It's only been two days, but our framing contractor has already set all the panels of the first floor. One of the reasons we chose to build with SIPs (structural insulated panels) is that they can go up very quickly, while maintaining excellent air-tightness and insulative qualities.
SIPs are made in a factory out of a thick layer of EPS foam sandwiched between two layers of OSB (oriented strand board). The sandwich is pressed together in a sort of giant George Foreman Grill, forming a very rigid structural material. Rather than building walls with sticks and filling the cavities with insulation, SIPs walls are the insulation.
For this home we chose a new type of foam that is infused with graphite. This should give us R values about 15 percent higher than standard foam for the same thickness of panel.
