UnBuild It Podcast

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! 

• How do you determine the best insulation levels by climate (with the best being the greatest value)?
• Does adding screws (at some point during construction) make sense when using Advantech floor sheathing, adhesive, and ring shank nails?

Pete's Resource(s): 

1. BSI-081: "Zeroing In" - https://www.buildinggreen.com/blog/capture-green-value-over-time-not-short-term-payback-analysis
2. Pete BuildingGreen blog: "Capture Green Value Over Time, Not with Short-Term Payback Analysis" - https://www.buildinggreen.com/blog/capture-green-value-over-time-not-short-term-payback-analysis
3.  Huber Advantech Installation Manual - https://www.huberwood.com/uploads/documents/technical/Installation-Manual-AdvanTech-Subflooring.pdf
4. NIST - "Performance Standard for Wood-Based Structural-Use Panels" - https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2017/06/13/ps2-04.pdf

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

How do you transform below-grade full foundations (also variously called pits, cellars, or basements and historically meant to be or tolerated as damp and cool and dark) into true living-conditioned spaces? We say add four continuous control layers, access to daylight and egress, thermal comfort, and good acoustics—make it a place to thrive as well as live (and even escape).

Pete's Resource(s):

1. Steven Baczek YouTube: "Dirty Basement" vs Clean Basement....How to Plan for it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB2nD-0eUZs

2. NDSU Extension Service "Foundation Insulation Effectiveness:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwn0Vjw_ji0

3. BSD-103: Understanding Basements - https://buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-103-understanding-basements

4. Hammer & Hand basement details: https://hammerandhand.com/residential/remodeling/basements/

5. Negative Side Waterproofing (GBA blogs): https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/author/peterbilt

It's funny that Steve, a very nuts-n-bolts guy, hosts this largely philosophical episode. But all three of us agree:

1. Separate symptoms from causes—It's easy to get distracted or engrossed in symptoms, but the causes lead to solutions.
2. Solutions come much easier if you first identify the problem(s).
3. Step back to move forward. It's always tempting to jump on the "obvious" solution, but it pays to understand completely before offering solutions.

This episode's strength is how each of us—architect, builder, building investigator—uses the approach above to improve our jobs.

Pete's Resource(s):

1. Building Science Insights: https://buildingscience.com/bsc-document-type/building-science-insights
2. Energy Vanguard blog Building Science 101 (but in the context of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance) - https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/building-science-101/
3. Stewart Brand's How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They're Built (Brand is one of a rare few building philosophers...and his book also is expressed in a 6-part video series - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Buildings_Learn#Book& https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Buildings_Learn#TV_series

Who would have thought that our buddy Steve would be more than OK with both off-site building and the homeowner acting as their own General Contractor? But combining Superior Walls for the foundation with Harvest Homes for all of the framing means the GC homeowner is dealing with far fewer trade contractors. Steve, Jake, and Pete walk through the advantages and challenges of offsite building.

Pete's Resource(s):

1. Offsite framing company Harvest Homes: https://www.harvesthomes.com

2. BUILD Show episode on Pre-fab & Panelized Construction: https://buildshownetwork.com/contents/how-building-professionals-can-incorporate-offsite-prefab-and-panelization-into-their-projects

3. Modular Construction & Affordable Housing: https://www.americanprogress.org/article/increasing-affordable-housing-stock-through-modular-building/

1. What about whole-house ventilation systems (balanced, exhaust only, supply only) and their impact on pressure balance in homes? And do ERVs/HRVs accommodate pressure imbalances created by things like exhaust fans, stack effect, etc.?

2. Per Steve: to butyl or not to butyl...For areas such as door sills, use butyl sealant or maybe acoustical sealant? We know how fond Steve is of Tremco acoustical sealant (a single-component, non-skinning non-hardening synthetic rubber sealant) so this topic gets the big guy on his horse...

Pete's Resource(s):

1. great info on residential ventilation and pressure balancing: https://basc.pnnl.gov/building-components/ventilation & https://basc.pnnl.gov/building-components/pressure-balancing

2. Pete's BuildingGreen blog series called "Sticky Business" (including a couple or so blogs on liquid sealants): https://www.buildinggreen.com/stickybusiness