Page 28 - Green Builder Homeowner's Handbook 2016

The Homeowner’s Handbook SEVENTH EDITION

Structure03

Think in terms of systems, not just sticks and bricks.

Wood framing, concrete Dimensional Lumber

blocks and SIPs each have Virtues Caveats

pros and cons. Make sure ¦¦ Renewable (if forest is well ¦¦ May create unwanted
managed) thermal bridging
you understand your options
¦¦ Familiar to contractors ¦¦ Requires skilled labor
before you start building.
¦¦ Excellent durability
WHILE WOOD FRAMING is the most common
and familiar type of home structure, you have Insulating Concrete Forms
other options, including insulating concrete
forms (ICFs), structural insulated panels (SIPs) Virtues
and lightweight concrete blocks. Of course, if
you’re adventurous, many other systems have ¦¦ Very little air
been around for decades, including log homes, straw bale, cordwood infiltration
and even Earthships. Not every method of construction may be
right for your geography, but most technologies can be modified to ¦¦ Lightweight forms
accommodate your taste and your region. For the purposes of this assemble easily
primer, however, let’s stick to the structural systems your builder
is most likely to know and understand. ¦¦ Thermal mass of
concrete slows
WOOD FRAMING temperature swings
Old and New
Caveats
Wood, by its very nature, is a green product. If forests are managed
properly, trees grow back. How do you know if forests are being ¦¦ Exposed foam may
treated with respect? Look for lumber that is certified by the Forest need protection
Stewardship Council (www.fsc.org) or the Sustainable Forestry
Initiative (www.sfiprogram.org). Typically, energy-efficient ¦¦ Some brands
builders prefer 2” x 6” lumber for vertical studs in wall cavities, require additional
because the wider space allows for more insulation. furring strips to
attach drywall
Another more recent wood framing technology is called engineered and siding
wood products (EWP). Products such as studs and joists are created in
a factory with special water-resistant glues and fibers from leftover mill
lumber or fast-growing tree species. They are pressed and glued into
lightweight floor joists, rafters or other structural pieces. The green
advantages? First, engineered products use more of the tree—there’s
virtually no waste. Second, they tend to be more stable and straight
than dimensional lumber. The downside? Certain products need to
be stored carefully and installed exactly as intended, or they can lose
their structural integrity.

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