Community: GBA Pro help

Much of the value of this site is the pooled experience of members and their willingness to share it. This page offers a Community area formatted for Questions & Answers dedicated to GBAGreenBuildingAdvisor.com Pro help. Other topics appear to the right.

Anyone may ask a question and anyone may answer. Sometimes one of our 15 Advisors may chime in; in other cases, you'll get the wisdom of some of our members who have some experience in this area. We encourage everyone to give us the benefit of both their questions and answers. The usual rules of courtesy apply.

20 Answers

Joe Lstiburek, the respected building scientist with Building Science Corporation, provides an approach to building vented crawlspaces in energy efficient houses. http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-009-new-light-in-c...

Asked By Michael Chelnov | Mar 12 10
2 Answers

Besides completely gutting the entire house (plaster, lath, mechanicals,etc) removing damaged framing members and painting with BIN sealer, what other lessons have been learned?

After it is 100% gutted, any problem with power washing if weather permits drying? Place was already dowsed by fire department in the winter, and shows signs of mold throughout, but many of the wood floors still seem salvageable, if the odor is eliminated.

Please advise asap. Work in progress, searching for the cure.

Matt

Asked By matt berges | Mar 14 10
9 Answers

I am exploring efficient foundation options for a residential project located in Western Massachusetts. The house will sit on a slope and have a partial walk out basement. The basement will be a conditioned space, with only a small portion requiring finishes.

My options are ICF's, a standard poured in place foundation or the Thermomass system. The site has a high water table so drainage and waterproofing are mandatory. ICF's insulate well, but waterproofing is a concern, as is finishing the above grade portion of the wall.

Asked By Jon Wyman | Feb 4 10
16 Answers

I have a 10'deep x 5' diameter pre-cast concrete man hole with two pumps alternating for my 6" footing drains located outside of the house. This is a new construction house. I put down 12" inches of trap rock in the basement floor with 4" perforated pipe and grid pattern tied into my six-inch footing drains. I also put down filter fabric before the trap rock went down and over the 6"perforated pipe. What is happening is a orange colored clay is sticking on the inside wall of the 2" pipe closing it down to 1"on the inside walls. Seems like every six months this occurs.

Asked By Peter Fusaro | Mar 12 10
3 Answers

Doing major remodel and plann to add to kitchen/new bath w/ tile floors over crawlspace. Crawlspace to be conditioned space - sealed and insulated at perimeter ala BSC specs. Was planning to do radiant floor heating because done't want/ don't like forced air over tile floors. Has anyone used gas tankless water heater as radiant floor heat and domestic hot water source (combo)?

Asked By mike | Mar 12 10
8 Answers

I'm curious about rainscreens, which seem to be reccomended by building science experts, but not reccomended by manufacturers. A case in point: James Hardie Inc does not reccomend a rainscreen behind its Hardiepanel product, but there seems to be some kind of loose consensus that you will have water and mold problems unless you use a rainscreen behind a product like Hardiepanel.

Asked By Michael Chelnov | Feb 26 10
4 Answers

We have purchased an underground house; only south side face showing. We have removed 3 feet of dirt from the top and have had a backhoe remove dirt from all three sides so the french drain system can be replaced. What is the best sealant/insulation to put on these three walls? A company doing open cell foam spray tells us that's the best but I don't want that on top as I want to keep it for a patio. What would be the best for the top?
Thanks,
Kathy

Asked By Kathy Henthorne | Aug 11 09
10 Answers

I'm weighing the differences in efficiency, cost and buildability of achieving an R-60 timber framed (vaulted) roof system in a cold climate (Western Massachusetts). I believe my options to be; structural insulating panels, a combination of SIP's and rigid insulation, a combination of stick framing, cellulose and rigid, or trusses overlayed on the frame and filled with cellulose.

Asked By Jon Wyman | Mar 1 10
30 Answers

Is this wall construction plan sound? I have a 5 1/2" brick ledge with the following plan: Brick -> Air Space -> Tyvek -> Osb -> 2" by 4" frame -> Blown Cellulose -> Dry Wall -> Paint. I am concerned about solar [vapor drive].

Home Details:
Location Houston
Ventillated Crawl Space
Ventillated Attic
Large 2nd floor space over driveway
Living area over detached garage
Brick Veneer
Asphalt Shingles
Cellulose Insulation

Asked By Robert Cozart | Jan 18 10
4 Answers

Living in Woodstock, NY. House is on a high water table level. Cracks appearing all over basement floor water coming thru in Spring thaw and heavy rains.
Also, wet walls.

Suggestions, other than moving are appreciated.

Asked By patricia mcelroy | Feb 1 10