Replies

1. 
   mike_guertin | Jul 01, 2003 03:26pm | #1

   Jim,

   Are you talking a dormer on an already finished upstairs OR a dormer in on say a Cape with an unfinished second?  Different situations regarding dust control.

   Here's my list of operations that fit most situations I guess:

   Divorce house from addition (dormer) area.  I "take over" whatever room or area will receive the dormer and create a solid barrier.   We don't stop in the winter so the barrier needs to be insulated.  I find it's almost as fast to knock up a quick - 2x4 24" oc temporary wall and drywall it as it is to detail a plastic dust wall and get a good seal to the ceiling and floor all the way along.  Problem with plastic dust walls when there's an opening (cutting hole in roof for dormer for instance) is that wind and the stack effect sneak air around the edges.  Hot air out or in, dust, pollen.... in.  Solid walls control air better.

   Plan operations and work fast.  I do as much prep inside the house as possible and precut as much of the framing before "opening up" the roof.  I assemble a team of builder friends (since it's usually just my brother and me doing the work) for a morning.  We watch the weather, pick the day and do a roof razing and raising as fast as possible.  We've accomplished a 24' long shed dormer (cut the old roof out, frame the exterior wall, install rafters, shingle roof, frame side walls, paper the walls and install windows in a day with 4 guys. 

   Tarps don't work to control weather.

   Keeping the owners' living quarters private and clean: We don't use interior travel paths unless necessary to accomplish the work.  IOW, we set up temporary exterior stairs as a means of access for trade contractors to the dormer for finishing purposes (electric wiring, insulation, drywall.......).

   Some builder friends of mine have looked into renting or purchasing giant plastic 'tents'.  Some use a metal frame and some use air pressure to inflate.  The idea is to enclose the entire house and control the entire environment.  So far they haven't used the system.  I think costs were between 10K and 30 K depending on size. 

   Mike

1. 
   jimkidd2 | Jul 01, 2003 03:45pm | #2

   Mike,

   Thanks for getting back to me. It's a house with a finished second story, still occupied. The dormer is to increase living space up there.

   Thanks

   Jim"I want a good clean fight. No head butts, no rabbit punches, and no hitting below the belt. Break when I say break, and protect yourself at all times."

1. 
   Piffin | Jul 02, 2003 12:08am | #3

   I'm the same about accessing from the exterior. I've done a couple where we built broad staging to work from and isolated the area on the inside.

   Good planning of every detail let's you get inside again quickly once the frame is closed but traffic still goes via the staging instead of tracking through the house. That also helps control the "Let me look over your shoulder and distract you while you do that" effect.

   Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   seeyou | Jul 02, 2003 02:50am | #5

   I never try to, but always seem to build the temporary access/staging outside the teenage daughter's bedroom/bathroom window. Must be a subconscious thing.

2. 
   sungod | Jul 02, 2003 01:14am | #4

   Place a box fan in one of the windows of the dormer addition.  Have the fan exhaust out.   Or, place the fan on the "clean air" side of the house and draw air into the clean living space.

   There is always air movement between the addition and living space.  The right placement of the fan will pressurize or create a negative pressure to keep dusty air from entering the clean area.

   Plastic curtains will only work when this is done, especially if you keep passing thru the two areas.

3. 
   CAGIV | Jul 02, 2003 04:59am | #6

   Pre-cut and pre-assemble the walls and have the roof precut etc.  so you can cut the hole in the morning and if all your pieces fit together with some luck you can have it dried in by time you leave that night.

   Things I do when ever working in an occupied space

   Drops and Runners where ever I will be working and walking, plastic to cover furniture, counters etc. if a fair amount of dust will be made.

   Zip walls to protect other rooms as much as possible.

   Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professionals built the Titanic.

1. 
   Piffin | Jul 02, 2003 04:00pm | #7

   Sometimes, you will have to isolate the entire upstairs because if you are adding a large shed dormer to a cape, you are likely to need to install a structural ridge beam in under the original, and possibly provide load paths. Other times, you can use a crane to insert it from the gable end, sliding it through the attic and having it sized large enough to carry the load from both end gables. Then just patch the hole in the gable end it came through, or turn it into a gable end vent..

   Excellence is its own reward!