SIPs Versus CLT Panels: Which is Better?

2 Answers

1. John Kinsley says:

   17th July 2018 at 10:42 am

   SIPs panels comprise a sandwich of insulation (typically PIR or EPS but can be sourced from more environmentally friendly materials) between layers of timber board (usually OSB). Cross laminated timber is solid wood, typically around 90-150mm thick depending on whether it is used in walls or floors.

   CLT needs additional layers of insulation as part of an overall wall build up but can be used fair faced internally (unlike SIPS) where it provides a very robust and attractive internal finish. There is research demonstrating that timber finishes internally can actually lower heart rates compared to plasterboard so health considerations are important too.

   For one or two storey construction it is highly unlikely that CLT would be cost effective compared to SIPs. CLT becomes a more financially viable solution in multi storey construction when programme advantages compared to steel frame/concrete floors/blockwork walls/steel fireproofing can reduce prelims costs and leaving fairfaced can avoid using large areas of plasterboard. Our build in Portobello, Edinburgh featured in Build It magazine in June this year and on our website here is a good example.

   Hope that helps.

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2. Lucy Holderness says:

   28th July 2018 at 10:31 pm

   Many thanks for your help. I do really like the timber interior, especially in the bedrooms and on ceilings.
   Would you know if it would be cost effective to line the SIP, interior side, with plywood rather than plasterboard?

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