Are SIP homes a dodgy investment?

[carolinexiao]

Hello, we’ve just panic-offered on a lovely new build eco structural insulated panels (SIP) home and now we’re researching SIP construction ... Lots of random googling seems to show the jury’s out on whether they’re a good investment though they do seem to be getting more popular. I guess my main worry is whether they’ll decrease in value over time or that they’re just a fad. Any views?? We’re in Scotland by the way. Thank you!

I'm watching with interest even though I don't have anything constructive to say .
On Instagram one of the renovations I've seen is doing a huge SIP extension which was an acronym I'd never heard of before. I'd love to hear more.

What do you mean by investment; are you concerned about the longevity of the SIP construction or it falling out of favour with buyers? Maintained well I'd think it would last as long as a standard timber framed house.

@FurierTransform

What do you mean by investment; are you concerned about the longevity of the SIP construction or it falling out of favour with buyers? Maintained well I'd think it would last as long as a standard timber framed house.

Thanks Furier, I think both but mainly falling out of favour with buyers I guess, which I suppose could be due to concerns about longevity of the structure compared to brick?

Does anyone know if they are deemed 'non-standard construction' by mortgage lenders? If they are, or there's a chance they will become so, expect to pay much higher rates of interest from a specialist lender.

Yes, they will be non-standard. A structural insulation panel with have an insulation material in the middle. If it's rockwool, fine, totally non-combustible. But if it's PUR, PIR or heaven-forbid, EPS (expanded polystyrene) then you've got yourself a fire problem. Like cladding.

@daisyphase

Yes, they will be non-standard. A structural insulation panel with have an insulation material in the middle. If it's rockwool, fine, totally non-combustible. But if it's PUR, PIR or heaven-forbid, EPS (expanded polystyrene) then you've got yourself a fire problem. Like cladding.

Thanks Daisy, yes the one we’re looking at is PUR. There are plenty of reports which say they meet UK fire safety standards but it’s hard to know what to believe

I'm sure they meet current fire safety standards, but then so did many flats now caught up in the cladding scandal. Fire safety standards have arguably been a little generous and need to be rewritten for modern methods of construction.
You will be able to escape a fire more easily from a house than from a high rise so it's not as bad, but it's still additional fuel for a fire that will give off noxious thick black smoke like burning plastic. You'll have to be extra careful about any vents, drilled holes, etc that would expose the insulation material. I wouldn't choose to own a property made with this material. I don't know about mortgages but insurers will charge an additional premium and I don't know but it may be harder to use comparison websites, it could be an automatic reject. You should perhaps experiment and see what insurance quotes you can get.