If you are looking for an opportunity to build a warm home for little money, consider building a house from SIP panels. The cost of a two-story “box” of 10*10 meters without finishing is around 17-20 thousand dollars. In this case, there is no need for additional insulation; you can move into the house immediately after construction (if communications are connected) and you can immediately begin finishing.
What is a SIP panel
The construction of houses from SIP panels began in the second half of the last century in Canada. The technology is simple, the construction of a building requires very little time (from two to three weeks, depending on the complexity of the project), it can only be cheaper, and even then not in all regions.
Houses are built from thermal insulation panels, which themselves have sufficient strength. In English, these panels are called SIP, which is an abbreviation for the following name: StructuralInsulated Panel. This translates as “Structural Thermal Insulated Panel”. It turns out, in theory, in Russian, the name of this material should sound like KTP. In reality, normal transliteration is used (replacing English letters with Cyrillic). As a result, the name “SIP panels” is in use.
This material consists of two, between which a layer of expanded polystyrene (foam) is laid. The result is a kind of sandwich (a construction “multi-layer sandwich”). Hence another name - sandwich panels.
When building a house, there are two types of assembly:
In our country, the first option is most popular. The wooden frame gives the structure additional strength. The load-bearing capacity of sandwich panels without a frame is more than enough for the construction of one or two-story private houses. But knowing that the house is built on solid timber is reassuring. This technology has one more advantage - maintainability. If there are problems, you can remove the damaged panel and replace it with a new one, which is impossible with frameless technology.
Advantages and disadvantages
Like any new technology for our country, building a house from SIP panels has its adherents and opponents. Opponents have the most important argument - the unnaturalness of the materials and the possibility of releasing harmful substances. Indeed, these boards consist of foam and OSB. Polystyrene foam is a common material and is only dangerous when it burns. OSB has also been on the market for a long time; it is made from pressed large shavings and wood chips. Resins containing formaldehyde are added as a binder. It is this binder that raises the most questions: formaldehyde is a strong poison and its presence in the atmosphere in large quantities causes poisoning.
Formaldehyde emissions must be controlled by the SES (sanitary and epidemiological station), and only safe building materials must be put on sale. So if you are planning to build a house from SIP panels, carefully choose the manufacturer - the quality of the material depends on his integrity. Panels assembled using German OSB from Egger are recognized as the highest quality and safest. Their formaldehyde emissions are E1 (safe).
Excerpt from GOST R 56309-2014 (date of introduction 2015-07-01): “Depending on the content (emission) of formaldehyde, the boards are manufactured in emission classes E0.5, E1 and E2.”
At the same time, they easily tolerate high humidity, do not absorb water and are not deformed.
SIP panel Egger E1 2800x625x174 (Romania) is the best option for walls. Height - 2800 mm, thickness of polystyrene foam - 150 mm. If you prefer “standard” ceilings with a height of 2.5 meters, then you should purchase Egger E1 2500x1250x174
German Glunz Agepan panels are also good, but few people use them. If we talk about Russian manufacturers, then you should pay attention to the products of the Kalevala company. Only safe and high-quality materials are used in production:
1. OSB-3 Kalevala Russia emission class E1;
2. Glue – TOP-UR (Russia);
3. Expanded polystyrene – PSBS – 25C Knauf (Russia).
Speaking about the advantages of construction from SIP panels, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the technology has been thoroughly developed. Panels are produced for various elements of the house: external walls, partitions, interfloor ceilings, etc.
Why do people build houses from SIP panels? Because such a house has solid advantages:
- Light weight, which allows you to save on the foundation. Pile or construction is ideal for this type of building.
- Low heat loss, low heating costs. Expanded polystyrene is an excellent insulation material, and it is sandwiched on both sides with OSB sheets. This is what makes a house made of sandwich panels very warm.
- Low cost per square meter.
- Short construction time. The box of a two-story house can be assembled in a month.
- No shrinkage. There may be settlement at the foundation. The structure made from SIP panels has no settlement.
- Finishing work can begin immediately after the box is assembled.
In general, it is this set of properties that makes people choose a house made from SIP panels. They build both permanent residences and seasonal cottages. So, with a limited budget, building a house from SIP panels can be a very good solution.
How to build it yourself
There are two ways to build a house from SIP panels with your own hands:
- Buy a house kit for a specific project from a company that deals with this, and assemble it yourself. Not all companies agree to this, but many have a supervising installation service. This is when a company specialist supervises your installation.
- Buy slabs. Cut them to the required sizes, purchase timber, do it all yourself. In this case, all responsibility for the quality of construction will fall on you. If you have carpentry skills or have someone to help you with, you can choose this option.
Briefly about what a house kit is. This is a set of ready-made SIP panels, wooden beams of the required size and fasteners for the construction of a specific house. All components are cut at the factory and numbered. When assembling, you use the resulting blocks in a certain order. The process is reminiscent of building a house from a children's construction set, only you are assembling a real house.
Building a house from SIP panels when ordering a house kit is like playing construction kit
A house kit is good if everything is done accurately. This is not only about the quality of SIP panels (it must be checked separately), but also about the use dry wood (kiln drying), and about cutting accuracy. The edges of the panels must precisely “grab” the beam, the two panels must be joined with an expansion gap of about 3 mm - all this is achieved using precision equipment.
