Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Bale Walls Going Up !!!

At long last, the bales are going up!  I'm super-busy this week, so just a few quick photos to get the photo stream caught up with the reality outside my door.  Just for a little added reminder that winter is coming -- and soon -- we got about 2" of snow this morning!  I'll have more time to write up a few details soon.



Bales were stacked inside the house to keep them dry.  Linda is standing in one of the two large south-facing window RO's.



Here's the view looking up the driveway with the fall colors in the background.



Linda's designing something hands-on.  Here you can see the old timber frame with drywall "wings" for air barrier bonding, the stick-built wall framing in the mechanical room (for hanging the solar equipment), and the Cedar corner detail, which will be left exposed after the plaster goes on the bale walls.  The bales go between the timber frame and the Cedar corner assembly.



Frame and Foliage.

Uprights and some of the wind braces are about 100 years old, and were cut on a circular saw;  older house frame was cut on a vertical pit saw.



Linda with first bale.  The bales are being used on edge, and fit tightly between the frame and the Cedar corners.  Some bales will be on their side, and some on end.


Stem Wall.

2" Foam board has been removed.  Bales sit atop a plane formed by the Cedar board at left, the insulation, and the 2 x 4 top of the mechanical chaseway at right.  The blocks are filled with vermiculite and perlite insulation, and isolated by the 1" foil-faced isocyanurate foam board at center.  The 6" cavity created inside the foam board (to the right here) will be filled with  high-density cellulose to get an approximate R-33 wall structure, which is not quite as good as the bale wall above it.



Here's the Perlite inside the concrete blocks.


Here's the NW corner of the house with a 2 x 3 RO for the laundry room window.



West Wall at Sunset 10-10-09.

Windows are small to West to avoid overheating from afternoon light, and to the North to avoid cold winds.



Looking out the South Side.

Windows are larger, with 2' overhang for passive solar gain in winter without summer sun hitting the floor.  Here you can plainly see the drywall wings for plaster adhesion and better air barrier integrity.


Same Window From Outside -- SW Corner.

There are two big windows and one door on the south side.  Cedar corner detail shows here, too.



Setting sun just grazes the north wall.  Only a few small windows to the north.



Dave & Dani Bonta peek out a window box on a visit to see the progress and attend LEAF -- the Local Energy Alternatives Festival, in nearby Bradford, VT.  Dave and I both spoke at the event.  Dave started the USA Solar Store network, and Dani makes everything Dave does possible.

More photos and information later, when I carve out a little more time!

Be well & Clear skies,

Brad