THE ROOF

 

We elevated the overhang outriggers so we could place some of the rigid insulation below the members and reduce the thermal bridging at the roof.  Our design calls for 6" of rigid polyiso insulation.

 

One more layer and we are ready for the top layer of sheathing.  When we are finished it will function like a SIPS panel on top of the studio.

 

 

We were able to get the final layer of sheathing and ice and water shield installed before the snow set in.  It will be a couple of weeks before the metal roof arrives so we covered everything with 10 mil poly for protection.

 

 

 

 

 

FRAMING

 

We used a neoprene gasket from Conservation Technology under the sill plate. This product was recommended based on past performance on other Passive House projects.  The under-sill area can be difficult to seal even when you don't have to pass a blower door test.

 

 

Glen came back to help us frame.  He wasn't surprised at any of the framing details although they don't call it 'Advanced Framing' anymore.  Builders are more than happy to reduce the number of boards they buy for a job.  Less lumber means less nails means less labor, time, etc.  I've always enjoyed watching him dissect a set of drawings.  He provides great feedback on the things I've drawn and how they are used to put the house together.

 

 

Oliver has grown up a little and this will be his first time as cut man.  Let's see if he can keep up!

 

 

The first wall goes up!

 

 

The boys helping Glen set the header over the bathroom window.

 

 

 

 

UNDERSLAB

 

 

The great thing about having kids is that they are always younger than you.  When we started renovating this house the boys were 4 and 6 years old.  No matter what we did they were chomping at the bit to get in there and help out.

 

 

If you needed  a hand holding something - they were on it.  Especially if it meant climbing on something dangerous like a scaffold, walk plank, or ladder.

 

 

If we didn't have an extra ladder ....they'd make one.  As long as they could help out.

 

Fast forward 10 years......

 

 

This is big ass pile of fill dirt #2.  It needs to go into the foundation before it rains tonight and David's Bobcat is broken.  Suddenly our two little helpers have lost interest.  (Remember, Bobcats are a lot more fun to drive than a hand shovel.  "What do you mean the Bobcat's broken........... uuhhhh, I have a lot of homework tonight, sorry."

Somehow we coaxed them into helping out, paid off a couple of their friends and had the foundation filled in about 6 hours.  Let's just say we all moved pretty slow the next day...even the teenagers.

 

 

The insulation extended across the top of the footing and up the inside of the foundation wall.  It was braced in place as we backfilled the dirt.

 

 

 

4 inches of  XPS insulation was placed on top of the compacted fill with staggered seams.  The vapor barrier, reinforcing, and any remaining under slab items followed.

 

 

This is where is all starts.  Sealing up all penetrations under the slab.

 

 

We have extra capacity in our solar thermal system and placed a hot water loop in the bathroom floor.  Most Passive House projects don't need the extra heat but we are addicted to warm toes on the floor in winter. 

 

 

 We did not want the large circles left by the whirly birds on our exposed slab so we requested a smooth hand troweled finish.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PASSIVE HOUSE PRECERTIFICATION

 

 

We received precertification status with Passive House U.S., or PHIUS last month.  This is our first project with  PHIUS and we are all excited for the challenge ahead. It will include a super insulated airtight envelope (0.6ACH50), continuous mechanical ventilation via a high efficiency ERV, rigorous control of solar gain, high performance windows, and a composting toilet.  We can also tap into our existing solar thermal hot water system to reduce the energy demand for water heating.  We spent a lot of time developing our design and energy model: now it's time to build it!

 

For more information on the Passive House U.S. program visit:

 http://www.phius.org/home-page

 

As the smallest Passive House U.S. project currently in precertification status, we have our work cut out for us!

Check out the PHIUS project database here.

FOUNDATION WORK BEGINS!

The footing - Thanksgiving break, 2014.

 

With the trenches roughed out, we began setting up the footing forms using XPS rigid insulation.  For the Passive House requirements we will have a continuous layer of insulation from the sides of each footing all the way to the roof.  Once we get above grade the insulating materials will change but this is where it all starts.

Atlas Concrete provided the concrete.  It was like having our own ready-mix plant right on site.  There was virtually no waste.

With 2" of XPS covering our footing we're off to a warm start.

After about a week of curing, she was ready for the foundation.  We will spend next week insulating and back filling in preparation for the floor slab.  Stay tuned!

 

 

HERE WE GO AGAIN.....

 

 

We've enjoyed our vacation but it's about time to kick off phase #3 - the final piece in our decade long house puzzle. We spent the summer data farming our site and modeling what we hope to be a quiet, efficient little abode for the Mrs. and I.  Stay tuned! 

 

 

 

TOOL BELT SPACE FOR RENT!

We've been on a bit of a sabbatical from the house work and recently found this little surprise in the shed.  It seems that one of our resident bird families decided to use my tool pouch as a nesting ground for this year's hatchlings. 

This evening we were setting up some temporary electrical work and noticed one of the eggs had hatched.  At this point we are not sure what type of bird it is - we will have to keep an eye out for mom as she delivers her daily treats to the kids.  We can see two more eggs waiting to hatch and will keep you posted on their status. 

Stay tuned!