Our Insulation thoughts; what is the best financial investment to achieve the end goal of good insulation, good indoor air quality and sound control?

 After you’ve completed sealing the thermal envelope, what goes behind the drywall is a big decision. Let’s start with basics.

 INSULATION / R-VALUE

R-Value is a measurement of thermal efficiency or measurement to the resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-Value numbers the greater resistance the insulation has to the movement of heat.

A large percentage of heat escapes through the attic and walls of a home. In order to build a better thermal envelope, we accept that heat flows in one direction, from warm space to cold. Example, warm inside air will flow to the outside during winter months. The most common insulation method is fiberglass insulation batts, which are placed between the studs and stapled into place. The drywall is then nailed over, creating a wall. Although this is an acceptable method, it can be done better. The fundamental problem with the batt is you need to ensure there aren’t any gaps and you can’t because those insulating products are manufactured true and square. In a real-world environment, cavities between the studs are irregular and additional trades cause other obstructions like plumbing stacks or HVAC trunk lines.  You also have to work around supplementary roof and wall penetrations associated with utility and/or local communication companies that create hard-to-reach places creating pathways for conditioned air to leak in or out, sacrificing comfort.

Why Spray?

Because this delivers a continuous thermal and air barrier that seals around plumbing, vents and electrical openings as well as other cracks and voids that allow unwanted air leakage. Leaving no gaps or seams, it minimizes airborne irritants such as allergens, drafts, or humidity.

The following are spray-in custom insulation materials that provide superior performance in relationship to the above acceptable building method.  

Icynene insulation delivers advanced moisture management by forming an air seal to minimize air movement. By minimizing air transported moisture through the building envelope, Icynene helps to prevent condensation and reduces the potential for mold growth within walls and ceilings. Icynene products feature 100% water-blown technology. Using Icynene insulation in place of an air-permeable option can dramatically reduce a building’s carbon footprint by as much as 50% since less energy is required to heat and cool the building.

http://www.icynene.com/

Johns Manville Spider® custom fiber glass insulation is available in variable thickness levels. It  can fill 2x4 cavities up to an R-15 thermal rating, 2x6 cavities up to R-23, JM Spider® insulation also reduces sound transmission, achieving a Sound Transmission Class of 43 in a standard 2x4 wood-framed wall. JM Spider® insulation resists mold because it sprays in almost dry (less moisture content than wood framing), and is treated with a U.S. EPA-registered mold inhibitor to protect the insulation against mold. JM Spider® insulation can be used for both wall and ceiling applications. In addition, only fiber glass insulation made without formaldehyde—such as JM Spider® Custom Insulation—can pass Environmental Specification 1350, the toughest indoor air quality test in North America, with a non-detect for formaldehyde.

http://www.specjm.com/products/sprayin2/spider.asp

If you have additional questions on insulation, please contact us  @ info(at)cdbmd.com 

Cheers!!

We are currently preparing for close-in on one of our more unique and challenging custom homes. What makes it challenging? Two factors; it’s a significant renovation; which meant keeping the original foundation built in 1960 and then constructing a magnificent modern designed structure.

Our client is extremely concerned with energy consumption. To this end, we thought we would blog about “common household air leaks” and what to do. The main areas to address are:

• Behind Kneewalls
• Attic Hatch
• Wiring Holes
• Plumbing Vent
• Open Soffit (the box that hides the recessed lights)
• Recessed Light
• Furnace Flue or Duct Chaseway (the hollow box or wall feature that hides ducts)
• Basement Rim Joists (where the foundation meets the wood framing)
• Windows and Doors

At Congressional Design Build, we subscribe to the theory that if you insulate properly, you can heat and cool your house with a match … we’ll almost. Start by sealing the thermal envelope. This is part of the house which separates the indoors from the outdoors, and consists of the floor on the bottom level, the ceiling on the top level, the exterior walls, the exterior floor bands, and of course the doors and windows.

How?

• During the framing process make sure you seal under the exterior walls; we use a special wall gasket
• Use housewrap (tyveck or equivalent) on the exterior framing at the floor band just below the walls, and to the very top outside of the exterior walls. Follow installation instructions
• Caulk under exterior doors before installation
• Seal around windows and exterior doors using caulk or poly foam sealer (great stuff) that is specified for doors and windows. Don’t use the regular expanding foam sealant …just don’t!
• If your attic will have blown insulation, ask to build a box around the access hole so the insulation can come all the way to the access hole without spilling into the house.
• After wiring, plumbing and HVAC have been roughed in and before installation of insulation, use foam sealant in all of the holes that have been drilled through the top or bottom plates of all walls; not only the exterior walls. The interior walls are important too; air will exchange from the interior to the crawl space and the attic through interior walls.

We would recommend hiring an insulating company to perform the above and make it part of their Turn-Key solution. In the Washington Metropolitan Area they call it “Air Control and Draft Stop.” They typically use a foam sealant and a high grade non-sag caulk for air control and we would recommend an STI Fire Stop product.

