Structurally insulated panels – a radical
change in building design
Ian Clay, of SIPS@Clays, a leading supplier of SIPs building systems for the UK self-build market, discusses how structurally insulated panels continue to make an increasing impact across the sector – and why they are proving so popular with the “Mr & Mrs Smiths” out there who own a plot of land and are looking to build their own dream homes
an inherent desire for an individual lifestyle under their own roofs – a home offering shelter, space and comfort. Plus, the lighter they are on the bank balance, obviously the better! Structurally insulated panels – or SIPs as they
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are commonly known – provide a versatile and highly sustainable method of building an extremely energy efficient home. SIPs have been used for decades in the
United States and are now proving increasingly popular and becoming a far more accepted way of building among self-build aficionados UK-wide. They are now one of the most trusted, modern and cost-effective building techniques available, proving key to greener, more efficient
70 selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.co.uk
any people long to build their own home and, whatever the design, the one thing they all share in common is
self-build projects. Not only do SIPs have the advantage of
being as strong and hard-wearing as traditional building materials, but they are also quick and easy to erect – most SIPs houses can go up in two to three weeks. The other big advantages of SIPs are that they
dramatically reduce carbon emissions and slash heating costs – and these are obviously key con- siderations for people building their own homes. As well as being ideal for walls, they can
also be used for the roof, increasing roof space. Where space is at a premium, the highly effi- cient integral insulation helps make full use of the available footprint, being much thinner than traditional construction methods, without loss of strength or thermal performance. Using SIPs for the entire build also generates
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SIPs dramatically reduce carbon emissions and slash heating costs and these are obviously key considerations for people building their own homes
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