Reference. The expansion gap is the required distance that is left between building materials that are subject to expansion (dilatation). If a house is being built in a region with a humid climate (for example, the Leningrad region), then it is imperative to leave an expansion gap, otherwise the OSB will swell. In dry climates, there is no need for a gap between OSB.
Construction stages: photo report
Construction of a house from SIP panels, like any other, begins with the selection and construction of a foundation. A pile foundation is considered optimal for a lightweight house. This is exactly what is done in most cases when starting the construction of a house using SIP technology. Sometimes it is impossible to install a pile foundation:
- on hard soils that are too expensive to drill (rocks);
- on unstable soils with low bearing capacity (peat bogs);
- in the presence of cavities in the rock mass.
In these cases, they do or (more often USHP - an insulated Swedish stove). They are much more expensive, but more reliable.
Once the foundation has been selected and calculated, its construction can begin.
Making a pile foundation
Since foundations are most often made from screw piles, we will illustrate exactly how they are made. Piles are screwed into the ground manually (if the soil and strength allow) or using special equipment. The height of the heads is 80 cm above ground level, the distance between the piles is no more than 2.5 meters.
The heads are welded to the installed piles, and the strapping beam is attached to them (in this example, 200*200 mm).
Important! The joints of the timber must be located on the heads. When laying the strapping beams, do not forget to coat the locks with a protective compound (bitumen mastic) before joining.
There is no support under the joint - you can’t do that!
To protect against rotting and insects, the strapping beams are impregnated with a protective compound. Roofing material was laid in two layers under the timber (on the heads).
This stage takes from 3-4 days to a week. It depends on the complexity of the soil, whether you work with the equipment or turn it yourself. Now you can start laying the floor slabs, but before that you should familiarize yourself with the methods of connecting them.
How to connect SIP panels: basic principle
When connecting panels, a wooden dowel (beam) or a thermal key (a piece of SIP panel of smaller thickness) is inserted between them. As mentioned above, in our country the technology using a frame is more popular, i.e. Dry timber is used as a key. It is this option that we will focus on.
The beam is inserted into the groove and fixed using self-tapping screws and/or nails, which are twisted/hammered through the OSB into the body of the beam. If you have a nail gun, we initially recommend tackling the panels with “yellow” wood screws 40-50 mm long, and then punching through the joints rough nails 50-65 mm long in increments of 10-15 cm.
The following can be used to fasten SIP panels: “yellow” wood screws, galvanized screw nails, galvanized rough nails. Do not use “black” hardened screws - they break off and quickly corrode
There is always a risk that the connection will be leaky, and the entire construction technology of SIP panels is based on the thermos effect, that is, on maximum tightness. Therefore, before assembling this unit (and any other), foam is applied to the side surface of the panel. It fills all the cracks, providing the proper level of heat and moisture insulation.
Note! The picture above shows a dowel made from double timber. Often such recommendations are perceived incorrectly, and in order to save money, unplaned edged boards 50x150x6000 mm of natural humidity are purchased. Once the board dries, the joint is unlikely to remain sealed.
When making a composite wooden dowel 100*150, in our opinion, it is preferable to use three dry bars with a cross-section of 50*100 mm - in this case the connections overlap (see video below).
If we are talking about wall panels, then it makes sense to insert and secure the dowels in advance.
The foam was applied, the beam was inserted, and secured with self-tapping screws. Foam was applied to the side edge of the second slab, the groove was placed under the protruding part of the beam, an expansion gap of 3 mm was set, and secured with self-tapping screws. The foam that came out of the seams during the installation process is cut off after polymerization.
This technique, with minor modifications, is repeated in any connection of SIP panels. The diagram of this node is presented above.
After cutting the slabs, it becomes necessary to remove polystyrene foam to the required depth. For these purposes, an electric thermal knife (cutter) for foam plastic is used. They come in various designs, but the thermal knife must be equipped with a limiter. Only in this case will you be able to remove polystyrene foam exactly to the required depth. “Overdoing” can lead to the appearance of cold bridges at the junction of the panels.
You can make the cutter yourself, but at the same time Do not forget about safety precautions when working with electric current.
First overlap
The first floor is nothing more than a floor that does not require insulation. As melted, it is assembled from SIP panels with a thickness of 224 mm and a width of 625 mm. With such a width of the slabs, the wooden beams are spaced at intervals of about 60 cm, which is enough to withstand the load.
If you have slabs with a width of 1250 mm, then they need to be sawn lengthwise into two equal parts.
When installing the ceiling, the panels should be laid like bricks in masonry - with the seams mismatching (staggered). This is necessary to ensure that the seams do not warp when humidity increases.
These are the pieces that floor blocks should be cut into when using 1250 mm wide slabs
To protect the bottom OSB board from moisture, each of the boards is coated on one side with the same bitumen mastic. You can use other compositions with similar properties.
Assembly of SIP floor panels for the first floor
When connecting the slabs, a mounting beam is laid between them (diagram in the previous paragraph). The beam is attached at the edges to the frame (with long nails), and the edges of the slabs are attached to it using self-tapping screws.
We cover the side sections of the slabs (all floors) with an edged board of a suitable size. We apply foam to the side surface of the slab using a snake, then we place a board and fasten it through the OSB with self-tapping screws into the end of the board.
