1518 - Cladding, Insulating, and Zoning for an Affordable Home
January 10-16, 2005 | July 11-17, 2005
HI. I'M BOB VILA.
WELCOME HOME AGAIN
TO OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
STORY IN MASHPEE ON CAPE COD.
TODAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
WHAT MAKES A HOUSE AFFORDABLE.
WE'LL VISIT WITH THE ZONING
BOARD OF APPEALS
WHO MADE THE WHOLE
PROJECT POSSIBLE;
ALSO LOOK AT A NEW TYPE
OF FENCING.
WE'RE SIDING THE HOUSE
WITH SMARTSIDE LAP SIDING,
AND WE'RE ALSO BLOWING IN
FIBERGLASS INSULATION.
STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD
TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
SEARS
OK, WELL, WE'RE GETTING STARTED
WITH JOE VALLE,
OUR DEVELOPER HERE.
JOE, HOW MANY WEEKS
HAS IT BEEN SINCE
YOU BROKE GROUND?
WE'VE BEEN HERE, BOB,
SINCE ABOUT EARLY JUNE.
WE PUT OUR ROAD IN,
DID OUR UTILITY WORK.
WE STARTED BUILDING HOUSES
IN AUGUST.
SO WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT 3 MONTHS.
YEAH, ABOUT 3 MONTHS.
AND WE'VE GOT A TOTAL
OF HOW MANY HOUSES THAT
WILL BE PERMITTED?
A TOTAL OF 11 HOMES--
11, YEAH.
WE GOT ABOUT 5 UNDERWAY.
WE GOT ONE THAT'S
WELL UNDERWAY.
WE GOT OTHERS THAT ARE
APPROACHING COMPLETION.
AND OF THE 11,
4 OF THEM WILL BE
AFFORDABLE, RIGHT?
THAT'S CORRECT. THERE
WILL BE 3 THAT WILL BE
TRADITIONAL AFFORDABLE
AND ONE THAT'S MODERATE.
SO NOW, WE'RE GONNA
LEARN A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS
OF MAKING THEM
AFFORDABLE.
HI.
Valle: BOB, I WANT YOU
TO MEET SOME FOLKS
FROM THE TOWN OF MASHPEE.
ZELLA ELIZENBERRY.
HI, ZELLA.
HI, BOB.
HOW ARE YOU?
Valle: JAMIE REGAN,
FROM THE ZONING
BOARD OF APPEALS,
AND ERIC SMITH,
ASSISTANT TOWN PLANNER.
I'M GLAD YOU COULD
JOIN US TODAY,
'CAUSE, AS I
UNDERSTAND IT,
THIS PROJECT IS THE
FIRST OF ITS KIND
FOR THE TOWN.
AFTER ABOUT 30 YEARS
OF DELIBERATING,
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
WE'VE MADE PROGRESS
TOWARDS CREATING THIS
TYPE OF A PROJECT,
RIGHT?
Elizenberry:
THAT'S CORRECT.
Vila:
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
WE HAD A DEVELOPER
THAT SAW THE OPPORTUNITY
WITH 4 ACRES.
THE ZONING HAS CHANGED
OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS.
10 YEARS AGO, YOU COULD
BUILD 4 HOMES HERE.
AND THEN THE CURRENT ZONING
IS FOR 2 HOMES.
SO WHEN JOE DECIDED TO GO
THE 40-B PROCESS,
HE WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE
WITH THE TOWN
TO PUT 11 HOMES,
AND, HE MENTIONED,
4 AFFORDABLE.
AS A BOARD, WE WERE
VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT MANY DIFFERENT THINGS,
BUT WE KNOW THE NEED
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
IS VERY BIG,
AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THERE WAS ALSO SOME
MODERATE HOUSING IN THIS GROUP.
SO, ZELLA, HOW DOES
THIS 40-B LAW WORK?
IT'S A LAW THAT
WAS PUT ON THE BOOKS
HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH
OF MASSACHUSETTS
MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.
THE ORIGINAL INTENT WAS
CALLED "SNOB ZONING."
Vila: YEAH.
