1220 - Barn Insulation, Video Wiring and a New Balcony
January 14-20, 2002 | July 15-21, 2002
HI, I'M BOB VILA, WELCOME HOME
AGAIN
TO OUR LITTLE FARMHOUSE HERE IN
MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.
TODAY WE'RE INSULATING--
BLOWN-IN CELLULOSE--
BOTH IN A NEW CONSTRUCTION
APPLICATION AND AS A RETRO FIT.
ALSO WE'RE DOING SOME OF OUR
INITIAL INTERNET WIRING,
STRUCTURED WIRING THAT IS.
STICK AROUND, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE
YOU HOME AGAIN.
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
SEARS
LET'S GET STARTED IN THE FORMER
BARN--NOW ARTIST STUDIO SPACE.
JOE SHERIDAN IS HERE FROM ENERGY
GUARD,
AND HE'S GONNA TELL US ALL ABOUT
CELLULOSE INSULATION, RIGHT?
HOW YOU DOING, BOB?
GOOD. NOW, JOE, THIS IS AN
UNUSUAL SITUATION THAT WE HAVE
HERE,
IN THAT WE'VE GOT AN OLD ATTIC,
A BARN THAT'S BEING CONVERTED
INTO TWO STUDIO SPACES--
A GARAGE PORTION WHICH WILL BE
UNHEATED.
HOW DO WE GET STARTED HERE?
WELL, IN THIS AREA THE FIRST
THING WE HAVE TO DO
IS BACK THE WALLS WITH THIS MESH
MATERIAL
SO THAT WHEN WE SPRAY THE
PRODUCT ON IT,
IT HAS SOMETHING TO HOLD IT
UNTIL THEY GET THE SHEET
ROCKING.
GOTCHA...AND THIS IS A SIMILAR
PRODUCT TO WHAT YOU SEE
ON THE BOTTOM OF UPHOLSTERED
FURNITURE, RIGHT?
YES, A BOTTOM OF A COUCH IS THE
SAME TYPE OF MATERIAL.
NOW THE CELLULOSE ITSELF IS
GROUND UP NEWSPAPERS, RIGHT?
EXACTLY. 40 YEARS WORTH OF
READING--
THAT'S WHAT SOMEBODY TOLD ME:
IT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF 40 YEARS
WORTH OF NEWSPAPERS
RECYCLED INTO THE AVERAGE HOUSE.
EXACTLY.
NOW, ARE THERE ANY DRAWBACKS
FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF
HUMIDITY GETTING INTO IT
OR RODENTS OR THE LIKE?
AH, THE BORATES THAT THE PRODUCT
IS TREATED WITH
ARE RESISTANT TO FUNGI, TO ALL
KINDS OF...UM...
BASICALLY BORIC ACID IS WHAT
THEY TREAT IT WITH, RIGHT?
RIGHT, AND IN TERMS OF THE WOOD
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT,
IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY EFFECT ON
THE WOOD.
IT ACTUALLY WILL RESIST THESE
THINGS MORE THAN THE WOOD
ITSELF--
YOU MEAN THE WATER THAT'S USED
IN THE APPLICATION?
YES...RIGHT.
OK, ARE THEY READY TO GET
STARTED?
THEY ARE.
OK, LET'S WATCH,
BECAUSE I KNOW THIS INVOLVES
BLOWING THE CELLULOSE INTO THE
WALL CAVITIES
BUT ALSO MIXING IN A LITTLE BIT
OF MOISTURE
SO THAT IT STAYS IN PLACE.
EXACTLY.
THERE YOU GO.
NOW, IT'S KIND OF MESSY THOUGH.
DON'T YOU WASTE A LOT OF PRODUCT
LIKE THIS?
WELL, JUSTIN'S GONNA COME RIGHT
IN BEHIND HIM WITH A VACUUM
CLEANER,
AND THAT'S GONNA TAKE THE
PRODUCT BACK TO THE TRUCK
WHERE IT REMIXES WITH THE PAPER
AND THEN COMES BACK THROUGH THE
HOSE THAT BRIAN--
ALL RIGHT, SO ONE FELLOW'S
MAKING THE MESS
BUT LEAVING BEHIND A FAIR AMOUNT
IN THE STUD CAVITY,
WHILE THE OTHER FELLOW PICKS UP
THE MESS.
