Building an Addition for an Elderly Parent Project

Protecting Local Wetlands Video

Steve Ivas, an environmental consultant, helped guide the homeowners through the process of securing permits for the house expansion. Neighboring Black Pond Bog is an endangered ecosystem owned by the Nature Conservancy. The boardwalk and paths are maintained by the Massachusetts Audubon Society. The pond was formed about 10,000 years ago by a melting glacier. The bog is lined with a fibrous mass at the bottom, which runs 20 feet deep in some sections. This bog is called a "quaking bog" because the surrounding plants and trees are growing on a sort of "life raft" on top of the water. Across the driveway from the job site is a vest-pocket wetland that is protected by the town. Small wetlands like these are protected because they provide filtering of storm water and a habitat for wildlife. The headwaters for the interconnected wetland system are at the job site and run along the roadway. The wetland is not landscaped and remains in its pristine condition. To protect it, an erosion-control system was put in place using staked hay bales with a silt fence behind them. This makeshift fence protects the wetland from any erosion or runoff from the job site. These small patches of wetland may seem like insignificant unlandscaped areas but they are very important for the town's ecological health.

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• Howard Brickman Consulting (Norwell, MA) - General contracting and project management

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• Ivas Environmental - Environmental engineering and permitting

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• Fab-Form Industries - Fab-Form stay-in-place footing and drainage forms
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	Other Video Clips from this Episode

	Expanding a Home to Create an In-Law Suite More and more baby boomers are looking to expand space in their homes to make room for aging parents. Bob talks with Howard Brickman, an old friend of the show, ... Watch video and view full description
	NOW PLAYING Protecting Local Wetlands Steve Ivas, an environmental consultant, helped guide the homeowners through the process of securing permits for the house expansion. Neighboring Black Pond Bog is an endangered ecosystem owned by the ...
	Using Insulated Polystyrene Forms for Foundation Footings Bob talks with Howard Brickman about the challenging soil conditions on this project, where a high water table and impermeable soils must be considered for the foundation. To alleviate these ... Watch video and view full description
	Preparing Insulated Moisture Barrier and Forms for Foundation Pour The Norwell home is getting ready for the foundation pour. It will be a monolithic or single pour as they create the slab and frost walls. Todd LaBarge of LaBarge ... Watch video and view full description
	Pouring the Concrete Foundation The slab was poured at the same time as the footing, saving a lot of steps. The process was very streamlined. Insul-Tarp, a combination insulation and a vapor barrier from ... Watch video and view full description
	Building with ReddiForm ICFs Bob talks with Ron Ardres of ReddiForm about the ReddiForm insulated concrete form (ICF) system that was used for the foundation walls. The ReddiForm blocks are made of expanded polystyrene. ... Watch video and view full description