Award-Winning Cottage Featured in Cabin Life

Check out the latest issue of Cabin Life magazine!

Bonin Architects’ award-winning lakeside cottage is the cover story of the May 2012 issue.  The article titled “Mini Retreat, Maximum Fun” describes how our remodeled cottage reuses as much of the original material as possible, makes the most out of  layout and storage, and creates an ultra-fun spot for entertaining guests on beautiful Pleasant Lake in New London, NH.

Here’s an excerpt from the article:

The beach cabin was in good shape for its age, but dark and rough inside. The goal was to maximize space, natural light and lake vistas. “We had very specific things we wanted to do,” says Sheri, a former property manager whose experience with architects, landscapers, and tradesmen came in handy during the project. “That’s the fun of having a cabin – you fix it up and make it your own.”

She found inspiration in books and magazines – Cabin Life included – on cabin design and lakefront living. The Webers brought the stack to architect Jeremy Bonin, AIA, of New London, N.H., who distilled common themes from pages of images. On the wish list: a cathedral ceiling, French doors, lots of glass, and a screened back porch facing the lake.

Lots of open storage was another must. Builder Jay Tucker of Old Hampshire Designs in New London was called in to do the revamping. Old Hampshire sanded floors, opened the ceiling, and created built-in nooks and cubbies. “It’s still all exposed wood inside, like a beach house,” says Tucker. “We upgraded it, painted it, made it a pretty little living space.”

“We tried to use as much of the original materials as possible,” notes Bonin. “We turned casement windows on their sides, reframed and regrouped others.” Bonin also guided the couple through a maze of required permits, as the cabin is just 50 feet from the water.

For more information on this great cottage, see our website at http://www.boninarchitects.com/en/selected-projects/selected-projects/83-portfolio/selected-projects/119-le-petite-pointe-cottage.html

Home Energy Credits

There's still time to qualify for home energy credits for 2011!

Make energy-saving and green-energy home improvements to your home and enjoy substantial tax savings - but only if you act before midnight on December 31, 2011!

• The 2011 credit rate is 10 percent of the cost of qualified energy efficiency improvements. Energy efficiency improvements include adding insulation, energy-efficient exterior windows and doors and certain roofs. The cost of installing these items does not count.

• The credit can also be claimed for the cost of residential energy property, including labor costs for installation. Residential energy property includes certain high-efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, water heaters and stoves that burn biomass fuel.

• The credit has a lifetime limit of $500, of which only $200 may be used for windows. If the total of nonbusiness energy property credits taken in prior years since 2005 is more than $500, the credit may not be claimed in 2011.

• The 2011 credit rate is 10 percent of the cost of qualified energy efficiency improvements. Energy efficiency improvements include adding insulation, energy-efficient exterior windows and doors and certain roofs. The cost of installing these items does not count.

• The credit can also be claimed for the cost of residential energy property, including labor costs for installation. Residential energy property includes certain high-efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, water heaters and stoves that burn biomass fuel.

• The credit has a lifetime limit of $500, of which only $200 may be used for windows. If the total of nonbusiness energy property credits taken in prior years since 2005 is more than $500, the credit may not be claimed in 2011.

Use IRS Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits to claim the credit on your tax return.

 

Wood Species for Your Timber Home

Several wood species are accepted in the timber frame and post and beam home industry.  Each species carries its own characteristics and beauty.

Douglas fir timber frame

Douglas fir: Known for its structural strength, Douglas fir’s color ranges from a yellow to orange-brown to deep reddish brown and has a limited number of knots.  Douglas fir checks and cracks minimally compared to other wood species. Large Douglas fir timbers may be designated FOHC (free of heart center) which means that the usual 'bulls eye' heart wood found in the center of most beams is absent. Free of heart timber also checks less and is more stable than timber which does have heart wood.

Eastern White Pine:  A blond wood with knots of various sizes and occasional red streaks, EWP is a stable, soft wood that is a favorite choice in the Northeast.  Not as strong as Hemlock or Douglas fir, Eastern White Pine is a light wood which cracks and checks as it dries over time giving a more rustic look. 

