Carlton Builders

Winter Tradition...

2010-12-29T13:35:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday night we had our traditional Christmas dinner night and for the second year in a row we had it at the Black Cypress in Pullman. It was good to see everyone together wearing something other than work clothes enjoying non-work conversations over an wonderful meal. There's something about breaking bread together that contributes to the familial quality of Carlton Builders and this experience was no less warm and gratifying than meals past. We hope everyone had a good time...we certainly did.

Paver Patio...

2010-07-01T06:26:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday we began installing a paver patio in Pullman. There was considerable preparation that needed to be done to the site before the actual pavers could be laid, nearly 10 cubic yards of soil needed to be removed to give the area the appropriate level and slope, but we did install a small retaining wall that will function as the lip to a flower bed running along the portion of the house that abuts the patio. The retaining wall will be built out of Mutual Materials StakStone while the pavers themselves will be a herringbone pattern of Mutual Materials Roman Holland concrete pavers.

The slideshow at left shows the process from what was there to begin with, to concept, to the actual process of the installation. I'll add more pictures as the project progresses.

Biagi Window Wrap...

2010-06-17T08:53:00.000-07:00

Wednesday Nick finished up wrapping the window trim on two large windows with 28 gauge aluminum metal. The process can make weathered, discolored, and sometimes rotting wood window trim look clean and fresh by adding metal trim, custom manufactured on-site to accommodate various factors, over the top of the older trim.

One thing this process does that some might find less than perfect is that it can eliminate the visual interest of shapely wood trims. The process begins by building a new "foundation" around the window to have something the new metal trim will be attached to.

The new trim should be applied in an appropriate order so that the successive layers properly "flash" the window.

In this instance, the sill needs to be wrapped first, then the vertical portions of the window, followed by wrapping the head casing that runs horizontally across the top of the window.

The end result is a clean, white window trim that should protect the window, not discolor, and require minimum maintenance at less cost than replacing it with wood trim.

Finishing Touches...

2010-06-14T16:09:00.000-07:00

This morning we set up to do the final exterior paint coat of Kevin Fritch's workshop. Henry and Matt Halverson did the actual painting and I installed a landing next to the double door closet where they plan to store yard implements. The landing will allow them to easily stow their lawnmower inside the closet. It was a simple landing built out of treated 2x8 lumber and "Barnwood Gray" Rhino Deck decking. The ramp allows for an easy approach to the doors.

Here's Henry and Matt doing the finishing touches to the fascia from ladders. Matt's cleaning the windows and window frames while Henry perfects his brush stroke.

On Thursday we plan to pour a portion of the sidewalk that was damaged when heavy machinery rolled into the yard and broke the sidewalk slab at the start of the project.

Getting Back...

2010-06-08T08:25:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been very taxing, and I've neglected to post anything for a while, so for any readers who have come looking for updates, I'm sorry for the lack of information...but...we're back!

Today I (Nick), am tasked with wrapping two banks of three window sets in white metal. I'll use a metal break and cover all the exterior trim with 28 gauge aluminum Rollex brand metal. I'll post a slide show of the process at the end of the day.

Virtually Evergything...

2010-05-10T09:11:00.000-07:00

Last night I stayed up late night doing a mock-up of the addition on Robinson Park road so that owners could get an idea of some siding options. Here's an example of what I came up with...A couple things to notice: There's a 10" water table band above grade, then Nichiha shingle panels wrap the first floor, a second 10" band we call the "belly band", above which is board and baton siding, and lastly a gable band separates out the small reveal lap siding that you might find on many older homes in the area. On a side note...I'm happy with how the rock wall that retains dirt from around the back side of the house turned out in the drawing; that's hard to get right.

Tile, Tile, and More Tile...

2010-04-27T23:00:00.000-07:00

On Friday we finished the very nice tile shower at the George residence in Moscow and today Henry got to work on three more bathrooms in Pullman. The Keogh family gave us the opportunity to tile the floors of their bathrooms so we used the Schluter Ditra underlayment we used at the George residence and quickly got to laying their large 16" x 16" Italian tiles in place. We plan to grout later this week with Almond colored Laticrete Spectralock epoxy grout.

Going back to the George project...take a look at the photos within this post; there are a couple things that are different in this project from most and I want to point them out. First, notice the lack of a curb at the shower entrance; the homeowner wanted to be able to live comfortably in their home into the later stages of life so we came up with this solution and added grab-bars for additional assistance. Also, notice the glass blocks at the top of the wall separating the shower from the rest of the bathroom; since there isn't a window in the shower the homeowner wanted to bring in as much natural light as possible.

Tim and Gabe Telling have been framing, and managing water infiltration from the heavy rains we've been getting over the past week, so that they might be able to get trusses delivered next week. Also, here are a couple pictures of the Carlton Electric crew working on the new eye clinic in Pullman going in next to Dissmore's IGA; Jared Dunn and Louie Fountain seem to be enjoying their work.

George; Tile and Finish

2010-04-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

Friday saw us come very close to finishing off the George master bathroom remodel. With cooperation from Joe McDonald, the KACI electrician, and Don's Plumbing, we were able to get the project to within half a day of completion. We were able to the final building, plumbing, and electrical inspections despite the fact installing the shower fixture has yet to be done. Here are a couple photographs to show the evolution of the space into a new, bright, and clean bathroom. On the left you can see the drain for the vanity as well as for the toilet and the plumbing for the shower, to give you some point of reference. Pictures of the final project on Monday are forth coming.

George Update...

