Security Audio Fireplace

Once the big three mechanical trades have completed their tasks, the next crews to move in are the security, audio and fireplace installers.  One of the advantages of a parade home is the addition of many different products which are many times hard to work into the budgets of contract or model homes. 

A major feature of this year’s home will be a three sided pier direct vent fireplace installed by Fireside Hearth & Home.  Fit in between the living room, kitchen and dinette, it will provide warmth, comfort and a relaxing environment.    This beautiful fireplace was manufactured by Heatilator. 

Keeping the home safe will be a security system installed by Stealth Security.  It will protect the home from all types of intrusions, offer an important layer of extra security, and have the ability for outside 24 hour monitoring for increased safety.  Another major advantage is a better rate on your homeowners insurance.

The last member of the little three mechanical trades is the audio installer.  Six speakers and three control boxes were wired back to the control center by Audio Contractors to provide a relaxing source of music to be heard throughout the home.  Special wiring was done to expand the system to fit the owner’s special needs at a later date. 

Now that all the wires are pulled, heat registers are in place, all pipes are connected, and the fireplace is ready to light, we can bring in the insulators.  Check http://www.dchwi.com/tlb/2011DresenParade.htm for more information on this project.

Plumbing - Electrical - HVAC

The next subcontractors to complete their tasks are the plumber, electrician and heating contractors.  It is important to have a team that works together to make everything fit and compliment each of the three systems.  RHD Plumbing of Stoughton began roughing much of their system before the slab was poured.    The next phase was to complete the work inside the house.    Pharo Heating is the heating contractor.  This home uses two furnaces, so they had to work carefully with the other two contractors to make sure everything would fit.  Ever Ready Electric is in charge of the electrical system.  Things went well and in about a week the home was ready for the next phase.  All three contractors did an excellent job, and went out of their way to make sure the jobsite was always clean and safe.

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Energy Consultants Trinity Environmental

I wanted to share with everyone an article written by my Energy Consultant, Laura Paprocki, from Trinity Environmental.  She is an important partner in the construction of all of my homes.  Please enjoy it, I hope she will contribute more in the future.

This article focuses on a green practice; green materials can only function properly if the correct installation practice is used.   One agreeable aspect of how to achieve green construction is the overall “tightness” of the building shell.  This is also known as “air sealing”.  Why is this so important?  Fewer random air exchanges equate to higher efficiency, and this does not have to add lots of cost.  Because of the fact that warm air rises, the most effective place to air seal is the attic.  There are 2 ways to approach attic air sealing:  1) Include an “attic air sealing” package in your bid to the insulator.  An attic air sealing package, when done by a contractor usually consists of applying a 2 part closed cell foam over all interior and exterior top plates, along with any other penetration up into the attic.  This then creates an air tight “lid” on the home.  2) Get up in the attic armed with caulk and Great Stuff and be able to recognize the areas that need air sealing, and get er’ done!  Talk with your building science consultant if you have questions.

While warm air rises and escapes up top, cold air sneaks in down low.  Thus the next most susceptible area for leakage is the sill box or rim joist, in a two story home the band joist is also vulnerable.   This again can be approached in 2 ways:  1) Spray foam the rim and band joists with a 2 part closed cell foam, being sure that along the rim joist the foam is brought down low enough to cover the connection between the mudsill and the top of the foundation wall.  2) Have your framer use a thick caulk, or construction adhesive under the mudsill in place of the sill sealer or use a flexible caulk and/or Great Stuff to seal all the areas as show below and along the band joist as well.  Please note that there may be a situation where after the sill box is spray foamed a contractor has to put a penetration through it.  Once all work has been done on the home, a final review of the sill box should be done.

If you are currently wondering how your buildings compare when it comes to air tightness, partner with a Focus on Energy Consultant who can perform blower door testing on your homes and better pin point areas of leakage and ways to improve on the overall tightness of the home.  The Green Built Home program awards points for different levels of home” tightness” and proper air sealing practices.

Concrete Floor Slab

The great part about building a new home is watching the progress and changes on a daily basis.  One of the best is when the basement floor poured.  It is amazing what a difference it is not having to trip over pipes, piles of rock and dirt, and holes.  There is a lot of preparation necessary.  It began on a Friday afternoon when Hottmann Construction brought out their ground heater to pull the frost out of the ground.  The ground heater is a large heat generator that pumps hot fluid through a maze of hose laid out on the basement floor, and then covered with blankets.   It worked nonstop from Friday afternoon until it was uncovered and put away on Monday morning, mission accomplished. 

From there, the Hottmann crew snapped their lines, graded the floor, covered it with an inch of Dow Styrofoam, and spread out a polyethylene vapor barrier, and then called in the concrete trucks.  Once there, the concrete was belted into the house and dropped into the basement.  The belt truck can operate from the road, eliminating the huge mess and problems which result when concrete trucks have to drive over bare ground that is in the process of losing its frost.  The belt truck may be the single best factor in the erosion control expense and efforts we take to control it. 

The finishers moved in once the floor was poured and made sure the floor was prepared to the specs necessary for us to put our final finish on it. 

Andersen Windows - ThermaTru Doors

  The next step after the roof is on is to install the windows and doors.  They are some of the most important and overlooked parts of a home.  They need to provide security, safety, light, fresh air, protection from the elements, and still be energy efficient.  Over the many years I have been in the construction industry, I have watched new technology develop, companies come and go, new materials and methods emerge, and a greater variety of options to choose from.  A leader over the years in these changes has been Andersen Windows.  I have had the opportunity to visit their research and technology center nine times, and have always been amazed at the products they were developing, and in the patience they showed in making sure they were worthy of the Andersen name and the customers who buy them, before they would offer them on the market.  This, along with the fact that they have one of the best warranty and support programs in the industry are reasons I use Andersen.  They are the best windows in the world, and have been used in 100% of my homes.  Dean Beyer from Brunsell Lumber was the window supplier.

The entry systems in this year’s home came from ThermaTru, thru Angie Kieta at Alside Supply.  They are a great door, which offers many options, styles and choices for creating the most appeal.  The front entry system consists of a 3’0x8’0 FiberClassic door with two 1’2x8’0 sidelights to match.  The garage is a two panel fire door, which matches the interior doors, and the back door in the lower level is a full light door bringing light into the family room.

Roofing

Once the roof is on, it is critical to get it covered to protect all the materials below as soon as possible.  It isn’t unusual to find the roofer waiting for the framers to put down the last piece of roof sheathing so that they can felt the roof.  Jim Schruckenthaler of Budget Roofing was there just at the right time, installing the felt paper securely to provide that protection.  He and his crew started the next day to put on the roof edge, ice and water shield, and the shingles. After a weekend of work, they ran out of time just as the next round of bad weather moved in.  All that was left to do was about 60’ of hip and ridge shingles.  The storm came and passed without any water entering the home.  They were able to complete installation of the missing hip and ridge shingles a few days later when the sun cleared the snow.  The roofing materials were provided by Angie Keita of Alside Supply Co. in Madison.  The shingles were 35 year Atlas Pinnacles.  They were applied using 6 nails, providing the roof with a 110 mph wind guarantee.

Next: Windows and Doors