Top 5 SIPS Garden rooms found on the web
Here at Premier SIPs, we make and supply super high quality PU (polyurethane) SIPs (structurally insulated panels). Our SIPs are the kind that are used in the best garden room structures, but we don’t currently construct the actual garden rooms ourselves. So, for this very reason, we feel we can impartially judge the best SIPs garden rooms that we have found on the web, so you can get excited for what you can do with our top quality product.
To be completely fair and show a SIPs garden room for everyone, we’ve decide to split the contenders into categories as follows: coolest design, big budget, moderate budget, most eco and a final surprise category (you could just scroll to the end but don’t, you’ll ruin the surprise!)
Coolest SIPs design:
We saw a few SIPs panel cubist masterpieces during this investigation, but firstly we need an honourable mention for this one. Check out the swoopyness of this one! Sorry, swoopyness is most definitely not real design terminology, but we all know it should be.
It’s a strong design, but it’s actually pushed form over function too far. It doesn’t look like there’s many SIPs panels used in its construction (mostly wooden strips, so it’s not going to be that warm and there is a ton of wasted space there. We need something that is aesthetically pleasing but can also be used all year round, because that’s the point of SIPs construction.
And here it is, and ain’t she a beauty! We’ve got straight load bearing SIPs wall panels, which will be keep the warm in and cold out (because that what SIPs are all about). Design for us is finding the balance between aesthetics and function, and we think this one has put big ticks in both boxes.
Big SIPs budget:
This category isn’t just about the most expensive one we could find on the web. It’s all about the best value for a high end budget. That being said, we were not looking for the most spacious SIPs garden room out there, it’s got to have the wow factor as well as being a substantial space.
Designed and built by Swift Unlimited
We’ve gone for this one. It’s quite simple, granted, minimalist even, but there is something about the curved front and symmetry that on the one hand it’s a big’n (no doubt!), but also incorporates a style and flow that you just wouldn’t get with a basic massive box. It’s big and you’d be looking well into the 10’s of thousands to own it, but we like it and it’s our SIPs big budget winner.
Modest SIPs budget:
We have to be careful here, because you can get a wooden cabin for a few grand, but we are strictly talking SIPs panel builds. You can pick up a wooden summer house for half as much as a SIPs garden room, but you’ll only be able to use it for half the year, if that. Without the benefit of structural panel insulation, it will be so cold that it will be unusable for the majority of the year, and that’s a false economy.
This one will put a small dent in you pocket to the tune of £10k, but you can bring the cost down a bit more if you self build. SIPs kits are actually pretty easy to assemble and we supply some of the best kit makers on the market. One thing to note however, make sure you check that you are not paying PU (polyurethane) prices and getting EPS (expanded polystyrene) SIPs panels. One is made by gluing the two wooden sheets to a block of polystyrene (EPS), the other is made with a 4 ton press and high velocity resin injection (PU) see our video here. Not everyone can afford the little bit extra you’ll likely pay for PU, but the insulation performance and durability are worlds apart. Definitely get PU if you can afford it as the layers are infinitely more strongly bonded.
Most eco SIPs:
Ok, so this is actually a bit of a trick category, because all quality PU SIPs garden rooms are eco friendly – SIPs panels are sustainably made, the raw materials are recyclable, you don’t need a concrete base that cannot be disposed of, they are super energy efficient and there’s way less landfill and general waste when constructing them.
The only thing to bear in mind is how much glass you incorporate in the design – more glass equals more heat loss and less energy efficient. We found one SIPs garden room perched over a wooded valley with more glass than SIPs and the view was stunning, so who could blame them for having so much glass. However, it couldn’t make the top of the list for its eco credentials, despite the setting.
We’ve gone for this one. Just the right amount of glass to bring in lots of light, but there are a lot of energy efficient SIPs in the design to keep the warm in and the cold out. Plus, it’s got a herbaceous roof! The soil will increase the energy efficiency of the roof and the plant life will be good for the bees, that’s our eco winner!
Surprise category…best overall SIPs (you probably saw it coming!):
We’ve found what we feel is the jackpot SIPs garden room. Beautiful design, spacious, a bit of glass, but also plenty of SIPs panel walls so it’s energy efficient. Best of all it’s got a jacuzzi!
It’s got a real work hard play hard feel about this garden room. Like you could be on an important conference call in the office in a shirt and tie and shorts on a Friday afternoon, then 10 seconds later floating in the jacuzzi without a care in the world. If that’s not what SIPs garden rooms are all about, then who knows what they are for. We believe they are for working (in peace), playing, exercising, meditating, entertaining, relaxing, or sampling living in, but it doesn’t matter what we believe they for, it’s up to you what you do with your new happy place.