RIGHT, AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT
OF OVER SHOOT HERE,
WHICH THEY'LL COME BACK IN A FEW
MINUTES WITH A STUD SCRUBBER
AND BRING THAT SO IT IS LEVEL
WITH THE STUDS
SO THE SHEET ROCK IS...
SO THE OBJECTIVE IS TO REALLY
PACK IT IN DENSE, RIGHT?
YES, YOU DO WANT A NICE TIGHT
FIT
TO ELIMINATE ALL AIR MOVEMENT
AND YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE WALL
CAVITY.
WHAT'S THE R-FACTOR THAT YOU CAN
ACHIEVE IN A 2 x 4 STUD WALL?
2 x 4 YOU HAVE R-13,
AND WITH 2 x 6 YOU HAVE R-21.
ALSO IT TENDS TO HOLD ITS
R-VALUE IN EXTREME TEMPERATURES.
WHEN IN GETS MUCH COLDER LIKE
20, 20 DEGREES, 15 DEGREES,
IT HOLDS ITS R-VALUE.
ONE THING'S FOR SURE THOUGH,
THIS IS NOT A DO-IT-YOURSELFER
APPLICATION.
YOU CAN'T GO OUT AND RENT THE
EQUIPMENT TO DO THIS, RIGHT?
THE LEARNING CURVE WOULD BE TOO
MUCH. YEAH.
OK, SO, JOE, WHAT HE'S USING
HERE IS...
WHAT DID YOU CALL IT? A STUD--
A STUD SCRUBBER. SCRUBBER.
YEP, AND THAT BASICALLY BRINGS
THE PRODUCT FLUSH WITH THE STUDS
SO THAT WHEN THE SHEET ROCKERS
COME IN,
THEY CAN APPLY THE SHEET ROCK
WITHOUT ANY ISSUES.
ALL RIGHT, AND WHAT KEEPS IT ALL
FROM CRUMBLING OUT
IS THE MOISTURE THAT'S BEEN PUT
INTO IT
RIGHT NOW IN THE APPLICATION.
IS THE BORIC ACID MIXED IN WITH
THE WATER,
OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WAS
APPLIED TO THE CELLULOSE
WHEN IT WAS SHREDDED?
WHEN IT'S MANUFACTURED, THEY
APPLY THE BORATES;
THEY APPLY STARCH TO HELP IT
STICK TO NETTING AND THE WOOD.
IT'S APPLIED AT THE TIME OF THE
MANUFACTURING.
NOW FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF
THE MOISTURE CONTENT
THAT IS USED TO APPLY THIS,
ISN'T THAT A PROBLEM?
NO, WITHIN ABOUT 24 HOURS
THIS WILL DROP DOWN TO LESS THAN
25% MOISTURE CONTENT OF THE
PRODUCT,
WHICH WILL ALLOW THEM TO SHEET
ROCK AS LONG AS THEY'RE BELOW
THE 25%.
UNLESS YOU HAVE AN EXCESS AMOUNT
OF MOISTURE, IT'S NOT AN ISSUE.
OK, LET'S TAKE A LOOK UPSTAIRS
AND SEE HOW WE'RE USING IT UP IN
THE ROOF RAFTERS.
Vila: SO, I SUPPOSE ONE OF THE
ADVANTAGES OF THIS PRODUCT
IS SOUND ATTENUATION, RIGHT?
IT'LL KIND OF DEADEN THE SPACE.
YES, BECAUSE OF THE DENSITY THAT
WE ACTUALLY BLOW THE PRODUCT IN;
THE SOUND, JUST LIKE THE AIR,
SOUND CAN'T TRAVEL THROUGH IT AS
WELL.
SO IT REALLY DOES DEADEN UP THE
SOUND.
YEAH. WHAT'S THE BRAND NAME FOR
THIS?
THIS IS COCOON MADE BY
GREENFIBER.
I GOTCHA. NOW HOW IS THE PROCESS
ANY DIFFERENT UP HERE?
WELL, HERE, SEAN'S DOING A DRY
APPLICATION
WHERE WE'RE BLOWING IN UNDER
PRESSURE.