Western Red Cedar:   This species ranges from medium to dark brown in color.  It is saturated with a natural preservative, which allows it to repel water naturally.  This keeps shrinking and swelling to a minimum and limits warping and twisting.  Its close, even, straight grain makes it easy to work and finish to a smooth, silky finish.  Western Red Cedar is generally free from pitch and holds stains and paints beautifully.

Eastern Hemlock:  Hemlock is strong and less expensive than Douglas fir; however it carries a defect called “ring shake”.  Ring shake is a lengthwise separation that occurs between and parallel to growth rings which usually appears after a year or so.  Colors range from a pale brown to faintish reddish brown, which darken over time. 

Red Oak:  Red Oak is light brown with red undertones which gives an antique look.  Oak is a relatively heavy and strong hardwood, but tends to twist, crack, and check more than most softwoods.

Southern Yellow Pine:  Southern Yellow Pine is a very popular wood species for a timber frame or post and beam home.  Available in long lengths and with consistent high quality, it has a bold grain pattern and color ranging from golden brown to reddish brown which darkens with age.  When dried properly, Southern Yellow Pine twists and checks very little and stains very well. Most Southern Yellow Pine used in timber frames is now from salvaged or reclaimed structures.

Whatever your selection in wood species, you can be assured your timber home will be beautiful!

SIP Panels: R-Values in the Real World

Source: Structural Insulated Panel Association, www.sips.org

Insulation is one of the key components of any energy-efficient home or commercial building.  With heating and cooling accounting for 50 percent of energy use in the average home, the type of insulation you choose can save thousands of dollars in utility bills over the life of your home.

Insulation is rated by R-value, which measures a material’s thermal resistance.  An insulating material with a higher R-value forms a more effective thermal barrier between the outside temperature and the conditioned space inside the home.

But R-value doesn’t tell the whole story.  Laboratory tests that determine R-value have little resemblance to how insulation actually performs in a home.  When real world factors such as air infiltration, extreme temperatures and thermal bridging are present, field-installed fiberglass insulation can lose more than half its R-value.  Research has repeatedly shown that SIPs provide continuous insulation that will maintain its stated R-value for the life of the home and outperform fiberglass insulation every time.



Read more: http://www.sips.org

Construction Photos: NH Custom Luxury Home

Construction is continuing despite the rain in New Hampshire’s Upper Valley.   Interior walls, sheet rock, and flooring is being installed.  Even under construction, the timber frame is remarkable and provides an early glimpse into the beauty of the finished home.

Energy efficiency is an important goal for the home. Utilizing both active and passive solar technologies in the design along with a partial timber frame and structural insulated panels, this new home is being designed to meet Energy Star certification, keeping its carbon footprint to a minimum.

Stonework on the exterior is even more beautiful in person than on the architectural drawings!

Azek Building Products

Another “lunch and learn” in the Lake Sunapee region!  Chris Mercier, of Azek® Building Products, which manufactures decking, porch flooring, moulding, railing and trim, will be at Bonin Architects in New London today to tell us all about their products.

In their own words, Azek® Deck has pioneered a new generation of decking – Stain Resistant decking.  This new type of decking is designed to withstand everyday mishaps that happen on a deck – spilled wine, fruit punch, and hamburger grease.  Even scratches from moved patio furniture and rambunctious pets are no match for Azek® Deck.

Azek® Porch is a porch flooring that looks great and stays looking great in covered and uncovered areas.  Low maintenance its middle name – it resists stains, moisture, mold and mildew, scuffs, and scratches.  Installation is easy with its tongue and groove design.

Azek® Rail comes in three versatile styles and popular color selections, and offers the feel of real wood with high durability and low maintenance.  Azek® Mouldings won’t rot, crack, or split, and are impervious to moisture and insects.  And, Azek® Trim features precise sealed edges on all sides and a combination of uniformity, durability, workability, and beauty.

Sounds like Azek®’s products fit right in with timber framing!  Talk to Bonin Architects about designing your timber home with durable, low maintenance products!

SIP Panel Industry Grows Market Share Despite Retreating Housing Market

Note:  This is good news from the Structural Insulated Panel industry!  If you are looking for architects experienced in SIP panels, contact us about your project!

