General Panel Corp is the supplier of TimberSkin Panels. We sell through distributors and direct to timberframers and contractors. To find our distributor in your area, please go to www.sipsproducts.com/distributors/ . Our TimberSkin panels are all manufactured in Johnson City, TN (Northeast of Knoxville).
TimberSkins are foam core sandwich panels utilizing a .70# density modified expanded polystyrene (MEPS) core which is pressure laminated (over one ton/sq ft of surface) to non- rated oriented strand board (OSB) using Ashland Adhesives structural urethane two part adhesive (the same one used for most glulams and TJIs). This produces an strong panel which is used for enclosure.
TimberSkins are stronger than the stick frame systems that they replace, so a TimbrSkin enclosed home is usually stronger than a stick frame home in the same thickness. For example, a conventional stick frame two by four wall system (8') is rated for a truss (point) load of about 2,400 pounds/lineal foot with no redundancy (engineering room for error). The same wall in TimberSkins is rated at over 2,500 pounds/ lineal foot. Similar numbers apply to wind shear, uplift, span loading, etc.
We produce blank panels for fabrication by your crew on site. If the builder does not have panel installation experience we can provide a tech rep to organize, train and help supervise the project. The vast majority of stress skin homes are erected in a week or two.
TimberSkins are usually less cost as stick frame in wall systems, less expensive for most floor applications, less expensive for all cathedral ceiling applications, and more expensive for drop ceiling (flat ceiling like in trusses) applications. Homes designed for Stress skins cost typically slightly less than in stick frame.
Panel homes generally use about half the energy to operate heating and cooling as stick frame homes. This allows downsizing of HVAC systems, further reducing ownership cost. Studies evaluating "payback", how long the energy savings take to payback the cost of panels over stick frame indicate that the range is zero to eight years, depending on the design. Considering that the increased energy efficiency usually affects the sales price favorably, it is unlikely that the use of panels is ever financially inappropriate. panels are the only wall and roof system that is automatically approved for EPAs Energy Star program- the current energy efficiency standard.
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For specific questions, email to sip@xtn.net .