CABIN 1.2: BLOWER DOOR TEST 01

Blower door installation at test - 11.21.12

The results of the first blower door are back.  We measured the porosity of a fine meshed sieve.  

So what does this mean?

The question I wanted to know is what does the test mean in terms of ultimate outcome, the meaning of terms (Pa), air changes, etc.

The 2012 IECC  (International Energy Conservation Code) tests the thermal performance of the building envelope (R402.4) looking for a test pressure of 50 Pascals at a pressure of .2 in w.g. resulting in 3 air changes per hour at this climate zone (6B).

The US Army Corps of Engineers has tested recent buildings and has found the average building studied achieves a result of .25 CFM / SF air leakage of exterior envelope at 75 Pascals at a pressure of .3 w.g.

A pascal is the SI unit for pressure and is independent of ambient temperature, local gravity and media density.  1 pascal = .0001450377 psi.  Per an online conversion table 50 pa of pressure is roughly equivalent to a 21 mph wind.

The results of this particular test (see image below) are that I could not get the blower door to register 50 pa with the fan at highest speed.  Maximum Pa I could get was 31.0.  The second number on the meter should be relatively close to the square footage of the space being tested.  In the case of this little structure it should be around 715 - 720.  The meter reading is 7913,  So I am about 10 times draftier than I should be, and I should be able to achieve at least a 50 Pa reading when the retrofit is complete.

The results are not unexpected.

This information is really good to start with.  Something we as architects should know about early in a design process as we deal both with the art of our profession and the science of our profession.  This is the science part.

This will help inform the technical decisions that are coming quickly. 

Air barrier v. no air barrier?

What happens to the existing building materials - that have been around for 70 years that are dry and in great shape - when the envelope gets tightened up and possibly subject to more moisture?

When insulating the building and tightening the envelope what materials are most appropriate and constitute legitimate air and vapor barriers?

What is the most efficient insulating material?

The performance of the new windows will be what?

So I go to the cabin this morning to continue the demolition, exposure of the structure and the "cleansing" process.

CABIN 1.2: BLOWER DOOR TEST 01

Blower door installation at test - 11.21.12

The results of the first blower door are back.  We measured the porosity of a fine meshed sieve.  

So what does this mean?

The question I wanted to know is what does the test mean in terms of ultimate outcome, the meaning of terms (Pa), air changes, etc.

The 2012 IECC  (International Energy Conservation Code) tests the thermal performance of the building envelope (R402.4) looking for a test pressure of 50 Pascals at a pressure of .2 in w.g. resulting in 3 air changes per hour at this climate zone (6B).

The US Army Corps of Engineers has tested recent buildings and has found the average building studied achieves a result of .25 CFM / SF air leakage of exterior envelope at 75 Pascals at a pressure of .3 w.g.

A pascal is the SI unit for pressure and is independent of ambient temperature, local gravity and media density.  1 pascal = .0001450377 psi.  Per an online conversion table 50 pa of pressure is roughly equivalent to a 21 mph wind.

The results of this particular test (see image below) are that I could not get the blower door to register 50 pa with the fan at highest speed.  Maximum Pa I could get was 31.0.  The second number on the meter should be relatively close to the square footage of the space being tested.  In the case of this little structure it should be around 715 - 720.  The meter reading is 7913,  So I am about 10 times draftier than I should be, and I should be able to achieve at least a 50 Pa reading when the retrofit is complete.

The results are not unexpected.

This information is really good to start with.  Something we as architects should know about early in a design process as we deal both with the art of our profession and the science of our profession.  This is the science part.

This will help inform the technical decisions that are coming quickly. 

Air barrier v. no air barrier?

What happens to the existing building materials - that have been around for 70 years that are dry and in great shape - when the envelope gets tightened up and possibly subject to more moisture?

When insulating the building and tightening the envelope what materials are most appropriate and constitute legitimate air and vapor barriers?

What is the most efficient insulating material?

The performance of the new windows will be what?

So I go to the cabin this morning to continue the demolition, exposure of the structure and the "cleansing" process.

CABIN 1.1: ENERGY ANALYSIS

So after some removal of materials to expose the structure I now have a pretty clear idea of where to take the cabin rehabilitation.

The little cabin has minimal wall insulation, no floor insulation at the main area.  I'll verify any insulation if it exists in the Northern portion when I get through the floor sheathing.  The ceiling in the main area had R-30 batts in the ceiling.  The ceiling in the North portion had R-11 at best.

So I have registered the project with Energy Smart Colorado.  This will allow us to qualify for rebates and low interest loans for the thermal upgrades that will be made.  We start with a blower door test.  This will be interesting...it is like testing a fine mesh strainer for air tightness. 

The good news:  I'll be able to demonstrate significant thermal improvement when complete!

A remodel like this - as all are - is the balance between cost, thermal improvement and design. Us architect folk walk that balance beam every day of our lives.  It's fun!

My strategy for thermal improvement is rigid insulation.  I believe, short of in-situ sprayed poly iso foam (expensive) - the rigid insulation strategy will offer the most efficient thermal performance.  Why?...I have 2 x 6 floor joists, 2 x 4 and 2 x 6 roof joists at 24" oc and  I don't want wall furring any greater than 2 x 4's for space reclamation and use.  At R-5 per inch I can get an R-27+ floor with 5-1/2" of rigid and the same for the roof without re-building the structure of either assembly.   Simple.

My initial thermal calculations - if they are correct - using conservative heating degree day numbers for this region (Eagle County Airport and NOAA weather data) indicate with the revised thermal envelope I should be able to heat the cabin with $50 worth of gas per year.  I'm going to verify the calculations.

So the technical evaluation of the envelope begins.  I am modeling the performance using hand calculations and will attempt to translate those calculations into a zEPI (Zero Energy Performance Index) number soon.

CABIN 1.1: ENERGY ANALYSIS

So after some removal of materials to expose the structure I now have a pretty clear idea of where to take the cabin rehabilitation.

The little cabin has minimal wall insulation, no floor insulation at the main area.  I'll verify any insulation if it exists in the Northern portion when I get through the floor sheathing.  The ceiling in the main area had R-30 batts in the ceiling.  The ceiling in the North portion had R-11 at best.

So I have registered the project with Energy Smart Colorado.  This will allow us to qualify for rebates and low interest loans for the thermal upgrades that will be made.  We start with a blower door test.  This will be interesting...it is like testing a fine mesh strainer for air tightness. 

The good news:  I'll be able to demonstrate significant thermal improvement when complete!

A remodel like this - as all are - is the balance between cost, thermal improvement and design. Us architect folk walk that balance beam every day of our lives.  It's fun!

My strategy for thermal improvement is rigid insulation.  I believe, short of in-situ sprayed poly iso foam (expensive) - the rigid insulation strategy will offer the most efficient thermal performance.  Why?...I have 2 x 6 floor joists, 2 x 4 and 2 x 6 roof joists at 24" oc and  I don't want wall furring any greater than 2 x 4's for space reclamation and use.  At R-5 per inch I can get an R-27+ floor with 5-1/2" of rigid and the same for the roof without re-building the structure of either assembly.   Simple.

My initial thermal calculations - if they are correct - using conservative heating degree day numbers for this region (Eagle County Airport and NOAA weather data) indicate with the revised thermal envelope I should be able to heat the cabin with $50 worth of gas per year.  I'm going to verify the calculations.

So the technical evaluation of the envelope begins.  I am modeling the performance using hand calculations and will attempt to translate those calculations into a zEPI (Zero Energy Performance Index) number soon.

CABIN 1.0: CABINISM

CABINISM:  An architectural style I defined years ago when working on a cabin owned by my wife's family on Priest Lake, Idaho.  Generally used to describe a style of construction that was functional, resourceful and funky.  The construction techniques were forged out of practicality not necessarily high design or highly engineered and used materials that were readily available and sometimes cut directly from the forest. 

 We see and experience these styles a lot and sometimes describe them as cozy or quaint.  ...And, they seem to last a long time in spite of our critical code and construction knowledge.

So we start on the cabin.  This is a little toy of a structure - 750 + square feet in area.  It is fun.

Removed the drywall on the ceilings in the living room and bedroom this weekend.  In so doing revealed the original construction of the bedroom addition (date of addition unknown) - photo above.  It went right over the top of the existing roof - cabinism.

The roof at the bedroom requires some remedial work.  2 x 4's at 24" on center (o.c.) will not handle the snow loads we have here in Eagle.  Someone, apparently, realized this after the fact and installed a solitary 2 x 12 to assist the roof.  We'll fix that.

The removal of the drywall is intentional.  When I first walked in the space I knew the ceiling would be gabled - a quality of space issue.  This is too small a space to have flat ceilings.

As I remove the drywall I now go to figuring out the final revised framing strategies which includes final floor plans in order to determine the first phase of framing revisions and which are the most critical.  The revised framing in the bedroom is top on my list which will include extending a wall to the ceiling and a new beam on the other side.

And, as the framing and plan design goes on so does the technical evaluation of the envelope revisions to determine appropriate insulation, air barrier, and dew point calculations to get the building to perform well when complete.  The goal here is to consume as few resources in heating and cooling as possible.

One step at a time in the unheated, cold, drafty cabin.  Winter work...but good work.   

CABIN 1.0: CABINISM

CABINISM:  An architectural style I defined years ago when working on a cabin owned by my wife's family on Priest Lake, Idaho.  Generally used to describe a style of construction that was functional, resourceful and funky.  The construction techniques were forged out of practicality not necessarily high design or highly engineered and used materials that were readily available and sometimes cut directly from the forest. 

 We see and experience these styles a lot and sometimes describe them as cozy or quaint.  ...And, they seem to last a long time in spite of our critical code and construction knowledge.

