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The Elephant in the Room
"It's expensive, isn't it?"
We hear this every day. And the answer is: It depends on how you measure it.
If you only look at the cost of materials (bricks vs panels), SIPs look 10-15% pricier. But if you look at the finished cost—including labour, waste, and time-on-site—the story changes dramatically.
Compare total installed cost, not just the panel line: labour, time on site, waste, and prelims change the outcome.
Why this matters to you
Clear pricing avoids surprises and helps you compare SIPs to other build methods fairly.
Material Cost
SIPs: Higher (~£60-£90/m2). Includes structure + insulation.
Traditional: Lower blocks. Insulation bought separately.
Labour Cost
SIPs: Drastically Lower. Shell up in days, not weeks.
Traditional: High. Bricklayers are £250+/day for weeks.
2025 Price Guide (Estimated)
Based on a standard single-storey garden room extension.
150mm SIP Panels
The gold standard for residential extensions. Ultra-efficient 0.18 U-Value.
100mm Panels
Perfect for garden rooms and internal walls.
Splines & Timber
Connecting timbers often missed in quotes.
Delivery (Hi-ab)
Site access dependent. Includes offloading.
Hidden Savings
Savings usually come from fewer trades, less waste, and faster weather-tightness, which reduces prelims.
1. No Skip Hire (Almost)
There is virtually zero waste with a SIPs kit. It's pre-cut. With brick and block, you're paying for 10% wastage and then paying again to hire a skip to take it away.
2. Shallow Foundations
Because SIPs are ~60% lighter than masonry, you can often use screw piles or ground screws instead of deep concrete trenches. This alone can save £2,000+.
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