[Strawbale] [SB-r-us] Re: re: window construction (now other stuff)

[David Neeley]

Jeff,

Carrying your own logic one step further, if wide posts are simpler
than narrow ones because of notching, why wouldn't a load-bearing wall
with its far superior stacking characteristics be even better yet?

Except in climates with such frequent rains during the building season
that there is a major advantage to having the roof up before the
walls, I simply don't understand any advantage whatsoever to a post
and infill system to begin with. Can you enlighten me?

I especially don't understand the use of steel framework in any
circumstances in which there aren't seismic rules requiring such a
thing. Even then, some steel connections between top plate and sill
should suffice, I'm told, rather than a complete framing system.

I quite agree with super insulating the roof and building some sort of
air lock vestibule, both in cold climates and hot ones too. Here in
the hot and humid South, in fact, I favor a sunspace with removable
glass panels (generally recycled sliding door glass units) that can
easily be replaced with screens for the warmer months. Properly
designed and detailed, that can often replace other methods of heating
in winter as well as providing a very comfortable space year round.

David

On Fri, Apr 18, 2008 at 4:54 PM, Jeff Ruppert <jeff at odiseanet.com> wrote:

>  To take it one step further, I think that a wide-post system is less
>  expensive for most people paying for some labor on their project simply
>  due to the issue of notching.  If a loss of 1% thermal performance can
>  be had to save thousands of dollars and weeks of time, sign me up for
>  the less money and time option.  I will superinsulate the roof and
>  design a protected interior space with low infiltration.
>
>  The reason I am passionate about this issue is because I see people not
>  only still using 4x4 posts, but many of them actively resisting other
>  ideas.  I will not notch another bale around a 4x4 in my life if I can
>  avoid it!  It is unhealthy and messy.  It takes 4 people 2 weeks to
>  stack a 2500 sf home, as compared to two days to stack the same building
>  with wide posts.  At $25/hr, that is a cost of $8,000!