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Hi Steve
I too am looking for the same thing in print form, but after Gene Legers book and Understanding Ventilation by John Bower, my wish list is blank. When your inquiry takes you to the ‘cutting edge’ you generally have to wait for the ‘how to’ texts to catch up. FHb, for example, is still writing articles on f/g installs, when, as you well know, all the talk on Breaktime is about dense pack cells.
Sucessful searching, and share the discoveries.
Patrick
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I have also been looking for the magic bullet and after 4 years of research I am going to build a ICF (insulated concrete form) house, basement to roof. I looked at SIPS, Steel/Wood framing, concrete block, etc. Steel framing with sprayed foam came in second. ICF's give a very strong (I live in a tornado area) and very energy efficent structure. In the initial enegry analysis of my plan, it will require 50% less energy to heat and cool.
Not all ICF's are created equal as well as not all ICF contractors do a good job. One contractor in my area has a real problem with making his wall plumb...
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Hi REL,
I guess I can't get over my dislike of concrete structures. It just doesn't appeal to me, nor does steel. I also dislike plactic. I guess I'm just a wood butcher at heart.
I'm sure there are some wonderful buildings made of all of the above, but I just can't get myself psyched to be the one to make them.
Thanks for the thought, though.
Steve
*Do you subscribe to Home Energy magazine? Some good stuff there. Especially liked their article on large builders trying energy efficient stuff on a big scale with clear thinking on the costs-benefit analysis side. I don't know if you can find in a book the "best" thinking and research results which are developing as we speak.
*Hi Bill,Thanks for the tip. I just looked at their web site and it looks like they don't keep up with that. The newest listings there are from July 1997!I'll have to try and find a copy to look at somewhere.Steve
*Steve. As Bill noted there is no one "right" way to build. But "right" is not defined. What is the right way to frame (a) post and beam house; (b) a balloon framed house; (c) a plank and beam house;(d)a western frame-also called plaform frame-house? What is the standard of "right" used by a building inspector when he inspects these houses? Right is often the "way I learned to do it." So we now are faced with the different "rights" of different building inspectors. For many, many years "right"was the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Minimum Property Standards (MPS). This is what I call 11th commandment framing: everything is 16-inches on center, exterior corners are 3-4 stud corners or even 4x4 corners,headers in non-loadbearing walls, and in gable-end walls and so on. This is the way most all houses in this country are framed.It is how Dean Johnson, of TVs Hometime, frames.It is the method of framing found in just about all books on carpentry and architecture. The OPEC crisis caused some in the building community to rethink the "rightness" of the MPS. They acknowledge that while the MPS framed wall is basically efficient construction, in its present form it does not and cannot achieve its full potential: it is neither as cost effective nor as energy efficiient as it could be. Thus was born the Arkansas House. How did it differ from the MPS house? All framing 24-inches oc and in-line: rafters/bottom chords of trusses directly over exterior wall studs which are directly over over floor joists.For more information see Chapter 11, Outer Wall Framing, in my book, _Complete_ Building_Construction_ 4th Edition, published by Macmillan.I have over a thousand books on building science, architecture, engineering, building codes and so on. I read about 25 to 30 magazines, periodicals, journals a month.So, if you would keep up with what is going on, and learn the "right"? way to do it, add some book cases and start filling them with the necessary books and magazines.There is the small? problem of how afford this. There are many free magazines, and mnay not for free publications. Call the big architectural or engineering firms in your town or in the biggest city nearest you. Ask them what they do with the many magazines they receive monthly. Some they mauy keep, and others the toss pout when finished with them. Ask them if you could have the ones they discard, such as the Construction Specifier. Good luck. Gene L.
*Hi Gene,Thanks for the very thoughtful post.I too subscribe to somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 magazines. It's too bad there isn't much discussion of Building Science in Golf Magazine ;-)Seriously, I do subscribe to FHB, JLC, TOH, OHJ, plus I get freebies to Professional Builder, Remodeling, Professional Remodeler. I'm only finding the same old methods rehashed over and over in these, and like you say, the books only talk about coventional framing and insulation techniques, which as we all seem to realize fail with remarkable regularity.Can you suggest one or two periodicals and books to get started with in my search for more knowledge about the bleeding-edge thinking in building science?I plan to get your book, and Understanding Ventilation for starters.Ever grateful,Steve
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I thought the same thing until I went in some of them. If done correctly, you can't tell the difference. Recently in Omaha NE area during a home show called the street of dreams, a ICF house won best of show. Builder used wood all over the interior. Very warm, very nicely done. Here in the upper midwest they are very warm during artic blasts.
*Steve,How about Environmental Building News? Small but very interested in the cutting edge, the website is nice if not as lively as these guys. Actually, in search of similar types of info as you are, I actually depend more on the web. As you say, books tend to really lag behind. I regularly check in with folks like EBN and E-Design on line for the building end, and Rocky Mountain Institute and the places listed in the Sustainable Sources directory (everything from solar and wind and new materials research to permaculture and third world NGOs) for the general enviro/high tech stuff. When I find an avenue that looks particularly usefull, I start emailing the people inolved with my questions, etc. Hope this helps a bitEthereally, Lisa
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Seeking an opinion about the National Association of Home Builders. Am considering joining the local association to have access to the state and national associations for personal benefit and some adjunct writing. Worthwhile? Are their publications and other resources of value? See Web site at http://www.nahb.com.