A starting (crown) board is laid on top of the sandwich along the perimeter, on which the SIP wall panels will rest. It is laid around the perimeter and in those places where partitions will be installed.
The crown boards are fastened with nails/screws, but to be sure, they were secured through and through with studs to the pile heads. Holes were drilled for the studs. A pin is driven into them and tightened with bolts.
Walling
We continue the construction of a house from SIP panels: we are installing the walls of the first floor. For this work, it is advisable to have two assistants, then the process will go faster and easier.
We place the first panel so that it “fits” onto the crown board
Wall installation begins from one of the corners. When installing, the panel is “slipped” onto the installed starting board with a recess at the bottom (first apply a layer of foam to the board or the end of the sandwich). The panel is placed, aligned vertically, attached to the starting board on both sides with self-tapping screws in increments of 10-15 cm.
Foam is applied to the side surface of the installed slab, and another slab is set at an angle of 90°. An embedded board (end block) is pre-attached to its side part, the thickness of which is equal to the depth of the groove. Like the first one, this panel is attached to the strapping starting board.
In addition, we fasten the corner using long self-tapping screws.
As a rule, self-tapping screws with a length of 220 to 280 mm are used
The length of the self-tapping screw must be such that it passes through the slab and the entire thickness of the embedded board. The installation step of this fastener is 40-50 cm.
In window and door openings, for more reliable fastening, you can install metal perforated reinforced corners. The element is optional, but adds rigidity and inspires confidence.
External walls and partitions are immediately erected
The installation of partitions from SIP panels follows the same principle: we attach a crown board and partition blocks to it. They can be the same thickness as for external walls, but thinner ones can be used. The decrease in sound insulation properties is compensated by the interior finishing.
To save money, partitions can be made using frame technology. Then initially only the frame can be installed, and its cladding can be transferred to a later period. It is more convenient to do this when the roof is already installed.
In a house, frame partitions can be made from SIP panels
Interfloor ceiling
To install floor slabs in the grooves of wall panels, boards are installed on foam and self-tapping screws. They create a harness for installing the ceiling.
Next we lay the floor slabs. If the partitions are assembled from SIP panels, their load-bearing capacity is quite high and no additional reinforcement measures are required. If the partitions were assembled using frame technology, we make the upper beams reinforced: they are assembled from three boards glued together. For greater strength, the beams can also be fastened on both sides with self-tapping screws.
Floor slabs made of SIP panels are laid on the finished frame. They should be no more than 625 mm wide and should be laid staggered (with the seams mismatched). Since the panels are narrow, there is a lot of wooden beams in the ceiling. Due to this, such a floor can withstand loads in places where there are no floor beams.
We fasten the laid slabs to the framing beam with self-tapping screws or nails. The edges of the OSB are at the top and bottom to each intermediate beam. After securing the installation of the ceiling, we close the open side sections along the perimeter of the building according to the same principle: foam + edged board. For greater rigidity, in those places where the floor beams pass, we fasten the floor panels with long self-tapping screws (220 mm) all the way through.
This stage after assembling the first floor does not seem difficult. Everything is the same, only the work is at height, tightening the sandwich panels takes longer and is more difficult than installing them.
Second floor walls
The second floor in this project is , so the wall panels are low. We also install partitions at the same time as the external walls. Before installing the roof, an embedded beam is installed in the upper open groove; roofing SIP panels will be attached to it.
Standard panels will have to be cut to fit the gables, since the shape is non-standard. The installation and connection of the wall panels themselves on the second floor is no different.
Roof made of SIP panels
Special sandwich panels are used for the roof. Under them, the ends of the slabs are cut at a certain angle, which is determined by the angle of inclination of the roof slope. Here, just as with flooring, you can get by with a minimum of beams, because each connection has its own beam. Therefore, the rafter system is not assembled.
For a roof made of SIP panels, beams need a minimum
Skate decoration
The roof of a small to medium sized house is made of SIP panels and usually has a central ridge beam. Here two planes of the roof converge. This node can be designed in two ways (in the pictures below). The first one is symmetrical. The sandwich panels are cut at an angle, and the top of the ridge beam is cut at the same angle. Two planes are fastened with long self-tapping screws through the panel to the beam on both sides. The fastener installation step is 30-40 cm.
In this method, there is no usual timber between the two slabs; they are connected only with foam. After the foam has polymerized, the excess is cut off, the seam is treated with a waterproof sealant, after which a protective strip - made of metal, plastic, etc. - is put on the ridge. - depends on the type of roofing chosen.
There is another way to join roofing SIP panels on the ridge. The second method does not require cutting the slabs at an angle, but one part of the panels must be longer (by the thickness of the roofing slab). The beam is still cut at an angle, the slabs are joined at right angles, and fastened through and through with long self-tapping screws to the beam.
This connection uses embedded end bars. They are installed as usual - using mounting foam and self-tapping screws. To block the access of moisture to the under-roof space, the junction of the two panels is also additionally coated with a waterproof sealant.
There is an option to install a roof from SIP panels without a central beam. There are roofing options with two load-bearing beams that are located off-center. These can be either specially laid floor beams, or partitions assembled from SIP panels or using frame technology. In the second case, it is better to strengthen the beams (make them prefabricated with glue and nails).
