a genuine warm roof space, which can easily be designed to create an additional room or a safe, dry storage area. Another major bonus is that SIPs are also
extremely flexible, as pretty much any type of finish can be applied to the exterior – brick, render, timber, stone, tile or metal. The introduction of Target Fabric Energy
Efficiency (TFEE) rates indicates a shift towards long-term sustainability and traditional masonry and timber frame constructions need to work much harder in order to meet these regulations. The homes of the future will most likely be
constructed using a fabric first approach, which provides a long-term solution that can help ease the discrepancy between building quality and cost, minimise the strain on resources and, ultimately, improve modern living standards. With their outstanding thermal performance,
innovative construction technologies such as SIPs can be used to create airtight homes. They offer a more sustainable and more economically viable alternative to attempting to maintain affordability by building to a lower standard. This means that people with self-build interests can rest assured that new regulations are being fulfilled without any compromise on quality. So what exactly is a SIP? Perhaps the simplest
answer is to describe them as “innovative, cost- effective and environmentally friendly insulation panels.” Without getting too technical, a typical example of a SIP construction would be two 15mm Oriented Strand Board facings with a 112mm rigid urethane insulation core, provid-
ing a thermally efficient, structurally strong rigid panel. The panels are factory cut to the design of the
building and come ready to slot together like a giant 3D jigsaw puzzle using specialist jointing systems that provide extremely high levels of air- tightness. They have even been compared to Lego kits and some people have even described them as the building blocks of the future. There are plenty of satisfied SIPs self-
builders out there for whom the dream has become reality, such as one young married couple with a modest budget looking for their first home together. Their new three bedroom terraced starter home came in at an extremely affordable £139,000. Another young family made a leap of faith
when buying a plot of land on an extremely challenging site. Against the odds, they success- fully built a single storey three-bedroom SIPs house that has since won a local design award for the best residential new build. An older couple downsizing and selling
their original house successfully built their own SIPs-inspired energy-efficient eco-cottage in the garden. One thing’s for certain – environmental issues
are likely to dominate all our lives for the fore- seeable future. SIPs represent a radical change in building design and technology, equipping the self-build sector with the wherewithal to pro- vide their very own dream homes, with the added bonus of minimal heating bills. Someday soon, maybe all houses will be built like this.
Enq. 225 Triple-glazed roof windows for Passivhaus design
Another highly insulated, airtight home to use FAKRO roof windows is a self-build for Michelle Sutherland and Neil Thompson in fashionable North Berwick. 14 FAKRO FTT triple-glazed roof windows were specified for the home by Certified European Passivhaus Designer Julie Wilson of Dunbar-based Brennan and Wilson Architects. They were installed on the south-facing roof alongside solar PV and solar thermal panels, the combination of which provides high
thermal efficiency and net credit on energy bills. For more information visit the company’s website.
01283 554755
www.fakro.co.uk Enq. 226 New handmade clay tile launched
Marley Eternit has launched a new range of premium handmade clay plain tiles to help create stand-out roof designs for high quality housing developments and sensitive refurbishments. The Canterbury range provides a genuine handmade appearance that specifiers are looking for in today’s market. The traditional hand making process used to create the range brings random undulations and variations that give each tile a unique appearance and
character. The tiles are available in three rich colours with soft edges, fully formed nibs and a sandfaced texture which is synonymous with the handmaking process.
Enq. 227 selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.co.uk 71 BETTER FASTER BUILDER LTD
TIMBER FRAME (SIPS) AVIGNON 45.67m2
+ CAR PORT 22m2 2BED £47,160 (WEATHER-TIGHT FINISH) WEATHER-TIGHT or TURN-KEY FINISH
ONLY GERMAN CONSTRUCTION TIMBER KVH® USED WALL U: 0.13W/m2K
BESPOKE HOUSES BUILT: • TO FIXED PRICE • ON TIME • TO HIGHEST QUALITY • NATIONWIDE SERVICE • 1 MONTH BUILD TIME
TIMBER FRAME (SIPS) LAMIA 2 153m2 5BED £55,450 (WEATHER-TIGHT FINISH)
TIMBER FRAME (SIPS) COLUMBIA 145m2
+ GARAGE 29m2 4BED £63,455 (WEATHER-TIGHT FINISH)
www.betterfasterbuilder.com Tel: 0203 384 6955
Enq. 228
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