Spiegel Kinsley has grown at a steady pace—it’s taken time, but it’s been intentional. Our goal is simple: we’re trying to build high-performance, sustainable homes.
For me, it’s exciting to push the boundaries of what’s possible in residential construction. I’ve always been drawn to building science and sustainability. That mindset carries into everything I do, especially in homebuilding. The real challenge—and the fun—is asking, “How can we build the highest-performing home possible for our budget and demographic?”
I’ve researched all kinds of building techniques, and SIPs were the most straightforward route to get what I was looking for: energy efficiency, speed, and modern construction. Once I built my first SIP home, it checked all the boxes—it was fast, efficient, cost-effective—and we were suddenly building award-winning, high-performance homes.
The biggest hurdles weren’t with the system itself—they were with getting the team up to speed. My draftsman had only done one SIP project in the past decade. My framers had never used SIPs. But once they completed that first build, their mindset shifted. They finished the framing in just a day and a half—despite quoting two weeks—and asked, “What do we do now?” We just moved on to interiors and started rolling trusses.
One key difference with SIP construction is how much more planning it requires up front. Some builders are used to figuring things out as they go, but that won’t work here. With a high-performance build, you have to think through everything—especially ventilation. If your home is airtight and energy efficient, you need to plan and budget for an ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilation) system early on. You also have to design your heating and cooling strategy from the beginning.
At first, SIPs can feel overwhelming—when the truck shows up, and you see all the panels stacked up, it’s a lot. But before long, you’re staged and ready to go. And it’s worth it. I hate seeing brand-new 2x4s and LVLs tossed into dumpsters. On one of my recent 17-panel builds, the total lumber waste was about the size of a desk. That’s how efficient this system is.
Education is a big part of what I do. During open houses, I set out placards explaining the construction—like the R-value of our 8¼” SIP walls or the type of windows we use. Most people don’t know what SIPs are, so I create conversation starters.
One thing everyone notices is how quiet the homes are. After our last open house, I was sitting inside while 70–80 mph winds gusted outside. I had no idea until I looked out and saw a rug on the patio whipping around—it was that quiet.
I even got an email from a homeowner asking if I forgot to transfer the electricity bill into their name because they hadn’t received one. I had, of course, already transferred it at closing. But that’s part of the sales pitch—these homes are incredibly energy efficient. Over a 30-year mortgage, you can save hundreds of thousands of dollars on electricity. For this family, it ended up being a delightful surprise.
Back when I was building in New Mexico, everything was traditional framing. But now, every single home we build gets blower door tests, HERS ratings—all of it. And each time, I’m blown away by how airtight they are.
Looking ahead, we’re planning to build 40 to 50 homes over the next decade—and I don’t see us doing it any other way.
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