IT WAS TO PREVENT
COMMUNITIES FROM EXCLUDING
AFFORDABLE UNITS
IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST ONE
FOR THE TOWN OF MASHPEE.
AND OUR CONCERNS WERE
JUST AS ANY CITIZENS'
WOULD BE:
THAT THE 40-Bs
COMING INTO MASHPEE ARE
REALLY WHAT MASHPEE WANTS.
IT'S A LAW THAT LITERALLY
MANDATES THAT IF YOU GIVE
A BUILDER
SPECIAL ZONING PRIVILEGES,
THEY MUST INCLUDE 25% OF
THAT DEVELOPMENT
AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO, 4 OF THE HOUSES HERE
WILL BE AFFORDABLE.
SO NOW, WHAT ARE
SOME OF THE ZONING
CHANGES
THAT ARE REQUIRED
IN ORDER TO MAKE IT
WORK?
ZONING RELIEF,
FOR LOT SIZE, FOR EXAMPLE.
OUR ZONING IN THIS AREA
IS 2 ACRES,
WHICH WOULD BE, LIKE,
ABOUT 80,000 SQUARE FEET.
WELL, MOST OF THESE
LOT SIZES ARE ABOUT
10,000 SQUARE FEET--
10,000 SQUARE FEET.
ON AVERAGE HERE.
SO THAT'S A BIG
FACTOR.
ALSO, THE FRONTAGE
IS REDUCED IN THIS CASE,
AS WELL, TOO.
SO THOSE ARE
THE KEY ELEMENTS
THAT IN MANY
COMMUNITIES
YOU'VE GOT THESE
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
FOR LOT SIZE,
AND THEY MAKE IT SO
DIFFICULT FOR
DEVELOPERS TO PUT IN
THE KIND OF HOUSING
THAT CAN BE MADE
AFFORDABLE.
AND THE TOWN--
THE ZONING BOARD
WAS KEENLY INTERESTED
IN BEING SURE THAT
THE FIRST COMMUNITY
OF THIS TYPE IN MASHPEE
WAS DONE WELL
AND WOULD REPRESENT
FOR THE FUTURE
THE KIND OF COMMUNITY
THAT THE TOWN WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M SO
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT.
BECAUSE THERE IS NO
DIFFERENTIATION HERE
BETWEEN WHAT IS AN
AFFORDABLE HOUSE
AND WHAT IS A
MARKET-VALUE HOUSE.
THEY'RE ALL IDENTICAL
IN TERMS OF THE QUALITY
OF MATERIALS
AND THE QUALITY
OF WORKMANSHIP
AND DESIGN.
YES, THEY ALL
MUST BE THE SAME.
WE'RE ON
A CUL-DE-SAC,
SO THAT MAKES IT
VERY LIVEABLE FOR
YOUNG FAMILIES.
AND WE'VE GOT DETAILING
THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN,
AND THAT ALSO GIVES
IT THAT NEW ENGLAND
CHARACTER.
THANKS FOR
COMING ON, FOLKS.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE
BIT, JOE, ABOUT THIS
ENTRANCEWAY
THAT YOU'RE
CREATING HERE,
THE WHITE PICKET
FENCE--
TRADITIONAL MATERIAL,
WHITE PICKET FENCE,
TO REALLY GIVE IT
A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
NOW, TRADITIONALLY,
YOU'VE HAD WOODEN
PICKET FENCES
THAT REQUIRE A FAIR
AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE,
AND I KNOW THAT THIS
IS A NEW APPROACH
TO THAT, RIGHT?
YES, THIS IS A NEW
APPROACH TO IT,
AND I WANT YOU TO
MEET TODD SKULSKY.
HEY, TODD.
HOW ARE YOU?
GLAD TO MEET YOU.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
TELL US ABOUT THE
FENCING THAT YOU'VE
GOT HERE.
THIS IS FROM
PERFECTION FENCE,
RIGHT?
BASICALLY, WE'VE TRIED
TO CREATE A LOOK
THAT WAS TYPICAL
IN WOOD,
BUT TO GIVE A
MAINTENANCE-FREE APPROACH
BY USING VINYL.
SO THIS IS ALL SOLID,
EXTRUDED VINYL?
