Nov
11
Framing and Foundation
Our friends at HGTVPro recently launched a fascinating photo gallery that details the steps required to dig the foundation and install framing for HGTV Green Home 2010. Take a few moments to click through the photos, then come back here to share your thoughts.
Mary…. Thank you for updating us.. I forget to go over to HGTVPro some days!!! Ed, that looks like a basement to me!! A great one!!! Amazing 2 blogs in one day!!! First Jack looking out the window then Mary forwarding us the foundation and framing photos!!! Then when you go to the Dream Home…Take A Breath… Another picture of the Turquoise Tiled Fireplace!!! What a Day!! Love life by living green and having a dream!!!
Looks like plenty of room in that basement for a bear den, or game room, or wine cellar, or home theatre, or kid's play area, or craft room, or maybe even your own cranberry bog.
Thanks for making this a day to remember with all of these great posts, MARY. Now, time to get ready to go out and enjoy the Veteran's Day Parade/
Plymouth Pilgrims for Going Lean and Living Green!
Renee that's definitely a basement or cellar, depending on which part of the country you are from. I remember looking at these pictures over a week ago. I still can't figure out why the basement is seperated into three sections.
I keep want to start this comment with good or nice or great but none of these seems strong enough, or appropriate enough for what you just posted.Just fantastic and mind blowing blog keep it up..!!!
Ed, I think Coop has that answer…. Maybe a wine cellar, storage for heating unit/water heater, etc… and a home theater/play area/craft area… and I will have to look up the cranberry bog..(I am thinking it is a home brewing system, which maybe great with vodka, ice and mint). The Bear Den is similar to a "Man Cave", I am sure… You were correct from the very beginning!!! This Green Home has a Basement!! And a Tower!!! SO COOL!! And it looks like those Plymouth Pilgrims are working hard in the warm summer sun!! Now, I have to research the average weather in Plymouth!! Love life by living green and having a dream!!
I think that the basement certainly could be Coop's "Bear" Cave (not man cave at all)!! It is big enough for the whole Bear Family…Mama, Papa & Baby, too!! It could be used for a plethora of individual rooms and/or activities. I like the idea a 'craft room' somewhere in the abundance of room down there! Each member of the winning family could have their own special room defined just for them. Maybe HGTV will hold that option open, and only finish the rooms after the winner takes possession!!
MGTOTD: A terrific way to soften a photo when you're taking a close-up is to place a coffee filter over the flash before snapping!
(Yes, Coop, I do suggest that you do not employ a used coffee filter!!)
I was up on the HGTV Pro Website, and it seems that there may be a basement that is not shown on the floorplans. That would be great if the basement could be used as an at home gym, at home theater, and recreation room. I can't wait to see how this all turns out.
Thanks for clarifying that one, Marie. For split second, I was wondering how I'd keep the coffee grinds off the camera AND my hands!
I noticed that the plan for the porch roof is to use leaded copper. Lead has no place in a "Green" Home. It's presence, manufacture, and leaching is seriously bad for the environment and public health. What can the builders be thinking?
Interesting comment, Vicki. I understand that a product has recently been introduced to address this very issue, which is a gray toned zinc-coated copper, and thus more environmentally sensitive.
I wonder if the builder, HGTV, or perhaps Super Fan GAIL can address your concern about the leaded copper roofing material.
Plymouth Pilgrims for People friendly Porches!
Vicki: Thank you for your insight regarding the porch roof! I cannot imagine that HGTV would use leaded copper anywhere on our "Green Home!" I'm hoping, they might be using a different product all together. Perhaps they might use a stylish, colorful, and energy-efficient roofing option with a pre-painted zinc/tin-coated roofing material. The material’s base sheet is coated with (zinc/tin) alloy and then painted with solar reflective Energy Star–qualified Valspar paint coatings that make the roofing eligible for federal tax credits!! WOW!! Also, it is my understanding that there are many color options that include bold red, blue, or green, as well as more subtle earth tones.
MGTOTD: A simple, effective way to clean your oven without chemicals: Mix 1 tablespoon of the 'natural dishwashing soap' (**see below for formula) with 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar. Add 1/2 cup of warm water in a spray bottle, shake well, and spray liberally on the oven interior. Clean the oven using a stainless steel soap pad and rinse.