Industry survey reveals gains in residential market share helped producers dodge full force of construction downturn



July 1, 2010 – Despite four years of declining U.S. housing starts, the structural insulated panel (SIP) industry has avoided the full force of the economic recession, according to a recent survey conducted by the Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA). Results indicate that the industry experienced a 12 percent decrease in residential production volume in 2009, compared to a 28 percent drop in U.S. single family housing starts over the same time period.


2009 is the fifth consecutive year the industry has gained share in the residential market. It is now estimated that the panelized building system accounts for between one and two percent of U.S. single family home starts. SIPA Executive Director Bill Wachtler attributes much of the industry’s growth to the increasing popularity of green and energy-efficient homes. SIPs are composed of insulating foam sandwiched between two structural facings, creating an effective thermal barrier that can save homeowners up to 50 percent on heating and cooling costs.


“The rising cost of energy and concern over global climate change has really pushed green building into the mainstream,” said Wachtler. “SIPs give architects and builders an easy way to create an airtight building envelope that will improve the energy efficiency and durability of any home or light commercial building.”


Of the total 42 million square feet of SIPs produced in North America in 2009, 43 percent went to residential buildings, 32 percent to non-residential buildings, and the remaining 24 percent were used for non-building purposes, such as industrial coolers. An estimated 1,300 commercial buildings were constructed with SIPs in 2009, including schools, retail stores and agricultural buildings. Non-residential production declined 19 percent from the previous year.


“Like all industries we are affected by the recession and the drop in new construction,” said Wachtler. “But the strong market share gains we’ve experienced in the residential market indicate that the SIP industry is likely to see a significant boost in production as the economy recovers.”


Several different combinations of materials are used to construct SIPs, but the basic concept remains the same. The most popular facing materials are oriented strand board (OSB) and metal. Plywood and other materials such as fiber cement board accounted for only 6 percent of SIPs used in building applications.


The survey also polled SIP manufacturers regarding their geographic distribution. The top ranking regions for SIP use were the Mountain, East North Central (upper Midwest), and Pacific regions.


About SIPA
The Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) is a non-profit association representing manufacturers, suppliers, dealer/distributors, design professionals, and builders committed to providing quality structural insulated panels for all segments of the construction industry.


###

Cable Railing has Green Benefits

Cable railings with cable in-fill and metal railing frames are often made mostly of recycled materials if the frames are fabricated from aluminum, steel, or stainless steel. Wood-framed railings are also sustainable material.

The fittings used to mount and tension the cables in the railing frame are almost always made from stainless steel, which generally will have a recycled content of 65% or more. Once installed, the cable requires little maintenance and lasts for many years, often outlasting the railing frames to which they are attached.

They also have other advantages: cable railings offer a very modern, high-tech look that does not obstruct views, but rather provide an open feeling in confined spaces. Some products offer advanced mounting and tensioning hardware that can be concealed inside railing posts. Best of all, cable railings offer virtually unlimited design flexibility and can be used in any commercial or residential architecture.

One of our custom timber homes is designed with cable railing in the loft area.

Source: Environmental Design & Construction magazine (ED&C)

Top 10 Green Building Products of 2009

Award-winning business magazine Sustainable Industries recently announced the release of its 2009 Top 10 Green Building Products guide, the annual publication profiling industry-leading green building products selected by a panel of expert judges and the Sustainable Industries editorial team. This year’s Top 10 Green Building Products guide received more nominations than anytime over the last 4 years.

Top 10 Green Building Product winners were selected based on their environmental performance, scalability/market impact, innovativeness, design aesthetic, value and compatibility with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.

The 2009 Top 10 Green Building Product winners are:

Acadia Combined Heating and Cooling System
Made by Hallowell International (http://www.gotohallowell.com/)
The Acadia is not just another heating and cooling system. It maintains 200 percent efficiency even when outdoor temperatures drop well below zero. When heating oil prices were sky high, Acadia users were saving up to 70 percent in energy costs.

ec-H20
Made by Tennant Co.(http://www.tennantco.com/)
Requiring no chemicals, ec-H2O uses tap water to clean most any surface of most any substance. Each machine reduces water usage by 70 to 80 percent, and the potential of 245 million gallons of water each year if it were installed in all new floor-cleaning machines.

