Structural Insulated Panels are used in roofs, walls and floors because of their strength, durability and energy efficiency. Usually, they are made by putting a plastic foam insulation a pair of oriented strand boards, also known as OSBs. You can find these panels in various sizes and dimensions. The thickness of the panels is between four to eight inches. Now, let's us talk about several types of these panels and what you should consider before buying the product to meet your needs.
The Panel Types
Before you get the panels, make sure you know the different types of insulated panels. The performance and lifespan of the panels will depend upon the quality of the fabric. Therefore, it's important that you know the panels' fabrication process and the way it was glued or bonded to the material of insulation. The performance of the panel will go down if it was glued or cured the wrong way. Given below is a description of different types of commonly used Structured Integrated Panels.
Polystyrene Insulated Panels
Most of SIPs are made with EPS, which is short for Expanded Polystyrene. This insulation type on the SIPs represents the measurement of the insulation. The final R value may be up to 5 inches thick. Usually, the size of these panels is between 4 feet and 24 feet in width.
Polyurethane Insulated Panels
Usually, these SIPs feature an R value of between R6 and R7 per inch of thickness. You can achieve the R26 with walls that measure 4.5 inches. Usually, these panels are produced in 3.5 inches of thickness for walls. For the ceiling, the thickness of these panels is as much as 7.5 inches.
Moreover, these panels cost more than the ones we mentioned earlier. However, the advantage of these panels is that they are resistant to fire and water. Moreover, they offer a higher R-value compared to the EPS ones.
CSCI panels
These panels are more eco-friendly than other types of panels since they are made with recycled agricultural straw and renewable stuff. Unlike the panels we talked about earlier, these panels don't feature higher R values.
Benefits of Structural Integrated Panels
Now, let's talk about the benefits of Structural Integrated Panels:
- You can get higher R values
- These panels feature better strength-to-weight ratio
- Unlike studs, the insulation of SIPs is a lot better.
- These panels help you save money on your electricity bill
- SIPs are very strong, efficient and cost-effective
- They cut down on the amount of labour and waste
- You don't need studs in order to put fasteners
- You can treat them to get rid of insects
So, if you have been looking to buy insulated panels to meet your needs, we suggest that you take a look at different types of insulated panels first. You should always make this buying decision after a lot of thinking. You don't want to end up wasting your money on something that won't get you the desired results.
Whether you're looking for reliable home builder using structural insulated panels better consulting with Bellissimo Homes today!