Cottage Series
Let’s talk about SIPs
SIP is short for Structural Insulated Panels. SIPs are a high-performance engineered wood product with a super-insulated core that is sandwiched between two sheets of oriented strand board. SIPs out perform all other insulation technologies when used without thermal breaks. Typical insulation has a thermal break every sixteen or twenty-four inches
According to the Department of Energy studies, even at optimal performance, frame and batt walls perform about half as well as SIPs. This is due partially to air leakage between batt and framing, but also to the thermal mass of the system.
Earth Friendly
When there are gaps due to poor installation, batt performance is further degraded. Also, keep in mind that SIPs can be pre-cut to generate additional savings by shortening the construction time-lines and eliminating on-site mess! Timber frames that are enclosed in SIPs are hard to beat when it comes to saving energy, which is good for your pockets and the earth!
Smart Wood?
Having a smart timber-frame structure is also important when building a synergetic home. At Harmony Timberworks we utilize the best structural and aesthetic capacities of timber-frame structures. Load bearing is carried by timber posts, plates, trusses and rafters, but knee braces are eliminated because their function to resist racking can be provided by SIPs without compromising energy performance.