Read more about their Top Ten Green Building Products...

Tulikivi Wood Stoves

Tulikivi masonry heaters are extremely popular in timber frame homes. Translated from Finnish, “Tulikivi” literally means "fire stone". Every Tulikivi fireplace is manufactured with high quality soapstone quarried in Finland. Soapstone is unique in the world of masonry due to its natural refractory, heat storage, and heat transfer aspects. It is naturally able to withstand the high combustion temperatures inside a masonry heater.

If you are thinking of burning wood in your new timber house, you’ll obtain the best result using a solid, heat-retaining fireplace. A Tulikivi masonry heater has high performance and heating efficiency and its stored heat is radiated into the room evenly and over a long period of time.

Tulikivi has a wide variety of standard units available, but if you don’t see a model that fits your timber frame home, you can ask them to design a custom heater based on a sketch, photograph, or photo from a magazine. Visit their website at www.tulikivi.com

Green Building Materials: How do you Choose?

There are certainly an abundance of green / energy efficient building materials on the market today. How do you determine which one is better than the other? One way is by considering its life cycle: where its raw materials come from, how it is manufactured and what happens during the manufacturing process, and where the product ends up.

These are some things to consider when comparing green products:

Do the raw materials come from:
The earth;
A forest;
Chemicals mixed together

How are they harvested, and do they create waste or harmful material?

After being manufactured, how far does the product travel to get to distribution centers and you, the consumer?

Does the material require sealants, urethane finishes, or adhesives for installation (these usually involve using chemicals)?

Is the material durable and can it be easily repaired if necessary?

Fifty years from now, will the material be:
In the landfill in exactly the same form it was manufactured in;
Recycled into another product or material;
Biodegraded, having been broken down by microorganisms and bacteria

In the future, green building materials will come with labels listing raw materials, the material's contribution toward global warming and ozone depletion, its impact on carbon footprint, health concerns, habitat impact, and other influences on our global environment. In the meantime, you can rely on your green architect to help you choose the building materials that are right for your project, the environment, and your immediate [and future] budget.

ICF Benefits – Insulated Concrete Forms

Insulated Concrete contribute greatly to an energy efficient, airtight building envelope. Typical insulation values for the ICF forms range from R-17 to R-26, compared to the R-10 (average) required by building codes.

There are numerous benefits of ICF construction:

• Insulated concrete forms maintain a constant temperature, reduce temperature fluctuations, and eliminate drafts
  


• ICF homes use less energy for heating and cooling (30-50% cost savings when combined with other energy efficient materials)
  


• ICF forms are stronger than conventional foundation system, with less maintenance and repairs, can withstand high winds
  


• Insulated concrete walls remain straight, does not warp or creak
  


• An ICF wall creates a sound barrier, reducing 66% of noise
  


• No chemicals used in the manufacturing process of ICFs, with no off-gassing
  


• ICFs use recycled materials in webs and blocks, which saves trees
  


• EPS and concrete are mold resistant, and prevent dust, pollen, and pollutants
  


• Insects cannot penetrate an ICF wall and is not a food source for pests
  


• ICF foundations carry a three-hour fire rating

Jeremy Bonin, AIA NCARB LEED AP
Bonin Architects & Associates, PLLC

Insulated Panels: How green are they?

If you are planning to build a green home, SIP panels (structural insulated panels) are a strong, energy efficient, cost effective building system that can save you time, money and labor. But are they green? The Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA), answers:

Energy efficiency: Structural insulated panels are one of the most environmentally responsible building systems available. A SIP building envelope provides high levels of insulation and is extremely airtight, meaning the amount of energy used to heat and cool a home can be cut by up to 50 percent. The energy that powers homes and commercial buildings is responsible for a large portion of greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere. By reducing the amount of energy used in buildings, architects, builders, and homeowners can contribute to a clean environment for the future.

Resource use: The insulation used in SIPs is a lightweight rigid foam plastic composed of 98% air, and requires only a small amount of petroleum to produce. The foam insulation used in panel cores is made using a non-CFC blowing agent that does not threaten the earth’s ozone layer.