IT'S A MONO-EXTRUSION,
SO IT'S ONE LAYER.
SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT NICKS
TURNING YELLOW
OR MULTIPLE COLORS.
IT IS HOLLOW.
THE RAILS PENETRATE
RIGHT INTO THE POST,
AND THERE ARE NO MECHANICAL
FASTENERS USED IN IT
WHATSOEVER.
I DO NOTICE THERE'S
SOME WOOD DOWN AT THE
BOTTOM OF THIS POST.
THAT'S JUST A SPECIAL
BLOCK SO THAT IT DOESN'T
SINK OVER TIME.
ALSO, THE SHAPE IN THE GROUND
WOULD VIBRATE ITSELF DOWN.
OH, SURE. SO THAT'S
JUST A BLOCK AT
THE END OF IT.
EXACTLY. GIVES IT
A SOLID FOOTING.
NOW, DID YOU SAY
THERE ARE NO
FASTENERS?
NO MECHANICAL
FASTENERS.
HOW DOES THAT WORK?
HOW CAN YOU DO IT
WITHOUT MECHANICAL
FASTENERS?
BASICALLY, THE RAILS
ARE RETAINED INTO
THE POSTS USING A CRIMP,
WHICH IS CUT
RIGHT INTO THE VINYL,
SO THAT ONCE THIS IS
LOCKED INTO THE POST,
IT CAN'T COME BACK OUT.
IT CAN'T COME BACK OUT.
EXACTLY.
AND THEN THE DETAILING
THAT'S APPLIED TO IT--
I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT
TRADITIONAL-LOOKING CAP.
ABSOLUTELY. BASICALLY,
WE TOOK THE TRADITIONAL
POST CAPS
WE WOULD NORMALLY USE
AND MADE A MOLD,
AND MAKE THEM IN VINYL.
EVEN SOMETHING LIKE
THE BALL FINIAL
THAT'S ON THE
MAIN POST UP THERE.
VERY TRADITIONAL
NEW ENGLAND DETAIL
WITH THE DENTIL
MOLDINGS.
FABULOUS.
ONE OF THE NICE
THINGS ABOUT THIS IS,
WE'RE ABLE TO CUT
FLUTING DETAILS INTO IT.
SO THERE'S ABSOLUTELY
NO MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED HERE.
MAYBE AN OCCASIONAL
POWERWASHING.
THAT'S ABOUT IT.
BUT NO PAINT JOB.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE,
COSTWISE?
IT RUNS IN THE MIDDLE.
IT'S LESS THAN A
PRESTAINED WOOD FENCE,
BUT IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE
THAN A NATURAL.
SO IT'S RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
A PLEASURE.
WHEN WE COME BACK,
WE'LL BE INSTALLING PREPRIMED
SMARTSIDE LAP SIDING.
TRADITIONAL COLONIAL HOUSES
WERE OFTEN SIDED IN
CEDAR SHINGLES.
AND THEY STILL ARE TODAY,
BUT EVEN BACK 200 YEARS AGO,
VERY OFTEN IF SOMEONE WAS
BUILDING A FANCIER HOUSE,
THE FRONT FACADE,
THE STREET FACADE,
WOULD BE CLAPBOARDED.
THAT WAS A MORE EXPENSIVE
SIDING PRODUCT,
AND IT WAS MORE DRESSY.
WE'RE GONNA LEARN A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT 21st-CENTURY CLAPS,
AND WITH US NOW
IS LANCE OLSON
FROM LOUISIANA PACIFIC.
LANCE, TELL US ABOUT
WHAT WE'RE PUTTING
ON THE HOUSE HERE.
THIS IS OUR SMARTSIDE
LAP SIDING.
IT'S A TREATED,
ENGINEERED WOOD SIDING
MADE OF AN ORIENTED
STRAND SUBSTRATE
WITH A PRIME TEXTURED
FACE.
AND WHAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT IS
THE LOOK OF ROUGH.
ON CEDAR, HOW DO YOU
ACCOMPLISH THAT?
IS IT EMBOSSED?
IT'S EMBOSSED
DURING MANUFACTURE.
