SIP HOME

TIMBER FRAME

TRADTIONAL CONSTRUCTION

BUILDING SEGMENTS

Large Segments

Part-finished segments

Small unfinished pieces

INSULATION

Comes installed

Have to install on site

Install on site

WIRING,
PLUMBING & PLATERBOARDING

Commence immediately upon completion of erection

Wiring & Plumbing can be performed after erection but then the insulation has to be fitted and VPL fitted to studding before plasterboarding can commence.

Needs to be chased then needs wet trades to provide internal finishes, and subsequent lengthy drying out.

EXTERNAL FINISHES

Commence immediately upon completion of erection

Commence immediately upon completion of erection

Drying out periods required

AIRTIGHTNESS

Very high standard

Great care needed to ensure reasonable airtightness (number of mechanical joints(nails) and time to detail)

Difficult to ensure good airtightness (number of joints and porosity of blocks) and insulation not visible for inspection, nor easily rectified once in situ. 
Fit joists, cut roof, felt/batten, insulated between rafters on site manually, difficult to achieve low air tightness particularly in dormers, at eaves, etc, due to roof cutting and difficulty of applying insulation.

BUILD TIME

Shortest

Build time longer than SIP, less than concrete

Time to build longer than either TF or SIP

ATTIC SPACE

Included

Additional cost

Additional cost

QUALITY & CRAFSTMANSHIP

Machine Built, perfect fit

Machine Built, good fit

Dependent upon tradesmen