*Check out Joe Lstiburek (Building Science Corp) 'Builder's Guide' There's one for Cold Climates and Warm Climates. Joe gives straightforward advice and details for most things you could encounder framing, insulating, siding, ventilating.......Get it direct:BSC70 Main StWestford , MA 01886(508)589-5100orJLC Bookstorejlconline.com
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Gene, Fred, Patrick Joe, Bill, Brian and any one else that is intersted:
One thing I've picked up from all the discussions of ventilation, insulation, moisture control, etc. is that many of us are looking for the "right" way to build, if there is a "right" way. Can you all recommend books on both the narrower topics above, and the broader concepts of building energy efficient, safe, durable, comfortable houses?
Looking for the magic bullet,
Steve Zerby
Meetinghouse Restoration
*Steve, The magic bullet you are looking for is perhaps not available at a bookstore near you. Sometimes you just have to say enough is enough and look to the future for yourself. I went through this myself 4 years ago and even before the advent of the quick and easy info available on the internet I had been following trends towards energy efficient building methods/techniques through industry publications and fine homebuilding.If you are serious about energy efficiency the first thing you need to address is the insulation itself. Most studies will show that foam insulation is the most efficient product available, I got my indoctrination at an 8th grade science fair! Once you see the benefits of using Foam the choices narrow considerably as to the way to utilize it. SIP's, ICF's, Blown in place etc.I wanted to stay within the wood gendre so I did not do much research with the ICF's I must admit. I had worked on a couple of job's with this product and wasn't too impressed though I know some really like it. In doing research about the different foams available I found that Poly Isocyanurate foams were non CFC compliant and offgass Freon which eventually degrades the performance of the insulation so I didn't pay much attention to that process either for Blown in place application. The EPS foam used in SIP's and Stress Skins seemed like the best bet as it is not nasty to manufacture and is stable. Also as it is a totally encapsulated system there is no need for ventialtion and problems like the ones so prevolent at this site are non existant as long as correct installation procedures are followed.I had worked with Stress Skin Panels in the 70's for Timber Frame applications and was impressed by their ability to do what was asked of them. In my research of what are called SIP's today I found that they were actually just the stress skins I was familiar with. However as I looked into them further I found that I could not deal with the fact that there was so little actual structural content for my needs. I didn't want to get involved with the extra costs of Timber Framing either as I tend to build more of the working man's structure and to his budget.There are a few manufacturers out there that have structural content within their panels ie: studs and rafters on 24" centers and full headersystems over openings I found and after using these panels I don't think I will be going back anytime soon to conventional methods. The structural integrity of these systems is unmatched by stick framing due to the "stress skin" concept combined with the structural members doing the same thing as they do in stick framing, providing "structure". Unfortunately there are no books available on "how to" with these products. I found the transition to be easy though and now can build in my area cheaper than my competition due mainly to the fact that my crew is now 3 people instead of 5, doing it twice as fast! I make more money too! Still have to go to work at least 8/5 though but I am working at a lower level of stress. After the house is complete the owners will be the ones that benefit from the use of panels as over the course of their mortgage the energy savings will mean substantial monetary savings. The house will be quieter and cleaner also. The reason I know this is I live in one myself and see these real life benefits.
*Steve - there is no "one" right way. While two identical, simultaneous, and adjacent projects may be best built with the same systems - it doesn't have to move very far apart - locale or time - to change the "best" mix.So the best book is really a library - and my complete collection of JLC and FHB's - all dog eared, many markers, and usually reread cover to cover every 3-4 years - are the best source I know for printed material. I do have some favorite books - but they are more design oriented than system or technique/material based.And there are different but equal solutions also.(And the worse source is the manufacturers or anyone else - other than the owner and occupants - who stands to financially gain based on the selection of a particular system or product.)I wish it were as simple as plumbing ("hot on the left, cold on the right, $hit runs downhill, and don't chew your fingers") but it sure as he!! ain't.Too bad there isn't an upload place where we could have a gallery of favorite systems - like a section of a wall, ceiling/roof, and foundation - or whatever. Those little back of the envelope sketches would be interesting to look at.
*Hi Bill,While I truly appreciate that there is no "right" way (or "right" OS) there are certianly books that discuss the various and sundry alternatives.Unfortunately my neck of the woods is pretty deficient in libraries. I used to love to go to the Library in Chester County PA. They had everything you could imagine. Here I'm lucky to find anything written after 1962. Bearing that in mind, what might be some books or other sources that discuss the various dilemmas and building techniques that we so often discuss on this board? It is a little slow and inefficiant to tranfer large bodies of information in multi-threaded conversations, though it is fun.I intend to get "Understanding Ventilation." Any other suggestions?Steve
*Hi Bob,Very interesting indeed. Can you pass along a mfgs name or any other info you might have on this method? I've been interested in doing some SIP work, but as an adjunct to timber framing. I have doubts about the long-term wisdom of using a panel that depends on adhesives for a building's entire structural strength. But I guess I'm a bit of an old fogey in that respect. I only grudgingly use plywood and avoid "engineered" lumber. Call me a luddite.I do new construction, but my favorite work is restoration work on old houses. I like to restore in such a way as to preserve as much of the original fabric of the building as I can. One of the reasons I haven't gotten into spray-in foams because I like to save the plaster whenever I can.Steve
*Hi SteveI too am looking for the same thing in print form, but after Gene Legers book and Understanding Ventilation by John Bower, my wish list is blank. When your inquiry takes you to the 'cutting edge' you generally have to wait for the 'how to' texts to catch up. FHb, for example, is still writing articles on f/g installs, when, as you well know, all the talk on Breaktime is about dense pack cells.Sucessful searching, and share the discoveries.Patrick
*Check out the CMHC publications and the Canadian Home Builders Manual. The Home Builders Manual is the guide for building R2000 homes in Canada, which are based on effective air sealing and mechanical ventilation.