HE'LL FEED THE HOSE DOWN TO THE
BOTTOM OF THE CAVITY,
AND THEN AS IT FILLS UP, HE'LL
PULL IT BACK,
AND HE CAN TELL WHEN IT'S AT A
DENSE STATE.
SO THIS IS PACKED IN THERE.
DON'T YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO
PROVIDE
SOME SORT OF VENTILATING--
PROPER VENT OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT?
WELL, THE PURPOSE OF THE PROPER
VENTS
IS TO STOP THE WARM MOIST AIR
FROM COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE
COLD ROOF SHEATHING.
IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE OF THE
DENSITY THAT WE'RE BLOWING IT,
THE AIR NEVER TRAVELS THROUGH
THE INSULATION.
THEREFORE THE MOISTURE NEVER
GETS OUT TO THE ROOF SHEATHING.
BECAUSE THE MOISTURE IS
AIRBORNE, YOU'RE SAYING?
IT'S AIRBORNE, 98% OF THE--
SURE.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE IF YOU HAVE A
LEAK IN THE ROOF?
WELL, THAT YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN
ISSUE,
BUT IT'S AN ISSUE WHETHER YOU'RE
BLOWING THIS,
OR YOU'RE INSTALLING FIBERGLASS.
IF YOU HAVE A LEAKING ROOF, YOU
HAVE TO FIX THE LEAK.
YOU HAVE TO FIX IT SOONER RATHER
THAN LATER.
YEAH, EXACTLY.
BECAUSE IF YOU DO GET HUMIDITY
AND WATER INTO THE PRODUCT
YOU'RE GONNA EVENTUALLY HAVE A
BIG PROBLEM.
RIGHT, AND IT CAN BE AN ISSUE.
YOU KNOW WITH THIS PRODUCT IF
YOU...IT COULD BE WORSE...
IF YOU SEE THE PROBLEM SOONER
THAN LATER,
BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE COST,
COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING?
IT'S VERY, VERY CLOSE TO
FIBERGLASS,
THE MARKET PRICE OF FIBERGLASS.
OK, NOW I NOTICE DOWN BELOW,
WE WERE ALSO INSTALLING IT
AROUND
WHERE WE HAVE WATER PIPES AND
WASTE PIPES.
HOW DOES THAT WORK THERE?
WELL, BASICALLY, AGAIN BECAUSE
OF THE DENSITY, YOU KNOW,
IT'S GONNA ABSORB ALL THE SOUNDS
OF THE PIPES--ALL THE WASTE
PIPES AND THE WATER PIPES--
IT'S GONNA ABSORB THAT SOUND.
SO WE DO A LOT OF
SOUNDPROOFING--
AND YOU ARE GONNA GET A GOOD
R-FACTOR THERE?
YES, YOU WOULD GET THE SAME
R-FACTOR, YOU KNOW...
THANKS A LOT, JOE.
VERY GOOD, BOB, THANK YOU.
Vila: WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL
START FRAMING A BALCONY
OUTSIDE THE SECOND FLOOR MASTER
SUITE.
STICK AROUND.
THERE'S LOTS OF ACTION ON THE
BACK SIDE OF THE HOUSE TODAY.
LET'S START BY LOOKING AT WHAT'S
HAPPENING RIGHT HERE.
MIKE DONAGHEY IS HERE FROM
AMERICAN STANDARD.
HOW YOU DOING? HEY, BOB, HOW YOU
DOING TODAY?
NOW THIS THE...
PART OF THE AIR CONDITIONING
SYSTEM FOR THE STUDIO, FOR THE
BARN.
AND WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS?
THIS IS A CONDENSING UNIT.
THE CONDENSING UNIT-- AND WHAT
DOES IT DO?
WE DISSIPATE THE HEAT; WE TAKE
FROM INSIDE,
AND THIS IS WHERE WE ELIMINATE
THE HEAT.
OK, SO THIS IS AN AMERICAN
STANDARD MADE IN THE U.S.A.
THERE'S A FINISH ON IT JUST LIKE
AN AUTOMOBILE PRACTICALLY.
YEAH, WELL THEY PUT IT THAT WAY
ON PURPOSE, BOB,
THEY CALL IT POWDER PAINT...
