Making Progress, making decisions

The stone is going on the house!

Luke, the mason, cutting the stone

The weeds are growing...like weeds!

     Yes--I am finally back blogging. Summer is way too busy.  The house building is definitely moving at a faster pace now. The parade of homes date is set for 10/20 through 10/23. How exciting! I will officially have the house on my birthday, 10/23! Its amazing how step by step it is nearing completion. I agonized over my decisions on the house colors for the exterior. I  had 4 things to decide upon: : stone, siding, dryvit (stucco) and trim color. In my case, I happened to choose what was labeled as "tan" for the window color but really is an almond/light yellow color. That it turn determined the choice of the soffit color which in turn determined the trim color since they are usually one and the same. I now understand why most people stick with white for the window/soffit/trim color: IT MATCHES EVERYTHING.
     This is not the path I chose however! I decided I wanted something different besides white. Little did I realize at the time that it would narrow down my choices for siding, stone, and dryvit colors, since my trim color doesn't match to much. With the help of Jamie, the builder, and Jason, the guy at Fond du Lac stone and brick, I was able to come up with a good match with the stone. To come up with a dryvit color, I personally when to the place that sells it, then compared nearly 37 colors with a sample of my soffit.  I took those that seemed to be the closest match to the stone company, Fond du Lac stone and brick. As you can see in the pictures, the colors look great together--whew!
    A funny thing happened when I was first investigating trim colors. . The plan calls for something called Azek trim which is durable and made out of PVC.  I was imagining all sorts of different colors for this and how it would affect the other choices that I had to make. I decided to check out the website on the Azek trim. So, I clicked on the website http://www.azek.com/ and clicked on " trim". Then I clicked on "colors". What appeared to be a white screen showed up. I was puzzled. "Where are the colors?" I thought. "There must be some mistake!" So I clicked on another section that they had for materials used in making decks.  On the page appeared 12 different colors. I clicked back to the trim section. White. No colors! I had to laugh. I decided that this was the universe's answer to my poor decision making--I only get one choice when it comes to trim.  Actually, as it turns out, the trim gets painted to the color of your choice, and in my case it will match the soffit color (the almond color).
   The other thing I got very excited about was the insulation. My old house, the cottage, had no insulation until we put some in about 6 years ago. This meant we got lots of drafts and our house was always cold. We had no indoor air pollution either--new air circulated frequently through the walls. My new house is insulated to the max. I was actually surprised at the amount of insulation. First they do   3" of spray foam around all the windows and sills. Then they spray 1 inch of a soy based, non toxic  foam into the walls. On top of that is a cellulose batting. The inside walls get the batting too. My house is a marshmellow! The install some type of air exchanger to help exchange the air.


Colleen and Caroline at the entryway of my insulated house

 

Windows

   To my blog followers:  I apologize for the hiatus. It's summer! That means less time to get to the computer. The Neilsen Manor, as we fondly call it in our family, is coming along slowly but surely. The windows are nearly all installed now (except 2).  There were a couple of mishaps. Apparently, when the windows were being loaded in the lumbar yard to be shipped to my house, someone ran into the windows and several were broken. Back to the factory they went. Then they were installed. However, the builder found a couple of defects (something to do with the weather stripping) on a couple of the windows and is waiting for them to be fixed.  Progress in other areas of the house building has occurred too. What is labeled as the "rough in" for the electricity, plumbing and heating systems has been completed.
      It was so much fun to see the windows get in. For several months, the windows were covered with paper and now the light shines in and I can appreciate all the views. My favorite view is from the great room and from the master bedroom located on the floor above it. The master bedroom has a stair step ceiling coming up from either side. That, combined with the view, will be spectacular.
      I realized after visiting my sister and brother in law in Seattle, that the ability of a window to keep out the cold is a lot more important here in Wisconsin. The real test of the windows will be in the midst of winter with a cold, northeast wind blowing off of an icy Lake Winnebago. There are certainly a lot of choices for windows. I went with what the builder recommended. He is working with a new supplier. The windows  are from a company called Weather Shield. Their windows are made with Zo-e-shield glass. Mine is called Zo-e-shield 6. The difference between that and Zo-e-shield 5 is an extra pane of glass.