2010-04-14T08:39:00.000-07:00

Installing a Schulter shower pan system has many steps involved but the finished product is very good so we don't mind going through those steps. Here are a couple photos of what Jason and Henry got done yesterday. A lot of people wonder how a tiled shower stays waterproof...well, here are pictures of the material, Schulter Kerdi Waterproofing Membrane, that does just that. It's an orange colored woven fabric that is set throughout the shower and the seams are basted with Thinset mortar. The product in the left photo is something we haven't used before but which is intended to make for a more durable tile floor in the long term. It's known as Schluter Kerdi Ditra and it's set in lieu of concrete board that typically makes up tile flooring sub-floor. The idea is that Ditra allows the tile surface to flex if it needs to making for less cracking of grout joints. Notice the bench set Jason built along with the shower niche. It should make for a very comfortable shower experience.

April Showers...

2010-04-12T21:48:00.000-07:00

The past week brought us weather more typical for the Palouse this time of year, although it's never easy to take getting hit with snow on the job and it being so Spring-like lately we were even less happy to see the white stuff. Fortunate for us, at least some of us, we got to work indoors.

Jason Schuling carefully worked at installing a the tin ceiling out at Coopers, and as you can see by the pictures it turned out beautifully. A couple things come to mind when considering what the tin ceiling adds to the Cooper's project: the amount of light the new ceiling bounced around the kitchen was much more than I had anticipated so that the material makes for nice light diffusion in low light areas, and it really gave the kitchen a warm and comfortable feel because provides a cap to the tall and expansive ceiling. Also, within the kitchen proper and around the skylight it really took advantage of all the light coming down the skylight chase. Additionally, Master's Touch Woodworking milled and finished all the trim for the kitchen; I dropped by their shop Friday and took this picture.

At the George residence, Henry Knecht continued to pick away at the framing and drywall we needed to get installed before we could start tiling. By the pictures you can see the pocket door framed in to provide access to the bathroom from the master bedroom, and to the left of that door you can see where the double sink vanity will go next to the toilet drain, the 5" black ABS cap, on the floor. Steve from Don's Plumbing did an excellent job working with us to get the shower properly plumbed as the fixture used was not typical and he strategically set the valve right around the corner from the entry so that the user will be able to turn on the hot water from without the shower and let the water heat up before jumping in.

As a preview to our next post I'll tell you that Jason Schuling and Henry Knecht started tiling the shower today so don't forget to check back in to see their progress tomorrow. As a caveat I do know there was substantial preparation yet to be done to the shower so it's doubtful they'll have much tile on the floor although they will have spent a lot of time tediously making sure the shower pan is completely water proof.

Nathan Stevenson and Robby Lisenby continued to take part in the transformation of the Rubino residence on Robinson Park Road. They did have some help from Jason and Henry at times last week demo'ing the portions of the inside of the existing home last week but they get the award for sticking with it as they removed many loads of C&D waste to the transfer station. It's hard to tell what they did from the pictures, but consider this...there were two levels of living space when the started and now there's only a tremendous chasm down through the house to the basement. The idea being to rebuild the stair system to accommodate access to the addition.

Finally, I want to report the foundation wall get stripped of it's forms and preparation for the slab within the foundation got underway today. Champion Concrete Pumping provided a wonderful service by sending out what I call it's gravel conveyor shooter to the site and shooting gravel to the far reaches of the slab that are hard to access. It was a fun process to witness.

Across the Board...

2010-04-04T23:19:00.000-07:00

We're making progress "across the board" on all projects we're involved with right now. A quick run down...

-Jason Schuling was busy most of the week installing the tin ceiling at the Cooper's kitchen in Palouse. (awaiting pictures)
-Tim got the foundation wall poured at the Rubino addition. (note gallery left)
-Robby, Henry and I kept moving bit by bit at the George master bathroom remodel. (inserted photos)

What you see in the gallery left was taken on Tuesday, March 30 at the Rubino remodel site. The crew worked Saturday and Monday to finish forming for the 10' wall that makes up the north foundation wall of the addition so that we would be able to pour the wall on Tuesday. As you can see from the pictures there was a tremendous amount of thought that went into the forming of the 10' wall; again Eddie Kilner proved to be a valuable asset efficiently working by Tim's side to insure everything was well braced and properly bolted. We used a pump truck to move concrete from the trucks to the top of the wall; running lifts along the shorter walls and in the corners of the big 10' wall before doing additional lifts, vibrating at each lift. We made the top of the wall level by finding level with an "auto-level", transferring the level around the forms and setting duplex nails along the line to have a reference throughout the pour. It was a very solid pour, ie. no potential problems arose, and the entire wall set well as you can see by tomorrow's pics.

Robby Lisenby performed a majority of the demolition at the George residence Tuesday and Wednesday of last week. You can see by my shaky, mobile phone pictures Robby tearing into the drywall and after tomorrow's additional post you'll be able to see what the space became by the end of the week. Suffice it to say for now that the bathroom is twice as large as it was and the two closets you see in the one photo have been combined into a single large closet. The most intriguing aspect of the George remodel is the walk-in shower that is curbless and features an adjustable shower head, the setting for the shower pan of which was a bit technical but which will be a very nice addition to the master bathroom for the residents. Jason Schuling will do all the tiling for this bathroom and we'll keep you posted.

WE'RE BACK!!!

2010-04-04T20:51:00.000-07:00

I want to apologize to anyone who's been trying to access the blog unsuccessfully. I'd added a calendar gadget weeks ago that turned out to be some type of virus that would redirect any potential viewer away from the blog and toward advertising pages any time the blog page would open on their computer. I've fixed the problem and we are now back. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Green Fair...Music...