LOT OF SAFETY CONCERNS,
YOU CAN ACTUALLY RUN A FINGER
RIGHT ON IT WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.
AND KIDS LIKE TO PLAY AROUND
THESE BOXES?
VERY MUCH, IT'S THE BIGGEST
THING IN THE YARD,
WE FIGURE THE KIDS WILL GET ON
TOP OF IT
SO SAFETY CONCERNS...
WE'VE ALSO DONE CERAMIC-COATED
SCREWS
SO THEY'LL BE NO RUST ON THE
UNIT EVER.
NOW YOU'VE GOT THIS LOOSE SO WE
CAN LOOK INSIDE,
WHICH IS THE FUN PART.
AND CAN WE JUST LAY THE FAN
DOWN?
THIS IS THE LID; IT'S GOT A
LITTLE MOTOR AND A FAN,
BUT WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS?
THIS IS CALLED SPINED FIN. IT'S
A PATENTED HEAT TRANSFER
AGENT...
AND IT'S BASICALLY THE COPPER
PIPE THAT HAS--
THE REFRIGERANT.
THE REFRIGERANT, EXACTLY.
AND THEN THIS IS HELPING TO...
DISSIPATE THE HEAT THAT'S
CONCENTRATED IN THERE.
RIGHT, IT'S THE MOST EFFICIENT
HEAT DISSIPATER ALUMINUM UPON
ALUMINUM.
CAN WE TAKE THIS JACKET OFF OF
THE...THIS IS A COMPRESSOR,
RIGHT?
YEAH, THIS IS A SOUND JACKET,
AGAIN TO DROP THE SOUND--
OH, THAT'S GOOD, SO IT'S NOT AS
NOISY.
AND THEN WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT
HERE?
THIS IS A SCROLL COMPRESSOR.
IT'S NEWER TO THE MARKET.
SCROLL IS THE BIG NAME NOW IN
OUR INDUSTRY.
INSTEAD OF A RECIPROCATING
COMPRESSOR?
INSTEAD OF A RECIPROCATING, YES.
AND SO WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR US?
WHAT'S THE ADVANTAGE?
WELL, WE CAN GET MORE EFFICIENCY
OUT OF IT.
THIS HAPPENS TO BE A 12-SEER
UNIT, S-E-E-R IS A SEASONAL
ENERGY EFFICIENT RATING.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS MANDATED THAT
IN 5 YEARS THIS WILL BE THE
MINIMUM, THE 12 SEER.
THE 12 SEER. RIGHT.
THESE UNITS CAN TAKE IT UP
TO--WE HAVE 18 RIGHT NOW.
AND WHAT KIND OF LIFE EXPECTANCY
CAN YOU EXPECT FROM A UNIT LIKE
THIS?
WELL, THE COMPRESSOR AND THE
COIL BOTH HAVE 10-YEAR
WARRANTIES ON THEM
WITH 5-YEAR PARTS.
BUT FROM 10 ON, DEPENDS ON THE
PART OF THE COUNTRY-- CAN KEEP
GOING AND GOING.
YEAH, ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS IS
RUSTING OUT ON THE CASING,
RIGHT?
RIGHT, AND SALT AIR IS AN ENEMY,
BUT THE ALUMINUM ON ALUMINUM
HELPS, HELPS...YOU KNOW--
AND THE POWDER COATING ALSO
INCREASES LIFE EXPECTANCY, I
IMAGINE.
THANKS A LOT, MIKE.
OK, LET'S CHECK IN WITH THE
CARPENTERS OVER HERE.
ALL RIGHT, WELL AS I WAS SAYING
EARLIER
THERE'S A LOT OF ACTION ON THE
BACK SIDE OF THE HOUSE
BUT FIRST LET ME MAKE AN
OBSERVATION ABOUT THE DESIGN
OF THE THIS ADDITION, THIS
CONNECTOR, IF YOU WILL,
BETWEEN THE OLD HOUSE AND THE
OLD BARN.
THE TWO BUILDINGS WERE NOT
PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER;
THEY WERE A LITTLE BIT ASKEW,
SO THE CHOICE THAT THE ARCHITECT
MADE
WAS TO BUILD THE ADDITION ITSELF
AND THE BREEZEWAY CONNECTION
PARALLEL TO THE BARN; IT'S AT
RIGHT ANGLES.