SO THAT THERE'S
NO SEPARATE COATING
OR ANYTHING, RIGHT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS
WE'VE GONE TO THE
ROUGH TEXTURE--
I MEAN,
AS I UNDERSTAND IT,
ORIGINALLY EVERYBODY
WANTED THAT VERY
SMOOTH FINISH
ON THE DRESSY FRONT
FACADE OF THE HOUSE.
IN THE LAST 20 OR 30
YEARS, CLAPBOARDS--
PEOPLE STARTED PUTTING
THEM ROUGH SIDE OUT
'CAUSE THEY GRIPPED
THE PAINT BETTER
OR THE STAIN BETTER.
RIGHT.
AND THAT HAD SOMETHING
TO DO WITH TAKING OUT
THE HEAVY METALS
FROM THE PAINTS.
RIGHT.
BUT IT'S INTERESTING
THAT THE INDUSTRY HAS
ADDRESSED ITSELF
AND IS NOW CREATING
SOMETHING THAT
LOOKS THAT WAY.
THIS IS BECOMING
A VERY POPULAR
PRODUCT FOR US,
BASED LARGELY BECAUSE
OF ITS APPEARANCE
AND THE DEEP CEDAR
TEXTURE THAT IT GIVES.
IS IT AFFORDABLE?
VERY AFFORDABLE.
IT'S A VERY COST-
EFFECTIVE PRODUCT
VERSUS SOME OF THE
OLDER PRODUCTS THAT
HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE.
AND GOD KNOWS,
RED CEDAR CLAPS
ARE EXPENSIVE NOWADAYS.
YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
WELL, LANCE, LET'S GO DOWN
TO THE NEXT HOUSE
SO WE CAN SEE HOW
IT'S BEING APPLIED.
ALL RIGHT.
Vila: ALL RIGHT, LANCE,
WE'VE GOT FULL LENGTHS
OF THIS PRODUCT
GOING RIGHT INTO PLACE.
AND TELL US SOME MORE
ABOUT IT.
IT'S A UNIQUE PRODUCT.
IT'S ENGINEERED FOR
ITS CURB APPEAL AND
ITS GREAT APPEARANCE,
BUT IT'S ALSO
ENGINEERED FOR
DURABILITY.
IT'S TREATED WITH
A ZINC BORATE,
WHICH ALLOWS IT TO
RESIST FUNGAL DECAY
AND WOOD-DESTROYING
TERMITES.
IT'S ALSO BONDED
TOGETHER WITH
THE STATE-OF-THE-ART
RESIN PACKAGE.
WHAT ALL THOSE THINGS
MEAN IS,
ALONG WITH THAT,
IT COMES WITH A 7-
30-YEAR WARRANTY.
WHAT ABOUT
THE NAILING PATTERN?
I NOTICE THEY'RE
JUST PUTTING
THE NAILS UP HERE.
THE PRODUCT IS APPROVED
FOR 16 INCH ON SPACING,
AND IT'S ALSO APPROVED
FOR BLIND NAILING.
WHAT THAT GIVES YOU
IS A FINAL APPEARANCE
WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE
ANY EXPOSED NAILS.
AND IN PROFILE,
IT'S UNIFORM.
IT'S THE SAME
THICKNESS THROUGHOUT.
IT'S NOT FLARED LIKE
AN OLD-FASHIONED
CLAPBOARD.
EXACTLY. IT'S
A CONSISTENT THICKNESS
ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
WELL, LET'S TALK SOME MORE
ABOUT THAT WARRANTY.
THAT WAS PRETTY
IMPRESSIVE.
IT'S A 7-YEAR--
FULLY TRANS--
IT'S A 7-
30-YEAR WARRANTY.
IT'S BASICALLY A
30-YEAR WARRANTY THAT'S
FULLY TRANSFERABLE.
FOR MATERIAL AND LABOR.
AND LABOR.
SO IF YOU SELL THE HOUSE,
THE PRODUCT IS STILL
UNDER WARRANTY
FOR UP TO 30 YEARS?
IF THE HOMEOWNER
SELLS THE HOUSE,
THE WARRANTY TRANSFERS
TO THE NEW OWNER.
MM-HMM.