Waste minimization: Since SIPs are prefabricated in the factory, there is less jobsite waste that needs to be landfilled. Factory fabrication is often done using optimization software and many manufacturers recycle factory scrap to make other foam products.

Source: Structural Insulated Panel Association

Green Floor Finishes

Because of the harmful side effects of solvent-based interior stains and finishes, manufacturers have dramatically reduced the amount of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) their products offgas over the past several years. As a result, there are now quite a few water-based solvents available, qualifying for LEED points in the EQ Credit 4.2: Low-Emitting Materials: Paints & Coatings category.

If you are building a new home and are looking for a green interior floor finish, here are a couple of products available. These have low VOC levels, are made from natural materials, are biodegradable, and are exceptionally durable.

BioShield Paint has floor oils and sealants that are solvent-free and low-VOC, low odor. Here are two of their finishes:

BioShield High Solid Floor Oil: solvent-free finish (photo top)

• Protective wood-enhancing finish, dries to a satin-matte sheen
• Resists staining from water, milk, juice, beer, and wine within a certain time frame
• Made with linseed oil, tung oil, linseed stand oil, silicic acid, beeswax, candelilla wax, lead-free dryer
  

BioShield Hard Oil #9: low-VOC, low-odor hard oil

• Breathable and elastic coating with superior water-resistant characteristics
• Deeply penetrating finish for high-moisture and high-traffic areas
• Suitable for hardwood and softwood floors
• Made with linseed oil, tung oil, colophonium resin, castor stand oil, isoaliphatics, lead-free dryers, and oximes

Land Ark also has some great products that have gotten good reviews. For instance:

Land Ark Concentrated Finishing Oil

• Suited for floors or timbers, especially on reclaimed or absorbant species
• Contains only 25% solvent
• Completely non-toxic, biodegradable, and sustainable
• No chemical dryers used
• Works well as a top coat in high moisture areas
• Mildewcide and UVA additives are available upon request

Douglas Fir Timbers – a Good Choice!

Douglas fir is certainly one of the most popular wood choices for a post and beam or timber frame home because of its structural integrity and handsome appearance. Structural posts and timbers are graded according to the American Lumber Standard Committee, Inc. through accredited agencies such as the Western Wood Products Association’s (WWPA) lumber grading rules.

A structural timber’s strength is graded for strength or physical appearance. After a timber passes through a planer for surfacing, an inspector evaluates all four sides and the ends of the timber before assigning it a grade. The inspector looks at:

Wood characteristics: both natural growth and imperfections

Knots: checked for size, location, displacement, quality, and occurrence

Holes: (where knots have fallen out), for size and location

Wane: the presence of bark or the lack of wood fiber along the edge of the timber

Splits, Shakes, and Seasonal Checks: separations in the wood that can affect the structural integrity of the timber

Slope of the Grain: the deviation of the line of fibers from a straight line parallel to the sides of the timber

Warp: a bow, crook, twist, or cup in the timber

The way a timber is sawn is relative to its structural integrity. We recommend only “free of heart center” FOHC timbers, which means that the usual 'bulls eye' heart wood found in the center of most beams is absent. Free of heart timber also checks less and is more stable than timber which does have heart wood.

Consult with your timber frame architect on which wood species and grade is appropriate for your home!

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF forms)

Insulated Concrete Forms, most often constructed of expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation, are becoming a popular alternative in the northeast as they contribute greatly to an energy efficient, airtight building envelope. Typical insulation values for the ICF forms range from R-17 to R-26, compared to the R-10 (average) required by building codes.

Insulated concrete forms are used for the building foundation or the whole wall system for a house or garage. EPS ‘blocks’ are stacked atop a concrete footing, reinforced within and then filled with concrete providing the foundation or wall system for the building. The EPS forms remain in place to provide a high performance thermal barrier.

The walls of the ICF foundation are resistant to high wind loads, can be easily designed for active seismic zones, are resistant to moisture and are far less attractive to termites and other insects than wood products.

Exterior and interior finishes of all varieties may be applied to ICF forms; the majority of which have integral fastening channels or substrates for furring strips or directly applied finishes.

