Day 35 - The Panels are Coming, The Panels are Coming!

This was the first of 3 semi trailer loads full of panels to arrive.

When our house is finished, it will look just like every other house on the block.  However, the "bones" of our house will be completely different.

Instead of using standard 2x6 lumber to frame the exterior walls & roof, we are using Structural Insulated Panels or SIPS.  They are basically 2 layers of OSB with a layer of foam sandwiched in the middle.  It's kind of like an Oreo cookie.  The wall panels have a 6" foam core, and the roof panels have 12" thick foam.  The combination of OSB & foam provide the structure & insulation all in one package.  The interior walls of our house will be standard 2x4 construction.

Each panel is numbered to according to where it goes.

Factory Direct from Extreme Panel in Cottonwood, MN.

I first learned about SIPs during my family practice residency in Sioux Falls.  A fellow resident, Jessica Horn, and her husband, Craig, built their house in Sioux Falls using SIPs.  They liked it so much, when they moved away after residency, they built another house using SIPs.

Why SIPs?

SIPs offer several significant advantages over a traditionally framed "stick built" house.

1. Energy Efficiency
• SIP homes are extremely air tight
• This makes them much more efficient to heat & cool
2. Faster Construction Time
• The exterior of our house is scheduled to be framed in 12 days by 3 guys
• This includes the entire exterior of the house being ready for shingles, siding, windows & doors
3.  Less Waste
• Panels have all window & door frames precut at the factory
• This leaves only minor trimming needed on the job site

Jamie setting the 1st panel

End of the first day setting panels.