BUT THEN THE ROOF IS RIGHT ON TO
THE HOUSE,
SO THAT WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN YOU
LOOK AT THE ROOF OVERHANG,
RIGHT HERE ON THIS CORNER OF THE
ADDITION,
IT KINDA INCREASES IN WIDTH IN
ONE DIRECTION.
THEY'RE NOT PARALLEL ANGLES.
THEY CREATE AN EFFECT THAT'S
QUITE UNUSUAL.
IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE ONCE
EVERYTHING IS PAINTED OUT HERE
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
BUT UP HERE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF
CONSTRUCTION GOING ON
IN TERMS OF ANOTHER UNUSUAL
FEATURE OF THE ARCHITECT'S
DESIGN.
THIS DOOR THAT YOU SEE ON THE
SECOND FLOOR
LEADS OUT OF THE MASTER
BATHROOM.
AND THE OWNER'S DECIDED THEY
WANTED TO HAVE LIKE A LITTLE
BALCONY OUT HERE.
IT'S NOT QUITE A ROMEO AND
JULIET BALCONY
BECAUSE THE SHAPE IS 4 FEET WIDE
AND IT COMES OUT 10 FEET, KINDA
LIKE A GANG PLANK.
AND WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT HOW
THEY'RE BUILDING THAT IN A
MINUTE.
RIGHT NOW LET'S TALK WITH
CHARLIE.
GOT ENOUGH NAILS IN THIS,
CHARLIE?
I THINK WE GOT A FEW IN THERE.
NOW THIS IS A TEMPORARY POST OR
DEAD MAN.
AND WHAT YOU'VE GOT HERE IS YOUR
FRAME FOR THIS BALCONY, RIGHT?
4 1/2' BY 10' FRAME FOR THE
BALCONY.
WHAT'S THE GAME PLAN?
THE GAME PLAN IS TO HOIST THIS
UP AND GET IT UP TO THE STAGING,
SLIDE IT OVER THERE, PUT IT ON
THE CLEAT,
PUT THE TWO DEAD MAN UNDERNEATH
IT,
AND THEN WE'LL SUPPORT IT ALL
AFTERWARDS.
LET'S TRY IT. WE COULD SURE USE
A HAND HERE.
Vila: TWO TO CLIMB.
AND BRING IT UP AGAINST THE SIDE
WALL,
WHERE WE HAVE A TEMPORARY CLEAT
ALREADY IN PLACE.
ALL SET RIGHT THERE? OK.
WANT TO GET IT ON ONE ON THE
BACK.
ONE ON THE FRONT, AND LIFT IT
IN.
YEAH, 1... 2...
SLIDE IT MORE THIS WAY,
FALL RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE PLUG.
THERE YOU GO. SET IT DOWN.
THAT'S IT.
THE THING'S PROPERLY SUPPORTED.
GOT A FEW NAILS IN PLACE.
Vila: ALL RIGHT, THAT OUGHT TO
KEEP IT SAFE.
NOW, CHARLIE, THE ORIGINAL
INTENT HERE--
THE ARCHITECT'S IDEA HERE WAS TO
REUSE THESE OLD PORCH POSTS
SO THAT THEY WERE PART OF THE
BACK ENTRANCE.
ARE WE GONNA BE ABLE TO, OR
WHAT'S THE STORY?
WELL, WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING
TO BE ABLE TO REWORK THESE.
THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN REWORKED
ONCE BEFORE.
THE PROBLEM THAT WE'VE RUN INTO
WHEN WE OPENED THEM UP, TOOK A
LOOK AT THEM,
IS THAT THEY'RE HOLLOW.
YEAH, THEY ARE.
TO TRY TO EXTEND 3 1/2 FEET TO
THEM
WOULDN'T BE AS STRUCTURALLY
SOUND.
YOU'D HAVE TO MAKE THEM 3 FEET
LONGER,
WHICH WOULD INVOLVE A LAP.
CORRECT.
BUT SINCE THEY'RE HOLLOW, NOT A
GOOD IDEA.
SO I GUESS WE'LL CHECK WITH THE
ARCHITECTS,
BUT MAYBE JUST A REGULAR POST.
