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Restoration Project
The restoration project of the old dairy farm and the
building of a green home.1.The site is 4 plus acres,
partially wooded, with a 2' wide creek running through. It was
partially open meadow. Part of an old dairy farm, there were
invasive species of plants (privet hedge, multiflora rose,
honeysuckle) and pest plants (poison oak, blackberries) which
were so thick rabbits had trouble navigating. We used some
onsite wood ( knee braces, flooring, and trim of walnut and
pear), all new framing timbers (they were required by NC law to
be graded for structural integrity) and stone from the field,
creek, and local roadwork for drystack retaining walls.
Construction materials were used several times during building,
such as 2x4 bracing for the timber frame during the raising,
later used for toe boards, and then as part of interior walls. |
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2. Energy efficiency The 2800 sq. ft. timber frame house is
powered by our local power grid. Passive solar gain comes from
windows on east and south sides. Active solar heat for hot water
and photovoltaic panels were feasible, but we elected not to use
them at the time. Heating and cooling is from a heat pump with a
propane backup furnace, which has never come on. There are no
water conservation measures. Gutter outflow is carried
underground to the protected banks of a creek 40 feet away. And
there are French drains along two sides of the building which
drain springs. Our well produces 65 gallons per minute, and has
so far, even before Huricane Fay and our current drought, never
stopped giving us adequate water. We still are careful with
water usage, and any irrigation for plants comes from the creek.
Costs of heating and cooling and powering the house averages
$75 per month, year around. Insulation is structural insulated
panels, or SIPS. Summer shade is provided by large sycamore and
walnut trees to the east, south and west.
3. We expect
the building to last at least 300 years, as many similar timber
frame buildings in Europe and New England have done without the
advantages of modern roofing, flashings, and foundations. The
roof is painted steel, and exterior is painted cedar shiplap
siding. The SIPS insulation should far outlast cellulose and
fiberglass at least in efficiency, as the SIPS do not settle.
4.Air
quality. We use no carpet. We have wooden floors and wool area
rugs, and wainscotting of local logs rescued from sawmill
firewood piles. The timber frame is local white pine for the
living room and hemlock recycled from the adelgid infestation of
New England hemlock forests for the remainder of the house.
Finishes were Watco and water based polyurethane. Flooring is
wood-walnut, spalted sycamore, spalted maple, heart pine. Low
VOC paint was used on our sheetrock. Dehumidification is done by
our heat pump. There is no need for air to air heat exchangers,
and we have no air quality problems. Between Florida and
Michigan, I believe there is no need for these machines.
5.
Our house is beautiful, inside and out. It fits into its rural
setting, and nestles along the creek and patio, mostly hidden
from the road by large sycamores, Eastern red junipers, and
poplars. Each time I enter the house, quiet and contentment wash
over me and I am happy to sit quietly and enjoy the always
intriguing structure of the timber frame. We plan to live here
as long as we can.
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6.The house is almost hidden in summer, with views of
the Appalachian Trail ridges in the winter. We have planted
many native trees, shrubs, and plants along the creek and
road for privacy and for restoration of the native flora.
The old dairy farm fields are much cleaner, we have removed
most of the honeysuckle, privet hedge, multiflora rose and
poison oak, and we still have visits from wild turkey flocks
and herds of deer. We have seen as many as 14 of both
species.
7.Our house was built before HERS was
available. We recently had it blow tested and evaluated by
an accredited professional. It was compared with the
imaginary all electic reference house and was projected to
use 86% of the energy of the reference house. When ACTUAL
costs of heating, cooling and powering the house were
compared with the reference house, our costs were 59% of the
reference house. We are unable to get it certified because
it was not inspected during building. However the bottom
line speaks for itself. |
CABIN CREEK TIMBER FRAMES
828-369-5899
6624 Georgia Road Franklin, NC 28734
www.cabincreektimberframes.com
jbell@cabincreektimberframes.com
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