Come take a tour of the "innards" of the Folly with the Contractor, Chuck Roberts. Chuck knows the house in every detail and gives a good explanation of what's been done to build-in energy efficiency.
July 28, 2010
July 27, 2010
Granite, Marble or Quartzite?
Wandering around Stone and Surface in Melbourne, I’m amazed by the hundreds of outstandingly beautiful slabs of granite, marble and quartzite. I’m here with my friend Chris to choose something for a kitchen island. This is to be a largish island, 48 in by 126 in. No seams, please, so it needs to be a very large stone.* After checking her computer, Sylvia identifies seven suitably sized pieces, we sign a liability waiver, and go into the yard. Some stones are boring, some too light, some too dark. But they have very intriguing names. There’s “Absolute Black” – a honed, non-shiny granite. Dark, dark, so dark it won’t show the inevitable crumbs. There’s “Costa Esmerelda” – sea green with waves of sandy ripples. Verde Uba Tuba, River Storm, Rosso Fiorentino, Madreperola…(who thinks of these names? Why not me? Wouldn’t it be fun to be paid for dreaming up enticing names for beautiful stone?)
But, finally, we come upon a piece of quartzite called “Mona Lisa” that catches my eye. It is stunning. Chris is beside herself enjoying the color, the layers, the swirls!! All the colors of the earth in striations and then waves. This could be the centerpiece of the kitchen/family room, I’m sure.
One problem, they won’t tell me the price. Can I afford it?
Sylvia says, “it’s expensive.”
“Can you give me a ball park figure – just something general, plus or minus a bit? Is it a thousand? Two thousand?”
“Well, no,” she smiles as she tells me, “I cannot break our procedure. We only give the prices to the fabricator. What is the name of the company who will make the island?”
So I hand over the name of the local fabricator and go home convinced that the countertop will cost more than all the cupboards in the kitchen plus the cabinets in the bathrooms added together.
The next morning, Chris calls to learn the price. I call the fabricator. Dave says, “we really need the architect’s drawing.”
Argh!!!
I take a copy of the kitchen design to the factory. The next day, no call comes. The weekend is here; no call. Still no idea how much this potentially eye catching focal point of the kitchen will cost.
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, will you be the centerpiece of the most important room of the house, or the one that got away?
*Some readers might wonder why I’m looking at stone instead of recycled tile, concrete or another “green” option. Truthfully, these surfaces do not appeal to me aesthetically. My goal was to have a home that is not only “green” in the sense that it meet a high LEED standard, but also is truly an exquisitely beautiful environment. One that makes me smile as I enter. Concrete countertops do not make me smile.
But, finally, we come upon a piece of quartzite called “Mona Lisa” that catches my eye. It is stunning. Chris is beside herself enjoying the color, the layers, the swirls!! All the colors of the earth in striations and then waves. This could be the centerpiece of the kitchen/family room, I’m sure.
One problem, they won’t tell me the price. Can I afford it?
Sylvia says, “it’s expensive.”
“Can you give me a ball park figure – just something general, plus or minus a bit? Is it a thousand? Two thousand?”
“Well, no,” she smiles as she tells me, “I cannot break our procedure. We only give the prices to the fabricator. What is the name of the company who will make the island?”
So I hand over the name of the local fabricator and go home convinced that the countertop will cost more than all the cupboards in the kitchen plus the cabinets in the bathrooms added together.
The next morning, Chris calls to learn the price. I call the fabricator. Dave says, “we really need the architect’s drawing.”
Argh!!!
I take a copy of the kitchen design to the factory. The next day, no call comes. The weekend is here; no call. Still no idea how much this potentially eye catching focal point of the kitchen will cost.
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, will you be the centerpiece of the most important room of the house, or the one that got away?
*Some readers might wonder why I’m looking at stone instead of recycled tile, concrete or another “green” option. Truthfully, these surfaces do not appeal to me aesthetically. My goal was to have a home that is not only “green” in the sense that it meet a high LEED standard, but also is truly an exquisitely beautiful environment. One that makes me smile as I enter. Concrete countertops do not make me smile.
July 19, 2010
Video Update
It's July and the house renovation is in full swing. You can hear the hammers and saws! Here's a peek at how it looks now.
July 18, 2010
Back to Basics
A homeowner who has made the decision to use sunlight to power his home has several choices, since no “standard” or “best practice” has been established as yet. Cost, preferred roofing material, aesthetic appeal, and the availability of rebates are often the drivers of choice.
Here are the current options for generating electricity from the sun:
Solar Panels: Seen on rooftops since the 1970’s, the number of panels depends on the desired kW produced. Roof mounted panel sizes vary with the application; the active ingredient is silicon; the housing is metal (usually aluminum); the panels are attached to the roof using metal braces and clips. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr6UEtngtdU
Thin film solar panels are flexible panels that are glued to the roofing material. They are thinner and lighter, but slightly less efficient, than the standard panels.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYJe12X6T50
Building Integrated Photo Voltaics (BIPV) are photovoltaic materials that are used to replace conventional building materials in parts of the building envelope such as the roof, skylights, or facades. For a homeowner, there are solar electric roofing tiles ( or shingles ) or cells imbedded in cement tiles. The tiles do not change the profile of the roof and appear almost exactly like the rest of the roof (they do have a slight shine and are dark, so would be more obvious against a light colored tile). Other BIPV options are solar awnings which serve the double functions of generating electricity and providing shade. Check out the website of 4 Times Square, New York City to see an impressive commercial use of BIPV.
http://www.iea-pvps.org/cases/usa_01.htm
--or for a more general presentation: http://www.ornl.gov/sci/solarsummit/presentations/ORNL-Coonen/pdf
Once installed how does the homeowner use the solar generated power?