The following is a quote from their website.
"An extremely energy efficient insulated glass system is now available.  It was introduced at the National Home Builders show in Orlando in early 2007. All Energy Star requirements  are substantially exceeded by this new technology.   We have literature available and hands-on demonstrations available for anyone interested or as part of a Green-related meeting or presentation. Just give us a call to set up a demonstration in our showroom, or to schedule an off-premises presentation.

Zo-e shield 5 is a combination of a new Low-E3 coating with EasyCare and an Argon/Krypton gas fill. The combination of these elements along with a warm-edge spacer system gives our customers one of the highest performing insulated glass systems on the market today. In addition, the outter glass is double strength, which is more rigid, and minimizes stress cracks as well as sound transmissivity. This technology is an exclusive for the Schield Family Companies (Visions, Peachtree, Vetters, Crestline, and Weather Shield).
The Benefits of Zo-e-shield Glass

• Over 30% reduction in solar heat gain over standard Low-E
• 33% estimated savings on cooling expenses
• Blocks 95% of damaging UV rays
• Special EasyCare coating on exterior keeps windows cleaner longer
• In the winter, Zo-e-shield glass surfaces reflect heat back into a room
• The addition of an Argon / Krypton gas mix improves the overall thermal efficiency of the glass
• Flexible warm-edge spacer system
• Creates an effective insulating barrier against heat flow
• Reduces heat loss
• Reduces thermal stress cracks
• Reduces condensation that can cause mold and mildew
• Reduced seal failures (fogged glass)
• Thicker exterior glass for more durability, less flexing and distortion due to wind loads, fewer stress cracks,less noise transmissivity, and more overall window stability.
• High performance Zo-e Shield 5 insulated glass includes Low-E cubed (triple coating)."

Other more common names in the window industry would be Anderson and Pella. Usually my builder has used Anderson, but Weather Shield has been promoting their new product heavily in our area and gave him a good deal. I talked with the window specialist at Omni Glass in Oshkosh, Connie, who has been in the business for a long time. She felt the new Weather Shield product was very comparable to the other more well known names. I will have to give you an update this winter.


Burning questions that I have been pondering: where to put the TV? Over the fireplace? Build shelving on either side of the fireplace and put it in there? Or keep the space open on either side and get a TV on a stand that is portable--that way I can have it change position if I need it too. The other burning question is where to place the half wall(s) between the kitchen and great room. There are 3 arched openings separating the kitchen and great room. The plan calls for 2 half walls/cabinets on either side of the central opening. Colleen's contention is that we will always run into the back of a couch with that set up. She is promoting putting the half wall in the center opening. Then the couch will lean up against it. I am still pondering that one. There are about a million and one decisions to make when building a house!

Lake side of the house

View from the dock

Sunflowers popping up and Miss sunshine, Anna

Sister, Gail and me

My mom, next to the fireplace (I couldn't get the picture to rotate!)

