You may well have heard about the innovations of building with structural insulated panels, also known as SIPs, but you could still harbour doubts about leaving behind the benefits of more traditional construction methods. SIPs supplier SIPFIT Direct (http://www.structuralinsulatedpanels.co.uk/) can assuage those fears, because SIPs actually offer the very best of traditional construction methods as well as the advantages of the new-generation insulated panels.

More traditional building firms and self-builders that are wary of moving over to SIPs construction tend to fear the unknown. They may be aware of the impressive advantages of these insulated panels but worry that they will be losing out on the basics of traditional construction in the process. This fear is entirely unfounded, however, because SIPs may be new-generation in some ways, but they also draw on the very best of old-school building techniques so that the panels out-perform traditional construction in many ways.

The similarities between SIPs and traditional methods begin with the fact that they have the same structural properties as an I-beam or I-column. Then they combine the following components all seen in traditional construction methods: studs, joists, insulation, vapor barrier, air barrier. These components mean that SIPs can be used in most of the same applications of old-school building, from use as an exterior wall, roof or floor, or as a foundation system.

In addition to these core similarities with traditional styles of building, using insulated panels provides a tighter construction with enhanced insulation performance leading to lower heating costs. The multi-component materials of SIPs (OSB panels, polyurethane foam core and connector or spline pieces) which make them an ‘all-in-one’ product cuts down on construction time and tradesmen costs. Off-site construction means that there is far less on-site waste, and SIPs are thought to be the most environmentally friendly of any building method. Combine these ‘new-generation’ benefits with the trusted similarities found in traditional construction and you have an product which is hard to beat.

Find out the full range of applications when using SIPs at the SIPFIT Direct website: http://www.structuralinsulatedpanels.co.uk/.