SIP replacements – the cure for self-build?
The performance and speed benefits offered by structural insulated panels (SIPs) are compelling for self-builders in the current climate of skills shortages and tighter Regs, says Chris Duckworth
first to go but even some of the very good were casualties. This left the industry in a state of con- fusion and panic coupled with an abundance of trades who would go to extreme lengths to secure a wage. The self-build market remained steady through
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this time and the availability of local trades was abundant. The confident self-builder/self- manager was able to get great deals and high quality labour. But now things have changed. The improvement in the economy and recov-
ery of the housing sector has seen demand for the trades return only to find that there is a large gap in the availability of skilled labour. The
54 selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.co.uk
t isn’t that long ago that the recession obliterated good and bad builders and developers without mercy. The bad were the
ever-increasing rise in standards for thermal per- formance that Building Regulations demands has only exacerbated the need for skilled trades. While structural insulated panels (SIPs) were
chosen by a few during this period, only those looking for high performance went down this route, and they will be the ones who are really benefitting from that choice now. Three years ago it would be inconceivable
that a builder would consider using SIPs to build their projects. Fast forward to the increased thermal performance and airtightness now demanded by Building Regulations and you have a situation that demands ever increas- ing wall thicknesses and secondary systems or far greater quality control. With a background in housebuilding and
self-build it became evident to our team at SBUK that the solution to the problem was a SIP structure. Over the past five years the num- ber of projects – both commercial and self-build – we have worked with has sky rock- eted. The benefits of SIPs including speed of build have been critical to this acceleration. Unlike traditional construction SIPs are produced offsite and have an incredibly quick installation time once they arrive at site. It is not inconceivable to erect a four bedroom house in less than two weeks, including all external structural walls, all internal walls, floor joists, floor decks and the roof structure. With the need for space at an all-time high a
major benefit of using SIPs is the thinness of wall that can be achieved. A wall build up of only
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