July 9, 2008 at 4:08 pm · Filed under Barter House Purchases, Barter House Images
Just as the title states, it seems you can’t build a modern house without visiting the Big Blue Box during the process. Our virgin trip to IKEA ended with our bellies as full as the Saab that took us there.
We saw a lot of great things, but walked away with several pendant lights to finish up our lighting list and we also saved hundreds on the IKEA exhaust hood vs. the Kitchen Aid model.
We’ll likely be buying window treatments and perhaps a dining room table online in the next couple of weeks.
March 28, 2008 at 11:32 am · Filed under Barter House Purchases, Barter House Images
About a week after the siding left Austin, it was delivered and unloaded @ the barter house. I purchased the “decking” which will be used as vertical siding online from Everwood Decking Partners for $2.40 per board foot + freight. The boards are 1×6 clear grade Ipe and range in length from 8 to 18 feet. The color is beautiful & I can’t wait to see it go up!
I’ve been feeling a bit guilty about all of the Brazilian hardwood that is being used in the barter house and began looking for ways to replenish the Earth. In my research I found a tree farm in Costa Rica that grows tropical hardwoods for you. I’ve emailed the owners to see if they would be interested in bartering a redesign in exchange for planting trees on behalf of the barter house, but I haven’t heard back yet.
INSTALLATION GUIDELINES
IPÊ IS AN EXTREMELY DENSE WOOD WITH EXCEPTIONAL DURABILITY AND PERFORMANCE.
WHEN INSTALLED PROPERLY IPÊ WILL PROVIDE A LIFETIME OF BEAUTY AND SERVICE
HANDLING AND STORAGE - IPÊ IS SUPPLIED PARTIALLY AIR DRIED AND IS FOR OUTDOOR USE. IT SHOULD BE STORED IN A COOL DRY PLACE OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT, DUST, AND RAIN. IT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ACCLIMATE TO THE INSTALLATION ENVIRONMENT. IF STORED OVER OPEN GROUND, LEAVE SUFFICIENT CIRCULATION SPACE UNDER THE BUNDLE TO COUNTER THE EFFECTS OF CONDENSATION. ALLOW FOR GROUND SIDE VENTILATION IN YOUR DESIGN AS PROPER AIR CIRCULATION IS NECESSARY FOR LONG TERM STABILITY. WHEN FULLY SEASONED SHRINKAGE OF APPROXIMATELY 1/16″ ON 4″ WIDE MATERIAL AND 1/8″ ON 6″ WIDE MATERIAL CAN BE EXPECTED
CONDITIONING - PRIOR TO USE, AIR DRY TO LOCAL MOISTURE LEVELS, THIS WILL RESULT IN A MORE ATTRACTIVE AND STABLE PROJECT.
DESIGN - ALL DECK SURFACES MUST BE DESIGNED WITH A SLIGHT GRADE TO FACILITATE PROPER RUN-OFF OF WATER.
ALL PROJECTS SHOULD ALSO BE DESIGNED WITH SUFFICIENT SPACE BETWEEN THE PROJECT AND GROUND, PERMITTING CONTINUOUS CIRCULATION OF FRESH AIR; THIS IS CRITICAL FOR LONG TERM DIMENSIONAL STABILITY.
CUTTING AND DRILLING - DUE TO THE DENSITY OF IPÊ PREMIUM CARBIDE TIPPED BLADES AND HIGH QUALITY DRILLS ARE NECESSARY TO MAKE SMOOTH CUTS. PRE-DRILL AND COUNTER SINK WHEN USING SCREWS.
END SEALING - SEAL ALL ENDS AFTER CUTTING WITH LATEX BASED END SEALER TO REDUCE END CHECKING
FASTENING - STAINLESS STEEL FASTENERS WILL PROVIDE SUPERIOR SERVICE LIFE AND ELIMINATE CHEMICAL REACTION OR STAINING OF THE IPÊ. COATED OR GALVANIZED FASTENERS CAN BE USED: HOWEVER SHORTER LIFE AND STAINING OF THE WOOD MAY OCCUR.
* SCREWS TRADITIONALLY CONSIDERED SUPERIOR METHOD OF FASTENING REQUIRES PRE-DRILLING AND COUNTER SINKING
* HIDDEN FASTENER HELPS TO STREAMLINE LABOR OVER FACE SCREWING PROVIDES “SCREWLESS” DECKING SURFACE. SOME SYSTEMS PROVIDE AUTOMATIC SPACING
FINISHING: IS NOT REQUIRED UPON INSTALLATION OF IPÊ DECKING BUT IS RECOMMENDED TO MINIMIZE U. V. FADING A PENETRATING, PIGMENTED, U. V. INHIBITING SEALER, SUCH AS MESSMERS DECK SEALER, IS RECOMMENDED TO MAINTAIN IPÊ’s RICH NATURAL COLOR.
January 13, 2008 at 4:33 pm · Filed under Green Choices, Barter House Purchases, Barter House Images
We desire to be environmentally responsible in building the barter house. Our focus will likely be in reducing the operating costs once we move in. We’re framing the barter house with concrete masonry units and will be using spray foam insulation, making the walls 10+ inches thick. All of the glass in the barter house will be low-E & argon filled. We are also looking at installing below ground cisterns (the HOA requires an irrigation system).
We can also reduce our energy bill by installing a tankless hot water heater. So, we bought a Noritz (N-069M-DV-NG) on eBay right before the $300 tax credit expired.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, operating costs could be up to 50% lower since there is no re-heating of water as with traditional water heaters.
