs. SIPs are prefabricated, cut to specifications at the factory and delivered to the site ready for construction. Sticks, however, are delivered to the site as timber frames and roof trusses and must then be assembled. That’s why SIPs significantly cut down on on-site build times compared to standard construction techniques, offering savings in labour costs, and reducing the risk of a building site delay.
  2. Precision and durability. Stick framing is more labour intensive because it takes longer to get every angle and measurement precisely right. What’s more, many pieces of frame timber don’t arrive perfectly straight. SIPs however are precision-cut, and their layered structure provides a double bracing that inhibits bowing. With fewer joined pieces, they will also last longer and are less prone to creaking and noise.
  3. Resale value. Homes built with SIPs tend to enjoy higher resale values, because of their contribution to the home’s enhanced energy efficiency and durability.
  4. Materials Costs. SIPs may cost a little more upfront, but as is the case with many other elements of passive homes, cost less over the full life cycle of your home once you factor in labour and energy savings.
  5. Availability. SIPs are more readily available at the moment, with Formance panels having a confirmed supply chain well in to 2022 , as New Zealand faces a shortage of materials for framing. Frames and trusses can be harder to get your hands on during a timber shortage like the one we have now, which could further widen the difference in build times between the two options as well.
 
The role SIPs play in prefabricated homes
Energy efficiency is where SIPs really shine. Stick framing doesn’t offer insulation for the building; insulation must be added—and the building envelope made airtight—after the frame is constructed, but SIPs are solid panels with built-in insulation. SIPs have no gaps in their insulation, and offer much superior air tightness compared with stick framing, with up to 90% less air leakage than standard frames.

Because they’re cut to spec at the factory and delivered to the site ready for installation, SIPs also cut down on the amount of construction material waste a building produces. Additionally, they can be custom-made for the climate you live in, incorporating various thicknesses and types of foam based on average temperature and humidity levels.
  • Read our Guide to Prefabricated Builds and Prefab Homes.
Work with a preferred SIPs installer for your new build home
Craft Homes is one of New Zealand’s very few passive house builders with experience and expertise in SIPs. We’ll work with you to ensure that every element of your new home is built to peak performance. Contact Craft Homes today to book your free consultation.
10 Comments
www.paintershamiltonnz.info/ link
23/12/2021 07:40:15 pm

Nice report! I love how detailed and generous the information included in here.

Reply
roofing repair hamilton link
11/4/2022 05:09:26 pm

Solar panels are indeed sustainable. The only problem that home owners have with it, is that it is expensive than normal roof.

Reply
choose us link
11/5/2022 01:42:05 pm

Insulation is not new, but still very effective or probably the best choice for you as like many others.

Reply
roofing repair link
7/7/2022 03:11:15 pm

Insulation is perfect for extreme weather, otherwise there is no need for it. But it also protects our homes from possible pest attacks.

Reply
K Hindson
11/6/2023 09:27:17 am

I strongly disagree that there is no need for insulation or that its only useful in extreme weather, it's á basic essential. Insulation is most assuredly essential simply for temperature control, and, when used correctly can be cool in summer and warm in winter.

Reply
K Hindson
24/6/2023 02:28:18 pm

Insulation is essential for all homes and not just in extreme weather conditions, so state otherwise is short sited and you will find that it's a universally accepted fact. I have never read anywhere that insulation is connected to pest attacks.

Reply
online pdf editor link
10/1/2023 04:34:18 am

Best pdf editor

Reply
Click here link
23/6/2023 11:21:01 pm

Discover the game-changer in sustainable prefab homes – innovative panels that are revolutionizing the industry. Dive into the world of eco-friendly building materials and explore how these panels contribute to energy efficiency, reduced waste, and faster construction times. Embrace the future of housing design with these cutting-edge solutions, paving the way for a greener, more sustainable approach to home construction.

Reply
K Hindson
24/6/2023 02:32:40 pm

I am astonished that some people have yet to see the necessity for insulation, it's not something you would find stated in Europe or North America so why are some people so adverse to accepting a proven fact that is tried and tested elsewhere in the world ?

Reply
New Home Construction Delray Beach link
28/1/2025 05:33:46 pm

Great insights! SIPs are truly a game-changer for sustainable prefab homes, offering efficiency, durability, and eco-friendliness. It's exciting to see innovative solutions shaping the future of housing!

Reply



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We are a licensed construction company with over 15 years’ experience in the Building Industry. We specialise in residential renovations and sustainable new builds. Craft Homes are NZ Owned & Operated, a Licensed Building Practitioner and an affiliate of the Certified Builders Association. Alongside our construction services, we offer in-house project management, delivering high-quality projects on time and on budget with a friendly, personal approach​.
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