So we start on the cabin.  This is a little toy of a structure - 750 + square feet in area.  It is fun.

Removed the drywall on the ceilings in the living room and bedroom this weekend.  In so doing revealed the original construction of the bedroom addition (date of addition unknown) - photo above.  It went right over the top of the existing roof - cabinism.

The roof at the bedroom requires some remedial work.  2 x 4's at 24" on center (o.c.) will not handle the snow loads we have here in Eagle.  Someone, apparently, realized this after the fact and installed a solitary 2 x 12 to assist the roof.  We'll fix that.

The removal of the drywall is intentional.  When I first walked in the space I knew the ceiling would be gabled - a quality of space issue.  This is too small a space to have flat ceilings.

As I remove the drywall I now go to figuring out the final revised framing strategies which includes final floor plans in order to determine the first phase of framing revisions and which are the most critical.  The revised framing in the bedroom is top on my list which will include extending a wall to the ceiling and a new beam on the other side.

And, as the framing and plan design goes on so does the technical evaluation of the envelope revisions to determine appropriate insulation, air barrier, and dew point calculations to get the building to perform well when complete.  The goal here is to consume as few resources in heating and cooling as possible.

One step at a time in the unheated, cold, drafty cabin.  Winter work...but good work.   

SITE 1.2: THE COMPOST BINS

THE COMPOST BINS

Winter approaches, the leaves are falling, the site needs good soil and we now have the ability to organically work toward the goal of nurturing soils.  Compost bins.

These new bins are constructed of materials salvaged from the trailer de-construction.  I saved a number of 2 x 3 studs from the trailer walls.  I used sixteen of them to build the compost bins.  I needed new hardware and wire fabric.  The plywood gussets were also salvaged from the trailer.  The stain came from our local habitat outlet...$5 for a quart of heavy body water based stain.  So, toward the goal of conservation of resources we move forward.

The compost bins will be attended to over the winter, turning them, amending them, adding manure and other great substances toward feeding the site.

We will need a lot more compost to do what we want to do, but we are off to a good start.

As the compost bins do their thing, the peonies slumber in good soil with a comfortable layer of straw mulch to protect them from the coming winter months.

The weather report is predicting lows of 18 degrees this weekend.  The peonies are protected. The compost process is started.  The water is getting shut off today for the winter.  On to planning for the spring construction season.

SITE 1.2: THE COMPOST BINS

THE COMPOST BINS

Winter approaches, the leaves are falling, the site needs good soil and we now have the ability to organically work toward the goal of nurturing soils.  Compost bins.

These new bins are constructed of materials salvaged from the trailer de-construction.  I saved a number of 2 x 3 studs from the trailer walls.  I used sixteen of them to build the compost bins.  I needed new hardware and wire fabric.  The plywood gussets were also salvaged from the trailer.  The stain came from our local habitat outlet...$5 for a quart of heavy body water based stain.  So, toward the goal of conservation of resources we move forward.

The compost bins will be attended to over the winter, turning them, amending them, adding manure and other great substances toward feeding the site.

We will need a lot more compost to do what we want to do, but we are off to a good start.

As the compost bins do their thing, the peonies slumber in good soil with a comfortable layer of straw mulch to protect them from the coming winter months.

The weather report is predicting lows of 18 degrees this weekend.  The peonies are protected. The compost process is started.  The water is getting shut off today for the winter.  On to planning for the spring construction season.

TRAILER 1.7: DE-CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE

THE LAST DOOR - RECYCLED

The last two loads of materials went to the landfill this weekend.  The last recycling run was completed that same day.  The only remaining evidence of the structure formerly known as the mobile home is the skeleton.  The demo permit has been signed off on, utilities capped, site is clean.

It was a good summer.  An architectural summer.

The photo above is the documentation of the re-cycling of the last door.  There were two of these on the trailer.  I was thinking about taking them to the landfill and in a moment of brilliant enlightenment I peeled the aluminum layer off the door to discover it's construction.  The door - spared from the landfill - will become something else in a future life.

The aluminum skin and frame weighed in at 30 pounds (2 doors) at the recycling center.  The door knobs were also taken to recycling.  The cardboard honeycomb filler was taken to the cardboard recycling bin.  Remaining:  the wood which is resting peacefully behind the garage with other wood materials salvaged from the process.

De-construction complete..

TRAILER 1.7: DE-CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE

THE LAST DOOR - RECYCLED

The last two loads of materials went to the landfill this weekend.  The last recycling run was completed that same day.  The only remaining evidence of the structure formerly known as the mobile home is the skeleton.  The demo permit has been signed off on, utilities capped, site is clean.

It was a good summer.  An architectural summer.

The photo above is the documentation of the re-cycling of the last door.  There were two of these on the trailer.  I was thinking about taking them to the landfill and in a moment of brilliant enlightenment I peeled the aluminum layer off the door to discover it's construction.  The door - spared from the landfill - will become something else in a future life.