Next we use spray-in custom insulation materials that provide superior performance, we’ll tell you who they are and why it’s superior on our next blog entry. 

Cheers, Team CDB

Just had to share; Joe and Keith finished yesterday! looking Good!!

Check out the Congressional Design Build online portfolio for additional ideas on our outstanding custom trim work or send us an email at info(at)cdbmd.com

From the mail bag; "could we help suggest how to buy "Green Cabinets?"

Here we go: While purchasing cabinets are simple to some, multiple components affect resource efficiency and indoor air quality, requiring careful consideration during this selection process.  To us, most importantly, you’ll also need to examine the woods that make up the veneers, trim, doors, and drawer fronts. Austin Energy Green Building’s Sustainable Building Sourcebook recommends domestic hardwoods or certified, sustainably harvested tropical hardwoods as the most environmentally sound choices. “Veneer-grade domestic softwoods are often harvested from old growth timber, and non-certified tropical hardwoods are too often harvested in a manner that is devastating to the forest,” the group advises.  And, be sure to enquire about the chemical content of the glues used to adhere the veneers to the cabinet box; non-solvent-based adhesives can be comparable in performance and cost, Austin Energy says.

ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS

Today, traditional composite wood panels dominate, however, alternatives exist that offer environmental benefits or trade-offs of their own.  Solid wood eliminates formaldehyde concerns, but it lacks the materials efficiency of an engineered product, is fairly rare, and is more expensive.  Weyerhaeuser makes composite panels using Lyptus, a Brazilian-grown wood that can be harvested for lumber in 14 to 16 years. Like bamboo, another cabinetry alternative, Lyptus offers the benefits of rapid renewability but does have to be shipped a longer distance. Wheatboard, made from waste stalks, is another option gaining attention.  As with traditional composite panels, ensure alternative engineered materials you select utilize formaldehyde-free resins.  Though more rare here, some metal cabinets can be a green selection from both a resources and health standpoint. For example, St. Charles Cabinetry says its metal options contain more than 70% recycled material and are 98% recyclable; the products’ baked-on powdercoat finish is considered hypoallergenic.

Ream more on St. Charles Cabinetry

Read more on Weyerhaeuser http://www.lumin.com/

FINISHES

Though low-VOC finishes are becoming more available, they’re not widespread due to concerns that are similar to those made during the transition to healthier paints: The quality and richness aren’t always equivalent and the application may be unfamiliar. 

 If you have questions about how to buy “Green” contact us at Congressional Design/Build at info(at) CDBMD.com.

Cheers, CDB

I received an e-mail request if we could just give them a price on covering an asphalt roof ... below is our thought on Roof Covering Replacement:

 When contemplating the replacement of any type of roof covering during remodeling or renovation, it is important to hire a reputable roofing contractor.  The question is not just whether to install new shingles over the existing or to remove the existing layer first.  Attention must be paid to the condition of the roof sheathing.  There are tell-tale signs of deteriorated sheathing.  One is by walking on the roof.  If it is spongy it might be candidate for replacement.  It may be spongy due to roof covering or flashing failure.  It also could be caused by the sheathing being interior grade plywood which should not be used on the roof.  Some builders used interior grade plywood installed with the APA stamp faced up so as not to be seen from the attic.  The roofer can tell anyway by the identifying characteristics of the veneer which has length- wise splices usually one to three per sheet.  If this is evident, one must laminate a layer of OSB over the plywood prior to re-roofing.  Another trademark of a good roofer is the level of protection installed prior to the roof work and the condition of the shrubs, yard and gutters when they finish the job.  It should be nail and debris free.

If you need help identifying a legitimate roofing contractor or help analyzing your roof condition, we at Congressional Design/Build can help.  Contact us at info(at)CDBMD.com. 

 Enjoy the weekend, Team CDB

From the mail bag; " Is there a wide-plank bamboo flooring manufacture we would recommend?"

Yes, above is a photo from Teragren. And yes, I know the photo isn't that of wide-plank, but have you ever seen a black bamboo floor?

The floors are installed with a fold-down locking system and comes with microbevel edges and ends. They are finished with a seven-coat aluminum oxide/polyurethane finish. 

All Teragren products contribute to LEED® certification under MR Credit 6: Rapidly Renewable Materials. All Teragren bamboo flooring products contribute to IEQ Credit 4.3: Low-Emitting Materials—Flooring Systems.

Teragren currently offers FSC-bamboo by special order for its Traditional (non-strand) product lines, has FSC Chain-of-Custody certification for its factories.

Click over to their site where you can view their 10 colors and a variety of textures and patterns.

Keep the questions coming to info(at)cdbmd.com, helps us, help you!

Team Congressional Design/Build, out!

Recently we explored several window tinting options and this, in our option, is mind numbingly cool!

