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Really
hot and very cool! These top six pictures show a very interesting project of ours on Lakeshore Rd. St. Catharines which
blends the old and new.
We are gutting a 1950's bungalow, improving the insulation in
the main floor walls and adding a brand new second story. We left the lower floor traditional frame in place (far left photo) while the new top floor
is done in Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). SIPs will keep the
house warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. We are also raising
the
original first floor ceilings by a foot to make 9 foot high ceilings.
What
are SIPs?
"SIPs"
are Structural Insulated Panels. These are made from structural plywood called Oriented Strand
Board (OSB), which sandwich an expanded polystyrene core, sort of
like an Oreo ® cookie. This creates a structural wall using the same
principles as a steel I-beam. SIPs walls are 100% straight and build a tighter home. There is no thermal bridging because there is no
lumber in the walls and wood is saved for the same reason. SIPs walls have higher insulating properties than
conventional walls, which leads to a significant savings in heating
and cooling costs.
What is Thermal Bridging?
It's a leak you don't want. In conventional framed walls the isulation batting is placed inbetween the studs. There is no isulation where the studs are. Heat is transferred through the studs which act as a 'bridge' to leak out the heat in your home in the winter and leak in unwanted heat in the summer.
(Based
on a Brock University study of a 2,000 sq. ft. house.)
"Thermographic
analysis, at an outdoor temperature of -10.5 ºC (13.1 ºF), also
demonstrated that the stud home consumed nearly four times as many BTUs
as the SIP home."
To
read
the Brock University study
which
quantifies the thermal performance of SIPs, click here.
Standard
LOGIX ICF
Call
us or email for a quote on your new energy efficient home 905-650-2699 or
aaron@hahnbuilders.ca
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