Topping it Off: The Roof

    Yeah! The roof is going on the house!After taking about a month to make a decision on the color, its finally going up. Fortunately,  I am liking the color. It is one of the more common colors on roofs now. What was holding up the decision was not so much the color as the fact that I was trying to make a decision on the siding, the stone, the stucco, and the trim and wanted the roof to match (obviously).  The roof shingles are an asphalt shingle called "weathered wood" and are a light brown. Ultimately, I decided I could go ahead with the roof even though I haven't made final decisions on all of those other pieces of the exterior. The color I have chosen should match with most things. Delaying on the roof means that I now agnoze over the water that comes in every time it rains. The next step is the windows which should be coming soon. I went with asphalt because it is cheaper. Its not really a great option in terms of being green since its made from petroleum products and its difficult to recycle, but I am hoping that by the time the house is ready for its second roof that that the shingles will be a lot easier to recycle than it is now. I felt sorry for the roofers this week though. The annual outbreak of lakeflies started over the weekend. These are 3/4" green flies with wings, but no teeth, who hatch for 2 weeks in May of every year. They hatch, then mate, and then die. They are important for the ecosystem of Lake Winnebago because their eggs (which they lay in the water) provide food for the sturgeon fish that inhabit the lake. The lakeflies come out in droves and are a nuisance for 2 weeks. They were horrible this week when I went to visit the house. Thanks to the roofers for putting up with them!
Green decisions re: roofs: If you wanted to be really green, you could go with a sod roof (think Al Johnson's restaurant in Door County).
Another nice option is a metal roof: it lasts a super long time (50 years) and it can be recycled at the end of its life. Its made primarily from recycled steel as well. The market share for metal roofs has tripled in the last decade (to about 7% of the market). The downsides? It costs twice as much as an asphalt roof and the metal may interfere with cell phone signals.
A third option is a recycled roof made from 80%recycled plastic and rubber with the other 20% being made for limestone fillers for added strength.The company that  makes these is Eco Star. The roofs are beautiful but come at a cost: about 3x the cost of an asphalt roof.
There is also the option of a clay or concrete tile roof. These last over 100 years or more. However, they are heavy. Plus, they have a harder time handling extreme cold without cracking.

Billie Jo Mathusek: co-owner of Gallery Homes, interior design consultant

Colleen, Mary Alice (my sister), myself and Caroline

Geothermal for heating and cooling

     Spring is slowly arriving. Last weekend it hit the 70 degree mark while this weekend there were a few snow flurries. I know I have been slow at getting the blog postings out of late. The actual building of the house has been on pause mode while I have furiously debated to myself what colors and stone to put on the exterior and the what the color the roof should be. Its such a permanent decision. I am now debating between using some real stone on the exterior (about $2.50 extra per square foot from the Fond du Lac Stone company) instead of the cultured stone. Cultured stone is ground up gravel stone that they add color and shape to in a factory. The pictures on the last blog are cultured stone. Here is a picture of real stone. The stone I would use comes from a local quarry in Fond du Lac. Real stone actually has less color than cultured stone; however, there is a different "energy" coming from real stone, which I like, because it comes from our mother earth.

     The other event of the week was that a sheriff pulled into the driveway while my brother-in-law happened to be out there. I wasn't home yet, but my sister was. She saw the police car. Her first thought was: "Oh, God. Kristin has gotten too many speeding tickets!" This was not the case, however. It turned out that the owners of the empty lot next to me want my pier moved off of their property. I wasn't aware that it was even on their property. They threaten to take me to court if I don't move it soon. I called the sheriff and was appropriately apologetic and plan to have it moved ASAP. At the time, there was still ice on the lake. Now the ice has melted, so I have arranged for someone to put the dock into the water within the next couple of weeks.

     One of things I have been researching in terms of alternative forms of energy is geothermal, also called a ground source heat pump. Somewhere between 4-8 feet below the surface of the earth, the temperature maintains a nearly constant temperature of about 50 degrees farenheit. Here in Wisconsin, you have to dig down about 8 feet to reach far enough below the frost line to achieve that constant temperature. In traditional heating and air conditioning, it is the air in our homes that is either heated by natural gas or propane or cooled using freon and electricity. In geothermal, it is the heat stored in the earth that is transferred through pipes containing a water and ethanol solution to heat your home. For cooling, the hot air from your house is transfered back into the earth. The unit that does this is called a heat pump that uses a compressor and a blower motor to heat and to cool the air based on what the thermostat tells it to do. The geothermal heat pump operates using a small amount of electricity  to transfer the heat back and forth from the earth to your home. The technology is the same as that used in refridgeration (only operating in reverse to heat your house) and has been around for many years. There are several ways to install the piping. The cheapest is called a pond loop. This can be done if you have your own pond in your backyard. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Wisconsin does not allow geothermal piping in any public waterways, such as Lake Winnebago. The pond loop option is out. Geothermal piping could also be attached to a well (but its sealed from the groundwater) but they don't allow that either here in Wisconsin. The other types include a vertical loop and a horizontal loop. The horizontal loop is cheaper than the vertical loop but requires more land.

