Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) Manufacturer
Manufacturer
of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)
Copyright
2008-2011 Foam Laminates of Vermont, a division of Energy Smart Building,
Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Supporting the Green Building Industry.


For
starters, modular buildings are generally mass produced in manufacturing facilities
to take advantage of cost savings. Modular structures are then transported
to the jobsite and installed. This approach reduces the installation time,
but any savings are quickly lost when one considers the difficulties in establishing
a vapor barrier since modular homes arrive with trim and siding already completed.
This approach makes wrapping a modular home in an effective membrane for air
tightness and superior thermal performance, a difficult task.
Modular buildings are prone to the same on-the-site construction difficulties
as their counterparts: stick-framed homes. There are problems with making
modular structures level, straight, and the transportation to the job site
can leave the modular building with weakened joints and non-square corners.
These cookie - cutter mass produced units are limited in design and have therfore
transformed America into a series of suburban clones.
On the other hand, SIP buildings take advantage of the modern approach to
building, where communication takes place between the architects, manufacturing
company, and sales people. The flexibility of CAD programs and speed of fabrication
techniques means a project can be conceived, designed, refined, delivered,
and assembled in less time than a conventional stick framed building.
Moreover, straight walls and roofs are taken for granted by homeowners. Unfortunately,
it is difficult to produce these standards with stick framing. The advantages
of a CAD drafting system, the superior continuous expanse of the SIP, efficient
spline connections, and today's highly efficient manufacturing techniques
has allowed for SIPs to built to 1/8 inch tolerances, a truly magnificent
feat, when one considers the standard for today's framing tolerances is 1
inch.
The bottom line is that a straight, plumb, and even wall gives a general contractor
the best opportunity to do their best work. Additionally, the tightness of
the SIP walls results in a virtually airtight thermal blanket with excellent
energy efficiency
Most
people unfamiliar with the SIP panel building industry confuse it with prefabricated
or modular construction technologies. Unfortunately, this mistaken impression
has led many to believe that SIP panels are a 'cheap' and design limited alternative.
However, modular construction methods and SIP panels are two very distinct
technologies.
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