Archive for the ‘Blog’ Category

16
Dec

Finally, we have completed the Hawkins House with a few small exceptions.  The new owner moved in the end of October and we started monitoring energy use Dec 1 with the generous support from my friends at Deep Blue NRG ...

10
Oct

It has been a very busy couple weeks handling the standard construction pieces of the project:  drywall, trim, painting, siding, tiling, hardware, finishing out plumbing and electrical.  Other than extra attention to sealing around the windows and trim as an ...

Insulation

28
Aug

  With the framing, mechanical and electrical inspections passed we started insulating the home.  We used Roxul batt insulation on the interior 2 x 4 wall because we ...

3rd door test

28
Aug

With the mechanical and electrical rough in competed, we had 8 penetrations through the building envelope that we had carefully sealed.  So we would know how ...

With the windows installed and sealed and the exterior OSB wall layer and interior plywood ceiling layer completed, we conducted our first blower door test using the passive ...

25
Jul

Finally, after 2 months of storing the windows in my garage to wait out the weather delays, we installed the windows.  With the triple glazing, fiberglass frames, ...

Framing the Roof

06
Jul

The last week or so we have been framing the hip roof on the house.  There is nothing really different in the details in this assembly for the ...

BlueSkin issues

04
Jul

We installed BlueSkin, a peel and stick waterproof membrane, over the top plate in preparation for the trusses as part of the air barrier of the exterior.  It was installed with the primer provided and all the materials were dry ...

Framing the walls

18
Jun

With the framing components as an integral part of the air barrier layer in the house, we need to pay more attention to the framing details for ...

Foundation Work

10
Jun

Two large trucks delivered the mountain of EPS foam to be laid under the foundation.  We started by installing the perimeter horizontal slab pieces, with adhesive in the joints.  We had a problem in that the vertical blocks that keyed ...