UnBuild It Podcast

Jake spends time at Virginia Tech with Christine Williamson, a leading building professional who integrates building science and architecture. In her first year as an Assistant Professor of Architecture, Christine applies building science to architecture courses such as Environment and Building Systems I and II. In her own words about her new position,  Christine says, "Architecture education is, I think, a lot closer to more of a fine art program than maybe a lot of people realize. That is something I would like to change." 

Jake springs a pair of UnBuild It questions on Christine: how does ZIP-R work in terms of moisture control and the best way to configure a crawlspace. 

PETE'S RESOURCES

- Virginia Tech School of Architecture

- Christine Williamson - https://www.christine-williamson.com & https://www.buildingsciencefightclub.com

- "14 Things About ZIP-R Sheathing You Need to Know:"

- BSC Condition Crawlspace Construction & Conditioned Crawlspace Detail 

You say Post-Frame, I say Pole Barn or Barndominium...Yikes. The boys beat up on this topic when we move utility-grade agricultural weather-sheltering buildings (pole barns) to fully-conditioned homes. Aesthetic questions aside, there is solid building science to consider here. And speaking of building science, how do we insulate and air seal rim joists in a way that keeps them dry and durable? This topic takes us from spray foam and capillary breaks to ZIP-R and six-sided containment of interior air-permeable cavity insulation. Oh my. And once again, Steve manages to make us giggle with his closing wordplay.

Pete's Resources:
1. Wikipedia: Barndominium (Who knew?) 

2. "When a Barndominium Won't Do, Try a Shouse:"

3. EERE "Insulate Rim Joist:"

4. BSI-128: Designing for Floods

5. BSC Information Sheet 408

From metal worker to Director of Architecture Risinger Build to home remodeler, Chelsea is all about working on buildings. Instead of a working-man's Architect like our buddy Steve, Chelsea is the quintessential working-woman's Architect. And get this: Steve & Chelsea are about to team-up on a Risinger Build project!

Pete's Resources:

- GBA Retrofit Case Study: "How to Get the Eichler Look Without the Energy Price Tag" - https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/how-to-get-the-eichler-look-without-the-energy-pricetag

- Chelsea's IG: https://www.instagram.com/chelsea_scharbach/

- GBA Cold Climate TimberFrame "Monopoly" House:

     - Part 1 - https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/a-timber-frame-house-for-a-cold-climate-part-1

     - Part 2 - https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/a-timber-frame-house-for-a-cold-climate-part-2

- READY-FRAME (Precision Packages by  Builder's First Source): https://www.bldr.com/ready-frame

- John Straube's "Building Science for Building Enclosures:" - https://go.okstate.edu/undergraduate-academics/majors/architectural-engineering.html

- Representative Architectural Engineering programs:

     - University of Waterloo - https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/programs/architectural-engineering

     - Penn State - https://www.ae.psu.edu

     - OK State - https://go.okstate.edu/undergraduate-academics/majors/architectural-engineering.html

Since the internet makes us all so cozy from LA to Louisiana, it comes as a surprise to even hard-core building pros that many materials and systems simply don't translate from region to region. Local context simply interferes: price, local expertise, local building codes, availability of materials, even just "no one has done it that way here..." BUT, the internet and social media are shaking things up, in some cool but also disruptive ways.

Pete's Resource: 

- "A Study of the Characteristics of Regional Building Construction Process:" - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372447144_A_Study_of_the_Characteristics_of_Regional_Building_Construction_Process/link/64b77ec4b9ed6874a52d94d6/download

- "The Impact of Digital Distribution on Building Materials:" - https://hubspoke.nafcd.org/Full-Article/the-impact-of-digital-distribution-on-building-materials

- "Top 10 Online Sources for Building Materials in the US:" - https://constructestimates.com/online-sources-for-building-materials-in-the-us/

When Steve doesn't show up on time for the podcast, Jake and Pete jump all over the idea of roasting him. But the podcast is mainly about why we love working with the "jamoke." It is about a half-hour of stories about the consummate job-site architect, Steve Baczek, the guy we "can't live with; can't live without him."

NOTE: Pete incorrectly calls out Steve's height as 6 - 8; he is actually 6 - 6... But a great opportunity for us to bring him down a notch...

Pete's Resources:

1. GreenBuildingAdvisor Detail Library: https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/detail-library

2. GBA Green Basics Integrated Design: https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/green-basics/integrated-design (scroll down to Steve's framing/duct layout details)

3. Ton of Steve's Details in this BuildingGreen's High-Performance Building Assemblies In-Depth course: https://www.buildinggreen.com/continuing-education/hpba

4. Steve's "How I Do It:" - https://stevenbaczekarchitect.com/info/the-approach/

Jake & Pete get schooled again on dehumidification by Nikki. 

- Nikki introduces the acronym HVACD to make dehumidification in equal standing with heating, air conditioning and ventilation.

- Great discussion of the differences between portable ("big box") and whole house dehumidifiers.

- Importance of the change in measurement standards for DEHUs from "80/60" (80 degrees F & 60% RH) to "65/60" for portable units & "73/60" for whole house units (more real conditions).

- Jake closes out by "dibbing" "Dehumidifier Graveyard" as a rock band name...

Pete's Resources:

1. "WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould:" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK143947/

2. Santa-Fe Performance Data over different test conditions: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.santa-fe-products.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TS-2076-Ultra-Series-RNC-Trifold-A2L-1.pdf 

3. Santa-Fe Dehumidifier Calculator App - https://www.santa-fe-products.com/resources/calc-app/

4. Munters PsychroApp - https://www.munters.com/en-us/knowledge-bank/apps-and-calculators/psychroapp-psychrometric-calculations-tool/

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:

• Build Show Jake Bruton – “The Importance of a Pre-Drywall Checklist:” https://buildshownetwork.com/contents/importance_of_pre_drywall_checklist
• Pete’s Design/Spec outline 
• Build Show Zach Dettmore Kreg Foreman for Pocket Holes - https://buildshownetwork.com/contents/kreg_foreman_review
• Lindsay Haas Davenport “Scopes of Work Program:” - https://www.amazon.com/Scopes-Work-Program-Procedures-Standards/dp/0867185147
• Pete Yost GreenBuildingAdvisor “High Performance Scopes of Work:” https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/high-performance-scopes-of-work

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