Question - I want to build a conventional-looking 2,500 sq. ft. super-efficient house. My sons and I want to do some of the work ourselves. What construction method do you recommend? P.S.
Answer - Your question is timely because I plan to build a similar house. I would recommend stress-skin panel construction. These houses are well-insulated (up to R-40 walls) and airtight. Your heating and cooling bills should be at least 50 percent less than a standard 2x4-studded wall house.
The term "stress-skin" panel refers to the fact that the wall and roof panels carry all the load themselves. They do not need any framing or other supporting structure. Once the panels are delivered to your site, you can usually have the house closed in just a couple of days.
This makes them ideal for the do-it-yourself builder. You send your floor plan to the stress-skin panel manufacturers. Their computers design all the panels and components. The panels, numbered per the assembly plan, are delivered to your building site with window and door openings already cut.
Each panel (up to 24 feet long and 8 feet wide) consists of thick rigid foam insulation with structural plywood or waferboard bonded to each side. They can be ordered with paneling or drywall already attached. You can also purchase uncut panels and install windows and doors yourself.
The panels are manufactured in a "house factory" with rigid quality control. Since they are not exposed to the outdoor weather for weeks or months like conventional building materials, the fit and finish is excellent. This speeds up construction at your site.
Wiring chases are routed into the insulation before the stress skins are attached. This makes for simple electrical wiring and very airtight construction. These houses are quiet and dust-free. In typical construction, there is much air leakage around poorly sealed conduit boxes.
With most manufacturers' panels, the insulation in the bottom of the panel is routed out to accept a lumber sill plate on top of a standard foundation. Each panel is joined vertically and sealed along the joints with standard lumber or insulated splines.
You work your way around the foundation until all of the wall panels are up and properly positioned. The corners are nailed together through studs that are in the routed-out ends of the corner panels. This forms an extremely strong and rigid house.
You can write to me for Utility Bills Update No. 428 listing stress-skin panel manufacturers, typical panel specifications, and exterior diagrams of five conventional and contemporary stress-skin panel houses. Write to James Dulley, Deseret News, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244. Please include $1.50 and a self-addressed business-size envelope.
Question - When I hold my hand over the end of my vacuum cleaner hose, the motor races faster. Does the same thing happen to my furnace blower when I close registers to unused rooms, and does this waste electricity? R.T.
Answer - It is a common misconception that a blower motor uses more electricity when the air flow is restricted. Your vacuum cleaner motor speeds up when you block the hose because it is doing no work when no air is moving. In this unloaded "clogged" state, it is actually using less electricity.
This is similar to your furnace blower. As you close off registers to unused rooms, the resistance in your duct system increases. This reduces the load on your furnace blower. If you close too many registers, however, the air flow is overly restricted and the furnace heat exchanger becomes inefficient.
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