WHAT ARE THE LENGTHS
THAT IT COMES IN?
IT COMES IN
A 16-FOOT LENGTH.
AND WITH THE WAY
THAT WE MANUFACTURE
THE PRODUCT,
WE BASICALLY ARE
ESSENTIALLY TAKING THE
DEFECTS OUT OF THE WOOD
AND REASSEMBLING THE
PRODUCT WITHOUT DEFECTS.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS,
YOU DON'T HAVE THE
COMMON PROBLEMS
THAT YOU CAN HAVE
WITH WOOD, SUCH AS
KNOTS OR SPLITS.
HAVE THEY PRIMED IT
ON SITE, OR DOES IT
COME PREPRIMED?
IT COMES PREPRIMED
FROM THE MANUFACTURER.
WOW. THERE'S
A LABOR-SAVING STEP.
THAT LOOKS AWFULLY GOOD.
LET'S GO DOWN TO THE
OTHER END OF IT AND TALK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TRIM.
BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY,
BEFORE THEY STARTED
PUTTING UP THE FIELD,
THE CLAPBOARDS, THEY'VE
TRIMMED OUT THE HOUSE.
AND WE'RE WATCHING
OVER HERE AS...
A CORNER BOARD
IS GETTING READY
TO BE APPLIED.
THE FELLOWS
BUILT UP THE CORNER
ON THE BENCH,
SO THAT THEY CAN
JUST BRING IT
AND SHOOT IT IN PLACE.
NOW, THIS, OBVIOUSLY,
IS NOT THE CLAPBOARD,
BUT IT'S STILL THE SAME
PRODUCT, RIGHT,
THAT WE'RE USING
FOR THE TRIM STOCK?
THAT'S RIGHT.
THE TECHNOLOGY
IS THE SAME.
THE SUBSTRATE IS
JUST SIMPLY THICKER.
WE MAKE A 4-QUARTER
AND A 5-QUARTER
TRIM,
BOTH IN A CEDAR
TEXTURE AND IN
A SMOOTH SURFACE.
SO, THE SMOOTH SURFACE
IS BEING USED THROUGHOUT
OUR WHOLE PROJECT HERE.
FOR ALL OF
THE TRIM STOCK.
THAT'S RIGHT.
INCLUDING THE RAKES,
RIGHT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
THIS WILL BE FACE NAILS,
AND THEN THEY JUST GET--
SET THEM, AND, UH...
PAINT AND FINISH
THE HOUSE,
BUT THE WAY IT'S
BEING APPLIED IS
THE VERY CLASSIC
NEW ENGLAND LOOK,
WHERE THE FRIEZE
AND THE PLANCHARD
OF THE OVERHANG
COME RIGHT DOWN
TO THE WINDOW.
AND THE VERTICAL PIECES
ON THE CASING BUTT RIGHT
TO THE UNDERSIDE
OF THAT FRIEZE BOARD.
SO, LANCE, I GUESS,
THE FINAL THING I WANTED
TO TALK ABOUT
IS THE COST SAVINGS
IN TERMS OF CONSUMER
AND PURCHASE.
THE COST SAVINGS
OF THE SMARTSIDE
SYSTEM
VERSUS SOME
TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS
ARE ABOUT--
IT'S ABOUT
HALF THE PRICE.
MM-HMM.
SO IT REALLY IS
ABOUT 50% OF THE COST.
THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S TERRIFIC.
NEXT, WE'LL TALK ABOUT
THE BLOWN-IN, BLANKET,
HIGH-DENSITY INSULATION SYSTEM.
NEXT TIME ON "BOB VILA'S
HOME AGAIN,"
WE'LL BE BACK AT OUR
AFFORDABLE HOUSE PROJECT.
WE'LL TALK WITH
OUR DEVELOPER
AND THE MASHPEE ZONING
BOARD OF APPEALS
ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT MAKES
A HOUSE AFFORDABLE.
THEN WE'LL INSTALL A NEW
MAINTENANCE-FREE FENCE.
ALSO, WE'LL BE SIDING THE HOUSE
WITH SMARTSIDE LAP SIDING.
IT'S AN ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCT
THAT'S PREPRIMED.