The most difficult thing in this unit is to cut the embedded beams at the right angle. This can be done on the ground, which greatly simplifies the task. The panels are fastened through the slab with long self-tapping screws to the floor beams or mortgages in the partitions. Also, two planes are fastened together at the junction point - on opposite sides with long self-tapping screws.
Roof and wall panel connections
For laying SIP roofing slabs, wall slabs are cut at the required angle. The inner part of the OSB is higher than the outer part. The foam plastic is “cut” at the same angle, and the edges of the embedded beam are trimmed. It is this part that is the most difficult if you did not buy a house kit, but are building a house from SIP panels using standard panels, cutting them to the required dimensions with your own hands.
How to connect wall and roof SIP panels
If you have the appropriate equipment, cutting them at an angle is not a problem. The problem is cutting the foam between the OSB boards to the required depth. You can select the core using a thermal knife, and then remove the residue purely mechanically. Most likely, the cut will still not be smooth, so you will have to add more foam to fill the unevenness.
In the pictures, the roof overhang is also made of slabs with insulation. This is easier to implement, but it is an unreasonable expense. To save money, the length of the SIP panel is taken up to the intersection with the walls, and then only the timber goes (as in the photo). In this case, the beam is made composite: one part is longer by the amount of the overhang, the second is shorter and ends where the wall ends.
Features of joining roofing slabs
The connection of two roofing slabs occurs in the same way as others: timber, foam, self-tapping screws. But since precipitation is possible here, it is advisable to seal all seams.
To improve the tightness, all seams on the roof are additionally coated with waterproof sealant. First, the hardened foam is cut into a plane with the roof, then a sealant is applied. After filing the overhangs, we can consider that the construction of a house made of SIP panels is completed. Install windows/doors, connect communications and the home is already suitable for habitation. Finishing can be done immediately after installing the box.
Mice and other troubles
To save our readers from unnecessary headaches, we decided to talk about the mistakes made during the construction of one residential building. First of all, the material is intended for those who hire contractors for construction. However, it will also be useful for those who build a house on their own.
The facility was built under the “Rural House” program, and local would-be builders acted as the contractor. Unfortunately, the future residents did not pay due attention to the quality of the work. The result is natural - a large number of significant “jambs”.
Brief information about the house:
- Commissioning date: 2008
- Number of floors: 2
- Foundation type: strip
- Technology: frameless
- Panel sizes: 2740x1220x224 (floors), 2740x1220x174 (walls), 2740x1220x145 (dowel for connecting wall panels)
Problems appeared quite quickly and were associated with the most important part of any structure - the foundation. The strip foundation was filled with low-quality concrete, which led to the fact that when moisture entered, it began to crumble.
In extreme cold (below -30°C), another “jamb” was discovered - part of the plastic floor plinth in the kitchen froze.
It was decided to remove the bottom panels of the vinyl siding, remove the cold bridges where the wall slabs adjoin the first floor ceiling, and sheathe the foundation with corrugated sheets to look like stone.
After dismantling the lower siding panels, signs of field mice appeared.
During construction, the ends of the floor were not covered with boards. Pieces of plywood are installed, with large distances between them. Also note that the roofing felt does not start from the timber, but from the floor level
A brief explanation of roofing felt. At the time the house was built, vapor-permeable membranes had not been heard of in a particular locality. The contractor was going to lay plastic sheeting on the walls. The customer opposed this, and as a result, roofing felt was used.
It is clearly visible that the mice did not waste any time...
As a result, the owner of the house had to mitigate the consequences using his modest construction experience.
Related errors:
- The lower part of the first floor ceiling has not been treated with bitumen mastic.
- SIP panels with a width of 1220 mm were laid on the floors of the first and second floors (they had to be cut in half lengthwise).
- Raw wood was used.
- The panel for making thermal keys is thinner than the polystyrene foam layer.
- The corners of the house are not tightened with long screws.
- Self-tapping screws are exclusively black.
There were other mistakes, but we do not talk about them, as they do not directly relate to the technology of constructing SIP houses.
Alas, the case discussed above is not the most severe - the fatal option is discussed in the video below.
The conclusion is very simple: you should not blindly trust the customer. All stages of construction must be supervised personally, or seek the help of a knowledgeable person from the outside.
If the construction is carried out by contractors, then the quality of their work can be assessed already at the stage of acceptance of the first floor slab.
Reading time ≈ 4 minutes
The technology of building houses from SIP panels has been used for several decades in North America. Such construction is also common in Europe. The popularity of this technology is due to the reliability of the design, high speed of construction regardless of weather conditions, and good heat-protective properties. The ease of assembly makes it possible to build a house from SIP panels with your own hands without the involvement of a large team and heavy equipment.
Features of this technology
You can be convinced that this type of construction is feasible by looking at the photo report below on the construction work carried out. The information below shows how to build a house from SIP panels yourself.
For complete clarity, it should be noted that the concept of a SIP panel comes from the English language - SIP (Structural Insulated Panel) is translated as a structural insulated panel (see photo).
Houses made from such sandwich panels cope with both lateral loads (hurricane winds) and the weight of snow on the roof.
