envy, the blog
Occasionally, when we are not preoccupied designing, creating, building or generally nerd-ing out over architecture and art, we will blog. Here you will find out what we are up to, be able to follow along on builds as they happen and sometimes we just find something really interesting we want to share with you.
Scroll down for some cool histories of previous adventures, read up on our current endeavours and feel free to comment or share as like.
Come join us on our adventures…
Ready for Main Floor Walls
Re-Bar is poured into the top of the basement walls in preparation for the main floor ICF blocks to be stacked.Hydronic heating lines in the main floor are now neatly tied to their manifold as well.
First Backfill
After the basement and first floor are poured the preliminary back-filling is done to create a safer work site. This further allows the initial back fill time to settle and the second back fill to properly grade the area around the homes.
Main Floor Concrete
At long last, the concrete for the main floor gets poured to create the perfectly seamless, easy to clean, smooth finished heated floors for these modern homes.
More ICF Blocks
Now that the basement is done an other load of ICF (insulated concrete forms) is delivered to build the next level, the main floor.
Radiant Heating Lines
The snow has finally melted and the radiant heat lines get installed. Hurray, spring weather is almost here!
Basement Work
Well the snow may have held up progress on the first floor but but it didn't stop the plumbers from beginning their rough-ins. Also gave me a chance to provide some detail shots of the ICF basement that is now built.
Snowy Set-back
Just when you think you are rolling (in winter) the snow drops in for a visit making it a bit hard to install the in-floor radiant heat lines on the first floor. Made for some pretty pictures though... notice the new "walking plank" to get you over the 'moat' (basement excavation) to the main floor. And the neatly moved re-stacked original bricks to be integrated into the finished new homes.
Floor Prep
After the joists, plywood gets temporarily placed to ready the floors for the next concrete pour.
First Floor Beams & Joists
Next the industrial steel beams and floor joists go in, hanging off the concrete walls these will support the concrete floors. The heavy steel is moved in with a 'boom' (small crane) and two guys help to guide them into place. A pretty neat process to watch...
Haus 8-10 fun-fotos (1)
Who ever said that you can't find some fun or groovy things to take pictures of at a constructions site?
Concrete ICF Basement Walls
Framing a basement with ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) doesn't take too long ... then comes the concrete pumping truck and in a matter of a couple of hours you have insulated basement walls.
The Building Blocks
When describing ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) we often refer to it as giant styrofoam Lego-blocks that we place, secure with steel rod and finally pour concrete into to make our walls.When compared to typical stick built homes, ICF construction offers superior insulative values and the longevity of a home that is more akin to homes found in Europe. Qualities that are inherently more sustainable by virtue of offering a significantly longer life-cycle than their wooden counterparts while consuming substantially less energy to heat and cool. Many homes are now moving towards ICF for basements but we ask; "why stop there?"And here is how we get our building blocks to the site... good old fashioned man-power.
Sewer lines
The not so glamorous but essential topic of sewer lines...Old crumbled pipes replaced with new ones to the city main and then we back fill to hide the 'crap'.Pun intended!
Finished footings
Before the concrete sets and cures steel posts are inserted to mount ICF* walls a few days later.The 'boss' comes and inspects the progress before we can proceed.*ICF - Insulated concrete forms; stay tuned to our blog to watch the whole process unfold
Footing Concrete
Footing frames are built, reinforced with re-bar, braced and ready to pour.... here comes the liquid concrete, soon to be solid footings for two beautiful energy efficient new homes.
Excavation
The huge basement hole gets dug by lanky Leonard and then the footings get framed up. It never ceases to amaze me how fast that much dirt can get moved!
Breaking Ground
After a long wait for more permits followed by a much needed reprieve from the snow the ground finally 'breaks' at project Haus 8-10!Unfortunately the wonderful salvaged black bricks from the former home will need to be moved... by hand.While this is definitely not so much fun, their reuse by integrating them into the finished product will be pretty groovy. (see bottom right stacks) Stay tuned during the course of construction.
New Beginnings
EuphoriaThe best description for the feeling you get on demolition day!After months or sometime years of planning, permitting and scheduling you have finally arrived... Methodically, the house comes down with the promise of something new to take its place. Thus the roller coaster ride of building a custom home continues. Today is a day when after finally cresting the highest top, you hurtle down, holding your hat, screaming with excitement and a touch of fear.If it wasn't real to this point, the back hoe bucket going through the front door, sure makes it real now...We have never documented a build or renovation project. This time we wanted to share some of the experience with our children, friends, families, clients and colleagues. They are always there for us despite not always understanding what exactly it is that we do or why we are bubbling over with excitement one day and simply exhausted the next.Welcome to our Journey!