  Some of the advantages of geothermal include:
* Its super efficient. An efficiency rating is the ratio of heat generated versus the amount of energy used to produce it. The top efficiency rating of a furnace is about 95%. Geothermal systems have efficiency ratings of 400-500%.
* It is quiet--there are no noisy "on" cycles with blasts of hot or cold air, the temperature remains constant.
* There are no carbon monoxide concerns
* There are no noisy, unsightly outdoor condenser/AC units outside
* Geothermal systems reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 70%
* The heat that is formed when running the compressor motor is recaptured and used to heat  water in a holding tank. This is then added to your hot water tank. This means your hot water costs are reduced. Some people choose to use the water in radiant floor heat too.
*Geothermal heat pumps last an average of 25 years in comparison with convential furnace units that have  an average lifespan of 13-15 years. A filter is changed yearly which costs about the same as a furnace check ($79.95 for the service check, $38 for the filter): quote from Black Haak heating.
* The ground loop piping has an indefinite life expectancy. Barring an earthquake, you will not have to replace it for at least 100 years. It does not leak. The pipes are joined by thermal fusion. The substance it is made out of is the same substance that natural gas pipes are made of.
*Geothermal systems have demonstrated increased air purification and dehumidification in comparison with conventional systems
     So the big question, of course, is cost. A number of people I had talked to, including people in the business of HVAC, said that the cost was prohibitive. However, I decided I should research it further before making my final decision. I really would like to use alternative energy to heat and cool my house. I had picked up a brochure on geothermal from Black Haak Heating at home show a couple of years ago, and had remembered talking to the owner, Jim Haak (very personable and easy to talk to), about it.
     I have had about 4 bids on installing conventional heating and cooling systems. The bids ranged from about $12,000-$14,000 for your basic high efficiency furnace and airconditioning unit with the ductwork installation etc.,  to approximately $15,000 to $17,000 if I added in things like zoned heating. Installing geothermal (which include both AC and heat) and its ductwork into my home will cost about $15,000. The cost for the installing the horizontal ground loop piping is about $6000 for the 6 ton unit that is needed for my home. The cost to excavate the ground is about $2800. I get some discounts from the manufacturer and Black Haak for being a parade home. My total cost will run about $22,000. Its a difference of $10,000. Currently there is a 30% tax credit until 12/31/2016 on the entire project.
    The company that I got the quote from is Black-Haak heating and cooling. They have an engineer working for them who reviews the building plans, does the heat calculations and determines the size of the unit. Its critical that the right sized unit is installed. This requires that engineer to calculate it for best results, not just an estimate by the HVAC technician. They also have a computer program that calculates cost savings per year. Mine was estimated to be about $950/year in savings for heating, cooling, and hot water costs. For new home construction, installing geothermal seems like a no brainer to me. Its a great investment. By going with geothermal, I will save on my heating, cooling and hot water costs, use a free source of energy from the earth, and save on maintenance costs. My pay back will be within 5 years (closer to 3-4 years given my cost estimates). Sounds like a great investment to me and I am going for it.  For what is known as a retrofit (an older home) the payback would be closer to 7-10 years. Below are links to the heating company that I will be using, which is very reasonably priced, and to Geocomfort which is the company that makes the geothermal heat pump.
http://www.black-haak.com/
http://www.geocomfort.com/
OK blog followers--Lets face it Rory would have been proud of my venture into an HVAC discussion of geothermal. He was a HVAC man himself and would have been excited about installing geothermal too.
A future blog post will discuss solar electric.