Real Estate Blog - Building Techniques...((unhappy termites))

Home : Blogs : Charlottesville Real Estate - Your Trusted Broker Charles McDonald : Charlottesville Real Estate Blog - Charles McDonald

Building Techniques...((unhappy termites))

New Construction! Love it!!!

I get involved in a lot of new construction in my area and I wanted to share interesting techniques with you.

My sister is building a home and these photos are of the process.

These walls are Foam stacked together kind of like "LEGO's" easy enough right?

Notice the steel construction to support the next level. This is obviously built into a hillside.

This level will have radiant heating tubes installed prior to pouring the cement floor!

Notice this is ground level?

This type of construction is energy efficient and extremely strong. By the way this home is in California (think earthquake safety)! But these techniques are being used all over.

Some additional data you might find interesting:

The walls end up being 12 inches thick (4"of Styrofoam and 8" of cement)
The walls are rated as a 4 hour fire wall
There will be cement planks on the outside (hardi-planks) for additional insulation
The beams are steel and the windows are aluminum so basically no wood is being used in the construction
The termites are not really happy with this type of construction!

If you are considering New Construction, Talk with a builder that is using the latest techniques. You may need to be educated from the old stick built homes!

We are looking at building a new home in the future and you can bet, it will be energy efficient, state of the art construction!

This stuff just fascinates me (makes me feel like a kid again) how about you?

Charles McDonald

Associate BROKER at RE/MAX Assured Properties, Licensed to sell Real Estate in Virginia

(main) 434-515-1585 (cell) 434-981-1585 (fax) 866-527-9526

Brought to you by that guy who sells Charlottesville VA Real Estate

Search for Charlottesville Real Estate 22901 or Search for Crozet Real Estate 22932 in one great place!

Posted by Charlottesville Real Estate - Your Trusted Broker Charles McDonald on 10/02/2007 12:42 PM

Comments (21)

new construction, charlottesville

Originally posted at: Charlottesville Real Estate: Building Techniques...((unhappy termites))

This post has been included in Virginia Information Albemarle County, VA Information Charlottesville, VA Information

21 Comments on Building Techniques...((unhappy termites))

OCT

2007

This stuff is great! Like with everything, construction techniques are changing all the time. As long as we are moving in the right direction regarding carbon footprint, hazardous waste, etc. I like the new stuff. I wonder did the people who first thought up utilizing asbestos in construction do their homework and know it was potentially hazardous, or did that information come later? If that’s the case, how much homework needs to be done in the newest techniques to ensure we are doing things right now? I heard something about the ‘burn’ issue regarding foam blocks and insulation. How, if at all, has that been addressed?

FRANKLIN - First off I am not a builder, but since these are filled with concrete, it would (in my uneducated opinion) be extremely difficult to burn these walls. I hope someone and I may know the guy can comment on this with more authority. I will send him a link to this post.

Charles, I think that home building techniques are incredible and fun to watch. I would like to build myself one day too. There is just something great about legos and lincoln logsfor adults isn't there?

STEPHEN - I can still go watch a home being built and just stay all day!

FRANKLIN - I added some more detail to the BLOG, take a look...

Charles, I've been intrigued by how these very techniques have evolved over recent years. Thanks for the post.

LARRY - Glad you liked it!

I've passed two homes during my commute built this way in the past few years. One I was able to view after completion. What amazed me most was the quiet inside, considering this was on a fairly well traveled road. They told me the energy savings were almost as dramatic. About half of their previous costs with almost 800 more square feet.

KEVIN - Now those are some incrediable stats! One Foot walls would sure do it!

These homes were built a little differently than what you show but are very similar. One foot walls remind me of a stone home I owned years ago. No energy efficiency there with super drafts but great window sill seats.

KEVIN - Yes a foot would give you a great window seat!

Really great information! I am so glad to see these new building techniques! I have seen the foam walls that have tubes running through them for the wiring to be added. It is amazing to see these new forms of construction! Thanks for sharing those photos!!!

Remember to post more of them as the construction progresses!!!

OCT

2007

Hi Charles,

Cool photos! I'm looking forward to seeing more as the project develops.

So, from a cost comparison angle do you have any idea what the builder quotes a sq ft at? I wonder how much that would differ from a stick built home with poured concrete walls.

Lastly, do you have any idea what the cost savings are projected to be (assuming this will be energy optimized)?

Just wondering...

-Keith

Charles-Wow, that is fascinating. Technology has come a long way in construction.

B&B - I will post as it develops!

KEITH - I will try to get some idea of those numbers and post them.

ROBERTA - Glad you liked it

Charles, the technology that has come along in the housing market is nothing less than spectacular. However, if the installer is not familiar with it the end product could be a problem for the homeowner. Karen

KAREN - excellent point!

Charles, in-floor heat is fabulous!!! It's very popular (as you might imagine) up here in the north country.

ERIC - I love the idea!

OCT

2007

The 'burn issue' with styro-foam ICF is an interesting issue. Basically the only danger of burn for these walls is the toxicity of burning plastic. The concrete ensures that the structure will be supported. Of course the framing above the ground level is a different story. In general ICF basements are a great improvement over block but not necessarily over traditional form concrete. The ICF method is a useful application for commercial locations, but has some inherent expenses for building standard basements. I think that the idea of insulating foundation walls (inside and out) is a must with todays energy needs. The other think I like about concrete construction is the philosophy of permanence. in Europe homes stand for hundreds of years. In America we build with materials that are only guaranteed for 20. Amazing that we insist on shingle with 40 yr or more guarantees, but we will use wood siding that rots in 10 (without proper maintenance). I don't exactly agree with using ICF but it is definitely a step in the right direction!

Great pictures partner!

Richard, I appreciate you posting your comments and expertise is needed here in AR. Agents look at things a lot differently than builders and architects! thank you partner!

This blog does not allow anonymous comments