This was another week of visible progress on the Sunset Green Home project.
If you've been following our updates, you'll notice that the pool house sheathing is now taped with ZIP System flashing tape, an acrylic adhesive tape that creates a weather tight (airtight and watertight) seal between the individual ZIP System sheathing panels.
Pool House Roof with ZIP System Flashing Tape Installed
The tape is applied with a pressure roller and forms a permanent seal within 30 minutes of application. Using the ZIP System panels and tape eliminates the need to apply an additional layer of house wrap around the structure. Mike Machernis, Huber Engineered Woods’ Business Development Manager demonstrated the strength of the bond to builder Chris Mensch of Coastal Management LLC.
Mike Machernis (Right) Demonstrating ZIP System Tape Strength
Another big change from last week is the addition of Sunset Green Home's second floor framing, and the start of the first floor sheathing. The views from the top are glorious! The roof system will come next, and the placement of the home's gables will allow builder Chris Mensch to use cathedral and tray ceilings in the upstairs bedrooms to create a greater sense of volume in the rooms. We've been discussing the features that will make each of the bedrooms unique.
Builder Chris Mensch on the Second Floor of Sunset Green Home
Note that the framers continue to use scrap pieces of wood to form the ladder blocking where interior and exterior walls intersect. This saves lumber, reduces waste and enables the house to have additional insulation in the walls. This is an advanced framing technique that helps the project to earn credit toward its LEED certification.
Framing Crew Working on Ladder Blocking
The pool construction team from Tortorella Group is busy creating the framing for the elevated gunite swimming pool. All that remains visible from last week's grade beam work are rebar connections that stick up out of the ground. Everything else has been filled in. We've been discussing where the pool equipment will be located to keep it protected and sufficiently distant from the pool house septic system.
Pool Builders Starting to Frame the Pool
Toward the end of the week, our homeowner's insurance company sent an appraiser to review our progress. She was traveling with a team of summer interns. All four were happy to have a chance to learn about a LEED registered home and the green features and technologies we're including. She remarked that some of the measures we're incorporating - like impact resistant windows - will reduce the home's insurance premium when the project is completed.
Insurance Appraiser with Summer Interns
Check back next week for another update!