Page 17 - Green Builder Magazine Nov-Dec 2019 Issue
P. 17
THE STATE OF
SUSTAINABLE
BUILDING 2020
By some estimates, builders may save as
much as nine days of labor per home on fram-
ing and inspection time on a 2,500-square-
foot home built with SIPs, compared with
conventional framing, according to the
Structural Insulated Panel Association
(SIPA). The Association compared SIP con-
struction with typical stick framing, and
found that “the reduced time for framing,
electrical, and insulation labor saved $3,440
per home.”
The biggest learning curve for stick frame
builders switching to SIP systems may be
the level of planning. To use SIPs most e-
ciently, panels must be sized and built in the
factory, and should include important details
such as electrical and plumbing chases.
This results in a zero-waste jobsite, and
close tolerances for all parts of the envelope.
This, in turn, reduces the labor required to
achieve the necessary air sealing for zero net
energy performance.
ICF INROADS
Makers of Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs)
also have attracted new clients, thanks to
material and labor pressures. HUD estimated
back in 1998 that an ICF home (prior to the
current labor shortage) would cost about
3 percent more than stick framing with
2-by-6 lumber.
Other, more-recent estimates put the cost
di erence lower. Concretebuilding.org sug-
gests that building walls of ICFs adds $1 to
CREDIT: COURTESY OF PREMIER SIPS since ICF buildings are more energy e-
$4 per square foot over stick framing. But
cient, the heating and cooling equipment
can be smaller than in a frame structure.
This can cut the cost of the nal building
Electric ready. Precut chase cavities in this Premier SIP will save electricians from drilling hundreds of by an estimated 75 cents per square foot, so
the net extra cost is about 25 cents to $3.25.
holes through stud framing.
That cost gap for materials has closed as
to the NAHB, President Trump’s tari s on SIP SOLUTIONS lumber prices have risen. But the real value
Canadian lumber alone have added another SIPs, for example, have seen a marked in ICFs, according to advocates, may go to
$9,000 to the cost of each new home. And increase in market share. The ability to buy the homeowner, not directly to the builder.
it’s not just lumber. The tari s have had a Oriented Strand Board (OSB) in bulk has For example, concretenetwork.com suggests
ripple e ect on engineered wood products, largely shielded SIP makers from major that in reality, “you may save money by
including plywood and cabinets. price hikes. Add to that the labor savings building with concrete when you factor in
The silver lining to higher material costs for new home construction with SIPs, and lifecycle costs, utility and insurance savings,
is that it’s become incentive to try alternative these products have actually benetted from maintenance requirements and overall
systems. the political climate. health of the occupants.”
www.greenbuildermedia.com November/December 2019 GREEN BUILDER 15
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