This is a clever, state of the art, solution for venting the roof rafters. It is a whole system carefully thought out and tested and well worth installing. The beauty of this idea is that it doubles as excellent insulation that will save you thousands in heating or air conditioning costs. It provides cross ventilation between rafters and around openings and seals that air from the rest of the rafter bays until it reaches the ridge vent. In addition, the components are made from recycled material. The best ideas are so simple. The website needs work, but all the information is there if you read it through. It is a much better idea than the flimsy foam solution most architects are using right now. Here is the link to Tom’s website, and a few photos of the products involved in the system.

Click Here : Corwin Industries Roof Rafter Ventilation & Insulation System

written by pencilman \\ tags: roof rafter venting

I will admit, it is curiously difficult to find a building materials supplier in Maine who has any idea what a Termit Shield looks like, or a builder who ever installs them. Mainers are under the impression that they are unecessary due to the impression that termites seldom appear in Maine. Well that will change as they migrate north with population growth. However, we already have a severe problem in Maine with ants infesting homes and eating the wood frame of the house. What is traditionally called a “termite shield” will also work for ants. If you do not install one in your house, you are making a serious mistake. I found two companies online who supply termite shields. Print them and bring them to your builder or supplier and tell them you want these on your home. They are installed by laying them along the top of the foundation wall, under the sills. Here are links to their PDF brochures.

http://penciljazz.com/blogpdf/Flamco_termiteshield.pdf

http://penciljazz.com/blogpdf/Union_termiteshield.pdf

written by pencilman \\ tags: Termite Shields: Ant Infestation Prevention

This new insulation material is used to replace fiberglass batt insulation in walls. It is more fireproof, has a higher insulation value of R-3 per inch, lasts just as long, probably longer, and it completely and rapidly biodegrades when you’re done with it. It is made of mushrooms.

http://ecovativedesign.com/index.html

written by pencilman \\ tags: green insulation

Here are two major suppliers of interior and exterior rigid foam insulation, with or without foil faces. This product is for interior or exterior application as insulation typically offering an R-Value of 7.20 per inch of thickness. If the rigid foam is foil faced, it will reflect heat directly like a mirror reflects light, but only if the heat touches it. If we are trying to prevent heat from escaping, we place the reflective foil on the interior of the wall. However, it makes a lousy finish, so over that would go gypsum wallboard, which can store heat if it doesn’t escape from within the wall. Well, the rigid foam just behind it will reflect it back into the room. You can get a huge savings from only one inch of foam behind the wallboard. It can boost your total wall R-Value up to 27.

http://building.dow.com/styrofoam/na/thermax/

http://building.dow.com/styrofoam/na/thermax_com/products/

written by pencilman \\ tags: rigid foam interior insulation