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Interior walls are ready for insulation that will work with the highly efficient
This stormproof and 'green' home under construction by J. Hall Homes in Stafford started with steel framing.
Electrical cable snakes through steel studs used to frame
Steel framing gives the house a ghostly appearance Traditional wood studs serve only temporary and supporting roles at the Marlborough Point job site. |
BY RICHARD AMRHINE
What is a realistic way for builders to regain buyers' interest in a tough housing market?
Maybe they could build houses as cheaply as possible, because cheap is all that people can afford.
But a better answer, more builders are discovering, is to present buyers with innovative homes using the latest technology that will save them money in the long run while preserving the environment at the same time.
On a building site along Marlborough Point Road in eastern Stafford County, builder Jeff Hall of J. Hall Homes is doing just that. He's building a steel-frame house for clients seeking a home that is safe, efficient and technologically advanced. Such a house could be virtually fireproof, termite- and vermin-proof, stormproof, mold-resistant and highly energy-efficient.
Hall has all that covered--with stucco exterior walls and a standing-seam metal roof--in a house that he says costs little more per square foot than a typical stick-built house. The difference is that this one immediately starts paying its owners back.
ACHIEVING EFFICIENCY
At the heart of this new house will be a geothermal heating and cooling system with an air exchanger that lets the house "breathe" as it conditions and regulates the humidity of the incoming air. The system provides hot water at no extra charge, though a tankless water heater will be there just in case.
"People just have to stop and think about what they want and how they can achieve it," he said. "You just have to consider your options before you jump in."
Hall said a builder has to be willing to try new methods, and to work with his subcontractors on navigating the learning curve involved.
"None of us can be content with doing things the same old way," he said of his fellow builders. "It's in my best interest to bring these guys that I like, that I've worked with for years, right along with me. And they want to learn."
The house was designed by Warrenton architect Angus McDonald and uses Amcor's Unified Steel and Cement System. Hall is following the EarthCraft process, which covers all aspects of site planning, construction and utility systems. To achieve EarthCraft certification, homes must pass tests for energy efficiency, air infiltration and duct leakage established by EnergyStar and the Home Energy Rating System (HERS).
"It's a whole package that works together to provide a green, energy-efficient home," said Hall.
Helping guide Hall through the process is his EarthCraft adviser, Dan Dukes, whose company, Green Source Raters, is based in Falmouth. He'll be on hand when the house is tested by a third party to determine if it meets HERS and EarthCraft standards.
"Jeff is already on top of this technology so it makes my job easier," said Dukes. "What he is doing is innovative, but it's not rocket science. It's a cost-effective way to provide the homeowner with long-term savings."
Dukes said the standard HERS index for a new house built to code today is 100 or less. An index of 80 meets EarthCraft standards. His preliminary determination is that the Marlborough Point house could hit an index of 60, which is remarkable.
THE INSIDE STORY
Entering a house at this point in its construction and seeing steel rather than wood framing is a rare experience, despite steel's growing popularity in commercial construction. Hall notes that the framework is entirely screwed together--a nail gun was never used here.
Where possible, standard-size, factory-built, prefabricated wall framing was used, which expedites construction while limiting waste. The framing is covered with a steel mesh, on which two base layers of concrete are sprayed.
A third, exterior finishing layer of stucco, tinted according to preference, is then applied. Coupled with energy-saving vinyl casement windows, the exterior is maintenance-free.
The interior will be covered with sprayed foam insulation, then batt insulation is installed between the steel studs. Because the steel studs have a "C" shape, insulation actually goes inside the stud, unlike a wooden stud, further tightening the envelope.
Once drywall is installed, the house will look like any other, inside and out.
The process requires some special advance planning. For one thing, unlike conventional construction, flashing is installed before the exterior stucco is applied. That creates an efficient and fail-safe seal, unlike using caulk to fill in gaps around flashing applied over siding.
Another advantage is that by installing basement framing before the 4-inch-thick concrete floor is poured, the base of the steel framing ends up embedded in the slab.
"This house isn't going anywhere," Hall said.
The three-bedroom, 2-bathroom home will have about 2,800 square feet of finished living space. The basement will be left largely unfinished for now, but would add another 1,000 square feet of finished space.
Through the end of 2008, the federal government is offering a $2,000 tax credit to builders whose new homes meet or exceed certain energy-efficiency standards. Hall said he will use the proceeds to provide his buyers with $2,000 in energy-efficiency upgrades.
Richard Amrhine: 540/374-5406
Email: ramrhine@freelancestar.com
Upcoming dates to mark Builder Jeff Hall and J. Hall Homes will be featured on "The Savvy Homebuyer" this Sunday morning at 11:30 on Fox Channel 5. A training session on the EarthCraft program will be held this Thursday at the Hospitality House, at Carl D. Silver Parkway and Commerce Street in Central Park. The program runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is aimed at builders and others interested in green building practices. Cost is $175. Call 804/225-9843 for information. |
