By Unbuild It Podcast
THE GOOD news: our homebuilding industry is jam-packed with new materials, new techniques, and new systems, and it’s so easy to get information online in an instant. THE
BAD news: How
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The podcast currently has 139 episodes available.
Jake and Pete host good friend Matt Risinger (pretty sure he is “part” of the Build Show...). It starts simple with pre-drywall checklists (you know, like blocking for toilet paper holders...). But boy, it quickly blossoms into a wonderful, wandering discussion of everything from sequencing to quality control to a scopes of work program. Terrific list of resources comes out of this podcast!
Pete’s Resources:
Many of us in the building industry turn to Nikki for all questions dehumidification (certainly including this weeks hosts, Jake & Pete). Nikki goes toe to toe with HVAC techs with a degree in communications and that is because she understands that you have to go tech if you are representing technical products such as dehumidifiers. She connects indoor air quality, occupant comfort, and moisture management. Cool discussion of adding the "D" to HVAC: HVACD or HVAC+D. And apologies to all those expecting (forbearing?) Steve's closing humor...
PETE'S RESOURCES:
- "High Performance Dehumidification: Upgrading our basement dehumidifier" - https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/high-performance-dehumidification
- "Humidity, Health, and the Sterling Chart" - https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/humidity-health-and-sterling-chart/
- "Optimizing Energy Efficiency and Improved Dehumidification" (FSEC) - https://publications.energyresearch.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/FSEC-PF-473-18.pdf
After the boys were done taking jabs at each other, they each take this question and apply it to their fields: building (Jake), designing (Steve), and enclosure review (Pete). Much of the discussion centers on the cost and expectations that both building professionals and clients have or should set with each other. Another central theme is that pulling in expertise early in the design process may seem as though it is more costly. Still, in the long run, it is better to spend a bit upfront and get key input during design rather than costly changes deeper into the build process. Interestingly, the conversation went from cost to trust as a key element of Pre-Construction.
Pete's Resources:
1. Building-Wright Design-Spec Review (attached - to post on UBIP website)
2. The Graph for "Cost of Changes versus Influence on Performance" - https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Construction-Total-Project-Management-Planning-Yates-Eskander/a80823cef0f3eb925e516cfb3b96253434cdb0a8
3. Build Show Wade Paquin "Pre-construction Service: What Is It? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyPmO6AjC0M
Daniel Glauser is the Executive Project Manager for Risinger Build in Austin, TX. And he really puts his money where his mouth is. This episode focuses on his deep energy retrofit of a 1977 home in Austin, TX, which will be certified per the Phius Core Revive program. And get this: this soup-to-nuts retrofit is being done while he, his wife, 3 kids, 2 dogs, and several cats are living there full-time. This should be a reality TV show, folks. But on the serious side, Daniel shares all kinds of details integrating the original structure, expansion in 3 of 4 directions, continuous control layers, structural integrity, and fully configured and compliant ACCA Manual J/S/D mechanical systems. The only thing missing from the episode: Steve does NOT close out with one of his "jokes...."
Pete's Resources:
- Phius CORE REVIVE: https://www.phius.org/phius-core-revive-2021
- Vermont "Almost" Passive House: https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/the-passivhaus-almost-passive-house-faceoff
- Project Architect: Trey Farmer, Forge Craft Architecture & Design - https://forgexcraft.com
- Project Interior Design: https://designtrait.com
This week's podcast is a discussion about slab-less slabs AND some new projects in which Steve & Jake use alternative or innovative foundation materials or systems. The three boys get off on substantial tangents regarding the environmental profile of foundation materials and construction waste management but hold on: there are great resources below for a host of great topics included in this episode.
Resources:
- The BuildingGreen Guide to Thermal Insulation - https://www.buildinggreen.com/continuing-education/buildinggreen-guide-thermal-insulation
- Design for Disassembly - EPA Fact Sheets on Designing for the Disassembly and Deconstruction of Buildings - https://www.epa.gov/smm/fact-sheets-designing-disassembly-and-deconstruction-buildings
- Packer 750 low-speed grinder for residential construction waste - https://www.packer2000.com/residential.htm (Some old dear friends of Pete--Cynthia Poselenzny & Ken Patterson) are the folks who developed this machine back in the day when construction waste management was Pete's "day job")
- "Stress grading of recycled lumber and timber" (1999 Forest Products Laboratory publication by Robert Falk & David Green) - https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/5725
- Build Show "ICF Prepped for Concrete" - https://buildshownetwork.com/contents/ICF-prepped-for-concrete-steve-baczek
Steve and his "jamokes" (Jake & Pete) share moments that changed their careers. Especially interesting is that the term jamoke that Steve uses is most often associated with CarTalk host Ray Magliozzi in this quote: "If my brother and I proved one thing, it's that just about any jamoke can host a radio show." Wow, does that nail the three of us and our podcast!
PETE'S RESOURCE(S):
- "Just a Couple of Jamokes - A Tribute to Car Talk's Rollicking 40-Year Run" - https://newengland.com/yankee/magazine/just-a-couple-of-jamokes-car-talk/. If you are not familiar with Car Talk (and even if you are), you need to know that these guys are the gold standard for funny and informative recorded conversations on air. Jake, Steve, and I can only hope that we rise to their "jamoke" level of funny-and-informative...
- Car Talk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=car+talk. More than 1500 episodes of Car Talk! Enjoy...
Pete, confused? Pete takes the lead on garages and tries hard not to confuse Steve and Jake (not very successfully...). It's all about how garages are "conditioned" (heated, cooled, dehumidified, ventilated, and filtered) and just what uses the garage is designed for in comparison to the expectations homeowners have in terms of their use(s).
Pete's Resource(s):
- BSC Information Sheet 802: buildingscience.com/sites/default/files/migrate/pdf/BSCInfo_802_Wrong_Unsealed_Cavity_Between_Garage.pdf
- GBA Details for a “High-Performance Garage:" greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/details-for-a-high-performance-garage
STAY TUNED on Pete's Resources: Pete promises a brand new resource in one podcast on this topic (a resource he has not written but will!).
Listeners picked up on two places where perhaps Steve and Jake do not agree (can you imagine....?): Face-seal vs. Drained-rough-opening window/door installations and details at sill plates. After considerable "silliness" (that would be Steve's not Pete's pun...), Jake & Steve reconcile these apparent disagreements with lots of UnBuild It love for each other (WHAT???).
Pete's Resource(s):
- John Straube's drained rough opening sill detail: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/John-Straube/publication/281442777/figure/fig23/AS:487352062746624@1493205194072/6-Drained-air-sealed-and-thermally-continuous-window-installation-for-a-loadbearing.png
- Jake BUILD Show flanged window installation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fED4foylHXY
- Steve & Matt BUILD Show flangeless window installation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAnJq3UH0ro&t=701s
- Steve BUILD Show mudsill to foundation install - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up5oAh819y0
- Steve BUILD Show SIGA Fentrim mudsill install: https://buildshownetwork.com/contents/air_barrier_tape_siga_fentrim
Great questions from our listeners!
Pete's Resource(s):
NOTE: This is about as dry a resource as we would ever recommend, but it has great technical info on all manner of structural floor sheathing installation, including bond and mechanical fastener performance.
Client involvement is critical in any building project, but this can be a double-edged sword. We need our clients engaged and to manage their expectations, particularly given how much information/stuff is available online. The boys each give their perspective on the importance and the corralling required for client involvement.
Pete's Resource(s):
- Custom Builder May 2006 - "Guiding Customer Expectations" - https://www.custombuilderonline.com/guiding-customer-expectations
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