Glen & Kris

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)

Here are 23 photos showing the process of enclosing the house with SIPs.

After the SIPs are assembled from smaller units, wall panels are lifted into place by a crane. The crane operator's puppy kept an eye on everything. The SIPs are held to the timber frame with long screws that go through the SIP and into the timbers. The large strap held in place by a come-along is holding the bent square while the SIPs are fastened. This particular bent has no braces across the width of the house. The panels are in easy-to-assemble sizes and are joined at the edge with a 2" x 6" spline. These are the braces that will hold up a small roof above the east door from the laundry room. A 4" thick plate is secured with long screws that go through the SIPs into the frame. Then the rafter and brace are attached to the vertical plate with 1" dowels. Here are all the rafter extensions on the north side of the house. There are 19 rafter and beam extensions on the exterior. Matt and Jaime are attaching a beam extension at the east end of the house. Most of the beam and rafter extensions are too heavy to place by hand. This is a beam extension at the northeast corner being flown in by the crane. The crane operator responds to hand signals from another crew member (not visible here) and is able to place the beam extension right into the receiving plate. It is starting to look like a house! Before the roof panels are set, a 1" x 5" aspen tongue and groove ceiling is attached to the rafters from up top. A vapor barrier is placed on top of the aspen before the SIPs are installed. The aspen really complements the white oak beams nicely. Harris, Alan and Matt set the last roof panel on the north side, finishing up the 3/12 pitch shed dormer. Alan is the owner of Wind River Timberframes. The first course of roof SIPs are visible on the south side of the house. The rest of the roof is covered in the vapor barrier that sits above the aspen ceiling. Here is a good view of the arched bent on the front porch. Another view of the front of the house. This picture shows the east end of the house. This is a view from above of the structure that will support the deck on the south side of the house (above the garage doors). This will get covered by the decking, so check out those nifty dovetail joints while you can! Here is another view of the joint in the previous photo, this time from below. A view of our house from the road. Another view from the road. <span class='myGreyFont'>[End of series.]</span>


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