Stack of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS)

What are SIPs?

Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are a high performance building system used in residential and light commercial buildings. The SIPs we use are comprised of two oriented strand board (OSB) skins that are permanently bonded to a polyurethane foam core. A standard panel is 4 by 8 feet, but custom-sized panels are also fabricated for our custom designs. We use polyurethane SIPs because they have a higher insulation value and better fire resistance than the more common (and less expensive) polystyrene SIPs.

Manufacture + Construction

Once a new home design is finished, we send the plans to Murus, our panel manufacturer, who creates the SIP panel drawings. The SIPs are then custom manufactured. We have been using Murus SIPs for over fifteen years and have always been pleased with their high level of quality control and their fair and attentive business practices. Murus custom fabricates SIPs for every Sunlight home under factory-controlled conditions using sophisticated machinery, software and systems. Door and window openings are factory-cut with computer precision, which expedites construction and reduces jobsite mistakes and waste. The SIPs are then shipped to the building site where the structure is erected like a big, 3-D jigsaw puzzle. Our clients select a local builder to build their Sunlight homes.

Insulation Values (R-Values)

We use Murus' 5-1/2" R-33 polyurethane SIPs for our walls and the 6-1/2" R-40 SIPs for our roofs. When finish materials are added, the composite R-values are R-37 (walls) and R-42 (roof). The structural strength, high insulation values, tightness and precise manufacturing conditions make a Murus polyurethane SIP home a much higher quality structure than standard frame construction.

Building Codes + Covenants

Sunlight homes meet or exceed even the most strict building codes and covenants across the United States. All of our plans are stamped by a structural engineer licensed in the state where the home will be built. SIPs are now considered a prescriptive material and are understood and accepted by all building departments. See our Materials section for more information on SIPs.