โMar-08-2014 03:53 AM
โMar-20-2014 02:18 PM
โMar-20-2014 08:25 AM
โMar-09-2014 05:03 PM
Lowsuv wrote:
The reason for a 3' to 4' overhang on the south side is :
In winter the sun is lower and light comes in the window .
In summer the sun is higher and the entire south facing window is shaded for most of the day .
That is what we have .
At 4100' ASL we get a lot of solar heat gain in a region that has 300 sun days per year .
Larger overhangs block the needed light in winter as you point out .
โMar-09-2014 01:27 PM
โMar-09-2014 10:51 AM
โMar-09-2014 09:01 AM
โMar-09-2014 07:57 AM
Lowsuv wrote:
We built a 2450 sq. ft. single level house with a 1400 sq ft garage in 1999 .
I have been in the lumber business since 1969 , an owner since 1977 .
We have built 4 custom houses in our lifetime and I am a student of building materials .
The list of unique things we did is long . Some highlights :
3 or 4 foot over roof over hang helps keep down the solar heat gain.
Casement windows ( crank out ) seal the best . We used Eagle Clad ( Andersen high line ) which have engineered wood inside and anodized aluminum outside .
If you install an upgrade air-condition / natural gas heating system , not every window has to be operable .
A non-movable sash is the most energy efficient and cheaper to buy .
Do not use sliding or double hung windows as they leak air .
A house that is more of a square has less exterior wall length than one that is a rectangle . Less heat issues .
South facing walls can have more windows as long as there is minimum 3'-4' overhang .
The west facing wall should have a minimum or no windows . Heat gain from wes facing windows is brutal .
Hardiplank cement/composite siding holds paint twice as long, does not warp , and does not shrink/swell with temp changes .
Raise your house an extra foot or so by building a taller stem wall . Insulate the stem walls and Use at least R-30 under the floor .
It is not greatly more expensive to use 2x8 for the exterior walls . 2x8x10 is a low demand size that costs less per board foot . This gives R 26 minimum with fiberglass insulation .
Consider using 9 foot interior ceilings in most rooms and not taller than 12-13' for the feature rooms . Higher vaults are expensive to heat .
Consider R 40 to R-50 as minimum in the ceiling .
Do not use sliding patio doors . Only use swinging patio doors with a 3 point or 5 point lock .
Garage doors should be steel insulated in a 1.5" or 2" thickness . No windows . I used 9'W x 8'H for the cars .
Tile floors at the entrances and down hallways are maintenance free and will eliminate "tracking " from outside .
I installed 3 drains in my garage that slope to the middle .
I wash my cars inside in winter .
I installed an operating casement window at each end of my garage .
In the summer I open them and the breeze goes through the garage .
Bend has 85 degree days and 50 degree nights in summer .
I wasted money on fluorescent lights in the garage .
Cheapie porcelain holders with a compact fluorescent and double the fixtures and switches is a better way to go . I need light in one part of the garage mostly and not all of the garage at the same time .
โMar-09-2014 07:23 AM
โMar-09-2014 06:16 AM
โMar-08-2014 08:41 PM
John S. wrote:
So, I have been thinking of a combo house garage setup. I will be building a new house from the ground up and was looking for ideas. Thought of a combo house garage. Does anyone have one and if so how do you like it.
โMar-08-2014 08:01 PM
โMar-08-2014 08:00 PM
โMar-08-2014 07:36 PM
JJBIRISH wrote:
it seems the risk of a full closed closet of any size on an outside wall used as a dead air space would not have sufficient air circulation and condensation problems in cold weather, but I donโt know this for sureโฆ
โMar-08-2014 03:36 PM
n7bsn wrote:DougE wrote:
I don't know your local building codes, but having propane on board probably presents more of a fire risk than garaging cars. If you're not doing an open structure like a carport, a separate building makes more sense.
I doubt the "propane" is much of an issue, I know people that heat, cook, heat-water, etc with propane in their homes.
Many areas do have some restrictions, like no propane appliances in basements (fire danger). But just propane in a home, probably not an issue, any more then the pipe coming in from the outside tank