COULD BE JUST A REGULAR POST.
WELL, THAT'S GOING TO BE
INTERESTING.
YEAH, IT WILL.
COMING UP NEXT, WE'LL BE WORKING
ON THE STRUCTURED WIRING
THAT WILL MAKE THIS A CONNECTED
HOME.
NEXT TIME ON...
WE'LL BE INSULATING AT OUR
FARMHOUSE PROJECT
IN MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.
WE'LL BE USING BLOWN IN
CELLULOSE
IN BOTH A NEW CONSTRUCTION
APPLICATION
AND AS A RETROFIT.
ALSO, WE'LL BE DOING SOME OF THE
INTERNET STRUCTURED WIRING
THAT WILL MAKE THIS HOUSE A
CONNECTED HOME.
THERE'S A LOT TO DO ON THE
EXTERIOR AS WELL.
WE'LL BE PUTTING UP THE FRAMING
FOR A BALCONY
OFF THE SECOND FLOOR MASTER
SUITE,
SO DON'T MISS IT!
THAT'S NEXT TIME ON HOME AGAIN.
WE'RE IN THE BASEMENT, AND TIM
WOODS
FROM THE INTERNET HOME ALLIANCE
IS HERE WITH US TODAY.
HI, BOB.
AND NOW WE ARE DOING A HUGE JOB
HERE
FOR THIS HOUSE, RIGHT?
IN TERMS OF INTERNET
CONNECTIVITY, YES,
WE ARE. AND ALL THE FEATURES OF
THE HOUSE.
YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY WIRES IN
EVERY DIRECTION,
AND OF COURSE, TRYING TO GET
THINGS
WRAPPED UP BEFORE WE INSULATE.
THIS IS ALL REGULAR INSULATED
CABLE, RIGHT.
BUT ALL THIS IS NOT. NOPE.
TELL ME WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT
HERE.
WELL, THIS IS OUR NETWORK
CONNECTION CENTER
FROM HOME DIRECTOR.
AND THIS IS WHERE ALL OF OUR
STRUCTURED
WIRING COMES IN AND WHERE THE
MAIN CONTROL HAPPENS.
WE'VE GOT OUR 2 + 2,
WHICH IS OUR CAT-5 AND OUR RJ.
AH, THAT IS GOING TO--
THESE TITLES CONFUSE PEOPLE.
I MEAN, OUR 2 + 2 PL-- WHICH IS
OUR--
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WELL, PEOPLE REMEMBER, LIKE,
CABLE.
YOU KNOW, THE CABLE COMING INTO
YOUR HOME
FOR LIKE CABLE TV AND THINGS
LIKE THAT.
THEN YOU'VE GOT ETHERNET, OK?
THAT IS BASICALLY SOUPED-UP
TELEPHONE LINE.
HIGH SPEED. HIGH SPEED.
AND THAT ALLOWS YOU TO NETWORK
ALL THROUGH THE HOME,
WHETHER YOU'RE USING THE CABLE
OR THE ETHERNET.
AND WE'VE BRING IT ALL INTO THIS
BOX.
WE ALSO BRING IN OUR CONNECTION
TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD,
WHICH IS GOING TO BE OUR
CABLE-BROADBAND APPLICATION.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR SECURITY
LINK-UP IN HERE,
OUR TELEPHONY IS GONNA COME IN
HERE,
OUR PHONE LINES ARE GOING TO
COME IN HERE AS WELL.
AND WE'VE GOT JUST A TON OF
WIRES IN HERE, LIKE YOU SAID,
BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO DO A
COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS
IN THIS HOME THAT HAVE NEVER
BEEN DONE IN SOME OTHER HOMES.
NOW, THIS IS A DISTRIBUTION
CENTER, RIGHT.
AND WE'VE GOT, ESSENTIALLY,
A DUAL CAREER COUPLE LIVING
HERE. RIGHT.
THEY WON'T NECESSARILY BE
WORKING OUT OF HERE
ALL THE TIME BUT THEY DO WANT TO
BE ABLE
TO ADDRESS THEIR CAREER
INTERESTS
AND NEEDS FROM THE HOME.
