Wednesday was a busy day and the Eco house is in full swing.
The eco house started off without a hitch - at least for the first half day. The plywood floor has been laid in place and the truss structures that hold the entire house up are being assembled.
Much thought and effort went into planning those trusses. They are very elaborate in design and are held together with friction fit pins. Sala architects did a great job on the details, although I rather suspect the framing crew would have rather had a simpler detai.
Everyone is moving quickly, the trusses need to be completed by Tuesday as there is a class being taught by Extreme Panels on the proper use of Structural Insulated Panels - otherwise known as SIP
Well, the trusses are proving to be tougher than originally thought. First we found out we needed 5" screws. No big deal, but 5" screws are not that common. I made several phone calls to the usual suppliers of building materials and came up short. I figured I would have to call Dave Wagner (One of the project architects at Sala) and find a new way to fasten them. It so happens Dave was driving by Frattalone's Ace Hardware on Grand Avenue in St Paul.
Turns out they had about 150 in stock and were able to get the rest the next morning. We needed 1500 screws. The manager even gave us a 15% discount which was nice.
On Friday we also discovered two more problems that needed resolution. First, even with all our careful planning, some of the steel plates connecting the truss members did not work out exactly right. Dan Pederson, a fellow contractor and a very good metalworker helped solve that problem.
We also discovered that the trusses are too bulky to stand up by hand, so we need to get some heavy equipment down to the job site. Monday we will have a Pettibone (a large forklift used in construction) on site.
Some of the guys will be working over the weekend to make sure we are done by Tuesday. We are a little behind right now, but so far so good.
If anyone ever ends up following this blog, I just want to let people know the business of building is the business of solving problems
Friday, July 24, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
It all starts
This is the week the Eco House starts
As we get ready to start the eco house, I can't help but reflect on where we started and where we have gotten.
The concept and planning for the eco house started last December. Since then the teams have been assembled, hundreds of hours have been spend planning, meeting, and dare I day procrastinating.
Stephen and I have a few more pieces of the puzzle to put together. We need an electrician, drywaller and painter. So far we have an electrician for a day, but we really need an electrician for 3 days.
This week the materials are delivered to the fair. Thursday morning is when the fun begins. I will probably spend the morning at the job site.
I keep thinking we are missing something. You would think that with a team of 5 architects, two general contractors, one government agency and many folks donating time and materials, I wouldn't think this.
I suppose at this point if we are missing something we will just have to make due.
This years eco house will truly be a sight to behold. The home will produce all of the energy needed on site. I suspect it will draw a fairly large crowd and get lots of questions
As the project unfolds, I will post pictures and video.
As we get ready to start the eco house, I can't help but reflect on where we started and where we have gotten.
The concept and planning for the eco house started last December. Since then the teams have been assembled, hundreds of hours have been spend planning, meeting, and dare I day procrastinating.
Stephen and I have a few more pieces of the puzzle to put together. We need an electrician, drywaller and painter. So far we have an electrician for a day, but we really need an electrician for 3 days.
This week the materials are delivered to the fair. Thursday morning is when the fun begins. I will probably spend the morning at the job site.
I keep thinking we are missing something. You would think that with a team of 5 architects, two general contractors, one government agency and many folks donating time and materials, I wouldn't think this.
I suppose at this point if we are missing something we will just have to make due.
This years eco house will truly be a sight to behold. The home will produce all of the energy needed on site. I suspect it will draw a fairly large crowd and get lots of questions
As the project unfolds, I will post pictures and video.
Friday, July 10, 2009
The Meaning of Green - Can it be controversial?
We have 8 more business days to go before work begins.
This week we finalized our materials - or so we think we have. Dave Fanslow from ProBuild Lumber came through for us with our much needed FSC lumber. They will be donating about half of the framing lumber we need to build this project.
Stephen Roche is working on some other donations from Louisiana Pacific and is hopeful we can get the remainder of the lumber we need.
So what about this controversy I referred to?
Minnesota Greenstar discourages using any large pieces of lumber that are over 9 1/4 inches wide. The reasoning behind this has to do with the types of trees that produce large pieces of lumber. The larger the piece of lumber, the larger the tree.
Cutting old growth trees is not desirable and by avoiding the use of large pieces of wood, it stands to reason that this will avoid the market for large old growth trees.
The architect in charge of this project has created a visually interesting structural truss that requires 2 by 10 lumber.
What to do?
Many people felt that using 2 by 10's under any circumstance was not a good idea, others felt that eventually trees get old and can be cut down and if that was done using managed methods of logging, then this might be okay. Still others advocated for reclaimed materials?
What was the solution?
It was decided that the best thing to do was submit a Credit Interpretation Request to the Minnesota Greenstar Technical committee. The committee would vote on the request. After several days of debate & discussion and voting, it was decided that for this project only the Minnesota Technical committee would allow FSC 2*10's only.
Meanwhile I did some research on reclaimed wood and found out this was above our budget.
After the CIR was approved, there were still those that felt using 2*10's was not a good idea.
However, the province of British Columbia is currently facing the largest pine beetle infestation in its history. Native to western North America, this tiny black insect burrows into lodge pole pines and transmits blue stain fungi that can destroy the connective tissues within a tree. In addition, the blue stain left on the tree after the beetle's attack lowers the grade of the lumber, reducing its market value. If these dead and dying trees are not harvested they will either fall down or burn.
Efforts were made to obtain some of this Lumber to use in place of the 2 by 10's. but at this late hour it seems unlikely that a truck could be sent in time from Canada
In any event, this controversy highlights some of the aspects of behind green. An aesthetic idea and best green building practices.
Where do I sit on this controversy?