The aluminum skin and frame weighed in at 30 pounds (2 doors) at the recycling center.  The door knobs were also taken to recycling.  The cardboard honeycomb filler was taken to the cardboard recycling bin.  Remaining:  the wood which is resting peacefully behind the garage with other wood materials salvaged from the process.

De-construction complete..

TRAILER 1.6: SKELETON

BIM Model - Trailer Steel

I finally got a moment to measure and document the trailer steel.  I spent some time last night going through my AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction) handbook and then the new database of steel shapes to determine the types of beams, weights and structural characteristics.  

So, why is this computer model important?

For starters I now have a computer inventory of the steel.  

If I want to maintain the integrity of the front end as a portal of some sort (which is a consideration) I can now determine footings / steel design characteristics, and how it will look on site.

If I want to keep the outriggers on the steel for architectural design purposes I have an accurate model of their location, size and nature.

I can also calculate the weight of the structure as I close in on final weight calculations for the de-construction project.  

...and it is pretty fun to rotate a very heavy steel structure on the computer screen to study and understand it's character.

The skeleton is not modeled to represent the wavy nature of the existing state of the steel due to a really lousy mounting / placement job when the trailer was placed on set.  A level mounting was not part of the installation criteria.

So, I have finally gotten to the point I intended to get to when I started the project:  The re-use of the steel skeleton.

The fun begins.

TRAILER 1.6: SKELETON

BIM Model - Trailer Steel

I finally got a moment to measure and document the trailer steel.  I spent some time last night going through my AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction) handbook and then the new database of steel shapes to determine the types of beams, weights and structural characteristics.  

So, why is this computer model important?

For starters I now have a computer inventory of the steel.  

If I want to maintain the integrity of the front end as a portal of some sort (which is a consideration) I can now determine footings / steel design characteristics, and how it will look on site.

If I want to keep the outriggers on the steel for architectural design purposes I have an accurate model of their location, size and nature.

I can also calculate the weight of the structure as I close in on final weight calculations for the de-construction project.  

...and it is pretty fun to rotate a very heavy steel structure on the computer screen to study and understand it's character.

The skeleton is not modeled to represent the wavy nature of the existing state of the steel due to a really lousy mounting / placement job when the trailer was placed on set.  A level mounting was not part of the installation criteria.

So, I have finally gotten to the point I intended to get to when I started the project:  The re-use of the steel skeleton.

The fun begins.

TRAILER 1.5: BONES

VIEW TO THE SOUTHWEST

The bones are exposed:  two steel beams with outriggers, the trailer tongue and lateral steel angles spanning between the two beams to hold the beams together.

The original installation clearly was not level.  It was visible from the beginning and the reason for the sway back structure is revealed:  A less than stellar effort to level the trailer when it was brought to site.  My favorite comment from one of the guys that helped remove the platform:
" I really like the shake shingles that were used to sort of level this thing!"

We (those that have been watching this de-construction) have realized how badly sited this structure was and how it's removal opens up the site so nicely exposing the very cool elm tree along the fence.  It is almost as if the site is breathing a sigh of relief..."finally".

The partial summary of weight of materials and materials saved, re-cycled and discarded:
     Two (2) 30 yard dumpsters filled:  12,000+ pounds of materials to the land fill
     Over 1,000 lbs of metal sent to the re-cycling center
     
Miscellaneous materials thoughts:
     Windows were removed and will be sold and intended to be re-used (weight to be determined)
     The aluminum skin of the trailer (not including skirt) weighed 300+ pounds
     Refrigerator re-bate will be addressed this week (required powerwashing and 4 boxes of backing soda - assuming the baking soda worked)
     Will try to sell the circa 2010 gas water heater....anyone interested?
     
All the utilities have been capped which fulfills the requirements of the demo permit.  The electrical supply was capped for possible future re-use as a construction power source.  The sewer and water lines capped.  The water line capping is a story in and of itself...with thanks to the Town of Eagle Public Works crews that assisted in finally shutting the water off.

Next steps will be to cut the steel, move it and store it.  We have a great idea for the trailer tongue end of the steel...stay tuned for that one.

More to come....

NORTHWEST VIEW

TRAILER 1.5: BONES

VIEW TO THE SOUTHWEST

The bones are exposed:  two steel beams with outriggers, the trailer tongue and lateral steel angles spanning between the two beams to hold the beams together.

The original installation clearly was not level.  It was visible from the beginning and the reason for the sway back structure is revealed:  A less than stellar effort to level the trailer when it was brought to site.  My favorite comment from one of the guys that helped remove the platform:
" I really like the shake shingles that were used to sort of level this thing!"

We (those that have been watching this de-construction) have realized how badly sited this structure was and how it's removal opens up the site so nicely exposing the very cool elm tree along the fence.  It is almost as if the site is breathing a sigh of relief..."finally".

