Builders who use structural foam
panels cite a number of advantages:
They say panels are stronger,
more energy efficient, go up faster,
and offer higher, more consistent
quality than stick-built houses.
Enough homeowners and contractors
have been attracted to foam
panels to bring regular annual
increases in sales of about 25% to
the industry, even during recent
slow times.
Yet the majority of houses are
still stick-built, in part because
builders remain skeptical about
foam panels. Is this skepticism
healthy? Or are those who steer
clear of structural stress-skin panels
missing a smart building option?
After researching and writing
about structural stress-skin panels
for several years, I've found no single
answer to this question. For
some builders, panels are a great
boon; for others,