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Meyer Case Study
Building a Case
As the owner and planning consultant for UBuildIt Custom Homes and Remodeling in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Joe Meyer searches for better ways to build high-quality, energy-efficient homes for his budget-conscious customers. That's why he conducted a comparative study of traditional stick framing vs. Thermocore structural insulated wall panels.
On a 2,200 square-foot ranch home, Joe found that Thermocore's six-and-a-half-inch, R-40 insulated wall panels add $3,000 to $4,000 to the cost of the home—about 1 percent of the total job cost—with many unexpected savings. He estimates payback on the SIPs cost in three to five years, with ongoing energy savings for the life of the home.
Doing the SIPs Math
In determining the true cost of SIPs, Joe looked at many unexpected savings opportunities. "Obviously when you build with SIPs you save on lumber over stick framing," Joe said. "You also save on the insulation cost because that's already included with the wall. You cut labor expenses, because Thermocore SIPs can be installed faster than a traditional wall. We can easily drop three days on a project. With our labor costs at $750 per day, that's a savings of $2,250."
Joe even saves on waste removal when he uses Thermocore SIPs. "Instead of bringing in three dumpsters on a typical 2,200 square-foot ranch, we use two dumpsters," he said. "With SIPs, you generate less garbage. You don't think of that until you're doing a project, but it all adds up."
Of course the savings don't stop once the home is constructed. "I'd safely say that the SIPs save 30 to 40 percent on heating and cooling costs for the life of the home," he said.
Thermocore SIPs vs. EPS
Joe tried SIPs with Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam, but now uses Thermocore panels with Polyurethane insulation. "With Thermocore SIPs, you get R-40 in a six-inch wall vs. R-24 in a six-inch EPS wall," he said, which multiplies the insulation power.
In addition, Thermocore SIPs save money in the field. "Thermocore's panel design is more accurate and detail-oriented than several other manufacturers I've used," Joe said. "If you don't start with an accurate design, you end up with lots of field modifications, and we don't like the time or cost involved with that."
Customers Never Go Back
Joe's homes are rapidly gaining recognition from the community. The SIPs model home Joe's team built for the 2010 Metropolitan Builder's Association Parade of Homes won the Overall Grand Award and the People's Choice Award.
About two-thirds of Joe's customers choose Thermocore SIPs over traditional stick framing. "Those who live in SIPs houses like them significantly more," he said. "There are no air drafts and our customers really like that their homes stay quiet. We build on a lot of country lots, and the winds can whip around. With our SIPs homes, you don't hear that outside noise."
Customers who live in SIPs homes tell Joe they'll never again build another way. "They all love it, and they all say it's definitely worth the money."
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- Joe Meyer,“Those who live in SIPs houses like them significantly more. They all say it's definitely worth the money.”
Builder,
Wisconsin