The partial summary of weight of materials and materials saved, re-cycled and discarded:
     Two (2) 30 yard dumpsters filled:  12,000+ pounds of materials to the land fill
     Over 1,000 lbs of metal sent to the re-cycling center
     
Miscellaneous materials thoughts:
     Windows were removed and will be sold and intended to be re-used (weight to be determined)
     The aluminum skin of the trailer (not including skirt) weighed 300+ pounds
     Refrigerator re-bate will be addressed this week (required powerwashing and 4 boxes of backing soda - assuming the baking soda worked)
     Will try to sell the circa 2010 gas water heater....anyone interested?
     
All the utilities have been capped which fulfills the requirements of the demo permit.  The electrical supply was capped for possible future re-use as a construction power source.  The sewer and water lines capped.  The water line capping is a story in and of itself...with thanks to the Town of Eagle Public Works crews that assisted in finally shutting the water off.

Next steps will be to cut the steel, move it and store it.  We have a great idea for the trailer tongue end of the steel...stay tuned for that one.

More to come....

NORTHWEST VIEW

SITE 1.1: The Peonies Arrive

We have accepted a gaggle of peonies to the site.  The agricultural work on the site has begun.

A temporary bed has been created for a bunch of peonies, full white, white and red, pink and Lizzy's Red.  They were lovingly dug up, separated and brought to the site from Washington State.

The rototiller was started up, and after warming up and not having been used for a number of years, performed admirably.

The bed was prepared by tilling down into the dirt about 16 inches...multiple passes with the tiller.  We encountered a few rocks (I call them tiller killers) that have been stashed in the rock storage area we have started.  Two 2.5 cu ft bags of miracle grow potting soil were mixed in to ammend the soil, the peonies were planted, marked and are now resting comfortably on the West side of the garage.  They will be re-distributed as we move closer to setting up planting beds and other flower arrangements on the site.

We have another round of peonies to dig up from another site here in Colorado.  That will necessitate another round of tilling and bed prep.

Fortunately I have taken down the construction fencing both at the trailer and the deck accessing the skeletal remains of the trailer (stay tuned for the "artifacts" blog entry).  So securing the bed from stray small critters will be relatively easy.

Cool peonies are now resident on the site...more plant materials to come...and lots of work on the soil will be done to make it healthier.

SITE 1.1: The Peonies Arrive

We have accepted a gaggle of peonies to the site.  The agricultural work on the site has begun.

A temporary bed has been created for a bunch of peonies, full white, white and red, pink and Lizzy's Red.  They were lovingly dug up, separated and brought to the site from Washington State.

The rototiller was started up, and after warming up and not having been used for a number of years, performed admirably.

The bed was prepared by tilling down into the dirt about 16 inches...multiple passes with the tiller.  We encountered a few rocks (I call them tiller killers) that have been stashed in the rock storage area we have started.  Two 2.5 cu ft bags of miracle grow potting soil were mixed in to ammend the soil, the peonies were planted, marked and are now resting comfortably on the West side of the garage.  They will be re-distributed as we move closer to setting up planting beds and other flower arrangements on the site.

We have another round of peonies to dig up from another site here in Colorado.  That will necessitate another round of tilling and bed prep.

Fortunately I have taken down the construction fencing both at the trailer and the deck accessing the skeletal remains of the trailer (stay tuned for the "artifacts" blog entry).  So securing the bed from stray small critters will be relatively easy.

Cool peonies are now resident on the site...more plant materials to come...and lots of work on the soil will be done to make it healthier.

THE SITE 1.0: The Peonies Cometh

Saturday morning I was informed that we were soon to recieve a shipment of 20 peonie plants that are to be divided into 80 plants.  Since we now have "dirt" we can also anticipate the re-location of existing peonies from another site here in the valley - probably another 15 plants that will be divided into another 60 plants.

Lots of peonies.

We need a space to put them. A temporary space on the new site.

The challenge is to put them somewhere that will be minimally impacted by the construction we are anticipating in the spring.  A bit of a tough issue as we have not really started the design, although I do have and idea of where things are, and that we need to prepare to install utility conduits to different structures on site from a central supply point.

All this to say that the first shovels of dirt were turned Sunday morning to being to prepare the site to recieve new plant material.  Peonies.

To be fair, peonies are not the only plants we will have.  We have saved seeds from columbine, penstemmon, lupine and other plants.  There will be native color on site as well as a few colorful companions. 

The first pile of dirt we tackled was against the garage.  We sifted the dirt to remove roots, gravel and other undesireable material prior to stockpiling the dirt in the sandbox to mix the sand in with the dirt as well as soil ammendments.

We used a heavy gage 1/2" x 1/2" galvanized screen mesh stapled to frames.  The frames were made from studs harvested from the trailer we are de-constructing and the screen mesh was attached to frames with staples I removed from the aluminum panels that were attached to the trailer that were re-cycled.  Sustainable re-use of materials.

It is always significant when the gardening starts.  It marks the beginning of the reclamation of the site and comes with a fun anticpation of what we can do with this site.  Gardens, plants, vegetable raised beds and a lot more....to come.

