I have been posting on this site for a while and ICFs and Sips have always been the most popular, and nearly the same. Why has Sip posts dropped off so much?

I have been involved in manufacturing SIPS for 12yrs and have been reading this forum for 5 yrs, originally the topics discussed were about the methods and processes involved in building with SIPS. The responses were helpul and informative and seemed to be useful in educating interested readers.
The forum has changed as some of the posters are more interested in promoting steel sips vs osb or polystrene vs urethane. This has reduced the discussion to mindless chatter which quickly drives people away.
The behaviour exhibited here is displayed throughout the SIPS industry as we seem to fight each other for the small percenatge of the overall building market SIPS continue to hold. Perhaps the market could be grown allowing each of us a bigger slice if customers weren't subjected to the constant bickering and backbiting prevalant in the SIPS industry.

I have to agree about the negative posts.  Instead of promoting the industry as a whole, it leaves consumers puzzled and frustrated.  Let's promote the strengths.  The message?  "If you don't build with SIPS, why build?"

I have noticed when someone asks a general question relating to something other than SIPS or ICF, the people that are selling/promoting one of these methods try to convince the person on their method first and saying that anything other than SIPS/ICF is inferior, without or before answering the original question. When "salesman" do this, I tend to take their opinions with a grain of salt. I would rather hear from people that have built or are building with a product and their experience rather than from a "salesman".

Yes, Jere. We need to stay on target.

I think it has more to do with the lack of construction going on. All those people that were going to sell their homes and build a new ones, are not!

All good points. I think overall the discussions on the entire site has dropped in quality. The slammin other similar products happens in the ICF forum too, which is a mistake. Our building systems far exceed the status quot.

Although construction is down, it does not explain the big change in the SIP forum as compared to the ICF one.

The heavy hitters on this forum are busy again and do not have the time to devote to it?

I think Jeff is right.

Good point, Jeff...or they are not busy and are spending more time working on marketing and sales.

I keep a eye on the posts here. If someting needs corrected on steel SIPs. I always have someting to say being a design /builder of steel SIP structures for to many years. But most of the time my friend Chris takes care of it. Most of my time is spent promoting green building as a rep for FGBC & USGBC .Here in Florida

Ralph Locke,Deland,Fl
Florida Certified building CBC1251369,Roofing CCC1326028,Solar CVBC56694 Contractor
Environmental Construction & Consulting Inc.
386-490-4599
www.Flgreenbuilder.com

I noticed things have dropped off- I haven't been here in a long time myself. Why? I would blame the economy. The few people that are finding a way to build are having to cut way back to get it done, which means going the cheapest route, rather than 'luxury' materials like SIP's and ICF's. A couple years ago, I was planning a 1400 sq ft one bedroom house, and was actively planning on steel SIP's over an ICF basement. Fast forward to today, and I'm thinking an 800 square foot cottage, stick-built, over a poured basement. Sure, I know SIP's and ICF's are superior products, and pay off in the long run, but if I don't have the money, I don't have the money. I still like coming here to learn, get ideas, and dream.

Well I agree that people are cutting back on the structure of there home. All too often they give cosmetics such as granite counter tops, expensive woodwork, masonry veneer and so on, at the cost of the structure. Which is foolish since they can change these cosmetics but you can't change the structure.

I will correct you in "the long run" theory though. For anyone that has a loan on there home, the loan will be 3-5% more (at least for ICFs, I can't say as to SIPs) but your heating and cooling costs will be considerable less, roughly offsetting each other, to live in a safer, mold resistant, more comfortable, quieter, longer lasting home. The 3-5% will remain a constant but I think we can count on energy costs to go up.

Posted By JeffD on 11 Mar 2010 11:06 PM
The heavy hitters on this forum are busy again and do not have the time to devote to it?

You may be right Jeff, we are looking forward to the busiest year since 2006

I've had an encouraging start to the year. Usually things don't get going until the end of March, but I've had steady work all through January, February and this month. However, the work is not new construction, it's additions to existing homes. I think this is where most of the building activity will be, with added interest in energy efficiency.

Chris,

I would love to relive 2006. In the 6 years I have been working for myself, that was my best year. Last year was my worst. Worst meaning that my income was cut in half. I hope we are not having what they call in the stock market a 'dead cat bounce' and we will have a loss of confidence again.