Glidevale Protect supplies breather and airtightness membranes for a new SIPs residential development at Granby Farm Grove in North Yorkshire.
Building products manufacturer Glidevale Protect has supplied a suite of breather and airtightness membranes for Granby Farm Grove, a new residential development near Harrogate in North Yorkshire. The scheme transforms a redundant farmstead and vacant cottage into seven individually designed properties constructed using Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) systems.
SIP construction relies heavily on correct membrane specification to achieve modern energy performance standards while maintaining structural integrity. By installing Glidevale Protect's specialised membranes, the build team aims to deliver high levels of thermal efficiency and controlled air leakage across the development.
The use of offsite timber framing and SIPs continues to gain traction across UK housebuilding as contractors seek to meet increasingly stringent Future Homes Standard requirements. Specialized membranes play a critical role in these timber-based systems by preventing moisture ingress during the build phase while controlling interstitial condensation once the structure is occupied.
Projects like Granby Farm Grove highlight how specialized building control products enable smaller regional developers to convert complex brownfield and agricultural sites into low-energy homes that satisfy local planning constraints and modern building regulations.
What does this mean for a UK tradesperson or DIYer actually buying this kit — does it change what they should pay, buy, or watch out for?
For joiners, timber-frame installers, and general builders, this project serves as a reminder that SIP and timber-frame assemblies require matching system-specific membranes rather than standard, low-cost underlays. Trades buying breather membranes through merchants such as Travis Perkins or Jewson should check whether modern offsite builds require specialized membranes with specific vapor permeability and airtightness ratings to meet sign-off requirements.
While standard breather membranes remain suitable for traditional brick-and-block cavity walls, modern offsite systems demand dedicated membranes that integrate seamlessly with sealing tapes. Installers should factor these dedicated membrane packages and compatible joining tapes into their material estimates, as using non-approved alternatives can compromise the building envelope's air barrier and jeopardize sign-off by building control officers.
Reported by Housebuilder & Developer — original article
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