**You can make homemade, phosphate-free dishwasher soap with this simple formula: Just mix 1 tablespoon of borax, 3 tablespoons of baking soda, and 2 drops of lemon oil. Use this mixture in your dishwasher after rising all food off the dishes. You'll never use store-bought again!!!
Vicki, where did you get the info that HGTV will be using leaded Copper Roofing material for the porch?? I read that the materials to be used are Shingle and Standing-Seam metal roof…. And most likely they will use an EnergyStar and Leed Compliant coating for color. I am positive that HGTV is looking to get the Highest LEED Certification possible!! They work hard to be innovative and honest. Recycling and local products are used constantly. Marie, thanks for the oven cleaning tip!!! I am sure that I will be using mine this winter a lot more…My little (big boy) one wants to learn to cook. We started with cookies… Organic, of course.. And tomorrow, we will work on a good, hearty, organic, turkey meatball soup. (his favorite). Love life by living green and having a Dream!!!
reneelovesgreen: for the info about the porch roofing material, go to HGTVpro.com; Building the HGTV Green Home 2010. At the left side of that screen, you should see the caption "Featured Photos". Click on the top photo (The Pinehills), then select image #5 "Special Features and Materials", in which the commentary states: "New and unique building materials for HGTV Green Home 2010 will include lead-coated copper for the porch roof and barn stone."
True, or not true, that is the question!
Thank you Coop!!! I will go take a look!!
After checking out the progress at the Green Home in Pinehills, and on your way to a "rail" Cape Cod experience, take time out to spend a couple hours at the ZooQuarium (30 miles from the Green Home) in West Yarmouth. This place offers a fun-filled family adventure that includes a petting zoo (with llamas, goats, deer, and fellow friends), an aquarium filled with sealife from the waters off the Cape (don't even THINK Lobster Thermidor!), a touch and hold tidal pool (listen carefully to the music of those fiddler crabs), and just enjoy a close-up visit with some of the local wildlife (no mention of bears, thank goodness.)
But keep it lively—don't stand still too long admiring all of the sights and sounds of nature, because you just might get an unexpected visit from a curious turkey vulture!
Plymouth Rocks!
Thank you Cape Cod Crusader for giving such lovely ways to spend valuable time in the Pinehills (and especially the warning of the dreaded turkey vulture)!!! The ZooQuarium sounds fabulous, especially since I just spent some time at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon! Aquariums are ideal fun & education for the whole family, especialy with the touch and hold pools. I, for one, never thought I would hold a shark!! And, my most favorite touch and feel sea creature was the Sea Slug with its vivid colors!! I guess spending time at aquariums and zoos is for those of us that are "Born to be Wild!!"
Coop: Thank you for keeping us motivated with the Rockin' Plymouth Places!!
MGTOTD: All our talk about the ocean, and its valueable inhabitants, brings my tip of the day:
See a battery, pick it up, and all the day you’ll have good luck. Especially if you take the battery that you found and safely recycle it, keeping dangerous toxic poisons out of our seas and drinking water.
Did you know that "The Pinehills" received the Grand Award for "Best Mixed Use Community" in the United States from Builder Magazine at the recent 2006 Builders Choice Design and Planning Awards?
"Founded on the idea that some land is appropriate for preserving and some for building, The Pinehills is unlike any other master planned community. More than 2000 of the 3000 acres of rolling hills and pine forest remain as open space with homes oriented to views of woods, water and golf, giving this "new" community a timeless quality!"
continuing….
"The newest village center within the historic town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, The Pinehills serves both local neighbors and residents of the community. From choosing "red or white" at the wine shop to take home with the dinner purchased at the café, to shopping for the perfect frame, window treatment or furnishing, to running errands from bank, to post office, to florist, to cleaners, the village green is the heart of the community. This vital center is also the place for browsing at "Art on the Green" in the spring or dancing to jazz and blues in later summer and, offers both neighbors and residents access to a variety of professional services".
"The Pinehills provides exceptional recreational amenities as well, from miles of walking paths and nature trails, to two daily fee golf courses, to the Stonebridge Club where friends meet to swim, play tennis, take a class or simply enjoy sitting by the fireplace. It is truly the definition of a mixed-use community."
WOW! WOW!! WOW!!!
Revere Freedom Gray Gutters Revere FreedomGray™ is standard architectural sheet copper coated both sides with a unique, patented Z-T Alloy™ (tin-zinc alloy). It offers all the advantages of copper in a naturally weathering earthtone gray color. FreedomGray is rugged, environmentally friendly and aesthetically appealing, for use in gutters as well as architectural roof elements and flashing.