2010-03-26T16:43:00.000-07:00

Now we're having fun...Stephen Ray Leslie and the Crooked Mile are playing on stage and the cost of having a crummy booth location worth it at this point since I have a front row seat. Stephen Ray has the alt-country thing going and it's a good sound. I'm expecting to see Tim and Jesse here soon. There's Palouse Brewing ale being sold and people are in a good mood...I just saw Jared wandering through.

I'm in the middle of the top picture watching them get set up. In the bottom photo you can see the booth to the left and the stage to the right....Good times!

Day to Day...

2010-03-25T15:44:00.000-07:00

I just got back from Palouse and the Cooper kitchen remodel...Here are a few pics. The one low slung piece of furniture looking cabinet is the "hoosier" I spoke of yesterday. Look at that period apron sink...it goes very well with the aesthetic of the Victorian era farm house. Issac and his helper, Chuck were working very hard when I left, fine-tuning the cabinets. Thanks for the hard work Issac.

Also this morning we met with Palouse Marble and Granite, a composite solid surface manufacturer in Pullman that offers an inexpensive yet effective alternative to tile for such applications as tub/shower surrounds, vanity counter-tops, and kitchen counter-tops. You can see some of the products they offer at ACS International, a company which manufactures the fillers used to manufacture the solid surface material. From what I gather, the cost is roughly half that of natural granite and is relatively more diverse in it's application. Perhaps we'll have the opportunity to work with Loren and Rick in the future. If customers are interested in the product we can get an estimate easily enough, so don't hesitate to ask.

We'll be setting up at the Inland Northwest Green Fair this evening and the show starts tomorrow. We'll be located near the stage so come by, say "hello" and sign up for a drawing we'll be having at the end of the show where we'll be giving away the book Green From the Ground Up: Sustainable, Healthy, and Energy Efficient Home Construction as well as more locally roasted coffee from Red Finn: Finely Finnished Coffee by Otto Keyes.

Cabinets at Cooper's...

2010-03-24T21:03:00.000-07:00

On Monday Issac Wright brought out the alder cabinets he'd built for Diane Cooper and her kitchen. The room was a perfect blank slate before the install, as captured by my iphone pics, and the cherry stained alder brought even more warmth to the fir floors refinished by Andy Carr the week prior.

Part of the cabinet configuration that you don't often see was the "hoosier", which seems to be a baking station of sorts, with a lowered counter-top so that the user can really get on top of any kneading or rolling done on the hutch-like cabinet's counter-top. Mario and Son came to template the counter-top for granite today but things weren't perfect so they weren't able to get a good template and they'll have to come back again.

Tim got the footings for Rubino's addition poured this morning and even though there's rain in the forecast for tomorrow and Friday he plans to push the project along and get the foundation walls formed so they'll be ready to pour those by Tuesday of next week...God willing.

C and D World – November/December 2009 : Guest Commentary

2010-03-20T22:32:00.000-07:00

Here's an article about the development of systems for processing construction and demolition waste into recycled products in the great Pacific Northwest.
Very interesting!

C and D World – November/December 2009 : Guest Commentary

Rubino's Starting...

2010-03-20T19:51:00.000-07:00

This week saw the start of a new project, a major remodel/addition to a property owned by Jon and April Rubino in Moscow, Id. Pictures of what has been done so far can be seen in the slide show. Justin Morgan of Palouse River Rock arrived with his equipment on Monday and by that Friday had enough dirt moved to allow Tim to start laying out for the footings. We're hoping that Eddie Kilner can again help us with the concrete pour as it will be a substantial foundation in sections.

Issac Wright of Master's Touch Woodworking will be delivering cabinets to the Cooper Residence in Palouse, Wa. on Monday marking the start of a new phase on that kitchen remodel. We hope to spend the week at that location installing the cabinets, performing the millwork throughout the kitchen and porch areas, installing a tin ceiling, and patching siding where we removed the old exterior door. Be sure to check the blog Tuesday as I'll post some pictures of the new cabinets set in place.

This coming weekend we'll be participating in the second annual Inland Northwest Green Fair. We'll be there promoting efforts our company is taking to become a more sustainable building company. As many of you know Nick VanArsdel has been involved in a Sustainable Design program through Boston Architectural College over the past year and he'll be at the fair with information regarding classes he's been taking. We're not exclusively a green building company but we are taking measures to be able to provide products in a responsible manner and not to the detriment of those who follow us. Come to the fair and stop by the booth so show your support.

Early Spring Itch...

2010-03-07T22:30:00.000-08:00

Did you know that years ago when the said 2x4 they actually meant it. This week we began a very extensive kitchen remodel in what appears to be a very old house in Palouse, WA. Drawings were made by Karen Owsley of Moscow and up to this point the crew has a good idea of how large a rough sawn 2x4 piece of 100 year old wood actually is. We've started the project by removing a wall near the kitchen to provide additional space for the new kitchen, after the homeowners have done their worthwhile share of the demolition, and we've added some framing to prepare the space for the plumbers and electricians. Drywall is being delivered Monday morning so Henry Knecht can cover the walls in gypsum wall board. Review the slide show left titled "Cooper Kitchen" for more images.