AND WE'LL BE INSULATING,
USING THE HIGH-DENSITY,
BLOWN-IN BLANKET SYSTEM.
SO DON'T MISS IT. THAT'S
NEXT TIME ON "HOME AGAIN."
NEXT TIME ON "BOB VILA'S
HOME AGAIN,"
IT'S A MAINTENANCE-FREE FENCE,
PREPRIMED SIDING,
AND BLOWN-IN INSULATION.
DON'T MISS IT.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE BACK
INSIDE OUR LITTLE HOUSE,
AND THE FAST PACE
OF CONSTRUCTION AND NOISE
IS ONLY GOOD.
WHAT WE'RE INVOLVED WITH
RIGHT NOW IS INSULATING
THE HOUSE.
MIKE HOBSON IS HERE
TO TELL US ABOUT
BLOWN-IN
BLANKET SYSTEMS.
HI, BOB.
HOW ARE YOU?
NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TRADITIONALLY,
WHEN YOU'RE DOING
A FAST, SMALL,
AFFORDABLE HOUSE
LIKE THIS,
THEY RUN IN
AND THEY PUT
FIBERGLASS BATS,
CONVENTIONAL
INSULATION SYSTEMS,
AND THIS IS A LITTLE
BIT DIFFERENT.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
IT IS A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT.
THIS IS THE BLOWN-IN
BLANKET SYSTEM.
IT'S A PATENTED
INSULATION SYSTEM.
AS YOU CAN SEE,
THE MEN ARE PUTTING UP
A FABRIC
OVER THE FACE
OF ANY AREA THAT
NEEDS TO GET INSULATION.
THE WALLS--YOU HAVE
A CATHEDRAL CEILING HERE.
YOU HAVE SOME FABRIC
UP THERE.
ONCE THEY'RE DONE
STRETCHING THAT
FABRIC TIGHT,
WE COME BACK IN
AND BLOW IN SOME
FIBERGLASS INSULATION.
SO THE PREP WORK
RIGHT NOW INVOLVES
GETTING ALL THIS
FABRIC MATERIAL
STAPLED IN PLACE.
CORRECT.
AND THEY'VE GOT
PNEUMATIC STAPLE GUNS--
THEY'VE GOT
PNEUMATIC STAPLE GUNS
TO MOVE VERY QUICKLY.
YEAH.
THE SECRET IS TO GET--
AS YOU CAN SEE,
HE'S GOT IT PULLED
VERY TIGHT.
YOU WANT THE FABRIC
AS TIGHT AS YOU CAN GET IT.
OH, REALLY, YEAH.
LOOK AT ALL THOSE
STAPLES. SURE.
WHEN IT'S BLOWN IN
BEHIND IT,
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
A CERTAIN DENSITY,
AND THAT'S WHAT
GIVES YOU THE R-VALUE
OF INSULATION.
NOW IS THE FABRIC
ITSELF SOME SORT OF
MOISTURE BARRIER
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
THE FABRIC IS NOT
A MOISTURE BARRIER.
IN APPLICATIONS WHERE
YOU ARE LOOKING FOR
A SPECIFIC VAPOR BARRIER
AFTER THE FACT,
YOU CAN COME BACK IN
AND PUT IN A POLYETHYLENE
OVER TOP OF THAT.
OK, BUT IN
THIS SITUATION,
IT'S STRICTLY THERE
TO HOLD THE MATERIAL
IN PLACE.
STRICTLY THERE
TO HOLD THE MATERIAL
IN PLACE. CORRECT.
SO NOW, THE FABRIC'S
IN PLACE,
SO WE'RE READY TO
START BLOWING IT IN.
READY TO START
BLOWING SOME IN.
BUT WHAT IS IT
THAT WE'RE BLOWING IN?
THIS LOOKS DIFFERENT.
WE'RE USED TO PINK
OR YELLOW
BATS OF INSULATION.
THIS IS
DIFFERENT-LOOKING.
BLOWN INSULATION
WHEN IT IS WHITE
LIKE THIS
IS WHAT THEY CALL
A VIRGIN PRODUCT.
I SEE.
THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL
BINDERS THAT ARE
ADDED TO IT
WHICH HOLD CONVENTIONAL
BAT INSULATION TOGETHER.
SO THIS IS A MATERIAL
THAT'S MANUFACTURED BY
CERTAINTEED.
CERTAINTEED
AND JOHNS MANVILLE
BOTH MANUFACTURE
PRODUCTS THAT ARE
ACCEPTABLE FOR USE
IN THE BLOWN-IN
BLANKET SYSTEM.
SO IT LOOKS DENSER
THAN WHAT I'M USED TO
WHEN I THINK ABOUT
FIBERGLASS.
IT IS.
IT'S BLOWN IN.
THAT'S THE SECRET
TO GETTING THE R-VALUE
OUT OF IT.
IN THE 2 x 4 CAVITY,
WHICH IS WHAT YOU HAVE
IN THESE HOMES,
YOU'RE GOING TO END UP
WITH AN R-15.
AS OPPOSED TO
AN R-11.
AS OPPOSED TO
AN R-11 OR AN R-13
THAT YOU GET OUT OF
BAT INSULATION.
THAT'S STRICTLY
A FUNCTION OF THE DENSITY
OF THE MATERIAL.
BUT WITH BAT INSULATION,
WE'RE ALWAYS TOLD
NOT TO COMPRESS IT,
BECAUSE IF YOU
COMPRESS IT,
YOU GET RID OF
THE AIR POCKETS.
ABSOLUTELY.
SO WITH BLOWN MATERIAL,
WHEN YOU ACHIEVE
A HIGHER DENSITY--
WHICH, THIS WILL BE
BLOWN IN UP TO
A 2-POUND DENSITY--
YOU CAN STILL GET
AN INCREASED R-VALUE
OUT OF IT.
THAT'S WHERE YOU GET
THE INCREASE IN THE
R-VALUE OUT OF THE MATERIAL.
OK. WHAT ABOUT
IN THE ATTIC? WHAT
DO YOU DO UP THERE?
IN THE ATTIC,
IN THIS APPLICATION,
WE PUT SOME FABRIC
UP ALREADY.
IT'S GOING TO BE WHAT
WE WOULD CONSIDER
AN OPEN BLOW.
WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE
AN R-VALUE OF 38--
WOW.
WHICH WOULD BE 15 INCHES.
HOWEVER, YOU HAVE
CATHEDRAL CEILING
SITUATION HERE AS WELL.
YOU CAN ALSO ACHIEVE
AN R-38 IN THOSE.
AGAIN, YOU'RE COMPRESSING
AND GETTING DENSER MATERIAL.
SO IN A 2 x 12,
YOU'RE STILL GONNA HAVE
AN R-38
WITH THE BLOWN-IN
SYSTEM.
DOES THIS HAVE ANY
KIND OF SOUND-DEADENING
QUALITIES?
ABSOLUTELY.
IT HAS A LOT OF
SOUND-DEADENING
QUALITIES TO IT.
WE, OFTEN TIMES,
WILL NET THE INTERIOR
PARTITIONS AROUND BATHROOMS,
AROUND TUBS,
TO QUIET THOSE DOWN,
UNDERNEATH DRAIN LINES.
SO WE DO AN AWFUL LOT.
SO THE TRUCK IS
OUT ON THE STREET,
AND THAT'S WHERE ALL--
THE TRUCK IS OUT
ON THE STREET. YEP.
IT'S BEING PRESSURIZED
AND BLOWN IN THROUGH
THERE.
AND THE SYSTEM IS
REAL SIMPLE.
YOU JUST GO UP
TO THE CAVITY
AND YOU SLIT A HOLE
IN THE FABRIC,
RIGHT?
ABSOLUTELY.
BOY, THAT GOES QUICK.
NOW, HOW DOES HE KNOW
WHEN HE'S GOT ENOUGH
IN THERE, MIKE?
THE SECRET TO THIS,
IF YOU COME TO THE SIDE
HERE, BOB,
YOU CAN SEE THE NETTING
BULGES OUT PROBABLY ABOUT
AN INCH OR SO,
AND THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW.
