PencilJazz Architecture of Maine | Architect

Hardwood Flooring Manufactured

architectria — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:48:20 +0000

Manufactured, composite, laminate, engineered; there are a lot of terms thrown around to label this type of finish flooring. There are a few manufacturing techniques available.

The categories of choices are Engineered, Domestic, Exotic, Handscraped, and Stained, and all are not the same price, but close. You may be able to afford something exotic such [...]

Architectural Plan Set Components

architectria — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:48:07 +0000

You may be wondering what components PencilJazz includes in a thorough set of residential construction plans. This chart will give you a general idea of what is included in a full scope construction set, although assignments vary in scope as does the level of detail requested by the client.

Foil Faced Rigid Foam Insulation

architectria — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:57:17 +0000

John Mansville AP Foil Faced Rigid Foam is a popular insulation applied to the exterior of an otherwise fiberglass insulated stud wall. At 2 inches thick, it has an insulation value of R-13. Added to an R-10, fiber batt insulated, 5.5 inch stud wall, you can achieve an R-33 wall. But you will need extension [...]

StyroFoam Rigid Insulation by Dow

architectria — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:30:50 +0000

Dow has a line of rigid foam board insulation in a number of thicknesses from .5 inch to 3 inches, with various ways of being joined at the edges. There is a board with grooves to be used for wrapping neatly around curved surfaces. With 3.5 inches of Ownes Corning’s CoreBond spray in foam between [...]

Sun Tunnel

architectria — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 02:44:40 +0000

If you have a room that needs more sunlight, but there is nowhere to install a window, there is another solution. A Sun Tunnel can penetrate the roof and direct the light of day into the room. Of course, when the sun sets, you need a lamp, but this will keep the room lit later [...]

LP Gas Boiler for Hot Water

architectria — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:53:38 +0000

They are called “On Demand Boilers” and they begin heating the water at the moment you turn on the faucet. The rest of the day, no energy is being consumed keeping a tank of water up to temperature. It makes sense. Winterizing a house is easier too. You don’t have to empty the water tank. [...]

Exterior Wall Insulation

architectria — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:56:43 +0000

The minimum R-value for a LEED certified, energy efficient home is about to reach R-30. In a conventional stick framed home with 5.5 inch studs, fiberglass doesn’t offer this level of insulation. Many add 2 inches of rigid foam insulation to the outside of the studs. This works. You can achieve an R-35, but you [...]