The main stages of building a house from SIP panels
If construction is planned on land where there was nothing previously, the placement of a house on the site will be associated solely with the personal preferences of the owners, and with the placement standards regarding land boundaries. If there is a pipeline nearby or sewer drains are installed, care must be taken not to damage communications during the construction process.
Markings are made for the foundation.
Construction of the foundation
The light weight of a house made of sandwich panels allows you to minimize the cost of building a foundation. A massive structure is not needed here. Lightweight buildings made from SIP panels can be placed on the following types of foundations:
- tape;
- pile-screw;
- slab.
Of course, you can equip the basement floor.
Here it was decided to build a house without a basement. First, with the help of heavy equipment, they equipped the site and made a small deepening under the foundation. When the recesses have been made in accordance with the design documentation, the formwork is arranged and filled with concrete mortar.
Cinder blocks are installed on the strip foundation, which are reinforced and filled with concrete.
In this situation, 988 blocks were used. It turns out to be a rather high base of the house. This helps protect your home from moisture and insects. Instead of cinder blocks, you can simply use concrete to fill the base.
Arrangement of the lower level
SIP panels are considered to be very durable. You can easily find a video of a truck driving over such a panel, and it does not deform at all. Therefore, the floor in the house is made from this material. Only first, waterproofing is laid on the foundation. The first panel is placed on it, aligned with the corner of the foundation. The joints between the panels are filled with foam. A connecting key is also installed there. The second panel is attached close to the first. The connecting dowels to which the panels themselves are screwed will add rigidity to the entire structure.
When laying panels, you need to check the level. If there are deviations, they must be eliminated. The end part of the laid panels is covered with strapping boards; foam is used to fasten them. As a result, the floor of the first floor will externally resemble a monolithic panel.
Laying communications
Pre-prepared technological holes are used for laying communications. This is both a water supply system and a sewerage system.
This work must be carried out before laying the finished floor.
Arrangement of internal partitions
Typically, internal partitions are installed simultaneously with the construction of load-bearing walls.
But if there are delays in the delivery of panels, you can first install the frame of the internal partitions in accordance with the diagrams and drawings of the project documentation.
Installation of SIP panels
The main stage of building a house from SIP panels with your own hands is the installation of the panels themselves.
This material must be fixed without gaps or voids. The more airtight the connection, the more comfortable it will be to live in the house. The joints must be filled with foam. Fastening is carried out with self-tapping screws. It is better to secure the panel to the guide beam on the foundation with anchor bolts to eliminate possible shifts during shrinkage of the foundation. The number of joining seams should be minimal. Therefore, the best option is to build a house from SIP panels made specifically for a specific project.
When the walls of the first floor are assembled, timber and floor panels are laid.
Roof construction
The Mauerlat is made, a rafter system is installed, on which SIP panels are installed, and the roof is already attached to it. You can see in detail how the roof is installed
A sandwich panel is a structure that consists of insulation and several roofing materials and is used as the main building material for the construction of buildings of varying design complexity. For the manufacture of sandwich panels, only proven materials that meet the standards are used. The main material for the covering layer is usually “corrugated sheeting” (galvanized steel coated with polymer).
Insulation materials
When choosing sip panels, it is better to seek help from specialists. But if this is not possible, it is worth studying the main types of insulation and their characteristics.
There are three main types of insulation:
- polystyrene foam (expanded polystyrene);
- mineral wool (basalt insulation);
- polyurethane foam.
And each of these insulation materials has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Styrofoam filling in the panel Polystyrene foam is positioned as insulation, distinguished by its durability. In addition, it is an environmentally friendly material. It has waterproof properties and is not afraid of the sun. But at the same time, such material is very flammable and burns quickly.
Mineral wool practically does not burn and is also harmless to health.
This insulation also withstands biological and chemical influences well. But despite the set of such important advantages, basalt insulation has very low resistance to moisture.
Polyurethane foam conducts heat poorly and is highly flammable, but it has a high insulation threshold.
Polyurethane foam as a starting point for a sandwich panel The thickness of the building material, and therefore the price, directly depends on the thickness of the insulation itself.
The price of the SIP panel is 1,300 rubles per square meter. Its thickness is 174 mm, width - 1250 mm, height - 2500 mm.
In our country and the CIS countries, sandwich panels of the following sizes are used:
12+100+12=124 mm;
12+150+12=174 mm;
12+200+12=224 mm.
OSB (OSB)
OSB for SIP board Getting acquainted with the concept of OSB boards should begin with the general classification. There are four main types of OSB. Each of them differs from the others only in its indicators of moisture resistance and strength.
- OSB 1 is a board with the lowest moisture resistance strength. This type of plate is often used in the installation of light weight parts. The advantage of these plates is their low price.
- OSB 2 – has a low moisture resistance threshold and at the same time high strength. Such boards are used mainly for the production of furniture, sometimes for load-bearing elements. OSB 2 is used less frequently in the construction industry, and then only for internal structures.
- OSB 3 is one of the most popular types of boards. These boards combine strength and moisture resistance at an attractive price. They are used more often in construction for the construction of both facade and interior finishes. Sometimes OSB 3 acts as a roofing material or ceiling.
- OSB 4 - these OSB boards have the highest threshold of strength and moisture resistance. They are used for the construction of structures with high load levels and in areas with high humidity.
Construction of houses from sandwich panels: advantages and disadvantages
Like any material, using sandwich panels has both its advantages and disadvantages.
