Shipping Containers

Hello @ShawnM ,
Thank you for your input.
Did you use EVG as wall fill within post and beam construction or did you use EVG only without concrete posts and beams? Online I see both methods being used for multi-story buildings.

Without post and beam this looks like a very fast build method.

How much were the EVG panels? (I remember you purchased them in Cebu.)

 

The only available when we built our house were around 2 1/4" think so it was a fill for beam and column construction. The real savings is time to put in the panels as well as utility rough-in.

I am very interested in the thicker panels to get away from the beam and columns; I have some future plans and will go that route.

I don't remember the cost of the panels but sent the wife a message and will update once I hear back.

Shawn

 

Did you do the work yourself or supervise others or employ a supervisor?

 

Thank you @ShawnM

I do not think that thicker foam would increase the structural capacity of the result.

Foam is weak. The structural capacity would be dependent on the thickness of the concrete applied to the outside and the steel that passes through the foam to tie the two walls together. A 2-1/4" foam thickness should be fine.

A thickness of 0" is often used and it is called Cast In Place concrete (CIP).

Maybe you are referring to thicker steel reinforcement on the outside of the panels?

 

The thicker foam will have a better insulation. It performs better than other insulation types with a R value of 3.6 to 4.0 per inch of thickness. Cement is around 0.5

Wool is also around 3.6, rice hull is 3.0

 

I directly supervised a few of our workers, a bit a trial and error (and lessons learned) but really enjoyed the ease of the EVG panels.

Shawn

 

The panels I am referring to have thicker foam, larger gauge of wire and I believe a bit more space between the foam and reinforcement. There are so many videos out there that explains the different types of panels and construction techniques much better than I can on a post. Really cool to watch how things come together.

Shawn

 

It is almost 4 years since you first posted here all about your self build and I used to read all these posts and found them so very interesting and you have my respect for this, around that same time I had taken an interest in building my own house and my method of choice at that time was to use EVG panels.
Since that time I have done much research on the use of Concrete and now have a better understanding of it.
The use of EVG panels in a Pillar and beam structure like you have, has to be better than CHB, but to build a complete structure using EVG panels on their own I would not do, that is only a personal opinion of mine.
Here are some of my reasons for this; I do believe they are not easily obtainable here in Negros and have to be shipped from Cebu, I seem to remember you had some problems with that? what seems to be available here are cheaper lighter units made with thin wire and likely only made for infill in a P&Beam structure? EVG Sandwich panels are coated with Mortar and not Concrete as someone suggested? now Mortar has a very low PSI strength, perhaps less than 1000PSI? a sandwich Panel coated with 40mm of Mortar on both sides cannot be that very strong in my opinion? I know you can add Rebar to these panels to beef them up a bit and perhaps a requirement where they join and over the doors and window to form lintels, anyway I just have a Gut feeling that a complete structure made with EVG panels would not fare very well in an Earthquake, one final thing, are they really that good for insulation, I guess the bridging wires between the panels will transfer the heat from the outside in?

 

Dont know much about these EVG panels, but interesting read and construction. In Aust we build outside walls in double brick with a 50mm cavity between them, in my place I added insulation in the cavity and the cavity is used for services.

If you built a house with the thicker EVG on the perimeter walls using a outer and inner panel with cavity, galvanized steel pillars inside the cavity bolted to the floor and roof truss surly this would be strong, good insulation and easy to build. Wiring and water can go inside the cavity, possibly even rice hulls.

All the Internal walls could be the thinner EVG panels and maybe some steel pillars if needed.

Just a thought from someone with no idea about EVG...

 

I just finished building a house for myself in Bacong using EVG panels. (Thank you ShawnM for introducing me to the concept and giving me some invaluable advice.) I'm very happy with the result. I'd definitely do it again. I'd be happy to answer any questions and, if you want, would be happy to have you actually come and see the house in person.