Wood Frame, Structural Insulated Panel, Steel Frame, Masonry, CIF,Adobe, Straw Bale… the choices of potential structural systems to build your house is a long and esoteric list. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Before you choose on, you need to carefully consider all aspects of the system you eventually choose to understand the risks involved. In this article, we will discuss each of the systems and the features of each.
Wood Frame Wood Frame is the oldest, most time tested method of building houses. Wood is a readily available, easily processed, renewable material that is lightweight, reliable and durable (relatively so) and coast less than many other systems, depending on geographic considerations. Wood framing is utilized in most areas of the country and despite what many will tell you, in this country, it does not deplete the resources due to the excellent management practices of the Forestry industry. The disadvantages of wood include a unacceptability to termites, moisture (mold) and fire.
Structural Insulated Panels – SIPS’s, as they are called are a relatively new system that appeared on the market in the last 20 25 years. There is much to like about the system and it is gaining in familiarity and popularity as time goes on. A structural Insulated Panel combines a wood structural grade OSB (Oriented Strand Board) that is used to sandwich a core of EPS (Expanded Polystyrene or Polyisocyanurate foam. The foam is injected between the cores and expands the depth of the panel to a thickness of 6 and acts like a glue producing a integrated panel that is incredibly strong. SIP’s also offer an airtight barrier against wind infiltration and the R-Value of the panel. SIP’s have been tested and shown R-Values (measurement of the ability of the material to resist the transfer of cold through the material) for the panel of R 22 @ 75 degrees and R 24 @ 40 degrees. The foam core also reduces air infiltration significantly and will also reduce sound transmission through the wall.
SIP’s are partially wood so that the same caveats apply to them as wood framed structures. You must make sure that moisture control is effectively addressed in your design and you must maintain a termite contract and bond on the home if it located in an area where termites are a problem.
Steel Frame Steel Framed homes are similar to wood structures in mechanics and practice with 2 important differences, they are impervious to termites (with the exception of wood floor sheathing common to them) and they are also fire resistant. They are also somewhat stronger than wood structures.
The terminology and method are similar except that the structure is screwed together. You are using steel studs and trusses instead of wood. Steel framed homes do not perform as well from and energy perspective in colder climates and sometimes the colder climates can make the steel studs translate through the exterior sheathing of certain systems (you can see the outline of the stud). You will enjoy lower cost in terms of insurance, but the costs of erection and the materials (especially given the current price of oil) will be significantly higher that a wood frame home. However all that aside, they are a very viable alternative for warmer climates, especially those with high susceptibility to termites, mold and high winds.
Masonry Used to denote brick house. These days it is more associated with concrete block. Concrete block homes are extremely strong, termites will not eat them and they do not burn (although most have wooded roof structures). They are ideal in coastal regions. They are not ideal in northern climes where temperatures fall to below 40 degrees. The R-value of the exterior walls will be lower (less resistant to cold) with such a system. But in the Southern Tier (Texas, Florida, Arizona, etc.) they are an ideal alternative.
These are the primary systems homeowners select for their projects. The full range of factors you must consider are:
Look around. What you see the local builders using as a system will tell you what the local buying public prefers. Builders are not, as a whole big on experimentation and they stick to what is cost effective and accepted by the market. Take a clue for them and carefully consider if you wish to be experimenting with a system not prevalent in your market. That said, investigate fully, because there are perfectly viable alternatives and given your circumstances it may fit for you to select on of the alternatives.
For a more in-depth discussion of the various systems and other issues facing Owner Builders, visit http://www.myhomespace.biz and browse the content and gallery sections or join a forum. Registration is free and we do not sell or share your information outside the website.
Author: Randy Covington
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Wordpress plugin Guest Blogger
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