What would you say if we told you we could install a system that will allow you to control daylight and heat transmittance in your windows, skylights, and/or curtainwall using nanotechnology? Never again will you have to get out of bed or chair over privacy concerns or that forever irritating early morning light after a short night’s sleep … sounds cutting edge cool, right? We’ll that time is upon us.  The tintable glass can be “zoned” allowing direct sun above and zoned black below or almost anything in-between.

If building green is your goal, it's important to ensure that the products you use are environmentally-friendly. SageGlass® is GreenSpec®-listed, which means Building Green, Inc., has designated it an environmentally preferable building product, and lists it in the GreenSpec® directory. 

According to Building Green, Inc., SageGlass products qualify for green status because they reduce heating and cooling loads, and they improve light quality.

Find out more at http://www.sage-ec.com/pages/resconstr.html

Best, Team Congressional Design/Build

Having been extremely busy bringing one of our most spectacular homes to life over the past few weeks, we are back on-line and are going to BLOG your socks off with innovative products and technology we have been coming across recently, so click back often.

Today, above, is a sneak peek to internationally-recognized Architect, David Jameson’s latest work of art, “NcCI Residence” that we are currently building in downtown, Bethesda MD.  It’s a show stopper!

From an energy efficiency design program, DJ’s light drenched concept, cuts down on the consumption of electricity necessary for lighting and HVAC usage, coupled with our site built custom windows, utilizing the latest in window spacer technology with Solarban^® 70XL glass, by PPG Industries, Inc.; a revolutionary new Solar Control, Low-E glass, these windows surpass any other Solar Control glass on the market today.

On the roof, other innovative building materials were used, such as: Firestone’s “UltraWhite” roofing granules, a cool roofing solution that provides greater light reflectivity and heat emissivity, again, reducing energy consumption, electrical demand and labor costs. It is UL- and FM-code approved, meets requirements for California’s Title 24 regulations and can help achieve points in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system, in which we are an active member. Its reflectivity is also consistent with Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) programs. More info on UltraWhite can be found at http://www.firestonebpco.com/roofing/accessories/ultrawhite/.

This ecohome approach was carried thru to the exterior cladding or skin of the house as well.  Our team used Sto Powerwall Stucco System, which is simply that, a system based approach, applied to a conventional building application. This systems compressive strength is nearly twice that of conventional stucco, by way of a more controlled mix, with added fibers. It’s also lighter per square foot, the benefit translation, this material does not absorb as much moisture and when used with its elastomeric coating; yeah I know, elastomeric, often used interchangeably with the term rubber, reduces the risk of cracking and eliminates pin holing.  To find out more on Sto’s product line, check them out at www.stocorp.com.

And if you think that’s cool, wait to see what was designed for the inside.

If you have any questions on the above mentioned materials or general construction related questions, e-mail us at info(at)cdbmd.com

Enjoy the weekend.

Best, Team Congressional Design/Build

Armed Service Members Tax Credit

We were informed today that members of the military, foreign service, and intelligence communities have an additional year to buy a home and claim the home buyer tax credit, which expired on April 30.

 The law provides qualified service members who served on official extended duty outside of the United States for 90 days or more at any time between January 1, 2009, to April 30, 2010, another year to buy a home and claim the credit. They have until April 30, 2011, to sign a sales contract, and until June 30, 2011, to settle and close on the home. Both the $8,000 first-time and $6,500 repeat home buyer tax credits are included in the rule.

 The rule that requires buyers to repay the credit if they move out of their home within three years has also been waived for qualified service members if they have to sell their home due to receiving government orders for extended duty service. 

For additional information, the NAHB provides information on the home buyer tax credit, including eligibility requirements and links to home buying resources, on its consumer website www.FederalHousingTaxCredit.com.

Best, Team CDB

A prospective client called to ask, “What is the difference between Concrete and Cement?”

This is the first time I had ever been asked this and suspect that the catalysis for such a question is a competing proposal for an exterior hardscape project we are currently bidding. I assume our competitor has used the term Cement. To this end, we thought it would make for an informative post.

Cement and concrete are mixtures, not elements or compound elements. Cement is a mixture of compounds and concrete is a compound made from cement; yet these terms are used interchangeably. Cement is a powder, and we think of it as the “glue” or central ingredient of concrete. Water plays the key role in defining cement. For example, cement mixed with water, is also referred to as stucco for exterior use and called plaster for interior use. It is also used to construct swimming pools. When high-pressure air is applied to the watery mix, it’s called shotcrete. However, a dry, high-pressure air applied mix, is called gunite. The very same mixture is also called mortar in masonry stone, block and brickwork, but when diluted further, and add sand, this same mixture is called grout.

So, in conclusion, you cannot have just a cement walkway, it is concrete.

As always, e-mail or call us for additional information or click http://www.concrete.org/general/home.asp

Best, Team Congressional Design/Build