Project Overview

Saddle Ridge Ranch Residence

High-Performance SIP Home Designed for Montana’s Mountain Climate

The Saddle Ridge Range Residence is a custom single-family home located in Hamilton, Montana, designed to deliver comfort, durability, and energy efficiency in a demanding mountain environment. The home reflects a performance-driven residential approach, balancing architectural design with construction methods that support long-term livability and reduced operational energy demand.

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) were used as a primary building envelope system, forming the foundation of the home’s thermal performance and construction efficiency.

Design and Sustainability

Designed for Montana’s cold winters and wide seasonal temperature swings, the residence prioritizes a continuous, well-insulated building envelope to reduce heat loss and maintain consistent interior conditions. The architectural design supports open interior spaces while relying on envelope performance—rather than oversized mechanical systems—to deliver comfort.

SIP construction plays a central role in this strategy by reducing air infiltration and thermal bridging compared to conventional framing, supporting both sustainability and occupant comfort.

Why SIPs?

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) were selected to provide a reliable, high-performance construction system well suited to cold-climate residential design. For a custom mountain home, SIPs offered a practical way to achieve strong energy performance while simplifying framing and enclosure.

By integrating structure, insulation, and air sealing into a single system, SIPs help ensure predictable envelope performance and long-term durability—key priorities for homes built in remote or weather-exposed locations.

Benefits of SIPs

The use of SIPs delivered several important advantages for the Saddle Ridge Range Residence:

• Energy Efficiency:
  Continuous insulation and reduced air leakage help lower heating demand in a cold-climate environment.

• Interior Comfort:
  SIP construction supports stable indoor temperatures and minimizes drafts throughout the home.

• Construction Efficiency:
  Panelized SIP assemblies streamline framing and enclosure, improving build efficiency and quality control.

• Durability:
  SIPs provide a solid, resilient envelope designed for long-term residential performance.

Construction and Innovation

SIP construction enabled efficient enclosure of the home while maintaining envelope continuity across walls and roof assemblies. The prefabricated nature of the panels reduced onsite variability and supported consistent build quality—important advantages for custom residential construction in a mountain setting.

Performance & Sustainability Features

• High-performance SIP building envelope delivering continuous insulation and excellent airtightness

• Blower door testing: 1.17 ACH50, confirming effective air-sealing continuity and envelope performance

• Measured operational performance (owner-provided data for ~8,000 SF heated area):

  • Average electric use: $186.82/month

  • Propane use: approximately 700 gallons/year (includes gas range)

• Heating, cooling, and ventilation:

  • Propane-fired boiler providing radiant floor heat for lower-level concrete slab areas

  • Two high-efficiency electric heat pumps serving upper floors

  • Two Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) systems providing balanced, energy-efficient ventilation (one per level)

• Foundation and slab insulation:

  • 4" EPS rigid insulation beneath all slab areas

  • ICF foundation walls for all below-grade construction

  • Sealed vapor barrier in crawlspace

  • Passive radon vent system integrated into foundation design

• High-performance windows:

  • Wood-framed windows with Low-E coatings and argon fill

  • U-factors ranging from 0.26 to 0.30

• Efficient building systems:

  • Radiant floor heating system

  • High-efficiency electric heat pumps

  • Heat Recovery Ventilation systems

  • All LED lighting throughout the home

  • Whole-house reverse osmosis water system

• Durable, locally sourced materials:

  • Exterior siding composed of wood, metal, and stone

  • All exterior siding materials locally sourced

  • Material selections focused on durability, longevity, and reduced maintenance

Challenges and Solutions

Mountain residential projects must address cold temperatures, wind exposure, and long-term durability. SIPs addressed these challenges by delivering a high-performance envelope that limits heat loss, improves airtightness, and supports reliable year-round comfort without increasing construction complexity.

Key Features

• Custom single-family residence in Hamilton, Montana

• Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) wall and roof construction

• High-performance building envelope for cold-climate conditions

• Energy-efficient residential design

• Durable, low-maintenance construction approach