New Forest SIPs Ltd is based in Lymington near Dorset. In our work as SIPs contractors, we travel to locations across the South and South West regions, including Wiltshire and Hampshire. Our expert SIPs designers and SIPs installers provide all kinds of services for Structurally Insulated Panels, including the following:
If you want to better understand what we do, please head to our gallery page. You can see our SIPs designers and SIPs installers in action, helping visualise the information on our website. You’re also welcome to read customer testimonials of our bespoke SIPs, SIPs design work or anything else related to our structurally insulated panels.
Made from sustainable materials, SIPs are used in the construction of eco-friendly homes across Dorset because of their durability, among other compelling factors. In fact, in the right conditions, SIPs can last up to 90 years. But how do you achieve such impressive longevity? Here, our SIPs contractors look at some factors that may affect the lifespan of your SIPs.
In SIPs manufacturing, you tend to use either expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS), or polyurethane foam, which is sandwiched between plywood or oriented strand boards (OSBs). The lifespan of your SIPs will depend on the quality and resilience of these materials.
Facing materials are usually made from OSB, metal or fibre cement panels. Overall, when metal is used as a facing material, you can expect your SIPs to last longer.
The sealing and joinery techniques used in your SIPs design are vital to protecting your Dorset-based property from moisture ingress. If gaps or poorly sealed joints appear, they can undermine the structural integrity of your SIPs, resulting in mould and rot growth.
Effective vapour barriers should be part of your SIPs installation to protect against high moisture levels. The SIPs design should incorporate vapour barriers that stop condensation build-up within the panel, limiting decay in the long run.
High-quality adhesives are used in the installation of SIPs to guarantee a strong bond between all the components, which plays a critical role in their longevity.
At New Forest SIPS Ltd, our SIPs contractors understand the importance of the installation process. Poor-quality handling, cutting, or fastening can compromise your SIPs installation from the beginning. This is why we pay exceptional attention to detail to ensure we get everything done to the highest standards of best practice.
As discussed, there are a certain number of factors involved in the SIPs manufacturing, design and installation that can impact how long they last. For owners of eco-friendly homes in Dorset, we would encourage you to think about the maintenance of your SIPs. Get in touch with us if you would like to learn more about what you can do to help with this and guarantee your panels last for many decades to come.
