easy

SIPs and ICFs are as easy as A,B,C, 1,2,3 - literally! These building systems are the most user friendly systems to come into the market place in the last 20 years.

Both systems are manufactured to exacting specifications that come to the site ready to assemble, with easy to read instructions.

These building systems interface with E-Technology to create what is known in the industry as "Shop Drawings", which are specifically detailed to your project and laid out, literally, in an A,B,C, 1,2,3 format. A very Easy format that anyone can follow.

It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out how to build with these systems and the learning curve is very short. You can build these systems with little to no knowledge of framing systems. We have had Owner/Builders with very limited construction experience build with these building systems with no supervison or training at all. Builders are quick to discover that these systems are simple. They realize that they can change their work force to one journeyman framer, with the balance of their building team made up of apprentices and laborers.

These Building Systems are FASSSSSSSSST!

Whenever asked how SIP and ICF Building Systems compare to stick frame construction, I use a 2,400 sq. ft. single story home for the model for this analysis.

SIP Wall System: 3 man crew - 3 to 4 days
ICF Wall System: 3 man crew - 5 to 7 days
Stick Frame: 3 man crew 10 to 12 days
SIP Roof System - 2 days
Stick Frame Roof - 2 to 3 weeks.

It is important to fully understand how many steps are taken in the building process to be able to comprehend the field study. Whether it is a SIP or ICF structure, or stick frame, all the same steps apply in the construction processes.

To build a wall system it requires the following steps to make the proper comparisons - Layout, Framing, Plumb & Line, Shear, Pickup and Insulation. A Stick Frame structure requires many more hours of labor to literally move thousands of pieces and parts, whereas both SIP and ICF structures are assembled using a few hundred parts and the labor is minimal.

Stick frame structures require several hours of cleanup labor and can generate a substantial waste pile. SIP and ICF systems create little to no waste and require a very minimal amount of labor spent on cleanup.

One of he largest factors separating SIPs & ICFs from stick frame is, once a SIP and ICF System is built, there is virtually no pickup work to be done. Stick frame requires several hours of labor to fix what has already been built and in a short period of time it's not uncommon to have to replace wood products you have already paid good money for.

A wood frame roof system requires the following steps - Layout, Measuring and Cutting of the framing members, Installing (known as stacking), Blocking at eaves and wherever else engineering requires, Backing out for attachment of finishes, Roof Sheathing, Pickup and Insulation.

With a stick frame roof there are huge labor factors involved in moving the thousands of framing parts around the jobsite. The debris pile can actually grow to be a sizable mountain of waste that you paid for, only to throw it away. Cost of labor to cleanup combined with disposal costs can be several thousands of dollars. SIPs and ICFs are all about minimal cleanup labor, little to no pickup, no mountains of debris and no throwing away hard earned money. SIPs and ICFs have a far less impact on our landfills. In fact, the material tht is removed in an RTI, (Ready To Install) package, is often recycled back into future foam products.

For many years I was reluctant to state that SIPs and ICFs are cheaper than stick frame construction. After building with these systems through the last 16 years, I can unequivocally state that when all factors are properly taken into consideration, SIP and ICF building systems cost less than stick frame construction.

SIPs and ICFs Eliminate Typical Jobsite Problems.

The pre-planning processes taken with a SIP and ICF build eliminates many problems typical to most building projects. This has been difficult to prove, but it doesn't take long for a General Contractor to recognize all the problems that go away using these building systems. Structural problems are usually resolved prior to the actual construction process. Labor issues, limited liabilities and being able to keep to definitive schedules are all benefits with SIP and ICF construction. Material theft and (theft) insurance are reduced.