[Greenbuilding] bugs behind b & b

[Stephen Collette]

Mike,

There should be some drainage plane at the bottom of your b&b, where  
there should be an air gap. That should have a mesh of some sorts to  
keep them critters at bay. If you have venting at the top of said b &  
b, also meshed venting.

If the bugs are getting inside, then there is an installation issue  
with respect to the windows, doors and SIPS not being air sealed  
properly.

However if they are all off gassing methane, maybe you could harness  
them to power your house! ;-)

Stephen

Stephen Collette BBEC, LEED AP
Principal
Your Healthy House - Indoor Environmental Testing & Building Consulting
www.yourhealthyhouse.ca
stephen at yourhealthyhouse.ca
705.652.5159

>
> From: "Mike Forbes" <biodieselmike at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Greenbuilding] rain screen siding and bugs
> To:
> Hi all,
> just wondering if anyone has had this experience and what the general
> thoughts are....
>
> what i have (inside to out):
> SIP walls
> inexpensive, non-conventional water-proof radiant barrier.
> 1/4" furring strips stapled horizontally
> 1x8 - 1x14" rough sawn blue pine boards with 2-1/4" battens
> no finish on the boards
>
> my issue:
> ever since we've moved into the house we have an excess of bugs,  
> primarily
> box elder bugs and shield bugs.  Occasionally we have a paper wasp  
> as well.
> They aren't a real structural or safety concern just a nuisance...   
> The
> other day I pulled a batten off and noticed that my rainscreen gap  
> behind
> the siding is pretty much a miniature bug habitat.  I know this is a
> recommended way of installing siding but never thought about the bug  
> habitat
> issue.
>
> Anyone have any experience with this and any grand ideas of making  
> it not so
> appealing to the bugs?  Sealing it would be very impractical if not
> impossible.....
>
> thanks so much,
> mike