Kevin Stamm, general contractor based in San Francisco, wanted to apply many of the Passive House techniques to achieve high degree of energy efficiency when he started to renovate his home. While the project is still work in progress, he offered to pass his learnings along. He hosted a tour of his project on March 29, 2015. In fact, it was more informative to point out the details during the construction which may be hidden literally behind the walls when the project is finished. Kevin and his wife showed their hospitality by treating all attendees to a delicious home cooked vegetarian lunch.
Below is a set of video recordings of the tour. Click the image to play.
Topics covered in the tour included: DIY scaffolding, underpinning of existing foundations, Dryvit EIFS systems – water resistance barrier, using starter tracks, getting drainage at all points of WRB, adhering the foam, etc., locating Simpson seismic straps under sheathing, Milgard Essence windows and Wood clad doors, Hella Exterior motorized blinds, Metacrylics liquid roof membrane why you might want to shun the sheet, heat shrink plastic for the whole job site, insane efforts to achieve flat wood walls, Siga and Pro Clima air sealing tapes, LED shop lights, sill pans for the doors and windows, use of PVC discs in the EIFS system where exterior attachments are screwed to building and the use in mostly thermally broken eaves, air tight electrical boxes, Termidor termite control, upgrade to GRK screws, Bostich Hurriquake nails for your shear walls and sheathing, Pro Tim PVC field bendable flashing, custom made Redbuilt I Joists, matching 2X6 T&G pine and fir 6X10 beams, the many uses of off cast sheets of PVC from convention signage, living and working at the job site, why you need to stock up on castors, unsuccessful attempts to ward off the raccoon, why you don’t want to blow sheathing fasteners through your rim joist or rim blocks, OMG Spot Shot 2 component low rise polyurethane adhesive for attachment of foam roof insulation in lieu of the usual screws with the big plate washers.
