
SIP vs Stick Frame Comparison
How much does a SIP building cost compared to a traditional stick frame building?
In 2023, SIPA launched the SIP True Cost Bidding Tool (STCBT) — a free online tool developed in partnership with Sam Rashkin, retired Chief Architect of the U.S. Department of Energy and author of Housing 2.0: A Disruption Survival Guide. After being used in the field for project comparisons and real-life calculations, SIP builders, sales representatives and home owners have testified repeatedly that there is greater value in a SIP project than in traditional stick-frame construction.

Changing lumber prices, jobsite waste removal, callbacks and ongoing energy costs are just some of the additional variables that must be taken into account. The SIP Project Library includes hundreds of examples demonstrating that building with SIPs costs less than contemporary framing because of the energy-efficiency, strength and resilience.
Check out our Unlocking Affordability with SIPs blog series for more information and even tips on navigating the latest wave of tax incentives to building envelope improvements.
The Proof is in the Savings
The SIP True Cost Bidding Tool (STCBT) helps demonstrate the added value of a SIP project with every lead that your business encounters. It’s an easy and free way to calculate the additional value included in a SIP structure that conveys more than energy performance – it demonstrates the true cost associated with projects and the real savings in choosing SIPs.
SIPs vs Stick Frame Cost Analyses

Download the pilot results below for a cost comparison on three actual projects; one non-SIP custom home, a SIPs single-family home and a SIP multi-family building. Use this study along with the video High-Performance Enclosures: Faster, Better and Greater Value.