We do tile...Particularly entire walls in specialty glass subway tiles. Jason Schuling finished installing such a tile in a bathroom Thursday then finished the marble floor before grouting the whole schmear Friday with the help of Henry Knecht. Georgia Carpetworks supplied the tile and the grout used on this project, which happens to be the grout product we prefer to use, is Laticrete Spectralock, an epoxy grout that contains three parts and which is bomb proof. You'll never be dis-satisfied with the long term results of Spectralock.

It's that time of year again, the 12th Annual Palouse Empire Home and Garden Expo this Firday and Saturday and the Kibby Dome. Last year we had a wonderful time meeting patrons and industry professionals alike; if you're at all considering starting projects around your home the small fee to attend shouldn't keep you from browsing the booths at the expo. All vendors are eager to help you get information to help you achieve what you've envisioned or they'll direct you to what can. We'll be located at the North end of the central square next to the presentation stage so please come by, say "hello" and sign up for our drawing to give away a book about home design and a couple pounds of locally roasted coffee.

Straight lines...

2010-02-21T08:56:00.001-08:00

There’s nothing uninteresting about a straight line. They show up on our job sites every day in a variety of forms and matching their uniform precision is continuously…exciting. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: can anything so particular as a craftsman’s enthusiasm for the mundane articles of his craft be relevant to the rest of us? In this case, I’d say it is/can. Keep in mind those straight lines represent the symmetry that composes the environments we build around you, that the simple beauty of a straight line can connect the various areas of your house into a home that flows from one room into the next. No, there’s nothing uninteresting about a straight line. What about the grout lines of your bathroom floor, I can tell you Jason Schuling knows how important straight lines are; when Jason’s tiling a floor the reality that a less-than-straight line can diminish the value of his work for the day is gripping. There’s nothing uninteresting about a straight line. When Nathan Stevenson aligns siding laps around a house how straight that line is determines how seamless his project is two weeks later. There’s nothing uninteresting about a straight line. Can you imagine how sad it would be for Henry Knecht if he were to dis-regard the importance of straight lines while finishing dry-walled surfaces during a remodel? Believe me, there’s nothing uninteresting about a straight line.

In the photographs included notice the lines; none of them were met without forethought and much care. Most contractors can deliver a project, be it an addition to an existing structure, a bathroom remodel, or a new house, but few think about how important a straight line can be.

New Facility...

2010-02-11T00:27:00.000-08:00

This month we'll begin the process of moving at least a portion of our operation to 210 NE Whitman St. in Pullman. We're very excited about the move and we're already planning some changes to the property that'll really make the location inviting for visitors and comfortable for those working in the office. Take a look at an initial concept rendering; we hope to use locally milled cedar for the board and baton siding, and the photovoltaic array on the south facing shed roof should supply the office with all the renewable energy it could need. We'll let you know when the doors'll open so plan to come by and say hello.

New Products

2010-01-18T09:12:00.000-08:00

We love trying new things. Whether it’s pouring our own concrete counter tops or using a new siding product to accent an exterior remodel doing so allows us to take full advantage of advances in product technology or processes that can make a good project that much better. Have you heard of Tiger Foam? Friday Nathan Stevenson and I tried our hand at applying this closed cell spray foam to the walls of a pump house we were improving and while the process seems simple enough on the surface we learned a lot from the experience.

First off, we used the “Fast Rise E-84 fire rated formula” so when the material came out of the spray gun at a fairly relaxed pace we were a little surprised when what appeared to be a thin layer of foam later expanded the 8-1 ratio claimed by Tiger Foam. The plan was to start at an inside corner, put an initial coat inside all the stud bays returning to the same inside corner and then putting a second coat on all the bays to finish. After donning the supplied Tyvek suit we got to work by mounting a supplied fan-style spray tip onto the gun, picking our corner, opening the valves on the tanks, and letting the foam fly. It quickly became evident the amount of foam I was putting in the bays was as much as a first and second coat combined so I tried to be thorough and get everything good the first time around. The problem with this was that the amount of foam being applied one spot at a time was too heavy for how well it was adhering to the bays so some of the foam was pealing away from the bay and landing uselessly onto the ground. It worked well to spraying an initial coating up and down the bay then go back over the same bay with a second coat; similar to my initial plan but working a bay at a time and not the entire space. Still, this could have been done a little better as we still lost some material by it calving from the surface. After finishing all the bays we swapped the fan tip for a jet-style tip and hit spots we felt could use more material. Since the foam also acts as a water resistant barrier we made sure to coat those places where moisture would likely migrate into the structure, namely at the bottom plate around the perimeter. We also shot a bead around the inside edge of the ceiling sheathing to air-seal that part of the structure from the rest.

The conclusion is…we were impressed with how easy it was to use the product and very satisfied with how well the R-7 per inch insulating value of the foam sealed the interior from the cold winds of the Palouse that blast the little pump house throughout the winter. The owner should feel confident freezing will cease to be a problem in the future.

A New Hope...

2010-01-10T09:20:00.000-08:00

Last year was good enough. There were no major injuries, we were able to stay out of debt, a few of us had children born to them, and as a company we were able to expand our operations into more and different aspects than ever before. We've been able to continue learning about more products and applications while broadening our understanding of such things as "sustainable building" in the midst of what we are told are difficult economic times in such a way that to us "normal" business conditions are apparently challenging for other similar companies. We hope the pundits are right since coming up in such conditions could make Carlton Builders better in the future.
Thank you to everyone who took a chance with us, and to those returning customers who kept the machinery working.

One project carried us into the new year.

