SIP panel

naf123

It seems that SIP panels are made out of timber. 

I'm looking for SIP panels where instead of timber , there is steel/metal. Does such a thing exists in the UK?

Doozergirl

What do you want them for? 

There are some with outer boards made
from MgO but that's not metal.  

naf123

Doozergirl said:

What do you want them for? 

There are some with outer boards made
from MgO but that's not metal.  

I was looking at options to build extension . I guess I was trying to find a better alternative to timber (yes I know it has been shown that wooden SIP can last long time ) but I wanted something moisture resistant. In the United States there is a company Structall that makes them and I was trying to understand why we don't have it here ?

Doozergirl

naf123 said:

Doozergirl said:

What do you want them for? 

There are some with outer boards made
from MgO but that's not metal.  

I was looking at options to build extension . I guess I was trying to find a better alternative to timber (yes I know it has been shown that wooden SIP can last long time ) but I wanted something moisture resistant. In the United States there is a company Structall that makes them and I was trying to understand why we don't have it here ?

I've built my house out of SIPs.  We have used magnesium oxide boards on the outside - they are water and fire proof, but I'd probably not waste the extra money next time.  You cover the SIPs with your cladding anyway so you never see what is underneath.    Ours is insulated again and then rendered.   Not sure if other people have turned their heating on yet, but we have not.  

A wooden SIPs structure is three times stronger than masonry and seven times stronger than timber frame. 

As long as you maintain a decent gap from ground level to DPC and have a ventilation gap up the walls just like almost all roofs need in this country there is absolutely no reason why there should be a problem with damp - same as any house.  They are widely mortgageable and have been built here with regularity for 20 years now, and 70 years abroad.  

 If you're watching grand designs, the majority of those house are built using SIPs.    They're not going anywhere.  I'd
have zero hesitancy using them again.  Aside from the warmth, we don't have a single structural wall upstairs, which gave us nearly 120 square metres of completely flexible, open space to play with - even into the gables.  We don't need a ventilation gap because of the MgO onto render, but part is wood clad and the cladding needs the ventilation anyway.  

 

naf123

Thank you Doozer. When you mention a decent gap between ground level and DPC - how much of a gap is this ?  

Doozergirl

naf123 said:

Thank you Doozer. When you mention a decent gap between ground level and DPC - how much of a gap is this ?  

150mm, same as any house in this country.