Previously, architects, builders, roofers, contractors, and homeowners had little choice when looking for a gutter option with the strength and durability of copper, but in a gray color tone. There was (and still is) lead-coated copper, but with the green movement and the concern for long term environmental impact of our footprints, most have shied away from lead-coated copper. The Revere Freedom Gray zinc-copper fills that void. Freedom Gray gutter, downspouts, ad accessories may be veiwed @ http://www.copperguttershop.com/Revere_Freedom_Gr… Just thought that I would share this…… Love life by living green and having a Dream!!!
You are so quick!!!! I was researching our drive up north to take the Cape Cod Railway…and now you tell me about the ZooQuarium!!! You are too much… Now, I know for sure that you are not the Dos Equis Guy..!! How could you have time traveling the world and hanging out with beautiful people to give us all such great info always!! And I love the big claw on those fiddler craps calling their mate. Now, when we go, I plan to wear a hat…. after hearing about that turkey vulture!! We will take lots of pictures!!!!Thank you again Coop!!
Thank you Marie for always giving us all valuable information. My Son and I walk to the beach weekly and pick up trash whenever possible. He gets so upset that people leave their trash and gets stressed about what it does the sea life and the birds that frequent the beach… Especially, the cigarettes pushed into the sand!! He started to build a castle and once the digging began, he hit an ashtray…over twenty cigarettes in this one spot!!! If people would bring a bag (paper) to throw away their trash and throw the recycling items home to properly dispose of. It is wonderful having someone like you to remind us all of what is important!!
Really WOW!!!!!!! Thank you …. I see you must be feeling much better. Your research and tips are always missed when you are away!!
Good Morning Pinehills Bloggers, and HGTV fans everywhere. Since it's such a beautiful day, I have taken it upon myself to give a thumbs up to all the special bloggers on this page, and deservedly so!
I'm off to exercise my body up hill and vale, as I've given my mind it's morning workout already in these hallowed pages.
Plymouth Rocks!
Just to say Hello!
I've been up on the roof twice removing leaves from gutters. (A leaf blower works wonders!) And … to be honest…I don't think I'd have the courage to remove leaves from the tower's gutter. Hopefully the gutter will have some form of cover to keep leaves out. Just a consideration for the winner.
I wonder if THIS railway system is the same that my sis in RI said connects her town with Boston? She is thrilled for this new transportation to one of her fav. towns.
Great tip Marie! Will definitely try this! Thanks.
Thanks for this info Marie. I'm sure the winner of this home will be more than satisfied living in The Pinehills.
Did anyone take note of the warm basement floors? Awesome! That means a lot in cold climates.
Lessie: Please tell me more about the warm basement floors. Where did you find this information? I am not doing good about finding the latest on the Pinehills Green Home. Anyone who can direct me to the specifics, I would be most grateful. Thanks.
Lessie I didn't see any mention of heating the basement floors. Maybe you could let me know where you saw that fact.
It remains to be confirmed whether the basement floors are warmed. The photo caption I read simply stated the basement floor consisted of a vapor barrier, wire steel mesh, and concrete.
Much of the info about the Green Home, Katydid, is at the hgtvPro.com website. If you swing over there, on the main page near the top of the screen image, you'll see a number of "section" titles, such as Best Practices, News, Products, Design, etc. Click on the GREEN title, which will take you to Building HGTV Green Home 2010. Once there, you'll find plenty of videos to entertain and inform you, and under the Photo Features section, click on The Pinehills photo, which then brings up images and photo captions relevant to the construction of the Green Home. Get through all of that, and you'll be able to tell all of US everything we need to know about this Pinehills beauty!
Did anyone catch the football game last night? Patriots vs. Colts? WOW!! What a finish!! Right when I thought the Patriots could rest easy, here come the Colts! What a finish!! Manning threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne with 13 seconds left that rallied the unbeaten Colts to a 35-34 win over the Patriots. It was the most improbable victory for the Colts in their 18-game regular-season winning streak, which is now tied for the second-longest in league history with, of all teams, New England. WOW!
This game over-shadowed my Chargers' victory over the Eagles, and now the Chargers will be pushed to their limit heading to a showdown between the Broncos and Chargers in Denver next week!!
Posted by a "New" England Pinehill's Patriot Ph-an
MGTOTD: Upgrade to LED Christmas lights!!
