[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: Advanced Framing

[Lawrence Lile]

>1.       There is tons of waste in a standard constructed home.  Just
go
check the dumpster.

Hear Hear!  I told the contractor to save all of his scraps, and they go
in my woodstove now.  If you build on module (2' increments) you'll save
a lot of lumber, if you build standard wall heights, you'll save a lot,
and if you can get them to use Advanced Framing, you'll save more.
While you are at it, make them recycle their cardboard and cola cans.
Carpenters throw away enough soda cans make a second house out of.  


>3.       Fiberglass batts are the worst type of insulation.  No one
separates the piece to fit in front of and in back of an electrical
wire.
Everyone goes around the electrical box, instead of squaring up the
insulation. If the vapor barrier is stapled inside the studs, less R
value.

Hear Hear!  Fiberglass is the greatest conspiracy ever foisted on the
building industry, IMHO.  It is really good for insulating high
temperature pipes, and also makes a pretty good itch powder.  Other than
that, it doesn't go in my building anywhere.  There are always gaps, at
every stud and electrical box. Cellulose is a lot better at stopping air
convection, fills gaps better, the boric acid fire retardant kills
cockroaches, and the insulation is recycled.  Foam is great stuff too,
if you can afford it.  

Read up on vapor barriers, you often don't need them.  (heresy, I know).
Sometimes they just trap moisture and rot out the wall.  Spend extra
money on caulking details, such as caulking between the sheetrock and
the exterior wall electrical boxes, or caulking between double studs,
stuff like that.   

--Lawrence Lile, PE, LEED AP