Ventilation Requirements for Homes Using SIP Panels

All new homes need active ventilation air – in fact, the “tighter” the house, the greater the need. Structural insulated panel homes are no different. This high performance insulation system has exploded in popularity in the energy efficient building industry. Ventilation in a SIP home is necessary to protect you and your family from odors and indoor air contaminants, as well as to control the building’s interior moisture levels.

In addition to natural ventilation by windows, doors and skylights, your SIP home should have both spot ventilation and dilution ventilation systems. Spot ventilation systems are exhaust systems located in a point source of pollution such as the kitchen or bathroom. Fans properly vented to the outdoors remove moisture, odors, and pollutants that otherwise collect in the home.

Dilution ventilation systems draw outside air into the home through ducted systems while exhausting stale interior air. This exchange of air controls indoor moisture levels and lowers airborne contaminants to create a healthy home environment. Most SIP homes utilize either a heat recovery system (HRV) or an energy recovery system (ERV). Both supply the home with balanced air intake and exhaust. HRV’s are usually used in cooler, dry climates. A heat exchanger transfers a large portion of the heat (no moisture) between the exhaust air stream and the outside air stream. ERV’s, typically used in warmer humid climates, also use a type of heat exchanger system where both heat and moisture are exchanged, keeping the moisture level higher in cold dry months and the ventilation balanced.

A ventilation system (HRV or ERV) helps your SIP home, or any home with a tight building envelope, perform optimally, controlling indoor moisture, odors, and contaminants, providing you with a healthy home environment.

Jeremy Bonin, AIA NCARB LEED AP
Bonin Architects & Associates, PLLC

Metal Roofs – a Green Choice

The roof of a green home, whether it is a timber frame, post and beam, structural insulated panel home or a conventional home, has one primary purpose: to protect the interior from the elements.

Depending on the location of the home, the roof may be exposed to heavy rain, high winds, heavy snow, or extremes of sun and heat. Damage from the elements can have serious effects on the structural integrity of the home; therefore, because the roof is often the least accessible part of the building, roofing materials should be durable and low maintenance. A sustainable roof may have a higher initial cost, but will pay for itself over time with lower maintenance, repairs, and replacement costs.

An excellent choice for a green home is a metal roof. Unlike asphalt shingles, metal roofs are typically manufactured with a high content of recycled material. In addition to being lightweight and durable, they are typically coated with a protective “cool roof” finish, helping it to reflect heat and reduce energy consumption to run air conditioners in summer. Metal roofs stand up to high winds and are extremely durable while requiring little to no maintenance. Metal roofs also address sustainability as they are able to be recycled or reused when the building reaches the end of its usable life cycle.

Bonin Architects & Associates can design your new energy efficient home with a metal roof, which will save you money on energy bills and help the environment.

Jeremy Bonin, AIA NCARB LEED AP

Cool Roofs for Energy Efficient Homes

Energy costs for cooling your home with an air conditioner can be very expensive. A ‘cool roof’ is an important step towards reducing utility bills while extending the life of your roofing material in your green home.

‘Cool’ or ‘cold’ roof installations function by allowing heat that is built up from absorbing the sun’s energy to escape via convection prior to it passing through the structure and insulating portion of the roof of the home. This is typically achieved by adding strapping run with the slope of the roof over the main roof structure, then applying the roof material of choice (sometimes over another layer of roof sheathing) while venting the air cavities at both the eave and the ridge. While the roof absorbs and transfers heat during the day, it warms the air within the cavities and natural convection draws cool air in at the eave while the heated air disperses at the ridge.

Roof material color selection also plays an important role; lighter colors will reflect more heat preventing heat buildup while the darker colors (reds, blacks and greens) will absorb more heat.

Long-term benefits include significantly reduced energy bills, increased comfort, the ability to reduce the size of, or possibly omit, air conditioning units in the home, less roof maintenance, and an extended roof life resulting in less waste. Some states, such as Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Texas, and the Carolinas offer rebate programs for cool roof installations.

Bonin Architects & Associates can help you choose the best cool roof materials for your energy efficient home based on where you live and the design of the home.

Jeremy Bonin, AIA NCARB LEED AP
Bonin Architects & Associates, PLLC