I have to admit I am fairly divided on my feelings. Does building something as green as it can be drive the aesthetic look, or should there be some consideration about what the aesthetic look should be and then figure out the greenest way build it?
I think it depends on the individual. In the case of the Eco-House, I suspect we could have gotten away with unconventional aesthetics in the name of Green
This week we finalized our materials - or so we think we have. Dave Fanslow from ProBuild Lumber came through for us with our much needed FSC lumber. They will be donating about half of the framing lumber we need to build this project.
Stephen Roche is working on some other donations from Louisiana Pacific and is hopeful we can get the remainder of the lumber we need.
So what about this controversy I referred to?
Minnesota Greenstar discourages using any large pieces of lumber that are over 9 1/4 inches wide. The reasoning behind this has to do with the types of trees that produce large pieces of lumber. The larger the piece of lumber, the larger the tree.
Cutting old growth trees is not desirable and by avoiding the use of large pieces of wood, it stands to reason that this will avoid the market for large old growth trees.
The architect in charge of this project has created a visually interesting structural truss that requires 2 by 10 lumber.
What to do?
Many people felt that using 2 by 10's under any circumstance was not a good idea, others felt that eventually trees get old and can be cut down and if that was done using managed methods of logging, then this might be okay. Still others advocated for reclaimed materials?
What was the solution?
It was decided that the best thing to do was submit a Credit Interpretation Request to the Minnesota Greenstar Technical committee. The committee would vote on the request. After several days of debate & discussion and voting, it was decided that for this project only the Minnesota Technical committee would allow FSC 2*10's only.
Meanwhile I did some research on reclaimed wood and found out this was above our budget.
After the CIR was approved, there were still those that felt using 2*10's was not a good idea.
However, the province of British Columbia is currently facing the largest pine beetle infestation in its history. Native to western North America, this tiny black insect burrows into lodge pole pines and transmits blue stain fungi that can destroy the connective tissues within a tree. In addition, the blue stain left on the tree after the beetle's attack lowers the grade of the lumber, reducing its market value. If these dead and dying trees are not harvested they will either fall down or burn.
Efforts were made to obtain some of this Lumber to use in place of the 2 by 10's. but at this late hour it seems unlikely that a truck could be sent in time from Canada
In any event, this controversy highlights some of the aspects of behind green. An aesthetic idea and best green building practices.
Where do I sit on this controversy?
I have to admit I am fairly divided on my feelings. Does building something as green as it can be drive the aesthetic look, or should there be some consideration about what the aesthetic look should be and then figure out the greenest way build it?
I think it depends on the individual. In the case of the Eco-House, I suspect we could have gotten away with unconventional aesthetics in the name of Green
Friday, July 3, 2009
In the Beginning
July is here!
While that may not be news to anyone, it definitely is a reminder that the next two months are going to be lively.
Last January I agreed to build the eco-house out at the Minnesota state fair this year. This house is the prototype for a net zero energy house that can be used in an urban or rural setting.
http://www.ecoexperience.org/
I am approaching this project with a great deal of interest, yet also a healthy dose of trepidation. The entire project is a volunteer effort with donated materials and labor. I understand the pitfalls of capitalism, but also realize that once one takes money out of the picture, it changes the dynamics of how a project might work.
As a general contractor it is my job to assemble all these volunteers and materials and get a whole house built in a little over a month.
On the bright side of things, I am not doing this alone. Sala Architects has donated the design and I might say has also pitched in with helping find donated materials. I have done quite a bit of work with them in the past - they are a great bunch to work with, but I fear they will be making tweaks to the plan right up to the day the fair opens - But in all fairness, this has to look just right
I also can't forget about Stephen Roche - He is also a general contractor and build last years eco -house. He is the voice of reason. I am a sucker for a nice architectural detail and have a hard time saying no to something architectually interesting, but as I said before we only have one month to build this - and let's not forget we are supposed to be in a recession which has made getting donations a bit harder to come by.
In case anyone ever does follow this blog, I want to also acknowledge the fact that there are many other volunteers and firms donating materials and labor. I promise I will acknowledge everyone after the fair is over.
Anyway, where was I?
Oh. I remember, this house needs to be built in one month with volunteer labor and materials
While that may not be news to anyone, it definitely is a reminder that the next two months are going to be lively.
Last January I agreed to build the eco-house out at the Minnesota state fair this year. This house is the prototype for a net zero energy house that can be used in an urban or rural setting.
http://www.ecoexperience.org/
I am approaching this project with a great deal of interest, yet also a healthy dose of trepidation. The entire project is a volunteer effort with donated materials and labor. I understand the pitfalls of capitalism, but also realize that once one takes money out of the picture, it changes the dynamics of how a project might work.
As a general contractor it is my job to assemble all these volunteers and materials and get a whole house built in a little over a month.
On the bright side of things, I am not doing this alone. Sala Architects has donated the design and I might say has also pitched in with helping find donated materials. I have done quite a bit of work with them in the past - they are a great bunch to work with, but I fear they will be making tweaks to the plan right up to the day the fair opens - But in all fairness, this has to look just right
I also can't forget about Stephen Roche - He is also a general contractor and build last years eco -house. He is the voice of reason. I am a sucker for a nice architectural detail and have a hard time saying no to something architectually interesting, but as I said before we only have one month to build this - and let's not forget we are supposed to be in a recession which has made getting donations a bit harder to come by.
In case anyone ever does follow this blog, I want to also acknowledge the fact that there are many other volunteers and firms donating materials and labor. I promise I will acknowledge everyone after the fair is over.
Anyway, where was I?
Oh. I remember, this house needs to be built in one month with volunteer labor and materials
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