Last week saw a lot of action on the Fritch job as Tim kept operations rolling there despite some difficult weather conditions. On Tuesday rain with partial snow couldn't deter the guys from finishing the wall framing in anticipation of the truss delivery on Wednesday. You can see their progress in the photo album we're also posting today. One interesting aspect of the project has been insulating the slab and you can see in the 6th photo the 2" blue foam we adhered to the outside of the slab in order to achieve R-10, which is a requirement of the energy code for heated buildings. It's just not something you see very often and the pictures give you a look into what went into executing that phase according to the local code requirements.

We should have the shop sided and sheetrock ready for installation by the end of the week. It'll look quite sharp with the siding in place.

Getting it in the Ground...

2009-12-20T07:20:00.000-08:00

Most people can't imagine pouring any type of concrete, be it foundation or slab, during this time of year but according to a friend who happens to be a concrete contractor, last winter season when we had so much cold and snow he was only able to not pour concrete for two weeks. Even so I was still a bit dubious when we planned to pour the down-turned slab last Friday. We did get some reprieve from the extreme conditions that can show up on the Palouse during this time of year, the temperature Friday was a balmy 40 something and there was small chance of moisture in the air. None the less, it was an adventure while we put 15 yards into the ground.

One of the more interesting aspects of the pour was that we put a system of 6" pipe within the concrete the owner plans to use for a central vacuum system. In the photos you can see six pieces of pipe coming up out of the slab, 3 are vacuum intakes and 3 are clean-outs near the intakes where the owner can clear any ungainly objects that clog the system. You can also in the photos that two intakes are located at either side of the room and the third is in the center where the table saw will be located. This way the work space will be as clean and open as possible.

We'd like to thank Eddie Kilnor for coming out to help with the pour. Eddie's a skilled concrete specialist and having him there on site is a great advantage for us.

Breaking Ground

2009-12-17T07:31:00.001-08:00

We broke ground at 305 NW Janet St. in Pullman for Kevin and Colleen Fritch December 11 and today we're installing forms to pour the slab for the shop on Friday. Weather has been something of an issue as we would have started a week earlier but we're happy to be making progress at this time since you really don't know what you're going to get on the Palouse for weather. In the pictures you can see the actual ground breaking, a broad shot of the build site, and details of the sewer and water line trenches.

Lets hope we have good weather tomorrow for the pour.

Cheers

Not so fast...

2009-11-03T14:08:00.001-08:00

With the cold weather here lots of people want to button up their projects and get hunkered down for winter, but sometimes this sense of urgency can obscure measures to be taken in a project that might make it better.

Last month while doing a kitchen remodel we inadvertently discovered that there was a moisture problem in the crawl space so we pushed the project team to address the problem rather than ignore it, and for good reason as a continuing moisture issue could have harsh consequences in the future. In the end we brought in a reputable polyurethane foam insulation contractor to insulate the inside of the foundation wall, we had Robby Lisenby, who is part of the Carlton Builders team, perform some mold remediation, and we got the owner set for another long period of time before more maintenance is needed.

My point is that we aren't just gunning for the end of the project, that we take in the project's conditions and employ measures the address potential problem areas that were initially on the project's scope, and that we care how livable your house will be in 30 years, not just 5.

Build Like a Pro: Fine-Tuning Hinges - Fine Homebuilding Video

2009-10-26T17:25:00.001-07:00

Setting any door properly is a good skill to have. I found this video and thought to share it with the rest of the CB readers.
Build Like a Pro: Fine-Tuning Hinges - Fine Homebuilding Video

Posted using ShareThis

IES - Sustainable 3D Building Design, Architecture Software - Integrated Environmental Solutions

2009-10-25T09:08:00.000-07:00

While going through emails this morning I came across this new plug-in for Google Sketch-up that give the user the ability to do virtual environmental design analysis of buildings. A free copy is available from IES but has limited capabilities; with the free version you can only get analysis of a building's carbon footprint and energy usage for a year. With professional versions you can do such things as day lighting analysis, specialized analysis of system components, more thorough energy and load reports, ect...The only problem is it works only with Windows and isn't available for Mac OS.
IES - Sustainable 3D Building Design, Architecture Software - Integrated Environmental Solutions

Movin' Right Along...

2009-09-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

Things are going well for Carlton Builders. Probably the most significant element to our days has been the weather, when it's bad progress tends to slow despite our best efforts to not let it do so, but lately we've had perfect conditions. This time of year really is the golden season; when the intense heat of the summer has subsided and cool mornings give way to temperate afternoons we tend to get a lot done and everyone's moral is high because of the good conditions. Although, they're predicting a chance of showers for Wednesday, which if we're prepared for, shouldn't be but a slight detour on our perfect weather path.

We're coming very close to being finished with the Anderson residence kitchen, all we need to finish is install the back-splash. I'll post pictures as soon as everything's finished so we can ooowww and aaahhhh at the before and afters together.

The Patrick deck is coming along nicely. Robbie Lisenby, our now addition to the Carlton Builders family, is working there with me, and together we're solving the riddle of the IQ decking hidden fastener system combined with Trex Escapes decking. The decking product is impressive but in conjunction with the IQ fastening system it's making for slow going. We'll be done this week and then we can ooowww and aaahhhh at the before and afters together.

Tim started working on the David Erb residence in Moscow this week and we'll be sure to touch on their remodel this coming post.

Thanks for reading.

Green Remodels...

