Concrete home construction

[dfkrug]

RE HVAC sizing for ICF structures..... There is free software to help
with heating calculations, including furnace sizing. It can accommodate
wall types, windows, thermal mass. In CA, new houses are required to
have what is called "Title 24" energy calculations, usually done by
specialists who do only that.

Beyond that, it is important to factor in the tightness of a poured-wall
concrete house. Blower door analyses have shown that ICF houses are
often 4x tighter than framed ones. This will require make-up air in the
ventillation system. An air-to-air heat exchanger will be desireable in
cold climates. Furthermore, wood stoves and fireplaces must use outside
air. Hydronic radiant heating is nice, but a ventillation system will still
be needed, so forced air heating can accommodate both.

The forced-air furnace in my house is the smallest one I could find (40KBTU)
for 2000 sf.

 

[Bill Barrett]

dfkrug I know what you mean, last one I did was about 4000 sq ft. We put a 60 K BTU 90 + furnace with a 2.5 ton A/C, home owner was very nervous about the A/C. When we got every thing up and running it was in the 90s high humidity, contractors in and out all day, and had the house below 70. That really means the A/C was too big, but they party and have three rug rats so it should be fine.

 

[Paddy]

Bill,

You are corrct, Over sizing the AC can lead to troubles. It can be nice and cold but high humidity. Not sure what size ours is but, we need to keep it colder than required to keep the humidity down. Other wise dosn't run much.

Was the home one story?

 

[Bill Barrett]

Two story, second story half the size of the first floor, it was stick built. I insulated it with PAR PAC system; this is dense pack cellulose behind nylon-reinforced plastic. It works very well, very tight. The new two stage A/C's are the way to go, these folks started running out of money so we sized it to entertain. All the family experts wanted at least 3.5 ton.

 

[rox]

Hey I think I can help you out. Well because of your travels you know that 99.9% of the homes in France are all cement, mostly block but not always. As a matter of fact jsut down the road they are starting to build a new home. I can take pics for you of the construction process if you would like. Would that be helpful to you?

Also we brought our roofer freind to France with us a few years ago and he loved some of the roof designs, especially my brother in laws house. Of course all tile roofs. there is a real pretty way of building the roofs where you have multiple tiles, hard to escribe, I'll try and get you a pic.

let me know if you want contructions pics of the house down the street. I'm sure it will be multiple stories, tow sisters are building next to each other, and the first sisters house, the shell is up, they are jsut starting to lay out the forms on the other sisters house so my guess is that it will be 2 story like her sisters.

 

[rox]

Paddy,
Since you go to Prague frequently, have you considered renting a nice condo?
We advertise our condo in Cannes France on this website, I pulled up Czec for you-

http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/europe/czech-republic

 

[Paddy]

Rox,

I was waiting for you! I had given up you'd show. Now were talking, yes please, photos would be great. I do travel often to Europe but I stay in the down town area and never get out to see 'single home' construction.

Do you have concrete floors as the second level?

How did your concrete tractor path go??

 

[_RaT_]

Hey I think I can help you out. Well because of your travels you know that 99.9% of the homes in France are all cement, mostly block but not always. As a matter of fact jsut down the road they are starting to build a new home. I can take pics for you of the construction process if you would like. Would that be helpful to you?

Also we brought our roofer freind to France with us a few years ago and he loved some of the roof designs, especially my brother in laws house. Of course all tile roofs. there is a real pretty way of building the roofs where you have multiple tiles, hard to escribe, I'll try and get you a pic.

let me know if you want contructions pics of the house down the street. I'm sure it will be multiple stories, tow sisters are building next to each other, and the first sisters house, the shell is up, they are jsut starting to lay out the forms on the other sisters house so my guess is that it will be 2 story like her sisters.

I for one would really enjoy that. Show the footing/foundation if you could, thanks, Mark

 

[bugstruck]

Rox, Bring those photos on. This group would have a real appreciation for that.

 

[rox]

okay, who knew anybody would be interested in that? I am always interested in following new home constuction but it is with the owners added input and their ideas and comments that make the topics so interesting.

i don't know the people who are building but it is jsut getting started so if 'yall are interested watch tomorrow and I'll take some pics and create a new topic.

Worked today pulling the suckers off the feet of the olive trees. I probably have a good 10 days to 2 weeks before I'm done with that. It is not anything that I can't take break from and wander down the road and take pics. I don't know what I'll be able to say about the pics since I myself only have experience having built traditional frame construction, er make that I paid for it not that I did it but at least I'll get some pics of the construction process and perhaps you all will figure it out by seeing the pics. Tioll tomorrow then...

 

[_RaT_]

Thanks Rox, I look forward to it.

 

[Paddy]

Rox,

So where are you from ..originally? Frame construction is not so commen in Europe

 

[KrumpsBrother]

Good website showing ICF/ICE metal stud house build from start to finish. I meet with the architect who designed this house this Friday. We may hire him to design our new home to be built next year.

Here's the site: Welcome to the Smith-Zimmerman home

KB

 

[midlf]

Paddy - Rox moved to France from SE Wisconsin (Milwaukee area).

 

[dfkrug]

Here is a picture of devastation in New Orleans last year.

It has always amazed me that people who have lived thru such
a disaster will usually rebuild just like their old house was built.
I remember the Loma Prieta Earthquake and how much damage it
caused. Seems its lessons have been all but forgotten around
here.

 

[_RaT_]

Here is a picture of devastation in New Orleans last year.

It has always amazed me that people who have lived thru such
a disaster will usually rebuild just like their old house was built.
I remember the Loma Prieta Earthquake and how much damage it
caused. Seems its lessons have been all but forgotten around
here.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Thats truly awesome. ICF vs stick frame, are there any doubts? I am a believer

 

[dmccarty]

I think a post and beam wood house would have survived. This type of construction is common on the NC coast. If the water does not hit the "second floor" or scour out the pilings, the houses survive pretty well. Look at the picture again. The house has no walls at ground level. The houses where taken out by storm surge and since the house was built on columns the water passed under the house. What impressives me is that his roof is in such good shape. I would love to see the details on how the roof is attached to the walls. Ya still would have thunk that the wind blowing into the house would have torn off the roof sheething. Pass Christian is right on the gulf and there are some interesting pictures on Google before Katrina. Lots of trees, greenery and nice ranch homes. Now I understand why the city was wiped out. Not much can survive the storm surge that hit them.....

Later,
Dan

 

[Highbeam]

The roof has no gable ends to speak of so maybe that helped it stay put. Kinda like trying to blow a turtle onto its belly.

Some roof damage is eveident but the structure looks solid. I wonder if he used wooden trusses or went all out with steel.

 

[Paddy]

KB,
I did not look at the details closely yet on the web site you posted but I have seen data where metal stud walls have a very low "whole wall" R-value. The studs conduct heat so well the ave R-value drops dramatically.

 

[dmccarty]

It looks like the windows have blown out, surprise surprise, which would allow the wind to get into the house. I would like to know if he followed or exceeded the fastening schedule for the sheething. I'm real impressed that the sheething is still there.

He sure designed and built the house right that is for sure.

Later,
Dan