AND THAT ACTUALLY IS PART
OF THE PATENT OF THE SYSTEM
THAT YOU HAVE
ENOUGH IN THERE
THAT YOU'RE GETTING
THE DENSITIES THAT YOU WANT.
WHAT WE DO
WHEN WE'RE DONE,
WE'LL COME BACK
AND BROOM THAT,
TRY AND BROOM THAT AS
FLUSH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN
TO MAKE IT EASIER
FOR THE DRYWALLER TO PUT
HIS DRYWALL ON THERE.
DO YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
RODENTS NESTING IN THERE
OR ABOUT HUMIDITY
COLLECTING IN THERE
AND HAVING IT ALL
SLUMP DOWN?
NO, NOT AT ALL.
AS I SAID BEFORE, IT'S
A VIRGIN FIBERGLASS PRODUCT
THAT WILL NOT SUPPORT
ANY MOISTURE AT ALL,
ANY MOLD GROWTH,
OR ANY TYPE OF INSECTS--
IS IT TREATED WITH
ANY KIND OF--
NO. IT'S NOT.
IT'S JUST
PURE FIBERGLASS.
PURE FIBERGLASS.
SO IN TERMS OF
PEOPLE AND ALLERGIES,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT THAT.
OH, THAT IS VERY QUICK,
YEAH, THAT'S GREAT.
NOW, CAN THIS ALSO
BE RETROFITTED?
IF YOU'RE DOING IT
IN A HOUSE THAT'S
ALREADY BUILT?
IT CAN BE.
HOW DO YOU DO IT?
FROM THE OUTSIDE?
YOU CAN DO IT EITHER
FROM THE OUTSIDE
OR FROM THE INSIDE.
WHAT WE RECOMMEND IS
IF SOMEONE IS RESIDING
AN EXISTING HOUSE
FROM THE OUTSIDE,
YOU CAN DRILL THROUGH
THE SHEATHING.
AS HE'S POKING THE HOLES
IN THE FABRIC,
HE WOULD DRILL A HOLE IN IT
AND BLOW THE MATERIAL
IN THAT WAY.
GOTCHA.
OR PEOPLE REMODELING
FROM THE INSIDE,
YOU CAN DRILL THROUGH
EXISTING PLASTER
AND DO IT FROM
THE INSIDE IF THEY'RE
GOING TO PAINT
OR REPAPER
AND SO FORTH.
SO THE GREAT THING
IS WE'RE GETTING
THE HIGHEST R-FACTOR
THAT YOU CAN GET.
ABSOLUTELY.
IN A 2 x 4 CAVITY,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET
REALLY ANY HIGHER
AN R-VALUE OUT OF IT.
AND THAT'S REALLY
THE BEAUTY OF IT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S
A LITTLE BIT MORE COSTLY
ON THE FRONT END--
ON THE FRONT END--
THAN CONVENTIONAL
BAT INSULATION.
ON A HOUSE
SUCH AS YOU HAVE HERE,
YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING
ANYWHERE BETWEEN
50% TO 60% MORE
FOR THE INSULATION
ON THE FRONT END.
HOWEVER, THE PAYBACK
ON THAT
WITH THE SAVINGS
OF YOUR UTILITY BILLS
AND SO FORTH,
IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE
SOMEWHERE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF 2 YEARS.
REALLY?
THAT FAST A PAYBACK?
ABSOLUTELY.
AND IN NEW ENGLAND,
THAT MAKES A BIG
DIFFERENCE
IN AN AFFORDABLE
HOUSE.
IT CERTAINLY DOES.
OK, THANKS, MIKE.
NOT A PROBLEM, BOB.
THANK YOU.
I'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT WITH
A PREVIEW OF OUR NEXT SHOWS.
STICK AROUND.
AND THAT'S A WRAP.
COME HOME AGAIN NEXT TIME.
WE'RE GONNA BE PUTTING IN
OUR NEW SYSTEM FROM BILCO
TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE
BASEMENT AS WELL AS THE DOOR.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SOMETHING
CALLED THE INFILTRATOR,
WHICH IS PART OF OUR
SEPTIC SYSTEM HERE,
AND WE'LL BE PAINTING THE HOUSE.
TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU
HOME AGAIN.
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