EXACTLY, AND THAT PRESENTED A
GREAT CHALLENGE
FOR THE I.H.A. BECAUSE WHAT WE
DID IS,
WE WANTED TO NOT ONLY CONNECT
THEM WITH EACH OTHER IN THE
HOME--
BETWEEN, LIKE, THE SAY, HOME
OFFICE AND THE STUDIO--
BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO CONNECT
THEM TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD,
IN A BROADBAND ENVIRONMENT.
SO THE CHALLENGES BETWEEN THE
TWO--
RUNNING VIDEO AND ALL THOSE
OTHER THINGS--
WERE GREAT. GOTCHA.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK UP IN THE
KITCHEN
TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING
TO BE RUNNING UP THERE. COOL.
WELL, HERE IN THE KITCHEN AREA
WE HAVE LARRY HICKS
FROM HOME DIRECTOR WHO'S HELPING
TO RUN SOME OF THE CABLE.
HEY, LARRY. HOW ARE YOU?
HEY, HOW ARE YOU, BOB?
NOW WHAT IS THIS GOING TO BE
DOING
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE KITCHEN?
THIS IS GONNA PROVIDE A
UNIVERSAL
2 + 2 OUTLET FOR TV, TELEPHONE,
OR DATA.
OR DATA.
AND IT'S BEING AIMED AT THE
PORTION
OF THE KITCHEN PLAN WHERE WE'RE
GONNA HAVE
KIND OF THE EAT-IN AREA,
BECAUSE WE HAVE BENCHES HERE.
AND SO, IF THEY WANT TO HAVE ANY
KIND OF EQUIPMENT HERE, WHETHER
IT'S A PHONE
OR A SCREEN OR WHATEVER,
THEY'RE ALL SET. EXACTLY.
THEY HAVE FLEXIBILITY.
WE'VE GOT A PLAN HERE,
SO MAYBE WE SHOULD TAKE A LOOK
AT THIS
TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT IT IS
YOU'RE DOING THROUGHOUT THE
HOUSE.
YOU WANT TO WALK US THROUGH FROM
THE FRONT DOOR?
Tim: SURE. WELL, HERE AT THE
FRONT DOOR WE'VE GOT A SECURITY
CAMERA.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT OUR A.D.T.I.
CENTER,
THAT'S OUR SECURITY SYSTEM.
AS YOU WALK INTO THE HOME, WE
BASICALLY GOT OUR STUDY
SCREENING ROOM,
THE LIVING ROOM, THE FAMILY
ROOM, THE KITCHEN-- WHERE WE ARE
RIGHT NOW.
Vila: WELL, GO BACK TO THE STUDY
SCREENING ROOM, AS WE'RE CALLING
IT,
WHICH IS A REAL MEDIA CENTER.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THERE?
Tim: WELL, IT'S AMAZING, BOB.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF CABLE
RUNNING BECAUSE
WE'VE GOT SPEAKERS ALL THROUGH
THE CEILING,
WE'RE GOING TO BE RUNNING, LIKE,
DOLBY STEREO THROUGH THERE,
SO THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN
PRE-WIRED?
EXACTLY, EXACTLY.
OUR BROADBAND IS GOING TO BE
COMING IN HERE,
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HIGH
DEFINITION TV IN THERE AS WELL.
AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THROUGHOUT
HERE,
WE'VE GOT SPEAKERS THROUGH THE
WHOLE HOUSE
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT AN AUDIO
CENTER,
ACTUALLY CONTROLLED IN THE
KITCHEN,
THAT ALLOWS US TO DISTRIBUTE
AUDIO THROUGHOUT
THE DIFFERENT ROOMS OF THE HOME
BASED ON PREFERENCE.
SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY HAVE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF AUDIO
PLAYING.
SO, WHEREVER YOU SEE ONE OF
THESE SYMBOLS
IT'S A SPEAKER IN THE CEILING,
RIGHT?
EXACTLY, AND THEN OVER HERE,
THIS LITTLE BLUE BOX
RIGHT THERE IS ACTUALLY OUR
CISCO AIRONET.
THAT'S OUR WIRELESS.
Vila: OK, NOW THIS IS THE
BREEZEWAY
THAT CONNECTS THE BARN TO THE
HOUSE
AND IS ALSO AN ENTRYWAY.
