by Charles Hendricks | Nov 4, 2013 | architecture, Building Science, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect, Indoor Air Quality
The rain screen is an important element of your wall system that is very often forgotten in home construction. A rain screen is the air space behind your cladding that gives a second line of defense against moisture intrusion. This allows moisture that passes through the cladding a path back out and allows for air to circulate to dry the back of the cladding and the surface of the air barrier. A rain screen should be viewed as a wall durability system that protects your homes indoor air quality. In our design area that averages 35+ inches of rain a year, this layer of defense is a vital part of a healthy, energy-efficient, and durable construction. This is a common detail in a brick veneer wall construction.
by Charles Hendricks | Oct 21, 2013 | architecture, Building Science, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect, Indoor Air Quality
We hear about Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) all the time in marketing of paint. That new paint smell that we have suffered through for years in the construction industry, well it turns out, is not good for you. Who would have thought all those air fresheners we added to our cars in the 90’s to get a new car smell was emulating chemical off gassing that is potentially causing us to get sick. The same off-gassing in cars happens in new homes.
A volatile organic compound is a chemical offgassing of a man made product. It has been shown in studies that breathing these chemicals has the potential of causing cancer. While these studies have been conclusive, it is still unclear to many of us in the industry what the real health impacts are and how the new products are impacting our bodies. Of course avoiding anything that has been shown to be harmful is virtually impossible – watching television, using the microwave, breathing…, using products that have reduced or removed VOC is clearly better for your health. The warning is that you need to do careful research for a replacement product to make sure it will be durable and meet the intended goal.
by Charles Hendricks | Oct 21, 2013 | architecture, Building Science, green term defined
We hear about Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) all the time in marketing of paint. That new paint smell that we have suffered through for years in the construction industry, well it turns out, is not good for you. Who would have thought all those air fresheners we added to our cars in the 90’s to get a new car smell was emulating chemical off gassing that is potentially causing us to get sick. The same off-gassing in cars happens in new homes.
A volatile organic compound is a chemical offgassing of a man made product. It has been shown in studies that breathing these chemicals has the potential of causing cancer. While these studies have been conclusive, it is still unclear to many of us in the industry what the real health impacts are and how the new products are impacting our bodies. Of course avoiding anything that has been shown to be harmful is virtually impossible – watching television, using the microwave, breathing…, using products that have reduced or removed VOC is clearly better for your health. The warning is that you need to do careful research for a replacement product to make sure it will be durable and meet the intended goal.
by Charles Hendricks | Oct 14, 2013 | architecture, Building Science, green term defined, Harrisonburg Architect
Trombe Wall is a thermal mass wall that is located within a structure used to absorb solar energy during the daylight hours and radiate that energy back out at night. The trombe wall is not a new invention, it has been used since humans started building structures.
A trombe wall can be made of solid mass or water. The goal is to have enough thermal storage that the structure can maintain a comfortable level of heat during the cooler temperatures at night. Of course this design solution has virtually disappeared with the modern construction methods we use in most homes – wood frame.
A trombe wall can be an architectural feature of the home. In this photograph you can see the trombe wall that runs through the center of the home separating the quiet private rooms of the home from the more public domain. This functional element also allowed us to introduce stone into the interior design of the home bringing a sense of nature into the living space.
by Charles Hendricks | Aug 7, 2013 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, green term defined
Low Impact Development (LID) is an approach to site planning the is holistic looking at a building context and Best Management Practices (BMP) to replicate the natural patterns of the site. LID captures rainwater, recycling it to use on-site or slowly letting it recharge the groundwater system. This process filters pollutants through the use of natural vegetation. Here are some technologies used in the LID design:
- Vegetated Roof – A ‘green roof’ absorbs heat from the sun, holds rainwater, and filters it.
- Rain Garden – A vegetated swale, bioretention pond, or raingarden is a mechanism used to slow stormwater flor and allow it to infiltrate rather than just letting it run off.
- Pervious Pavement – Asphalt, concrete, or pavers that allows water to pass through instead of run off the site.
- Rainwater Harvesting System – captures rainwater in a tank for use in irrigation, grey water systems, or car washing.
LID also is an approach to how a site is designed including plant selections, slopes, and soils. This approach to design of a site creates a healthy ecosystem as well as protects surrounding watersheds.
by Charles Hendricks | Jul 31, 2013 | architecture, Building Science, green term defined
Exterior foam insulation can be used to enhance the energy performance of a wood stud wall system. When a traditional wall system, using 2x studs, is the only place you insulate – 25% of the wall is left un-insulated. Or rather, 25% of a traditional wall is made of wood studs which does not have a very good R-value. If you install a rigid foam over the studs or OSB you create a continuous insulation envelope increasing the overall performance of the wall system.