The shovels, pitch forks, rakes and even the roto-tiller will be put to good use.

The peonies cometh.

THE SITE 1.0: The Peonies Cometh

Saturday morning I was informed that we were soon to recieve a shipment of 20 peonie plants that are to be divided into 80 plants.  Since we now have "dirt" we can also anticipate the re-location of existing peonies from another site here in the valley - probably another 15 plants that will be divided into another 60 plants.

Lots of peonies.

We need a space to put them. A temporary space on the new site.

The challenge is to put them somewhere that will be minimally impacted by the construction we are anticipating in the spring.  A bit of a tough issue as we have not really started the design, although I do have and idea of where things are, and that we need to prepare to install utility conduits to different structures on site from a central supply point.

All this to say that the first shovels of dirt were turned Sunday morning to being to prepare the site to recieve new plant material.  Peonies.

To be fair, peonies are not the only plants we will have.  We have saved seeds from columbine, penstemmon, lupine and other plants.  There will be native color on site as well as a few colorful companions. 

The first pile of dirt we tackled was against the garage.  We sifted the dirt to remove roots, gravel and other undesireable material prior to stockpiling the dirt in the sandbox to mix the sand in with the dirt as well as soil ammendments.

We used a heavy gage 1/2" x 1/2" galvanized screen mesh stapled to frames.  The frames were made from studs harvested from the trailer we are de-constructing and the screen mesh was attached to frames with staples I removed from the aluminum panels that were attached to the trailer that were re-cycled.  Sustainable re-use of materials.

It is always significant when the gardening starts.  It marks the beginning of the reclamation of the site and comes with a fun anticpation of what we can do with this site.  Gardens, plants, vegetable raised beds and a lot more....to come.

The shovels, pitch forks, rakes and even the roto-tiller will be put to good use.

The peonies cometh.

The Trailer 1.4: The Skeletal Remains

End of day - August 12, 2012

The skeletal remains of the trailer have emerged.  A good friend in Alabama remarked:
 "... This reminds me of what a beached whale looks like after the sharks have had their turn, plus the wolves and polar bears on shore. A little skeleton left."

The dumpster is essentially full.  The remaining studs will more than likely be cleaned up and placed in the materials inventory for future use on site.

In removing the skin of the trailer I have saved some aluminum trim shapes that will make great gutter profiles for the edge of the lean to to help channel rain water into the new garden area.

The studs should be down during the course of the week or Saturday at the latest.

Then the fun begins.

The safety gear is being acquired in order to begin to clean out the underside of the trailer deck.  We have no idea what is under the trailer.  Only part of the skirt has been removed and what was in there was NASTY!  With concerns for rotten wood, black mold and the remains of the nests of mice and other such great considerations...I don't want to breath that stuff.

So, goggles, a respirator that filters organic compounds and probably a disposable tyvek overall will be employed until such time as we have - to our satisfaction - cleaned underneath the trailer...including the removal of the deck.

The deck will come out in sections.  I have a new demo blade for the skillsaw that is eager to tackle the floor assembly.  There is one area of the floor assembly that is in the former bathroom area that is really soft - indicating some pretty rotten substructure underneath.  Judging from what I found in the walls of the bathroom - not surprised.

So...we will bring in another smaller dumpster...get the floor deck out and expose the steel and move to other fun issues with the project. 

I'll provide a synopsis of materials weight here soon.

Final note...this project has generated a significant amount of thirst this summer.  The bottles containing adult fermented beverages have been insulated with bottle covers from my friends at CAD-1.  In the "shameless promotion" category I submit the photo below in gratitude for helping keep the beverages cool after hot days on a dirty job site.

The Trailer 1.4: The Skeletal Remains

End of day - August 12, 2012

The skeletal remains of the trailer have emerged.  A good friend in Alabama remarked:
 "... This reminds me of what a beached whale looks like after the sharks have had their turn, plus the wolves and polar bears on shore. A little skeleton left."

The dumpster is essentially full.  The remaining studs will more than likely be cleaned up and placed in the materials inventory for future use on site.

In removing the skin of the trailer I have saved some aluminum trim shapes that will make great gutter profiles for the edge of the lean to to help channel rain water into the new garden area.

The studs should be down during the course of the week or Saturday at the latest.

Then the fun begins.

The safety gear is being acquired in order to begin to clean out the underside of the trailer deck.  We have no idea what is under the trailer.  Only part of the skirt has been removed and what was in there was NASTY!  With concerns for rotten wood, black mold and the remains of the nests of mice and other such great considerations...I don't want to breath that stuff.

So, goggles, a respirator that filters organic compounds and probably a disposable tyvek overall will be employed until such time as we have - to our satisfaction - cleaned underneath the trailer...including the removal of the deck.

The deck will come out in sections.  I have a new demo blade for the skillsaw that is eager to tackle the floor assembly.  There is one area of the floor assembly that is in the former bathroom area that is really soft - indicating some pretty rotten substructure underneath.  Judging from what I found in the walls of the bathroom - not surprised.