AND WHAT DOES THIS DO?
THAT IS ACTUALLY OUR AIRONET
SYSTEM.
THAT'S OUR WIRELESS NETWORK FOR
THE HOME.
SO WE CAN ACTUALLY PUT WIRELESS
CARDS INTO OUR LAPTOP
AND IT ALLOWS US TO PORT THE WEB
ANYWHERE IN THE HOUSE.
Vila: RIGHT, NOW LARRY,
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
DISADVANTAGES OF, YOU KNOW,
OLD CONSTRUCTION LIKE YOU'VE GOT
HERE.
WELL, WITH A HOUSE THIS OLD, IT
HAS A LOT OF LATH AND PLASTER IN
IT.
AND IT CAUSES YOU TO HAVE TO USE
DIFFERENT TOOLS
TO RUN IT THROUGH THE WALL.
Vila: IT'S A SLOWER APPROACH,
RIGHT?
OH, MUCH SLOWER. YOU HAVE TO BE
VERY CAREFUL WITH THE WALLS.
RIGHT, BUT WE'LL GET IT DONE,
RIGHT, GUYS?
UH-HUH. EXACTLY.
WE'VE GOT TO PLASTER HERE NEXT
WEEK.
THANKS A LOT. UH-HUH.
NEXT, WE'LL BE INSULATING THE
PART OF THE HOUSE
THAT STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL
PLASTER WALLS.
Vila: ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'RE
BACK INSIDE
AND WE'RE DOING A LITTLE
INSULATION ON SOME OF THE WALLS
OF THE HOUSE THAT NEVER HAD THE
PLASTER TORN OFF.
AND, JOE, THIS IS A DIFFERENT
KIND OF APPLICATION.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
BASICALLY, WE HAVE TO DRILL A
HOLE EVERY 16 INCHES
SO THAT WE'RE INTO EVERY CAVITY.
WE HAVE TO DRILL ONE HIGH AND
THEN LOW
SO THAT WE GET THE PROPER
DENSITY IN THE WALL CAVITY.
Vila: SO FIRST YOU...
APPLY IT TO THE BOTTOM...
AND FILL IT TILL IT'S SOLID IN
THERE.
RIGHT. IT TAKES ABOUT 30 SECONDS
ON A BOTTOM CAVITY.
HE'S IN A SHALLOW ONE HERE SO IT
WON'T TAKE QUITE AS LONG.
Vila: BUT HOW CAN YOU TELL WHEN
IT'S FULL?
Joe: THE--YOU CAN TELL FROM THE
PRESSURE OF THE HOSE.
IT'LL START BACKING-- THE
PRODUCT WILL START
BACKING INTO THE HOSE.
AND YOU CAN HEAR IT, YOU KNOW,
IF YOU'VE DONE IT ENOUGH, YOU
CAN HEAR IT.
Vila: AND THEN WHAT YOU'RE
LOOKING FOR
IS TO CREATE MAXIMUM DENSITY IN
EACH ONE OF THESE CAVITIES
SO THAT THERE ARE NO AIR POCKETS
LEFT, RIGHT?
Joe: EXACTLY, YEP
AND YOU COULD HEAR-- I DON'T
KNOW IF YOU COULD HEAR THAT--
BUT YOU COULD HEAR IT TIGHTENING
UP IN THE FLOW OF THE PRODUCT.
Vila: OK, SO ONCE YOU'VE FILLED
THEM ALL IN,
HOW DO YOU PLUG THE HOLES IN THE
PLASTER?
WELL, IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE
WE'RE COMING FROM THE INSIDE,
A PLASTERER WILL HAVE TO COME IN
AND, YOU KNOW,
PATCH EACH HOLE INDIVIDUALLY.
OK.
WELL, THANKS A LOT, JOE.
THAT WRAPS THINGS UP.
COME HOME AGAIN NEXT TIME WHEN
WE'LL BE INSTALLING
A BEAUTIFUL RED CEDAR TRELLIS
AND LATTICE FENCE.
ALSO, WE'LL BE PUTTING UP BLUE
BOARD
FOR A SKIM COAT OF PLASTER,
AND DRY-WALL FOR TAPE AND JOINT
COMPOUND.
TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA,
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HOME
AGAIN!
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