2009-09-14T02:28:00.000-07:00

“Green remodeling” is first a double positive. Making a home a more energy efficient, livable, healthy domicile is a positive outcome for the environment and many believe for our national interest. Remodeling an existing home involves not building a new one once the old has become outmoded; the most green building act can arguably be avoiding unnecessary natural resource depletion. Having looked at the essential green benefits of remodeling I’ll address what I think was probably the intent of the question to begin with…what constitutes "green remodeling". In my opinion it can be as simple as replacing all the single glazed windows in a house with more efficient models increasing the efficiency of a home, or it can be as complicated as a complete home overhaul and deep energy retrofit...basically gutting a home and building a new, more efficient, healthier, more durable home within, or nearly within, the existing home’s footprint. I feel like I’m splitting hairs when I say this, but, answering the question as to what green remodeling is can be a big one and difficult to pin down. Like an essay put to the class in my first philosophy class as an undergrad which asked us to pick between Nietzche and Plato who had the best philosophy of life and why…I just couldn’t do it; the immensity of the issue prevented me from forming a committed opinion. I suppose most of us will have similar answers to what it is…something about improved energy efficiency, improved indoor air quality, a remodeling process that reduces construction waste as compared to traditional construction methods, and the ever ethereal “good design” tenant we all want to achieve. But, in the end, is there really anything more to a green remodel than good enduring design built to proper specifications?

I think it can be argued that much of what passes for a green remodel really doesn’t deserve credit for being anything more than just common sense. We’ve all started to here more chatter about LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) in the building industry recently, they provide a certification process for structures built to certain specifications that reflect attention to building details that promote sustainability and environmental awareness, but many of those specifications shouldn’t deserve credit toward certification. As was pointed out by Joseph Lstibureck, a writer for buildingscience.com, if you build a space that is comfortable you get points toward certification. If you build a space that keeps moisture out and is well ventilated according to ASHRAE standard 62 you get still more points. Aren’t these elements of a building project just good sense and aren’t they already part of the building code? As this example of the institutionalizing of green will tell you, a lot of people are focusing on unsubstantiated suppositions to define what’s green and what’s not.

I want to say here that I think there’s also a lot of really bad building going on, projects that don’t reflect what are essential elements of a good project so getting credit for actually achieving what’s right and good in the building process should get some due credit where it’s due but the problem is that for the vast majority of the public what is green is defined by what makes the building industry journal’s headlines. Something needs to be said for what Sarah Susanka defines as “innate beauty…beautiful design and crafted for everyday inspiration.” Her point is that green remodels first and foremost have to be attractive and comfortable spaces because if it’s performing it’s current function efficiently it will likely be looked after by future residents for many decades to come and reducing future loads on natural resources is truly the greenest project of all.

An update on our current projects:

The Anderson residence in Moscow is soon to have their complete kitchen. Tim and Jason Schuling worked hard the last couple of weeks to get the cabinets installed and all the finish work complete. We’re just now waiting for the soapstone countertops; after which we can install the tile backsplash and be finished.

The Parrish roof is nearing completion. We’ve had various unforeseen issues on this project but we hope to get everything completed before Wednesday this week.

Nathan Stevenson and I worked on a very neat little basement bathroom which incorporated 9” wide carved panels joined to create the illusion of a carved column. Maureen Smith and Michael Delahoyde have been wonderful to work with on that project.

We’re soon to being projects at the David Erb residence, the Scott Patrick residence, and the Cherrie Alice residence.

The end of the season...not yet...

2009-08-16T21:41:00.000-07:00

The past week brought us consistently cooler temperatures and as a builder I start to think about the impending Autumn and inevitable Winter seasons, the idea of a wood stove for the living room creeps back into consciousness, but not so fast...our schedule is still pretty tight and "summer" projects are still on the docket.

Recently we finished the weatherization retro-fit of Martha Mullen's home in Pullman and Mike Carlton of Palouse Synergy Systems will hopefully perform a follow up audit on her home's comparative "tightness" to determine how effective our efforts were. As I had mentioned in the previous post, the home is uniquely designed with a series of modular rooms along a centralized hallway and our work focused on a few of those rooms, so, at the very least, "Marty" will be able to enjoy warmer winter temperatures in her office and bedroom (both being areas we worked on).

In addition to that project we made a tremendous effort and re-roofed a very historical home along the breaks of the Snake River for the Criswell family. I don't think I've ever worked at a more idyllic site than this one on Benedict Road, Google map, how the farm was laid out on the property, nestled in a protective gully, and perched a few miles above the canyon floor, this home was a testiment to quaility building from the turn of the last centry. In the photos you can see how straight and true the siding was and remains. I can tell you the house seemed as plumb and level as any new construction, and with the large cottonwoods nearby I was truly a wonderful place. All the best to the Criswells as they move out to their new homestead.
(I've posted pictures to illustrate the genuine beauty of the Criswell homestead.)

I can report that the Alvin Frostad residence now has a new kitchen complete with cabinets from Canyon Creek and "Corian" countertops from Mario and Son, both out of Spokane. Jason Schuling did a lion's share of the work. We hope both Alvin and Deanne are happy with their new space.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new project in Moscow. Carlton Builders will be removing the existing kitchen from the Mark Anderson residence in preparation for a new kitchen complete with additional space, soap stone countertops, and new windows. I've added a simple conceptual drawing of what the "craftsman" style cabinets might look like. I'll take pictures tomorrow to document the progress from mid-80's drab to a new warm and comfortable space early next month.

Well-designed additions and weatherization retrofits possibly the better choice...