So...we will bring in another smaller dumpster...get the floor deck out and expose the steel and move to other fun issues with the project. 

I'll provide a synopsis of materials weight here soon.

Final note...this project has generated a significant amount of thirst this summer.  The bottles containing adult fermented beverages have been insulated with bottle covers from my friends at CAD-1.  In the "shameless promotion" category I submit the photo below in gratitude for helping keep the beverages cool after hot days on a dirty job site.

The Trailer 1.3: The Walls Come Down

Start of Day - Sunday Morning

                                    














Progress has been made.  The center section of the trailer has been dismantled.

The removal took a bit of a different turn than initially expected.  The initial removal concept was to start at one end and move to the other.  However, upon considering the existing structure, which is fairly minimal and realizing the 1/8" plywood paneling (luan board) was probably a structural diaphragm, removing the walls took a different turn.

To me, it made more sense to remove the central part of the structure because it was essentially open space, had less holding it together than the two rooms at either end which could support themselves independently.  And that is what was done. 

The removal sequence was:
1   Remove all the interior trim, fixtures;
2   Remove the three walls separating the bathroom from mechancial / laundry and
     kitchen.
3   Remove the interior ceiling, insulation and vapor barrier.
4   Remove the galvanized metal roof.
5   Remove the interior wall materials (gyp wall board, luan board and insulation)
6   Remove the windows.
7   Remove the aluminum trim and skin.  (At this point all that is left are the studs and roof
     trusses).
8   Remove the roof trusses and cut sections of the wall and remove them in sections with
     the truss removal.




The result...all digits, toes and appendages are intact, nothing fell on the head, and it was a fairly surgical process of deconstruction.

I have yet to take the aluminum to the recycler and will provide a material weight on that.  Most screws are saved to be sent to the recycler as were staples....and there are a lot of staples used on the project. 

The water heater was drained and removed.  Don't know if I will sell it or recycle.  It is a relatively new (2010) 40 gallon gas fired water heater.  Someone may want it...and selling it will offset the dumpster cost.

The dumpster is at least 3/4 full at this time.

It was a long day of work on Sunday and rather than pull screws from the studs...they went into the dumpster...and some of the studs were pretty rotten.  I was tired.

We opened up a new view to the beautiful old tree on the North side and more will be revealed in the next two weeks.

At some point I will post the construction section of the trailer. It is interesting to note how minimally constructed the trailer was...and how long it lasted.

 

    End of day - Sunday

The Trailer 1.3: The Walls Come Down

Start of Day - Sunday Morning

                                    














Progress has been made.  The center section of the trailer has been dismantled.

The removal took a bit of a different turn than initially expected.  The initial removal concept was to start at one end and move to the other.  However, upon considering the existing structure, which is fairly minimal and realizing the 1/8" plywood paneling (luan board) was probably a structural diaphragm, removing the walls took a different turn.

To me, it made more sense to remove the central part of the structure because it was essentially open space, had less holding it together than the two rooms at either end which could support themselves independently.  And that is what was done. 

The removal sequence was:
1   Remove all the interior trim, fixtures;
2   Remove the three walls separating the bathroom from mechancial / laundry and
     kitchen.
3   Remove the interior ceiling, insulation and vapor barrier.
4   Remove the galvanized metal roof.
5   Remove the interior wall materials (gyp wall board, luan board and insulation)
6   Remove the windows.
7   Remove the aluminum trim and skin.  (At this point all that is left are the studs and roof
     trusses).
8   Remove the roof trusses and cut sections of the wall and remove them in sections with
     the truss removal.




The result...all digits, toes and appendages are intact, nothing fell on the head, and it was a fairly surgical process of deconstruction.

I have yet to take the aluminum to the recycler and will provide a material weight on that.  Most screws are saved to be sent to the recycler as were staples....and there are a lot of staples used on the project. 

The water heater was drained and removed.  Don't know if I will sell it or recycle.  It is a relatively new (2010) 40 gallon gas fired water heater.  Someone may want it...and selling it will offset the dumpster cost.

The dumpster is at least 3/4 full at this time.

It was a long day of work on Sunday and rather than pull screws from the studs...they went into the dumpster...and some of the studs were pretty rotten.  I was tired.

We opened up a new view to the beautiful old tree on the North side and more will be revealed in the next two weeks.

At some point I will post the construction section of the trailer. It is interesting to note how minimally constructed the trailer was...and how long it lasted.

 

    End of day - Sunday

RESIDENCE: 1.0 The Program v. The Car

We started thinking about the residence.  My wife has the questionnaire I generally publish for a new client when beginning a project...it is thorough.

Among the initial thoughts and criteria are cost (of course) which then gets to size of home (SF) and other issues like one story or two (we ain't gettin' any younger!)...views, relationship of inside to outside, entry...etc.