First, about the pleasant things. The main advantage of this building material is the consistency of its quality, which is evidenced by the high strength of the material, relative to the price. This factor plays a very important role when calculating construction estimates. After all, the use of this material significantly reduces costs. Due to the lightness of the panels, the weight of the overall structure is lightened, which means there is no need for a reinforced foundation.
See more house projects in the “House Projects” section on our website.
DIY sandwich panel house
Build a house from SIP panels - how to assemble a construction set The first thing you will need in this matter is a design for the future building. Particular attention should be paid to its construction, not forgetting the requirements and wishes. If it is not possible to build it yourself based on the complexity of the calculations, then there are a lot of companies ready to help in this matter. We will try to show you all stages of construction in a photo report, with step-by-step instructions. But, all houses are individual, our photo can only be considered as an information guide.
By the way, SIP panels can be used to build not only houses, but also extensions to residential buildings. They can accommodate verandas or kitchens.
The next step is to order SIP panels or produce them yourself. You can order them directly from the company that produces them. Here you can look at catalogs and select everything you need for subsequent installation. When choosing panels, do not forget about the base - the foundation. For a structure made of such material, the foundation is usually installed on screw piles.
Water supply, heating and electricity for the future house must be installed before pouring the foundation.
To avoid curvature of corners or height mismatches, all panels must be checked for integrity and dimensional conformity before installation. If inaccuracies are noticed, contact the supplier to replace the material.
After the foundation is poured, you need to tie it with a wooden beam. Then the corners are set and holes are made using a percussion tool. Using these holes, the timber is fastened to the concrete with 12 mm anchors. Recommended distance 2.5 m. Next, the building itself is assembled on the established foundation. The assembly begins with zero overlap and the first SIP panels are laid on the timber.
Wall frames are assembled from timber. The embedded board is secured along its perimeter with special nails. The main thing here is to maintain the vertical calibration and frame angles. After all, if you miss even 1 mm somewhere, the wall will turn out crooked and there will be no way to correct it. After installing the frame, panels are placed on it.
After the construction of the general structure, the filling of holes begins. The joints and corners of the panels are filled using edged boards measuring 25 * 100 mm. All cracks are sealed with foam.
It is better to make the ceilings between floors and all supporting structures wooden. You can use both timber and boards. Photos of the construction stages are below.
Foundation for a house made of SIP panels
The foundation is, first of all, the basis of the building. It transfers the entire load of the building to the underlying soil layers. In addition to the strength of the foundation itself, you need to consider:
- total area of support on the soil;
- the supporting capacity of the soil itself;
- groundwater levels.
Experts believe that the most common mistake when pouring a foundation is the excessive abundance of concrete and metal in it.
The most popular types of foundation are:
- pile (pile-tape);
- columnar (columnar-ribbon);
- shallow monolithic slabs;
- tape deepening;
- tape recess with a plinth.
But, it is worth noting that among this variety, for frame panel houses the best option would be shallow recessing.
Laying the strapping (crown) beam
For laying, take a beam measuring 2.5 * 1.5 cm. Laying should begin from the middle of the foundation, while measuring its horizontal calibration. Next, the beam needs to be connected at the corners using a notch. After this, the parts are secured. For proper fastening, holes 1–1.5 cm long with a diameter of 2 cm are drilled in the timber and a dowel is driven in.
The timber is secured to the foundation using recessed anchor bolts. The fastening distance is about 1.5–2 m. The size of the bolts should be 35 cm in length with a diameter of 1–1.2 cm.
Arranging the floor in a house using SIP panels
Another proof of the distinctive properties of Canadian construction technology is the technology of flooring.
Floors and ceilings are also built from SIP panels.
Although many contractors recommend laying a regular wooden floor in such houses with insulation between the joists and beams. These floors are reliable and more durable. In addition, this floor will be easier to disassemble or repair.
Construction of walls from SIP panels
When building walls, you need to carefully choose the source material, because the quality of the future home largely depends on its quality. The best option for outdoor work would be a beam with a diameter of 15 cm. As for the height, the minimum is 1.5 m. For the inside, 10 * 15 cm is suitable. These are acceptable sizes that will help save on consumables, minimize the number of seams and joints and achieve ideal smoothness of future walls. Assembling walls is not easy, you need experience.
Before laying the timber in the crowns, all materials must be adjusted in accordance with the height and given the desired shape. For corner joints, it is better to use the “half-tree” or “tied with a root tenon” method. It is better to make connections between the outer parts by cutting or using veneers. And it is better to connect the internal sections of both joints and corners with a half frame.
You need to begin direct installation by laying a crown beam treated with an antiseptic into the foundation.
Installation of a roof in a house made of SIP panels
The roof for a house built using this technique can be a very ordinary rafter roof. This type of roof is characterized by support in the form of grooves or Mauerlat, which are cut into the beams on the attic floor. The rafters are installed on supports, sheathing is placed on them and roofing material is laid.
As for insulation, it is not necessary for a cold attic. But if you plan to install an attic, then you should put insulation between the rafters and cover it with a vapor barrier film.
In addition to the rafter roof, no less popular is the roof made of SIP panels. For this type, first of all, the starting rafters are installed, which are bolted to the Mauerlat. And only after this the panels are laid. The panels are mounted on one side of the roof, gradually increasing in height along with the ridge. Once the first skate is finished, you can move on to the next one.
