In our time, some new items constantly appear on the construction market. In particular, SIP panels can be attributed to such novelties. This material is of interest not only because of its special design, but also due to its extraordinary properties.
How the material works
All SIP panels are based on two OSB (Oriented Strand) boards, between which there is a layer of high-quality polystyrene foam. In fact, this is the same OSB, but made in the form of a "sandwich". Some mistakenly believe that such boards are "close relatives" of chipboard. This is not true. Unlike the latter, they are not made from low-grade production waste, but from specially prepared thin wood chips. In addition, a special synthetic resin is used in their manufacture, which does not emit formaldehyde vapor into the surrounding air.
As implausible as it may seem, this material is capable of withstanding enormous loads. In particular, manufacturers report that one square meter can withstand loads of up to ten tons! It's about the same asif the first floor of a standard "Khrushchev" was made of SIP, while the other floors were built of brick and concrete. As you can see, you can't complain about the fragility of the material.
The deflection is also very strong. One panel can easily withstand a weight of a couple of tons, so building houses from SIP panels involves using them as ceilings. However, they cannot boast of anything special in this regard. But the panels have excellent thermal insulation properties and can absorb street noise of medium intensity quite well. Unlike the same chipboard, they do not care about moisture, and they do not suffer so much from mechanical damage.
Where to use them
As we have already said, house designs from SIP panels are not uncommon. They can be used for the construction of external and supporting walls, ceilings, door and window openings. However, we would like to say that it is not worth making floors between them. The fact is that they create a drum effect, forcing residents on the lower floors to "enjoy" the noise from the upper neighbors. But for attic floors, their use is fully justified.
The big advantage of SIP panels is the fact that the floor of them is laid "clean" without making a draft. You can put linoleum, laminate or parquet directly on it. For walls, the use of such material is actually an ideal option. In just a couple of weeks you canassemble the house and make interior decoration in it.
Please note that it is imperative to attach the strapping to the basement section of the foundation, on which the first corner panels are bolted. The length of the bolts is at least 20 cm, and it is advisable to use anchors. Carefully fill all the cracks with high-quality mounting foam. The walls from the inside can be finished with drywall, attaching it to the same mounting foam and self-tapping screws. It is not necessary to use additional materials for wall insulation: they will withstand even temperatures of -50 degrees Celsius with honor.
