Steel SIPs Combine Strength and Speed PATH Case Study

Click here to visit the PATH website. Builder: Fred Ballard Blue Horse Building & Design Austin, Texas Blue Horse Building & Design was established in 1992 by Fred Ballard and Jake Bradley, design/build contractors specializing in residential, multi-family and light commercial projects. Blue Horse builds about five homes a year, ranging in price from $650,000 to $1.4 million, and has built over 20 homes using steel SIPs since 2001. Builder Type: Small custom homebuilder The Technology: Panelized wall and roof systems with structural insulated panels (SIPs) SIPs are made from a thick layer of polystyrene or polyurethane foam sandwiched between two layers of oriented strand board, plywood, light-gauge steel studs or fiber cement. The result is an engineered panel that provides structural framing, insulation, and exterior sheathing in a solid, one-piece component. Arriving precut to the jobsite, the panels can be rapidly assembled by workers without extensive training. SIPs construction allows builders to quickly construct an exterior building envelope that is strong, airtight, and energy efficient. Read the ToolBase Tech Spec. The Project: The exterior walls and roof of this large custom home west of Austin, Texas, are constructed of steel SIPs. Why Ballard builds with steel SIPs: "It's almost like building with Legos; it's truly that easy. Using steel SIPs can knock three to five weeks off your framing and insulation schedule. Convincing people that their home could be built faster and better with insulated steel panels can be tricky at first, but once they walk into a SIP-framed home, they are sold. Our homeowners have been known to brag about how stable the indoor temperatures are compared to outside." Ballard's story Fred Ballard is a second-generation carpenter who became interested in better methods of construction while traveling abroad for an international company. When he discovered steel SIPs, he was intrigued with the idea of combining the strength of steel-engineered walls with the speed and insulating advantages of panelized construction. "It struck me that if we used panelized building products, our homes could be built much faster, without sacrificing strength or quality," says Ballard. "With pre-manufactured steel SIPs, you also don't have to worry about warped walls, mold issues, or termites. "The first home we built with SIPs had a 20-foot top plate. After a few hours of connecting panels, it was amazing how consistent and absolutely straight the walls were. Even better, they can knock three to five weeks off the framing and insulation stage of construction. "Steel SIPs are also able to withstand extreme weather conditions during construction. They're waterproof, which means we build more houses since our construction schedule is less dependent on the seasons. Our homes are engineered to withstand hurricane-force winds, making them safer as well. "Using steel SIPs has made us more competitive, because people realize they are getting a better house. We pride ourselves on continual innovation, and using metal SIPs has only enhanced our business. The speed of construction and quality of our building envelopes is hard to beat using any other building method. Clients respect the fact that we strive to place more of their investment dollars into superior materials that streamline the construction process and get them into their homes faster."   1 | 2 | 3 | 4  NEXT