2009-07-05T13:03:00.000-07:00

This morning I got the rare opportunity to just sit and read, so I plopped down on the couch with a cup of coffee and read a couple articles in the Fine Homebuilding, Annual Houses Issue, a magazine I've neglected to read for two months now, and during my relaxing repast ran into a couple topics I think neatly summarize what Carlton Builders has been up to for the past few weeks:

Zimmerman, Sally. "Energy Upgrades Threaten Older Homes." Fine Homebuilding, Annual Houses Issue, Summer. 2009: 10-16.

and

Hopkins, Lynn. "Designing an Addition That Looks Right." Fine Homebuilding, Annual Houses Issue, Summer. 2009: 36-43.

Many of us can't afford to even consider moving out of our older homes into new, or even newer, more energy and design efficient homes. With markets as unpredictable as they've been we're all figuring out how to make our current living situations better rather than entertaining the idea of something new. Sally Zimmerman caused me to consider how this isn't such a limiting option after all; namely that the presevation of a historically significant or aesthetically unique home is "an increasingly precious and irreplaceable artifact." I'd like to think our company is attempting to take this sentiment into consideration when we're contracted to perform a remodel on an older home, and what's more that we can balance the environmental desires of the owner with practical knowledge toward an energy and insulation retrofit without compromising the historical value of the home.

Sometimes it's alright to not undertake the deep-cutting retrofit for preservation's sake.

An older home in this area oftentimes is 100 yrs old or more, a lot of us live in the original farm houses the earlier town residents built and the town limits we live in moved in around us, this means there is a certain amount of historical value to what we have and abandoning that value would be a bad idea. This year more than ever we're doing such things as weatherization, improving insulation, retrofitting electrical services, and generally adapting existing homes to better suit the occupants and we've learned to see the value in improving the livability of a home over the cost involved in a whole-house teardown. For one thing owning a historic home is a great responisbility the value of which is difficult to measure monetarily but which is immeasureable for the community it's found it. Perhaps a shallow-energy retrofit would be a better option for such a home.

Nathan Stevenson has been working on just such a project in Pullman. Although this project doesn't involve a 100 yr. old structure it does involve an architectural articat. As the story goes this particular home was built in the early 70's as a project for the WSU architecture department and it's form and layout speak to the artistic potential you might imagine. Built on a 15 degree slope they built a series of modular rooms contected by two long intermittent stairways and passageways. The house is topped with a single shed roof that emulates the lot's slope. The problem is that the building envelope lacks an air barrier so the cedar tounge and groove siding, which was also used as the interior wall sheathing, allows completely too much air movement from the exterior to the interior compromising the furnaces ability to efficiently heat the house. With the national economy as a factor the owner opted for a truncated version of what amounts to sealing the home away from the barometric elements. By adding an air barrier to the exterior walls and thoroughly caulking all joints that could potentially allow the passage of air from the outside/in and vice versa we could greatly reduce the energy load foisted upon the furnace to keep the home comfortable in the winter and make for a cooler interior temperature during the Palouse summers. Here's where the architectural value of the home got in the way...the cedar tounge and groove siding and interior sheathing did a great deal to the home's asthetic so if it were to be removed it would have to be replaced and the cost of such an operation could easily run into the many tens of thousands, but...we provided an incremental solution.

This year, since this unique home was built on a series of what I would call "stem walls", that leave much of the home's floor system as cantilevered soffits exposed to air movement and temperature changes, we decided to remove an such soffited area, improve the insulation in those area, apply a air barrier product over the framing like a drum skin to reduce air movment, reapply sheathing, and caulk all ajoining joints. Granted the soffited area only makes up 15% of the total exterior wall/floor area but that's a 15% improvement on air movement, improved energy efficiency for her furnace, and an improved quality of life for the inhabitants during the summer. Furthermore, the owner didn't have to handicap her retirement savings to make all of these improvements and in a few years when her IRA regains strength she can set about improving the rest of the home's envelope properly and keep the historic and aesthetic value of her home in the process. Sometimes, knowing your financial limits and preserving a little culture is the abundantly more valuable path to take.

N.D. Wilson Remodel update...

In Moscow, Tim's overseeing a dramatic change to the attic of the Wilson household as well as a remodel of the kitchen. I wish I had pictures of this project to post because this is something anyone with an attic that can potentially be used for additional space should see. The nearly 800 sq. ft. remodel of the attic works within the roof line of the original remodel, performed 6 yrs. ago, and takes advantage of an already expanded area by making it into a wonderful light-filled space. The main gable is flanked by a series of dormers symetrically placed along the North/South roofs. The valted ceiling maximizes all available space while the new drywall's smooth finish makes for a clean and austere look; matte light blue paint and white trim causes you to feel like your in the clouds while the Brazilian cherry floor will make for a warm and comforting feel. I think the Wilson's will find a calming and comfortable space when they move back in soon.

Into the Grip of the Season...

2009-06-12T23:51:00.000-07:00

Most people know that good weather means there is an opportunity for progress in home improvement; any responsible husband on the Palouse can translate June into renovation season. This same adage can be applied to the construction industry...There is never a more busy time than late spring early summer. This past week saw Carlton Builders begin a significant remodel project in Moscow while we're trying to close out multiple projects in both Whitman and Latah Counties; projects as well as public relations events are moving across our desks at a blistering pace. Let's review the schedual.