This installation method is more painstaking than the traditional one, but no less reliable.
Facade finishing
Finishing the facade is the final step of construction. Each owner makes it according to his own taste and financial capabilities. Among the finishing options now very popular: facing brick, siding, decorative plaster.
Video
Watch an interesting video about building a house from SIP panels.
The production of panels is an extraordinary task that can easily be done on your own in your shed or garage, or you can build that same garage, shed or full-fledged house with minimal financial investment. Making the material yourself will reduce financial costs, which will reduce the cost of building the facility.
What are SIP panels?
SIP sheets are an excellent material for thermal insulation of a room, which is quite simple in design and is often used for the construction of temporary buildings, such as a change house, a small warehouse, a garage, etc.
SIP panels are layers of oriented strand boards, between which polystyrene foam is laid. OSB is compressed sawdust, fixed with resins and other binding components. Expanded polystyrene is a substance filled with gases, which is made using a special technology from polystyrene or other styrene copolymers.
Installing SIP panels is very similar to assembling a children's puzzle, since you need to fit one piece of material into the grooves of another, which ensures minimal seams and gaps, and also increases the level of thermal insulation of the room.
In addition, all the beams that take part in connecting the slabs serve as a kind of frame for the structure, which gives the building more strength. Using such panels, owners of summer cottages very often build cabins for themselves; car owners prefer to build garages and other buildings from such panels.
Today, the construction market offers many varieties of this material and its mineral-based derivatives. The most common types of SIP panels and their comparative characteristics are given below in the table.
| Index | Expanded polystyrene | Extruded polystyrene foam | Mineral wool | Polyurethane foam |
| Thermal conductivity (W/m*K) | 0,038-0,041 | 0,03 | 0,05-0,065 | 0,019-0,022 |
| Mechanical Features | low | high | low | high |
| Weight 1 m 2 slabs | 4kg | 4.5kg | 12kg | 4kg |
| Fire resistance | G-4 | G-4 | NG | G-2 |
| Optimal temperature for work | ≤+80 o C | ≤+75 o C | ≤+600 o C | ≤+200 o C |
| Resistance to rodents, insects, fungus and mold growth | low | average | average | high |
| Percentage of moisture absorption per day | 1,5-2% | 0,2-0,4% | 1,5-3% | 0,04-0,1% |
What might be needed to make panels?
Making panels yourself will not require you to purchase specialized equipment or tools, but it would not hurt if you had a press at hand, which will greatly simplify the work, which can be done even in your garage or yard. If you don’t have such a device, don’t worry, you can get by with vacuum pressing, the method for which we will give below.
To make a panel with your own hands to build a temporary room, a garage for a car or a shed for a country house, you will need the following materials:
- OSB-3 sheet;
- expanded polystyrene;
- adhesive solution.
Are you interested in the question of why OSB-3 boards are needed? We answer. It is better to choose this particular material, as it is distinguished by a special arrangement of wood chips. In such sheets, the chips are laid longitudinally on the outer surface and transversely on the inside. But, if you plan to build a structure for a short time or want to build a small shed for construction tools or garden equipment, you can choose a less durable material. It is desirable that the thickness of such a plate be about 12 mm.
As for glue, almost anyone can be suitable for this type of work, Kleiberit is especially popular.
But, in any case, before purchasing the necessary materials, read the instructions and make sure that the glue is suitable for your further work and can ensure reliable contact with the SIP panel.
To create a canvas you will need:
- large work surface (preferably its size should be slightly larger than the stove itself);
- awning fabric;
- good power vacuum pump;
- spatula or spray bottle.
Production technology
As we said earlier, preparing SIP palai yourself is elementary and does not require a lot of effort or time from you.
To build a small house, shed, gazebo or garage with minimal waste of money, adhere to the SIP panel production technology, which looks like this:
- an OSB board is placed on the table;
- cover the slab with a certain layer of adhesive solution (you can make your work easier and purchase a special tool that will speed up the process of covering the slab with glue, but this will require additional financial investments, so you can get by with a regular spatula or spray gun);
- It is difficult to say exactly the amount of glue you will need for your work, because the consumption of the adhesive mass will be affected both by what you apply it with and the size of the surface to be covered (we can name the approximate consumption that will be required to process 1 sheet - this is ≈ 2 kg) .
Be careful and be as fast as possible, because creating the material on your own requires speed and dexterity from the master, because the adhesive mass should not dry out until you start pressing the panels.
After you evenly cover the panel with glue, place polystyrene foam on it, then level it well and apply another layer of glue. Next, the work is repeated and another OSB sheet is laid, similarly producing 5 identical SIP structures.
After completing the process of forming the panels, pressing begins. This is where you need a special press.
If you were unable to purchase such a specialized device, use awning fabric. To do this, lay it on a stack of newly made panels, press the edges of the canvas as tightly as possible to the SIP sheets, then glue them at the bottom so that they remain tightly fixed to the product.
Construction of a full-fledged house based on SIP panels
If you have been looking for the best opportunity to build a warm home for a long time without spending a fortune, consider the process of building a home from SIP panels. Pricing for the purchase of materials for the construction of a “box” measuring 10*10 square meters, excluding finishing materials, is approximately 17-20 thousand US dollars. At the same time, take into account the fact that additional insulation of the building in your case will not be required.
