Our first self build in Hampshire

[mattgibbs]

Hello Everyone.

 

My wife and I are building our dream home after purchasing a plot of land inhabited by sand lizards over 2 years ago. We are doing as everything we can ourselves although we have employed a local Sips contractor to construct the frame, followed by professional roofers to ensure we get an IBG for the flat roof.

 

Im excited to be a new member for this forum where I will undoubtedly be spending many hours researching various topics.

 

[Thorfun]

welcome! looks like a great location.

[PNAmble]

57 minutes ago, mattgibbs said:

by professional roofers to ensure we get an IBG for the flat roof.

Have you asked the professional roofers if they offer a IBG.  Ours - a 30 year old company - provide a 20 year guarantee on our flat roof but I’ve had to purchase my own IBG to satisfy the structural warranty requirements.  It’s not a massive issue but just worth checking.  

[mattgibbs]

Thanks for the tip, we had a few quotes and found some included this in their quote and others have said we need to arrange it ourselves 

[Carly Lawson]

Hi, my husband and I just bought a plot in Oxfordshire,  we have outline planning and we are just starting to get ideas before we go for full planning . We are now looking at different build methods and we don't know which one is best.  What made you deicide to use SIPs? We looked at them at the NEC show but there were ones with yellow foam and thicker ones with grey EPS. What did you use and can I ask why?

 

[mattgibbs]

On 05/04/2024 at 13:15, Carly Lawson said:

Hi, my husband and I just bought a plot in Oxfordshire,  we have outline planning and we are just starting to get ideas before we go for full planning . We are now looking at different build methods and we don't know which one is best.  What made you deicide to use SIPs? We looked at them at the NEC show but there were ones with yellow foam and thicker ones with grey EPS. What did you use and can I ask why?

 

Sorry for the late reply but having a sips build now up and weather tight I would not chose the sips system again. Without a doubt if I were to do it again I would go down the timber frame route mostly due to the many issues that have arised directly because of the sips panel structure.

[jack]

13 hours ago, mattgibbs said:

Sorry for the late reply but having a sips build now up and weather tight I would not chose the sips system again. Without a doubt if I were to do it again I would go down the timber frame route mostly due to the many issues that have arised directly because of the sips panel structure.

 

You're definitely not the only one to have reached this conclusion by way of a difficult path. Hope it worked out for you in the end.

[mjc55]

On 12/01/2025 at 21:26, mattgibbs said:

Sorry for the late reply but having a sips build now up and weather tight I would not chose the sips system again. Without a doubt if I were to do it again I would go down the timber frame route mostly due to the many issues that have arised directly because of the sips panel structure.

Can you elucidate on what issues you had with SIPS.

 

Could help others who are thinking of using this method.

[Nickfromwales]

My own direct experience from SIPS is that each project has been notably, sometimes adversely acoustically transparent, with a lot of noise pollution making its way inboard. Particular annoyance for me was the roof structures, hugely more so when flat, with the noise of rain hammering against the roof; literally, in some cases, it would require you to raise your voice when talking inside / upstairs when ‘torrential’.

 

One architect stated this “connected the occupant with the outdoors”…… I then suggested we fitted an additional retro fit layer of 100mm of acoustic insulation before plaster boarding of ceilings commenced, he agreed and in it went! When I’m in bed at night, the only thing I want to be connected to is the wife.

[Nickfromwales]

EPS based ICF or a TF with a decent thickness of blown-in cellulose is the No.1 choice from my experiences, mostly with MBC TF’s passiv spec offering. Just absolutely graveyard silent at night (300mm in walls and 400mm in roof). Absolute bliss.

[mattgibbs]

Well it is not finished yet but I as Nick said I have noticed that if you put your ear to the wall you can easily hear what's being said outside.

 

But we have faced a number of issues. I really dislike having 9mm osb as the thing everything needs to grip on to. We have 85kg per sqm of brick sips hanging on the outside walls and I do worry if 9mm Osb can take it. Also we are currently working on the inside doing an airtight membrane and the battons over the top which is fine, but the moment you try to screw anything substantial to the wall like CLS the screws just won't grip due to how thin the walls are. Ive also noticed our huge sips roof panels dont seem to perfectly line up.

 

Lastly the main benefit of Sips seems to be the build time but once your factor in the year that it takes to really nail down the sips design, get it manufactured and then to site, it really isn't much faster. I would also never touch ICF after seeing someone down my road build one. Timber frame seems to be the most tried and tested sustainable way forwards in my opinion.

Edited Monday at 22:00 by mattgibbs

[SBMS]

55 minutes ago, mattgibbs said:

Well it is not finished yet but I as Nick said I have noticed that if you put your ear to the wall you can easily hear what's being said outside.

 

But we have faced a number of issues. I really dislike having 9mm osb as the thing everything needs to grip on to. We have 85kg per sqm of brick sips hanging on the outside walls and I do worry if 9mm Osb can take it. Also we are currently working on the inside doing an airtight membrane and the battons over the top which is fine, but the moment you try to screw anything substantial to the wall like CLS the screws just won't grip due to how thin the walls are. Ive also noticed our huge sips roof panels dont seem to perfectly line up.

 

Lastly the main benefit of Sips seems to be the build time but once your factor in the year that it takes to really nail down the sips design, get it manufactured and then to site, it really isn't much faster. I would also never touch ICF after seeing someone down my road build one. Timber frame seems to be the most tried and tested sustainable way forwards in my opinion.

Brick and block for us! Nothing stopping you achieving high levels of performance. Readily available trades. No huge upfront deposit and financial risk. Lower cost. Similar timeframes once factoring in design and lead times. Big mass for thermal retention.