Tag Archives: insulation

And Then There Was Drywall

Posted on April 4, 2009 by jeremybell

It’s been 222 days since we began construction, and we finally have drywall. I’m actually shocked how quickly everything was installed—The insulation and vapour barrier was delivered on March 21st and subsequently installed on the 31st. Drywall was delivered on … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Materials | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Something Blue

Posted on February 26, 2009 by jeremybell

When it comes to insulating a roof, there aren’t many options… and in the case of a flat roof, the options are even fewer. A traditionally pitched roof has a large ventilated space that sits between the insulation (typically cellulose … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Materials | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments

Of Insulation & HVAC

Posted on November 26, 2008 by jeremybell

One of our goals with this project has been to construct the most energy efficient and eco-friendly building envelope possible. This has required that we pay close attention to the various insulation values and invest in the most efficient HVAC … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Eco / Green, Financial | Tagged , | 9 Comments

ICF to the roof?

Posted on July 15, 2008 by jeremybell

I’ve already discussed the benefits of using ICFs for our foundation, but we’re now considering using them to construct the entire building envelope. We had originally expected it to be cost probative, but after getting a few quotes it appears … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture & Design, Eco / Green | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Under The Garage

Posted on June 23, 2008 by jeremybell

I don’t believe this is particularly common, but we’re planning on building two extra rooms in our basement by excavating the space under our garage. In a typical garage, the floor is simply a concrete slab that sits on top … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture & Design, Construction, Materials | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Energy Consultation

Posted on June 14, 2008 by jeremybell

As part of the design process, we’ve also begun working with an energy consultant who will help us define the HVAC system for the new house. The first step in defining the system is determining what the heating and cooling … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Eco / Green | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

$10,000 in Rebates*

Posted on June 7, 2008 by jeremybell

The Canadian and Ontario governments are now offering up to $10,000 in rebates when you improve the energy efficiency of your home. If you were considering an energy-efficient upgrade, this is definitely something you should look into. The program is … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Eco / Green, Financial, Materials | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

SIPs 'n Sticks

Posted on June 6, 2008 by jeremybell

SIPs, or Structural Insulated Panels, is another eco-friendly alternative we’re considering for this project. As you can see above, the concept is pretty simple—a layer of insulating foam is sandwiched between 2 pieces of structural board, which creates fully insulated … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Eco / Green, Materials | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment