Sarasota Green Construction

LEED for Homes Outstanding Project of the Year

admin — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:13:59 +0000

4/22/10 Earth Day

The Codding Cottage has been awarded the 2010 Outstanding Project of the Year (LEED for Homes) by the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the USGBC. The awards were held as part of the 2010 Smart Sustainable Conference in St. Petersburg. This was the chapter’s first annual award presentation.

The Codding Cottage was completed 12/08 and is still recognized as Florida’s highest scoring LEED Platinum Home. It is also the highest scoring home ever certified by the FGBC. The home has received numerous other awards including 5 Aurora Awards, 3 Grand Aurora Awards, Consumer Electronics Association’s Platinum Green Automated Home, and the Best in American Living Awards Platinum Award for the Best Green-Built Home as presented by the National Association of Home Builders at the International Builder’s Show.

Mission Valley Estates

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:45:52 +0000

FGBC Score = 242

Josh Wynne Construction, Inc. is proud to announce that its recently completed Mission Valley Estates Home has been awarded a score of 242 by the FGBC (Florida Green Building Coalition). With the certification of this home, Josh Wynne Construction has constructed 3 of the top 9 FGBC certified homes in the state, including the current best score of 267. Josh Wynne Construction is the only builder in the state with more than one home in the top 10.

This home is especially interesting because of its value. Great care was taken to reduce the electrical load on this home. In spite of having no gas available, and installing a swimming pool, this home achieved a HERS index of 52! This was enough to qualify this home for the DOE Builder’s Challenge. It is quite remarkable considering the total build costs were under $100/sqft!

The site has a rustic, native feel reminiscent of old Florida. The neighborhood features acreage lots, many of which are used as horse paddocks. These details, along with the client’s taste, steered the architecture toward a new Ranch style. Carriage style garage doors, lap siding, open rafters, and a covered front porch complete the feeling that this home inspires.

Long eaves, large insulated, impact patio doors, and intelligently located windows of the same construction make the most of Florida’s offerings while maintaining indoor comfort. The beautiful and durable polished concrete floors help to regulate the temperatures as well. Of course none of these design features can completely replace a well designed HVAC system when the Florida summer arrives. An advanced dampering system is the heart of the Bryant Evolution installed in this home. Two zones and two fan speeds help this 22 SEER Puron system maintain a comfortable home while sipping energy.

The HVAC requirements of this home are exactly half that of a code built home of the same size! Quality windows, doors, and insulation systems along with quality construction techniques make this home air-tight!

Durability was not sacrificed for cost! The roof consists of a secondary moisture barrier and solid soffit designs to control wind driven rains in the worst of Florida’s hurricane seasons. All roof decking was glued and nailed to ensure a solid adhesion. The foundation features installed tubes for combating any future termite/pest issues with minimal expenses. All wood members from the floor to the roof peak are treated with Bora Care, a natural, safe termiticide with mold inhibiting properties. For easy maintenance, a TAEXX tubular pest control system was installed throughout the home.

Indoor air quality was addressed in all areas. The duct system was sealed at installation. A MERV 10 filter cleans the air as the HVAC system runs. Sherwin-Williams Pro Green low-VOC paints make breathing easy and alleviate concerns of toxic off-gassing associated with other paints. Even the cabinet finishes are low-VOC!

Materials management is a major factor in smart construction. 75% of the waste from this project was diverted from the landfill for recycling! Construction techniques to reduce material usage were employed including smart design, stack wall construction, and good estimating practices. Many of the products in this home contain recycled materials. Concrete countertops with 98% recycled material content, fly ash, recycled content drywall, and engineered wood products are just a few examples.

Water usage is a major issue in Florida. 520 gallons of rainwater storage capacity severely cuts the need for supplemental water in the already drought tolerant landscape. The overflow even feeds the raised bed vegetable garden! Toilet technologies allowed for the use of 1.28 gal/flush toilets while maintaining a MAP rating of 10 (out of 10) in flush power. Aerators made it simple to use our favorite fixture designs while being responsible with water flow rates.

In addition to FGBC, the home is certified by Energy Star, FPL Build Smart, and Florida Yards & Neighborhoods. It was constructed in just four months. The price included site work, fees, pool and cage.

The FGBC is a nonprofit 501(C)3 Florida corporation dedicated to improving the build environment. “Our mission is to lead and promote sustainability with environmental, economic, and social benefits through regional education and certification programs.” For more information on FGBC visit www.floridagreenbuilding.org.

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admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:59:50 +0000

Josh Wynne Construction, Inc. on Facebook

Q&A: Harold Bubil Interviews Josh Wynne

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:41:30 +0000

Q&A: Home builder Josh Wynne on building green

by Harold Bubil

Custom-home builder Josh Wynne of Sarasota recently won a Best in American Living award at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas for his two-building residential project, known as the Codding Cottage, on Laurel Street in Sarasota. Harold Bubil spoke with Wynne about the award and his business of building sustainable houses.

Q: Did you have an idea that you would win multiple awards for this project when you started it?

A: I didn’t build the house to win awards, and I didn’t build it to be the greenest house in the state. It was about building the best, most sustainable house for my client’s budget. It was just about building the best house we could possibly build with the available technologies.

Q: You said you wanted to build the best house for the client’s budget. How did you achieve that?

A: Well, it was hard. We had to get outside the box, which is what I think made that house so special. If I had an open budget, we probably wouldn’t have been as good as we were on it. It was all about efficiency. Efficiency in systems management, efficiency in time. In order to make it profitable for me on a tight budget, I had to get it done in a really short amount of time, considering what it is. So aside from being energy-efficient, we had to be cost-efficient. My subs (subcontractors) had to work efficiently. We had to be efficient with materials management and with our waste.

So really efficiency was the key to getting it done, and, ironically, the reason it is so celebrated is because the house itself is so efficient.

Q: When you got that award, how did it make you feel?

A: I was a little surprised, actually. On a national level, it is a humble, quaint, little house house, and obviously I was excited and a little bit humbled. I just never anticipated anything like that when I started that project. It felt great!

Q: The Codding Cottage also won a Grand Aurora award at the Southeast Building Conference last summer, and I believe it is still among the greenest houses in the state.

A: On the LEED scale, it is the highest in the state by a long shot. I don’t think there is another house over 100 (points). There are multiple “platinum” houses in Florida, but most of them in the 70 and 80 range. That one ended up at 110. I think there are three in the country that are higher.

I’ve got one under construction now that’s registered that should be significantly higher. It may be the next “highest in the country.” It should be done in May or June. It is highly custom, so there are some variables that will affect the time line.

Q: What is the consumer attitude toward green building at this point in time?

A: I can answer that question as it relates to me. Obviously I am building green homes, but I don’t necessarily consider myself a green builder. I feel like I am building responsible, sustainable homes that make sense for the client.

There are a lot of people who have abused that word green, and have taken it on as a marketing strategy or a sales pitch, where really, my intent is and always has been to just build the best house I can build. And in doing so, I feel like those technologies in energy reduction, water reduction, durability — those are my responsibilities to my clients. And as long as we are doing that, I feel like it’s necessary to do third-party certification for the client’s protection. And we just end up high on these third-party certification scales.

I think my clients’ reaction to what we call green building is a positive one because we don’t do it for the sake of doing it. Everything has to equal value to the client. I am able to show value to the client for every dollar we spend.

Now I will tell you that some of my clients have certain wants that you can’t necessarily equate a value to. Some of them are really interested in water conservation, some more in energy conservation where there may not be a high-value payback, but there is a feel-good factor. They are interested in doing it for the sake of doing it. Not necessarily on my part, but their own wants and wishes.

So most of it is really value-based. I show the customer where it equals value in their resale. Value in performance. Value in lifestyle. And they either to do or they don’t. And mostly they’ve done it.

Q: How has the Codding Cottage been working out in terms of energy bills?

A: It’s been really good. I think his average, with a full-time person the carriage house, in the summer, for the two buildings was around $100. It’s 4,400 square feet worth of building; under air it’s 3,500. Pretty impressive. According to the Energy Star rating I got, it would have been $440 (if built just to code). Which makes sense, because it had a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) index of 27, so it should be about a quarter of what the average is.

Q: Is there anything your learned from that house in terms of what technologies pay back better than others, that would affect the recommendations you make to future clients?

