New Home Construction

Eco-Cottage: Slate roof installed

Slate roofs are by far the best choice, as long as the supporting structure has been planned to handle the extra weight. Slate is beautiful, durable, and ecologically sustainable.

Yes, slate is an expensive material to purchase, time-consuming and expensive to install, but a slate roof will last for a century and more with proper maintenance. Considering the long-term value of slate, it is probably the least expensive choice for your roof. An asphalt roof will need to be replaced every ten to twenty years, but your slate roof will only require minimal maintenance every twenty years or so.

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Millerton Two-Story House: project complete

Metal Roof Installed

The roof on our two-story Millerton house project is made of 22 gauge Galvalume, Fabral manufactured, with a high percentage of recycled post-consumer metals, making this material an ecologically sustainable choice. The paint warranty is about 45 years, and with proper maintenance this roof could last a hundred years.

T-Straps

The quarter inch steel T-straps tying the posts to the second floor main girder. They are drilled with 5/8ths square head bolts for a train trestle appearance. These were made locally by a traditional blacksmith.

Efficient framing methods

The two-story house project in Millerton is progressing nicely. Here you see the new construction being attached to an existing barn. We are using efficient framing techniques–insulated headers, seals between all plates and sills–to minimize thermal bridging and subsequent energy loss. Also our efficient framing layout has really minimized waste; we’re not filling up the dumpsters very quick on this job.
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Millerton Two-Story House

Mid-July we began a new whole house construction project in Millerton. We took down an existing one-story structure built in the 1950s, modified the existing foundation, and began to install the first floor.

Window trims and door

The front door is a full three inches thick, made of cedar. We added cedar trims and sills. Attention to detail makes all the difference in a construction project. Special care is taken to give the sills just the right angle to shed water. The construction crew has enjoyed working with cedar, which cuts cleanly and has a pleasant scent. Working on a number of renovation jobs over the years, we have seen proof that cedar performs better than “sustainably harvested” wood that is coming on the market now and used as trims. After five to tens years, homeowners have experienced rot in this product. Part of the problem is that this “manufactured” product is joined together to make long lengths and moisture gets into the wood through these joints. (more…)

Cedar Siding

The cedar siding on the Eco-Logic is long-lasting and naturally resistant to insects and decay. Cedar is a sustainable choice because it grows fast and is harvested locally.

Cedar also allows for some artistry and decorative flair. Note the design in the gable.

Eco-Cottage: underlayment and windows

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Eco-Cottage: walls and roof

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Business has been great, so we’ve hardly had time to work on our own projects, but finally we got the walls up.

After the foundation was laid, we started on the frame and walls and roof. 2″ x 10″ studs were used in the walls and roof to allow extra space for insulation. Thicker walls are also more aesthetically appealing. (more…)