Lowe’s to offer new line of sheds
Lowe’s will begin carrying a line of outdoor sheds made of structural insulated panels (SIPS) at its 1,700 retail locations, as well as through its website. But unlike traditional SIPS – rigid foam insulation between two panels of oriented strand board (OSB) – the new product will be made with sheets of magnesium oxide, often referred to as MgO.
Vantem Outdoor Living, a division of Vantem Composite Technologies, will manufacture the backyard product line, known as GreenOx. According to the company, GreenOx sheds deliver high levels of insulation and are not drafty like traditional sheds, thereby improving energy efficiency by up to 50% when heated or cooled.
“The use of SIPs and a proprietary framing system offer benefits far beyond the typical wood, metal or resin structures, and the result is small, very durable buildings that you’ll actually want to spend time in,” said by Jay Thompson, president of Vantem Outdoor Living. “While the concept of SIP technologies has been around for years, the limitation has always been the wood component used for the exterior of the panel. Our exclusive use of MgO in replacement of OSB enables us to achieve the same strength and efficiency gains in a configuration that will not rot, mold and is essentially fire and pest resistant.
Lowes.com currently offers three models, 8x8, 8x10 and 8x12, that range in price from $2,700 to $3,500.