A: Absolutely. I think if you don’t grow on each project, you are dying as a business. There is a lot of technology that is just better, already. The green product lines have blown up; there are a lot more options out there. They have pushed the technology. Solar, in particular, has gotten a lot better. There are better insulators. Better windows. Some new concepts in building designs. There is just a lot more to choose from.

The next house that I do should have a HERS index of about a negative 25 to a negative 50.

Q: So you are going to have that electric meter spinning backwards?

A: Absolutely. Definitely. And that house has no attic. It is an exposed-beam-and-decking attic, like a Sarasota school of architecture house. And that one has solid-panel foam on top of the roof deck.

Q: Where are we on the evolution of sustainable building. Is it starting to peak, or are there a lot of improvements that can still be made?

A: In my own mind, I’m about 10 percent of the way there. I’ve got some ideas; I’m probably going to have to build my own house in order to incorporate my ideas, because they are pretty wild. But I think zero-carbon houses are around the corner.

Q: So no carbon footprint whatsoever?

A: Correct.

Q: What is your wildest idea?

A: I can’t tell you. But I have a couple of projects on the drawing board right now that are really going to push the envelope hard. We are close to a 100 percent recycled house, and close to a zero carbon-footprint house in the next two years.

Josh Wynne Construction, Inc. wins Best in American Living Award - Best Green Built Home - for Codding Cottage

admin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:56:56 +0000

Las Vegas, NV January 19, 2010 — In recognition of the nation’s best new housing designs, the Best in American Living Awards (BALA) were presented at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas. A Platinum award in the BALA competition was presented to Josh Wynne Construction for the Codding Cottage project.

The Codding Cottage sets the standards for quality, ingenuity, sustainable innovations, and beauty in our industry today.

The Codding Cottage is a modern compliment to the original Florida Bungalows that have made the nationally designated historic neighborhood of Laurel Park in Sarasota, Fl such a terrific place to live.

The home features a long list of the latest innovations in technology and ‘green’ construction. Innovative products, along with industry experts, have helped bring this home to a level of efficiency and sustainability not often achieved.

This home reached the rating of Platinum under the LEED for Homes v.1 scoring system. At the time of completion it was among the highest scoring homes in the nation under the LEED rating system. The main house and the carriage house were the top two highest scoring homes ever certified by Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC). The home is also certified by Energy Star, Florida Yard and Neighborhood Landscape, FPL BuildSmart, and the National Wildlife Federation as a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

The Codding Cottage is a fine example of a ‘green’ home without compromise. The architecture is traditional and keeps with the neighborhood. The home serves all of its owner’s needs and wants without being excessive or ostentatious. Sustainable construction practices, healthy product choices, energy efficient features, and water conscious design make this home as inspiring as it is beautiful.

The Codding Cottage has also won 5 Aurora Awards and 3 Grand Aurora Awards at the Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) in Orlando in July of 2009. Additionally, it received a Platinum award for ‘Best Green Automated Home’ at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) Awards.

Sponsored by Professional Builder magazine and the National Association of Home Builders, BALA showcases homes that demonstrate design excellence, succeed in the marketplace and exemplify the “Best in American Living.” The competition is now in its 26th year. To qualify for a 2009 award, homes must have been completed or communities opened between January 1, 2008, and July 15, 2009.

A total of 67 award winners in 37 categories were chosen. The 2009 BALA competition’s panel of 6 judges was composed of builders, architects, interior designers and Professional Builder editors.

Winners will be featured in the February issue of Professional Builder magazine. For more information on the 2009 winners, visit www.probuilder.com/BALA.

Professional Builder is a 72-year old business publication that has earned a reputation as an invaluable resource for home builders looking for business information, product news and trend data. For additional information, go to www.probuilder.com or www.housingzone.com.

The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing more than 200,000 members. NAHB is affiliated with more than 800 state and local home-builder associations around the country.

For additional information on the winners, go to www.probuilder.com/bala or www.nahb.org.

What the hell is ‘green’ anyway?

admin — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:42:47 +0000

You can’t escape it! Everywhere you go retailers are trying to sell you ‘green’ options. Some promise a better product, others a clear conscious but most promise nothing. It may be a safe assumption that they deliver nothing as well. ’Green’ has become the catch word for selling anything these days. Cars, food, bags, flat screen TV’s, furniture, paint, carpet, knives, cookware, xmas lights, bulbs, landscape, etc…..are all available as ‘green’.

So what is ‘green’? How can it describe so many things? Will it make you live longer? Will it make you healthier? Can it make you happier? Green is a secondary color on the color wheel located between primary blue and primary yellow. That’s it! ’Green’ is not a standard, criteria, benchmark or certification. It really is just a color that many people have associated with any effort or perceived effort to reduce pollution and/or live healthier. At first it was innocent enough. It is certainly easier to describe your new home as ‘green’ than it is to define the qualities of your home that may or may not make it somehow superior to most others. Today ‘green’ as a label is being abused.

Most of you have likely already heard the term ‘green washing’. This term is used to describe a product or service that has somehow abused someone’s interpretation of the label ‘green’. Absurd isn’t it? An absurd and generic word like ‘green’ has now earned it’s own absurd retort. I am still uncertain how there can be ‘green washing’ at all since the word ‘green’ describes no specific standard for which to live up to.

Personally I try to avoid the word ‘green’ when referring to my homes. Instead, I refer to the specific standards that my homes meet/exceed. In my business these standards include: USGBC LEED, FGBC, Energy Star, FPL BuildSmart, Florida Yards and Neighborhoods, NAHB Green, WaterStar Gold, and National Wildlife Federation. While meeting any of these standards on a home may make you believe that the home is in fact ’green’, there is a world of difference between these standards. For instance, a home that meets all of these standards could be considered ‘green’. Also, a different home that meets only the FPL BuildSmart standard could be referred to as ‘green’. Does that mean that they are the same? Absolutely not! The point is that it is important to determine the standards by which a product or service might be measured rather than simply settling with the ‘green’ label.

There are a lot of local businesses who go way out of their way to make you believe that they are dedicated to your salvation and that of the earth. Some go so far as to use the word ‘green’ in their company name! Do not assume that they are in fact ‘green’. Ask them if the follow a set of standards with regional credentials. Ask them if ALL of the their projects or products meet those standards. There are many builders locally who claim to build ‘green buildings’ even in their names and marketing and yet most of their projects do not meet any standards! In my opinion, this is the bait and switch using our favorite word….. ‘green’.

Ask your purveyor or service provider what their intentions are regarding their choice to be ‘green’. Is it to save the Earth? Reduce electric and water bills? Create a healthier person? A healthier environment? Or is it just marketing pressure in a down economy. I have been labeled by others as a ‘green’ builder because I only build homes that meet the standards associated with our favorite word. I have no designs on saving the Earth one home at a time. I build the way I build because I believe in building my customers’ the best homes that their money can buy. I believe that they deserve to live in the healthiest homes that technology allows. I believe that if I can find value in water and energy conservation for my customers, then they deserve my effort to create that value. I believe that my customers deserve low waste service fees, low home owner’s insurance costs, low maintenance costs, and low landscape maintenance fees. For those reasons, I build durable homes that have native landscapes and I manage my waste during construction. I won’t recommend anything ‘green’ to my customers unless it is free or it creates value in some way. These points qualify my homes for the toughest standards generally associated with the ‘green’ label.

‘Green’ is NOT a bad thing! It is misunderstood because of the reasons that I have stated. I don’t suggest that you run away from everyone and everything that uses the word ‘green’ as a hook. I propose the opposite! Stand and ask the tough questions. Ask them why. Ask them how. Ask them how often and by what measure. Ask them to explain why you should give your green in exchange for their ‘green’! If you see red (as in blushing) turn and run!

I hope this helps your understanding of the word ‘green’!

Great Article on our trade partner, Concrete Countertops, Etc.

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:49:14 +0000

From cement and water, a niche industry is born

Click here to read the full story

Click here to learn more about Concrete Countertops, Etc.

Key West

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:57:39 +0000

As I write this blog, I am returning from a long weekend visit to Key West. Being among the oldest cities in Florida, Key West offers a rare glimpse into Florida’s past. Most Notable to me is how their lifestyles, weather, trade skills and material availability sculpted the vernacular architecture.

Key West is an inspired place. The fact that for over 50 years it was the wealthiest city in America per capita, is apparent in the intricately crafted woodwork on the oldest of homes. Being a maritime society gave Key West an unusually high number of skilled woodworkers, most of whom had worked in the construction or salvage of ships. It is amazing to me that in spite of the fact that there were no power tools, high tech mills, routers, and other modern conveniences, such incredible consideration was given to each home’s adornments. In my opinion, it is a testament to the pride of ownership that is nearly lost on America today.

The Key West vernacular architecture is, naturally, a blend of many traditional schools. Since there were indigenous peoples here, residents brought with them their knowledge of the prevailing architectural trends from their homelands and infused it with the local conditions, and materials that were available. As such, you will find Cracker, Bahamian, Antebellum, Greek Gothic and other styles. They are generally infused with the period popular, Victorian style. It is the Victorian element that most people associate with Key West, often referred to as “gingerbread”. The unique balustrade detailing that is so common on the island always enamors me.

It is hard to imagine ever building a home that is easier on the environment than these old homes. Most of the homes were built using the existing cypress and pine trees, present on the intended home-site. Many more were built with materials salvaged from the steady supply of shipwrecks present along the coast. These guys were recycling 180 years ago! No power was available on the island until the 1940’s so every home was designed using passive ventilation and cooling principles. The foundations were built from the quarried limestone that was removed to make way for the cistern. Cisterns were the only source of fresh water on the island so every home and business had one.

Leaving Key West leaves me feeling a bit sad that people now consider homes as assets that are to be traded or sold rather than the treasures that they once were. Those homes were built to house a family for generations. The pride and commitment to build an heirloom such as those homes, is rarely present today. The craftsmanship required to fill that need is rapidly being lost as we strive to live faster, bigger, cheaper, and more disposable. Do yourselves a favor and visit any historic city. When you look into those magnificent homes that still remain, consider the effort, pride, quality and commitment it must have taken build them in their day. Perhaps you will find yourself driven to build a home worthy of a conversation 150 years from now. If you do, I’ll be ready to assist you!

Josh Wynne Construction wins 8 Aurora Awards at Southeast Building Conference!

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:54:26 +0000

SOUTHEAST BUILDERS, DESIGNERS TO RECEIVE PRESTIGIOUS
AURORA AWARDS
The Grammy’s of the Home Building Industry

The AURORA Awards are presented each year to builders, developers, architects, planners, interior merchandisers, landscape architects and other disciplines actively involved in projects in a 12-state southeastern region plus the Caribbean who have demonstrated building and design excellence.

This year’s winners were selected from among 80 categories by a panel of industry experts and were honored at the 30th Annual AURORA Awards Gala/Spectacular on Saturday evening, August 1, 2009, at the Southeast Building Conference in Orlando, Florida. View the winners of the 2009 Aurora Award.

Now in its 30th year, the AURORA Awards program is affiliated with the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) and the Southeast Building Conference (SEBC), one of two regional trade shows recognized by and affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Josh Wynne Construction won an Aurora in the following catagories for his work on the Codding Cottage:

Best Natural Gas

Best Energy Efficient

Best Water Wise

Best Green Construction Affordable Housing

Best Green Construction Custom Home

Josh Wynne Construction also won 3 Grand Auroras for:

Best Natural Gas

Best Energy Efficient

Best Green Construction Affordable Housing

The making of a high performance green home on a budget - Framing, Rough-Ins, Insulation

admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:11:23 +0000

For this home, concrete block was chosen for exterior walls. The materials and manufacturing are local and the cost is effective. SIPS (Structural Insulated Panel Systems) claim faster building times, less material waste, higher “R” values, and easier construction but I have not found this to be true. Concrete block is readily available, strong, can be fitted with insulation superior to most SIPS, can be completely recycled locally, and can be installed in just a few days. It is also about 15% cheaper than most SIPS. In some instances certain SIPS systems are superior but this was not such an application. The walls took just four days to install including the concrete beam work. All concrete and steel was recycled locally.

Engineered, open webbed roof trusses were installed. These trusses are designed to be as strong as possible while keeping material use at a minimum. Our trusses are treated at the plant with a proprietary boric acid product known as Frame Guard. The plant is local. Frame Guard is easily recognized by its green color. It is designed as a moldicide to prevent the growth of mold during the construction process and beyond. Boric acid also deters wood boring insects and is completely harmless to people. In fact, it is often used as a wash agent in the eyes of newborn babies.

The roof deck is constructed of a product called ZIP-Ply. It is made from wood chips much like OSB. However, this product uses glues that are far superior to ordinary OSB. It is rated for direct exterior exposure. This is due in part to the pre-applied exterior membrane. This product is Miami-Dade rated as an approved secondary moisture barrier. If the primary roof ever blew off in a storm, this product would protect the home from moisture damage. Most homes utilize a nail down felt sheet that will blow off in a storm. This extra protection adds to the durability of the home and allows for a reduced home owner’s insurance rate. It also reduces materials and labor.

For interior framing, we utilized a locally sourced white pine framing, and treated with Borate where necessary for moisture exposure in wet walls and in contact with concrete. Low waste factors were used to ensure that nothing was wasted. Also, we used stacked wall construction to reduce the length requirements in the lumber. This saves money and materials without affecting quality.

High efficiency vinyl windows with LOW-E, insulated, impact resistant glass were installed. The doors were of the same variety. All of these were sourced locally. Impact resistant glass is superior to protective coverings (shutters) for several reasons. Impact glass provides for an insurance discount, offers constant security, and protects your home without fail. Shutters only work if you’re there to install them and offer no insurance savings. I will only build with impact glass. The investment into these superior performing windows is quickly recovered through energy savings and insurance discounts. Not to mention piece of mind and comfort!

Electrical rough-in included pre-wire for fluorescent lighting in all closet and utility applications. Switched circuits were used for LED rope light to provide ambiance without using much energy. All other lighting will be CFL or LED. There will be no incandescent or halogen lighting in this home. Bath fans were wired for timers to ensure that they are not left on longer than necessary. This home also includes a full structured wiring package and alarm pre-wire. The panel is ready to accept an inverter for a future installed solar PV system.

A solar hot water system is installed on the lighter colored roof shingle. This will provide all of the hot water to the 80 gallon tank located in the garage. A single valve shut-off for the washer supply is used to ensure easy shut-off in case of a flood. The utility room is located adjacent to the garage to control washer flooding if it ever occurs. Access to all in-wall valves has been framed for future service.

The HVAC system was sized by a mechanical engineer. In spite of this home’s size, only a 1.42 ton air conditioner is required to service this home. A 2 ton, 2 speed system using 2 zones is installed. It is a 20 SEER, Puron system by Bryant Evolution. All duct runs are centralized with remote returns. The entire system was sealed at install to ensure no construction debris enters the ducts. The air handler is located in a serviceable attic that is completely sealed and insulated. This will allow the system to operate at its peak efficiency. This system is tested by a third party using the ‘smoke test ‘ standard. It is a prerequisite to the Energy Star certification.

The exterior walls use to separate insulating systems. The primary is a Tri-polymer, urea-formaldehyde free, non-expanding foam. This will provide an R-10 factor. The second is perforated radiant barrier providing R-4.1. These systems are healthy, effective insulators that do not create a vapor barrier. Vapor barriers in FL create prime opportunity for mold growth. Foil-faced rigid insulation is such a vapor barrier and it only provides R-5.

All overhead insulation is R-21 Bio-Based sprayed foam insulation in an open-cell configuration. This creates a cool attic allowing for a better climate for your duct-work, and a cleaner indoor air quality. It also makes a really tight home. In fact, it is so tight that we use a ducted fresh air return for the HVAC system to keep the home’s pressure balanced! The insulation barriers are tested to the ‘Thermal By-Pass’ standard as a prerequisite to the Energy Star certification. We also created a barrier to the roof at the garage to prevent possible air contamination from vehicle exhaust.

All interior walls adjacent to common areas are insulated using a formaldehyde-free, healthy batt insulation to control sound. This feature is important to the livability and comfort of the home. All slab penetrations were sealed using a no-VOC sealant.

Interior considerations were made for pest control as well. The bottom three feet of all walls were treated with Bora-care, another boric acid based pest control designed to combat termites. All other lumber in the home is treated with Tim-Bor, a boric acid product designed to combat wood boring insects, and dry-wood and Formosan termites. For ordinary pest control we installed the Taexx system. It is a system of perforated tubes run in the walls. A mounting valve on the exterior of the home allows a pest control service to treat your home using EPE exempt products without even being home. No more baseboard spraying!

Drywall was installed on June 20^th! We started digging on April 16^th. How is that for efficient? Stay tuned for more. I will be finished by mid-August.