 |
 |
 |
|
PATH Top 10 Techniques Ready to head down the road to improving the quality of housing? We recommend that you start with the following techniques to improve a home's quality, durability, energy efficiency, environmental performance and affordability. We selected these techniques because they can dramatically boost your ability to achieve these goals. 1. Use Optimum Value Engineering/Advanced Framing
Optimum value engineering (OVE) refers to framing techniques that reduce the amount of lumber used to build a home while maintaining its structural integrity. OVE results in lower material and labor costs, less construction waste, and improved energy performance for the building. While an advanced framing system can be applied as a whole package, many of its components can be used independently, depending on the specific needs of the project. 2. Use Prefabricated Components
Other popular prefabricated components include precast concrete walls, open web floor trusses, and panelized wall and roofing systems. 3. Build Overhangs, Especially over South- and West-Facing Windows
Roof overhangs keep hot summer sun from overheating a home and help protect the home from rain. The larger the overhang for windows or doors, the less frequently moisture problems will occur on exterior and foundation walls. Properly sized roof overhangs over south-facing windows will also block unwanted summer sunlight but allow heat gain from sunlight in winter. For detailed instructions on sizing overhangs to minimize exposure to solar radiation, consult Durability by Design. The local climate will determine the minimum size of overhangs. As a general rule, the wetter the climate, the larger the overhangs you'll need to install. Use 12-inch eaves and rakes in moderately dry climates, 18-inch eaves and 12-inch rakes in moderately moist climates, and a minimum of 24-inch eaves and 12-inch rakes in very wet climates. 4. Size HVAC Correctly
Use the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) guidelines for sizing HVAC equipment. Benefits include more satisfied customers and thus fewer callbacks, lower initial and operating costs, longer equipment run times and less cycling, and proper dehumidification during the cooling season. Use Manual J to estimate heating and air conditioning loads. This will be far more accurate than rules of thumb. Use Manual S to select the proper equipment. 5. Install HVAC and Ducts in Conditioned Spaces
6. Install Housewrap Properly
Housewrap is often viewed solely as an air barrier, but properly installed housewrap also blocks, collects and channels water that gets past the siding. Improperly installed housewrap, however, is a problem waiting to happen. If housewrap is not lapped correctly, for example, water may drain behind windows. Because housewraps are designed to allow water vapor to diffuse through them, they are best used in mixed and cold climates. For hot and humid climates, #15 felt paper, which limits water vapor transmission through walls in both directions, is a better choice. Proper housewrap installation techniques include:
For greater detail, see the Building America: Best Practices Series and PATH's Durability by Design. 7. Flash Windows Properly
Failure to flash correctly is a leading cause of roof and window leaks--and callbacks--so be sure to give windows and skylights the time they're due. Use guidelines for proper window flashing from Building America: Best Practices Series and PATH's Durability by Design. 8. Use Appropriate Air Sealing Details
Air infiltration may contribute to as much as 30% of a building's heating and cooling costs, as well as draftiness, moisture, noise, and dust problems. Significant leaks may occur near the attic, crawlspace, or basement, and around windows, doors, and chimneys. Plumbing chases, electrical outlets, attic accesses, ducts, and dropped ceilings are other likely suspects. Perform air sealing before adding insulation. Use caulk for sealing gaps of less than ½ inch. Spray foam can fill small holes, as well as large cracks. Expanding foam will work around windows if the product was designed for this purpose. Use weatherstripping to seal areas with moveable components, such as windows and doors. For larger areas, use housewrap or 15# felt paper to form an airtight seal over the exterior sheathing, and polyethylene plastic to seal complicated leakage areas that may be of irregular shape.
9. Insulate to ENERGY STAR Standards, Minimum Insulate your homes to ENERGY STAR standards at a minimum to increase occupant comfort, reduce indoor and outdoor noise, and lower your customers' energy bills. 10. Use Xeriscaping Techniques
In conjunction with drought-tolerant trees and bushes, rock garden arrangements with creeping groundcovers and succulents can provide height, texture, color, and seasonal variety equivalent to conventional ornamentals. Builders and developers can use xeriscaping in conjunction with other Low Impact Development (LID) techniques to minimize irrigation and landscape-maintenance costs in new subdivisions. Learn more from the PATH publication, The Practice of Low Impact Development. A version of this list was published in the December 2005 edition of Professional Builder. Content updated on 3/14/2007 |
A wide variety of prefabricated panels can be used in place of conventional framing. Prefabricated panels are produced in the factory, often using computer-controlled equipment that transfers panel-cutting instructions from digital CAD drawings. These panels can be
|