SIP panel - characteristics and properties
The construction of houses from vulture panels began in the 2nd half of the 20th century in Canada. The technological methods of such construction are very simple; the construction of buildings will require relatively little time (two weeks). The time spent on construction depends on the chosen project and its degree of complexity. The only thing cheaper than this method is a frame-type house.
A house made of vulture panels, based on its structure, has a sufficient level of strength. In English, panels are called SIP, which is essentially a construction abbreviation: Structural Insulated Panel. The translation of this abbreviation has the following content: “Structural Insulated Panel”. Based on this, the Russian variation of the abbreviated name KTP. In reality, the Latin alphabet is replaced by the Cyrillic alphabet. As a result, we have the name “SIP panel”.
This material is formed from a pair of OSB boards, between which there is an expanded polystyrene layer. In the end, we have something like a sandwich. This is where another name for the slab material comes from - sandwich panel.
House made of sip panels
There are two ways to build a house from sip panels:
From building the frame base. When building a private house, you can use timber as a basis; when building high-rise buildings, the frame is most often made of steel.
With this technology, the panels are connected using timber of different diameters.
Frameless technique involves connecting SIPs using thermal keys - inserts made from panels of small thickness.
In our country, the first option has gained the most popularity over the years. A wood frame can give the structure an additional level of strength. The load-bearing function of sandwich panels, even without the use of a frame, is sufficient for the construction of one or two-story houses in the private sector. But the realization that the foundation of the house is timber somehow calms the residents. This technology has another advantage, namely maintainability. If difficulties arise, you can dismantle the damaged panels and replace them with new ones.
Houses made of sip panels for permanent residence
Advantages and disadvantages of SIP panels
Like every technology that is progressive for our environment, the construction of buildings from SIP panels has a whole range of opponents and supporters. Opponents consider the fundamental argument to be the unnaturalness of the raw materials used and the likelihood of environmental contamination with harmful substances. Indeed, this material consists of OSB and ordinary foam. Polystyrene foam is a very standard material and is dangerous only when burned. OSB has also been on the market for a long time; it is produced from compressed coarse shavings. Formaldehyde-based resin compounds are added as binding elements. This is actually what causes all the criticism: formaldehyde is a poison and its presence in the atmosphere can cause poisoning.
The percentage of formaldehyde present is regulated by a structure such as the SES (sanitary and epidemiological station); only safe materials must be supplied for sale. So, if you want to build a house with SIP panels, you should choose the manufacturer more often. OSB boards from Egger, which is located in Germany, are recognized as the highest quality. Their formaldehyde emissions are E1 (safe level).
Glunz Agepan panels are also a good option, but they are used very little in our country. If we are talking about Russian companies, we advise you to turn your attention to the products of the Kaleval company.
Only safe and reliable materials are used in the manufacturing process:
- OSB-3 Kalevala emission class E1;
- Glue – TOP-UR (Russia);
- Expanded polystyrene –25C Knauf (RF).
Any part of the building is adjusted to certain panels.
Why do many people choose SIP panels during construction?
Since such a house made of sip panels has a number of significant advantages:
Light weight of the structure, which means you can save on foundation work. Pile foundations are suitable for these buildings.
Low heat loss, reduced heating costs. Expanded polystyrene is an excellent insulation material, sandwiched on both sides by sheets. This circumstance makes the house very warm.
Low price per square meter.
Not long production times. A box of a house on 2 floors can be built in a month.
Complete absence of any shrinkage. There is settlement only at the foundation.
Finishing can be done immediately after collection.
In general, all the above circumstances force people to choose houses made from sandwich panels. They build houses for both permanent and seasonal residence. Based on this, even with a very limited budget, it is possible to build houses from sip panels, and successfully.
We carry out construction with our own hands
We build a house from vulture panels with our own hands using the following methods, there are two of them:
We purchase a house kit for a clearly specified project from a company that carries out this type of work, and we will assemble it ourselves. Not all companies can agree to this, but most offer an installation service from the manufacturer.
Buy slabs. Cut it to the size you need, and then purchase the timber; we do all this ourselves. In this case, responsibility for the quality level will fall only on you. If you have carpentry skills or you have relatives who are ready to give you some advice, you can go with this option.
Let's talk briefly about what a house kit is. This is nothing more than ready-made ones, coupled with wooden beams of the required size and fasteners necessary for construction. All building ingredients are numbered in a certain way. At the time of assembly, the blocks are connected in a pre-approved order. The whole process is similar to standard construction from a construction set, only for real.
A house kit is especially beneficial if all details are executed accurately.
Construction of houses from sip panels
Stages of construction work
To build a house from vulture panels, as in other things, we begin with the selection of the type of foundation and its direct construction. The optimal foundation for houses made of vulture panels with moderate ease is a foundation made from piles. This is what is used in most examples of SIP technologies.
Sometimes it is not possible to build a swaintak foundation in a specific area due to:
- hard soils, due to expensive drilling work (rocks);
- on unstable soils with reduced resistance to load (peat bogs);
- in the presence of cavities.
Once the foundation is constructed, you can proceed to the construction and assembly of panels.
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