Monday saw the beginnings to the final stages of the Miller addition in Moscow. Such an extensive remodel that melds old with new requires extra attention near the end because often what goes left unsaid in the construction agreement determines how the two will join. I've spent the better part of the week touching up where new drywall and framing meet old and for anyone who's curious about how plaster joins up with new drywall I'd be happy to give them a tour of the union at this location; give me a call at 509.592.0739. Tim got a lot of work done on the Nathan Wilson Residence; they removed the existing kitchen, got the drywall installed and ready for finishing while the cabinets are due to be installed on Wednesday of next week; Tim's done a lot of concise scheduling to make this summers kitchen remodels move as smoothly as possible. In addition to the kitchen, the crew's removed the now infamous attic roof (ask questions now...) and rolled an new attic floor which was sheathed on Friday. I dearly wish I had more pictures of this project because the transformation of this cracker-box into a shingle-style/gregorian is something to behold.

As was noted on our website we participated in the Inland Northwest Green Fair that took place on the SEL campus during the weekend of May 15-16. Although it would've been encouraging to have seen more patrons the satisfaction that we were a part of the first of many such regional events to come was worth it all. We'd like to thank Dale and Leslee Miller for their contributions, Craig Beaumont for his participation, and the ever sunny dispositions of Melinda Dutton and Jeanne Fulf-Meisel of Re/Max Home and Land for their advice and salespersonship when it came to presenting our offerings. Our team was able to present a home design that we feel represents sustainable building practices and Carlton Builders provided the graphic representations of it's interior.

Join us next week for a report from the Nathan Wilson attic renovation and tips from Nathan Stevenson on the proper handling of tar backed Ice and Water barrier in hot weather from a Jackson St. roof in Pullman, Wa. Until then...thanks for reading.

Palouse May Day...

2009-05-03T22:13:00.000-07:00

May Day was stunning. It was one of those refreshing afternoons on the Palouse that seem to take the busy nature of life far away and replace it with dreams and aspirations. Speaking of aspirations…we have a busy couple of weeks ahead of us as we prepare for the Inland NW Green fair. Being well-prepared with the scope of work that event will cover is a mighty aspiration in itself; there are many, many, things to do before the 15th so I’ll have to depend on a bit of inspiration if I’m to get done all that needs to be done in that time, and beautiful weather certainly helps on that front.

On Friday I dropped by the Miller residence and took a few pictures of the progress that has been made there. I’m proud to announce the framing has been completed and the roof is on, so when the windows go in Wednesday we’ll be completely weathered in. Jason Heslep, Wesley Peterson, and Nathan Stevenson are going to start the process of preparing the siding of the existing house on Monday so that it can mesh with the new fiber cement siding we plan to install. We have yet to frame the porch roof but first we have to pour the piers for the porch framing and we’ll start that process from the piers up when we do.

It’s a true blessing to have someone on your team that knows how to make themselves available and how to put their abilities to work for the team. We want to recognize the efforts of Alexis Stevenson for putting together a bevy of design options for a new logo that will represent the group, which is collaborating on the Rolling Hills Development in Uniontown, Wa. Despite the fact she’s caring for Lily Stevenson, her ten month old baby girl, Alexis has found the time to produce stunning work, and she’s always available to hear any input we might have on the projects she work on for us. So, thank you Alexis. We’re blessed to have you with us.

Nathan Stevenson even took some time to pose for the camera. Be sure to compliment his slap-dash hipster-carpenter style when you see him next. Notice the red t-shirt he wore to celebrate May Day.

True to Form...

2009-04-26T22:46:00.000-07:00

The Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 provides opportunity through “Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants” which are available to projects that improve the energy efficiency and conserve the historic character of existing buildings. The House and Senate plan provide multiple billions of dollars for block grant funds for states, localities, and tribes that fund such projects and Carlton Builders is doing it’s best to respond.

This past week Jason Schuling of Carlton Builders began work on a front porch addition of a older home in Colfax. The owners have the intention to request the house be included in the list of historical houses in Colfax and through our design ability and attention to detail we were able to come up with a design for the new porch that maintains the historic style of the home and effectively echoes the architectural details of the existing house. We were able to make design drawings and execute that design effectively. Hopefully, the Hendersons will be able to do as they intended and get the home listed on the historical registry.

Next month we plan to participate in the Inland Northwest Green Fair at the SEL Events Center in Pullman, Wa. We’ll be joining with Uniontown Rolling Hills Development Group in an effort to promote a new sustainably built community development on the Palouse. If you find yourself at the show please come by and say hello.

A New Kind...

2009-04-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

A new kind of builder on the Palouse…This claim only seems natural since we’re making the effort to improve upon the normal experience people have with building contractors. Typically when people talk about their contractor there tends to be a strong comparison with the stereotypical lawyer caricature; mistrust, poorly considered design, lack of communication, and a sense you’re just being used to further their career are just a few symptoms. We know we’re different because Carlton Builders has structured itself to prevent these age-old problems.

This week we’re starting work on an addition to the Jared Miller household in Moscow, Id. In February Tim began putting together a plan that would ultimately provide an additional 500 square feet including two bathrooms to their home. We finalized a plan last month, got it through the Moscow planning department, and last week began preparations for a new location for the gas meter on the back of the house where the addition will be. The elevations show the new porch, rear entry, and gable roof line of the addition and all this illustrates the good proportions of what’s being added on to what already exists. The things you want to avoid include: overbearing architectural details that beg for attention, departures from existing stylistic motifs, over-doing the amount of windows, and adding too much to the original structure so that it looks like it’s been added too. This last bit of advice should be tempered with recognition of its opposite since adding too little can make for useless or uncomfortable space. Porches can be difficult to add on because of this same problem, adding to much can disproportionately weight the house in that direction and making the new porch too small can make it useless. We always make the effort to build the best project we can.