Super Tuff R

Super Tuff R rigid insulation ("robot suit")

 

The insulation board is up on the exterior of the house. More on the total wall assembly later, but we have chosen this insulation for its durability as well as its R-value contribution.

Joists and Sheathing

Roof joists and attic floor

 

The lumber we used for framing, for sheathing, and for decking all qualify as Environmentally Preferred Products (EPP.) The plywoods are certified to have no added urea formaldehyde and are from a plant within 500 miles of the project site. Our contractor had a consultant prepare a detailed take off for purchasing the framing lumber in an effort to minimize waste.

Wood You Believe...?

Walls getting framed, along with large laminated beams for the main room

 

The lumber we're using for framing is all southern yellow pine that is sustainably harvested. We have also spaced certain framing members a few inches further apart and implemented ladder blocking and two-stud corners for a more materials-efficient frame. Increased spacing has the added benefit of leaving more of a gap for insulation, whereas the wood studs are typically a point of thermal loss.

Beneath the Sill Plate

Foam Sealer

 

This pink bad-boy goes beneath the sole plate of every wall. It helps keep moisture from the slab from being wicked up by the wood frame and also helps insulate any air gaps between the two.

Slab

The littlest Grovewood inspects the slab

 

Most of the finished floors in our home will be polished concrete, which is an Environmentally Preferred Product (EPP) both because of its recycled content - flyash, a byproduct of coal combustion that can replace some of the high-embodied-energy Portland cement in concrete - and because it is a hard flooring surface that doesn't trap or absorb pollutants the way some flooring treatments can.

Under the Slab

Moisture barrier beneath the slab

Prepping the Site

Digging out the pad for the foundation

Installation of the silt fence

The silt fence is part of credit SS 1.1 Erosion Controls During Construction, which is a prerequisite. The fence helps control storm water runoff from the site, which can get yuckier than normal during a construction project and can also be more voluminous if the site around the building gets compacted during construction.

We are happy LEED encourages our project team to do its part to keep our local waterways clear!