Switching over to LEDs will make a big difference in holiday energy consumption no matter what type of incandescent lights you are replacing!!
reneelovesgreen: Thank you as always for providing such great information! We love the fact that you "Love life by living green and having a Dream!!!" Thumbs up my friend!!!
;@)
Ed in Oregon,
The Nov 11 Framing and Foundation post has a "Go to the Gallery" link. Click on it and go to photo 8. Click on the "vapor barrier" link. That's where I saw the Basement vlog. Will post the info below.
Ed in Oregon, here's the printed info on the vapor barrier:
Think of the surprise and delight a new homeowner would have to find that their basement is not only usable space, but warm and comfortable as well! By taking a few extra steps, builders can toss out the notion that basements are cursed to be dank, cold, musty storage rooms.
Most basements are built in direct contact with the cold moist ground. Concrete will absorb moisture, like a sponge, and the result is an uncomfortable, musty living space. The additional water introduced into the home can also lead to mold issues. Finding a way to keep water out of the basement will greatly improve the smell and health of the home.
(continued)
vapor barrier:
Heat is also lost through the basement floor. The notion that heat always rises isn't entirely true. Heat will flow towards relatively cooler places. If ground under the home is cooler than the basement temperature, which is the case in almost every climate year round, heat will naturally try to escape through the concrete slab.
Creating an insulation layer and a vapor barrier between the concrete slab and the ground beneath it is the best practice in insulating basement floors. The insulation barrier will help keep warm air in, and the vapor barrier will keep unwanted moisture out.
Here's how to do it:
Evenly spread the base gravel under the basement slab, keeping it one inch lower than the conventional method. Heat is also lost through the basement floor. The notion that heat always rises isn't entirely true. Heat will flow towards relatively cooler places. If ground under the home is cooler than the basement temperature, which is the case in almost every climate year round, heat will naturally try to escape through the concrete slab.
(continued)
vapor barrier:
Place a one-inch layer of 4'x8' extruded polystyrene foam board over the gravel, covering the entire floor area.
Tape the joints between the boards with builder's tape; you want to create a tight insulation layer.
Place 5 mil. polyethylene sheets over the foam board, overlapping at least 6 inches at the seam. Make sure there are no gaps, tears, or holes in the sheets and repair any you find with builder's tape. This covering will act as the vapor barrier.
vapor barrier:
Tape the joints with builder's tape and pour concrete as normal.
To go the extra mile, learn about insulating basement walls at BuildIQ.com.
BuildIQ also offers a comprehensive online course on water management for foundations. More information can be found on their website.
And if you want to give homeowners some resources for understanding how insulation works, have them visit the DOE's "Energy Savers" Website, which has fact sheets and information on insulation.
Ed in Oregon, remember I am trying to catch up. If I misread the article and it doesn't apply to the GreenHome, sorry. BUT this is certainly an HGTV best practice which should be implemented in the 2010 Green Home
The Green Home 2010 will definitely have the vapor barrier installed—a real plus when it comes to keeping cold and dampness out.
Plymouth Rocks!
Marie Miller, couldn't help but cheer for the Colts. Amazing victory! Looks like Peyton Manning beat the cheater. Good for Peyton!
Bad move by the Patriots going for it on fourth down, definitely changed the game. Don't worry Marie, the Chargers are on a winning streak & the Broncos are on a losing streak. The chargers will hold their practices in Julian, so they can get used to the rarified atmosphere. When they beat the Broncos they will be in first place, in the AFC West all by themselves. Remember positive thinking Marie!!
After having two previous posts simply disappear into thin air this evening, Coop has recruited me to circumvent the posting pirates! (Who knows, they may just as magically reappear sometime later.)
He was simply trying to point out another site of interest to potential Plymouth Pilgrims—the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. In Brewster, this museum inspires and educates folks of all ages to appreciate our world's natural wonders.
So for those interested in Living Lean and Going Green, check out the Museum's website and online schedule of events.
And speaking of Pilgrims, how are preparations going for the upcoming Thanksgiving feast? Coop and I are busily readying ourselves for the trials and tribulations of Caribbean cruising, coming soon to a port near Southern Florida and beyond.
Now, let the posting begin, without witchcraft or intense debate…
Show Me, have a great Caribbean cruise! What a tasty Thanksgiving meal you'll have as you bounce around the islands. Enjoy!