There was one statement that I thought was particularly interesting in the discussion.  When we started discussing an area for vehicles my wife exhibited some rather strong disdain for having to dedicate space to "cars".  The question was essentially...why do we create so much space for cars?  Why do we create huge doors for cars?  Why shouldn't cars be off to the side somewhere so we can focus on the important elements...the places where we live?

Pretty good questions!

So we will explore the question.

Our particular site affords us some interesting options in that we have two ways to get into the site, plenty of parking, and don't necessarily need a garage. 

It is, however, nice to have a space that is protected from the howling gales and blizzards which we do get in these parts, and it is not a whole lot of fun to schlep groceries into the house in a raging snow or rain storm.  That having been said...why pay such homage to something that is really a functional item, not necessarily aesthetic.  (Not that a Porsche is not an aesthetic masterpiece...it is...I don't own one though, so don't plan to exhibit my vehicle as such.)

One thought that came to the table that I thought was also interesting and it was the thought of working to integrate the interior space with the outdoor space to encourage a gracefull flow between indoor and outdoor spaces to promote outdoor living.  Our site is a natural for this concept.

Gardening, outdoor eating, separation of studio, guest and living spaces, garage art spaces...all work as a total outdoor complex.

On a side note:
The tarps come off the trailer this weekend and the walls start coming down...time to fill the dumpster.

RESIDENCE: 1.0 The Program v. The Car

We started thinking about the residence.  My wife has the questionnaire I generally publish for a new client when beginning a project...it is thorough.

Among the initial thoughts and criteria are cost (of course) which then gets to size of home (SF) and other issues like one story or two (we ain't gettin' any younger!)...views, relationship of inside to outside, entry...etc.

There was one statement that I thought was particularly interesting in the discussion.  When we started discussing an area for vehicles my wife exhibited some rather strong disdain for having to dedicate space to "cars".  The question was essentially...why do we create so much space for cars?  Why do we create huge doors for cars?  Why shouldn't cars be off to the side somewhere so we can focus on the important elements...the places where we live?

Pretty good questions!

So we will explore the question.

Our particular site affords us some interesting options in that we have two ways to get into the site, plenty of parking, and don't necessarily need a garage. 

It is, however, nice to have a space that is protected from the howling gales and blizzards which we do get in these parts, and it is not a whole lot of fun to schlep groceries into the house in a raging snow or rain storm.  That having been said...why pay such homage to something that is really a functional item, not necessarily aesthetic.  (Not that a Porsche is not an aesthetic masterpiece...it is...I don't own one though, so don't plan to exhibit my vehicle as such.)

One thought that came to the table that I thought was also interesting and it was the thought of working to integrate the interior space with the outdoor space to encourage a gracefull flow between indoor and outdoor spaces to promote outdoor living.  Our site is a natural for this concept.

Gardening, outdoor eating, separation of studio, guest and living spaces, garage art spaces...all work as a total outdoor complex.

On a side note:
The tarps come off the trailer this weekend and the walls start coming down...time to fill the dumpster.

The Trailer 1.2: The Tarps and the Cat

I pulled the galvanized metal roof off the trailer last weekend as we prepare to remove the walls.  There is a construction axiom:  When you pull a roof off it will rain!  ... and it rained.  Hard.  It is monsoon season out here which means afternoon rains anywhere from sprinkles to deluges. 

So the tarps were installed the next day and it rained again last night...hard.  The tarps held.  They are tied off to the trailer with screws and parachute cord.  I actually fastened a couple of edges to the structure with screws and fender washers.  There is an interesting tie off technique I employed...and it is working.  The trailer got damp...but not soaked, so I can get the drywall off the inside in reasonable fashion. without it all crumbling 

I need some hot, dry weather to dry the place out.  Airing it out will help also.  It is an interesting series of smells when water hits materials that had absorbed things inside.  Needless to say it will be good to finish the deconstruction of this 720 SF structure.

The Cat:

Since we bought the place I have noticed two cats prowling the property.  One is a white calico - a neighbors cat - the other a stealthy gray cat.  The gray cat has my attention.  We know each other...as well as we can under the circumstances.  The cat knows I am around.  I have made efforts to let the cat know I am friend not foe.  It is an interesting process getting to know this critter.

Each Wednesday I take a trash can to the street since we are paying for it.  Filled with construction debris it is another means of disposing of debris.  This morning was no different.

Except, when I went to get the trash can from under the garage lean-to I woke the gray cat up.  Smart cat that one...found a warm, sheltered place to crash.  It (don't know the gender of this cat) got up, stretched, looked at me, meowed, and slowly walked toward the fence and disappeared through the sage. 

This cat has been around a while and hangs out at the property.  I know it's around when the magpies start squawking incessently.  They are brutally harassing this feline.  I suspect the cat has taken some of their colleagues out - for good reason.  I would too. 

So the cat becomes another story line here.

Monsoons will bring more afternoon rains...as we head into August it should dry up a little bit.