|   unlight homes are built using Murus structural insulated panels for the exterior walls. Interior walls and the garage are built conventionally using stud frame construction. Visit Murus at murus.com for details + technical information.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE PANELS
The interior and exterior skins of the panels are exterior grade OSB and the cavity is factory-filled with polyurethane foam. The wall and roof panels come fully insulated and ready for finish materials.
 Most SIPs are made from polystyrene foam, which is the white, disposable coffee cup material. We use polyurethane foam-filled panels. Polyurethane, a 2-part foam that acts like an epoxy, chemically bonds to the skins during manufacture forming a very strong, monolithic structure. Door and window openings are factory-cut using a computer-controlled milling machine, so the openings are square and level.
 Murus panels have a cam-lock fastening system that simplifies the panel erection process. Keys are provided to operate the hook that joins one panel to the next. The cam-locks are spaced every 2' along the vertical edge of each panel. Some builders find it easier to fasten several panels together while they are lying flat, then raise them into place as one unit.
Standard-sized panels are 4 feet wide and the height of the wall, although there are many custom-sized panels in every home. They are clearly labeled for easy identification and stacked and bundled in the order in which they will be used. When unloading, the panels are staged around the pad close to the place where they will be needed to avoid unnecessary hauling later. Panels are erected by number, following Murus' plans.
PANEL INSTALLATION
 One critical element in the process is building a square and level foundation. Extra care should be taken to do this accurately. With a square and level foundation, the panels will fit together easily.
During installation, the panels are glued, cam-locked and nailed to each other. Ten inch panel screws toenail into upper and lower plates and connect the corners.  Panels are braced until the structure is completely erected.
Once the wall panels are erected and interior walls are framed, ridge beams are fit into factory-cut beam pockets and roof panels are set in place. We recommend a crane or other lifting device to set roof panels since they are thicker and larger than wall panels and can be quite heavy.
Roof panels go up quickly with a couple workers on the roof fastening the panels together while the next panel is being hoisted into place.
CONSTRUCTION JOURNALS
As a builder you will probably enjoy going through the photo journals of a couple Sunlight Homes projects. You will see how the panels are erected, plumbed and wired and how our homes are finished. Click on the Construction Journal link in the left navigation bar or follow the arrows.
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