The system can be tied to the electric grid, so that it is added to the regular source of electricity for the home. Many Utility companies track any electricity produced, give the homeowner a credit against the power bill or mail them a check for the excess.
System tied to the grid but with battery backup to capture excess production for use when sunlight is low.
Off grid, independent solar electricity systems use solar collectors plus a backup generator.
References:
http://www.thesolarguide.com/solar-power-uses/cost-faq.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell
Here are the current options for generating electricity from the sun:
Solar Panels: Seen on rooftops since the 1970’s, the number of panels depends on the desired kW produced. Roof mounted panel sizes vary with the application; the active ingredient is silicon; the housing is metal (usually aluminum); the panels are attached to the roof using metal braces and clips. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr6UEtngtdU
Thin film solar panels are flexible panels that are glued to the roofing material. They are thinner and lighter, but slightly less efficient, than the standard panels.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYJe12X6T50
Building Integrated Photo Voltaics (BIPV) are photovoltaic materials that are used to replace conventional building materials in parts of the building envelope such as the roof, skylights, or facades. For a homeowner, there are solar electric roofing tiles ( or shingles ) or cells imbedded in cement tiles. The tiles do not change the profile of the roof and appear almost exactly like the rest of the roof (they do have a slight shine and are dark, so would be more obvious against a light colored tile). Other BIPV options are solar awnings which serve the double functions of generating electricity and providing shade. Check out the website of 4 Times Square, New York City to see an impressive commercial use of BIPV.
http://www.iea-pvps.org/cases/usa_01.htm
--or for a more general presentation: http://www.ornl.gov/sci/solarsummit/presentations/ORNL-Coonen/pdf
Once installed how does the homeowner use the solar generated power?
The system can be tied to the electric grid, so that it is added to the regular source of electricity for the home. Many Utility companies track any electricity produced, give the homeowner a credit against the power bill or mail them a check for the excess.
System tied to the grid but with battery backup to capture excess production for use when sunlight is low.
Off grid, independent solar electricity systems use solar collectors plus a backup generator.
References:
http://www.thesolarguide.com/solar-power-uses/cost-faq.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell
July 14, 2010
Team Members
Matt Gore, Architect + Structure Expert. With the vision to the benefits of renovation vs. removal, Matt transformed a little, Florida winter vacation home into a beautifully designed, energy efficient family home that will be comfortable year round. He challenged the team in the pursuit of LEED certification. We are all aware of the energy used by every device in the house and make that a factor in our choices of appliances and fixtures.
Adam Roberts and Chuck Roberts, Contractors. Professionals to the core, Chuck Roberts and his son, Adam, approach the job carefully and with great attention to detail. When they have arrived at an understanding of the clients vision for the project, they will do everything they can to make that vision a reality. Adam was a "Certified Green Builder" before the project began, so his help was invaluable.
Amy Thoma, LEED Certifier. In a field as new as the LEED certification, the homeowner requires the help of someone who understands the goals and methods of the system. Amy has been involved since the beginning, insuring that the decisions made at the early stages set the project on the correct path. As well as being a rater, Amy prepares architects for the LEED AP certification exams.
July 13, 2010
Decisions! Decisions!!!!! So Many Decisions!!!!!!
Have you ever tried to quantify the number of decisions required in building or renovating a house? I will try to do that for just one room - the master bath. This should be relatively simple and straightforward, eh? We'll see....
Decide: What overall look do you want?
Decide: What overall look do you want?
Subtotal: Master Bath (1)
- What color do you want on the floor?
- What kind of flooring? Wood? Tile? Marble? Cork?
- What size pieces for the floor? 18 x 18 in tile? Uneven boards?
- What pattern for the floor?
- All the same or not, e.g. large format tile with small patterned border?
- What kind of commode?
- Two piece or one piece?
- Dual flush? Single flush?
- How many gallons per flush?
- How high do you want the seat?
- Seat should be oval or elongated?
- Design should be modern/traditional/transitional?
- Color?
- Do you want a privacy wall?
- Will you install grab bars against a future infirmity?
- How many sinks? One or two?
- What shape sink – oval, round, square?
- What color?
- Free standing or in a cabinet?
- If a cabinet, what style? What finish? What kind of hardware?
- If in a cabinet, will the sink will be self rimming or undermount?
- Will it have a single hole faucet?
- If not, will the faucets be wide spread or narrow spread?
- What style will the faucets be?
- What finish will the faucets have – brushed chrome, bright chrome, etc?
- Will you have a bathtub?
- Free standing or encased?
- Acrylic or cast iron?
- What shape?
- What length?
- What width?
- What color?
- What kind of faucet?
- Wall mounted?
- Standing on floor?
- Will you have a shower?
- What size will it be?
- What material will be on the walls and floor – tile, marble, silestone, etc?
- Will that material be on both walls and floor?
- Same size or different size?
- Will the material go to the ceiling?
- Will the shower have a shelf? A niche? A seat?
- What kind of hardware? A stationary shower head? Hand held shower? A bar for the shower head?
- Soap dish?
- Will the door be glass? With a frame or frameless?
- Put in a grab bar against future infirmity?
- What kind of mirrors?
- Separate mirrors over sink or one large mirror?
- Framed or frameless?
- What kind of lights? Twin lights beside mirrors? Strip light above mirror?
- Ceiling fixture: Light near tub? Light in shower?
- What will be on walls? Paint? Flat? Special finish? Paper?
- Will there be artwork?
- What kind?
So the final number seems to be 64 decision points in putting together one bathroom. Choosing each item takes time for research into availability, quality, and price. So take pity on the homeowner who takes on a renovation – her brain is swimming with details about materials, colors, design elements, environmental requirements, etc, etc.
And, in this case, the Folly has 4 full baths and a powder room! Yikes!
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