What you are looking at in this picture is the application of spray foam insulation. This particular product is a Soy based closed cell foam. Soy based means there is no formaldehyde. In fact, all of the insulation on this project is formaldehyde free. Closed cell means that it does not expand that much. Open cell is the other type. It expands a lot. You may have heard of “Great Stuff”, that’s open cell. We are spraying a half an inch of the foam to seal all the exterior wall cavities. This product is espicially useful when remodeling old homes. It seals up all the gaps and cracks in the structure. There is a lot more to come on insulation. Bill Bell, Gotcha Covered, 302.542.3747

Posted via email from Gotcha Covered Contractors: Aging In Place/Universal Design

Well, we have had all of our rough-in inspections and have the okay to close up the building. I have gone through my checklist, I have visually inspected the property twice and feel pretty good that I haven’t overlooked anything. It’s now time to insulate. Insulation is more important than ever so take my advice and hire a professional insulation company. the appropriate type of insulation for the specific project is crucial. I will be doing several posts on insulation to explain the steps and types of insulation used. The first step is what they call draft stopping. It essentially does just that. It is a combination of caulking and canned foam to seal joints, penetrations through the wall, and around window framing. But before we get too far into the insulation process, let’s back up a step and talk about the process up to this point. Energy efficiency doesn’t start with insulation. It has to be a part of the thought process from the beginning. to start, what is the orientation of the house? Where does the prevailing wind come from? Are there any trees on the property? What kind are they? What kind of windows, and how many? Will exterior walls be 2×6 or 2×4? See where I am going with this? Energy efficiency has to permeate every aspect of the project, it is not just insulation and HVAC systems. stay tuned to learn more than you ever wanted to know about insulation.
Bill Bell, Gotcha Covered, 302.542.3747

Posted via email from Gotcha Covered Contractors: Aging In Place/Universal Design

The most stressful time during the construction of a property for me is the week or so just before getting the drywall up. It is so critical to remember all the details. Lately we have been talking about the importance of all those details. They are what help make a good house a GREAT house. Well we have a few more to get through and Wall blocking is one of them. What is it and why do we do it? It is simply blocks of lumber put between the studs in certain places for hanging cabinets, shelving, etc.
In the picture you see blocks surrounding the bathtub. We also install it around the toilets. This is part of our focus in Universal design and Aging in place. In the event that Grab bars ever become necessary, this blocking will make installing them easy and safe. There is no need for special fasteners because you can’t find framing to secure them to and it is safer because all of the fasteners will hit framing, not just one it two.
Other areas we use blocking are in closets and kitchens so we can more safely hang cabinets and shelving. Ever have the closet shelf fall off the wall onto you or worse a kitchen cabinet? Not good. it’s all in the details. Bill Bell, Gotcha Covered, 302.542.3747

Posted via email from Gotcha Covered Contractors: Aging In Place/Universal Design

As mentioned in an earlier post, adequate ventilation is sometimes overlooked. This includes venting for bathrooms, kitchens, and dryer vents. In fact, builders have all but stopped venting range hoods or microwave fans to the outside. Most today are vented back into the kitchen. Bathroom vent fans and dryer vents are still required to be vented to the outside. However, the codes are a little weak and proper installation of venting and the kind of vent pipe used can be ineffective at best and dangerous at worst. On our most recent project, in Lewes, Delaware, we used rigid, class 1, galvanized duct work. We also used approved duct tape and clamps at the fixture. This ensures a tight seal that won’t leak over time and end up venting into the ceiling. Most of the time you will see aluminum flex duct being used. The problem there is flex duct is thin and fragile making it prone to holes and tears during installation. It also has ridges which allow it to flex. Those ridges can trap moisture, a potential mold issue or lint from the dryer, a potential fire hazard. Neither is good. So remember, when your building or remodeling, often the really important things are in the details. Don’t overlook them. Bill Bell, Gotcha Covered, 302.542.3747

Posted via email from Gotcha Covered Contractors: Aging In Place/Universal Design

Another great way to increase a home’s energy efficiency is to install a whole house fan. These fans can move some air. This one pulls about 6000 CFM. That’s a lot of air. Fairly affordable, this unit was $300.00 not including electrical connections and installation. However, you could save that on cooling costs in a few years. Good return on investment. Make sure you have adequate ventilation in your attic. Bill Bell, Gotcha Covered, 302.542.3747

Posted via email from Gotcha Covered Contractors: Aging In Place/Universal Design

One area often overlooked in the construction process is the ventilation systems of the house. For now I will be talking about attic ventilation. What you see in the photo is simply an attic vent fan. They are relatively inexpensive. This one was $80.00 or so. It is thermostatically controlled. You just set it and forget it. it will significantly reduce the temperature in the attic which can save on cooling costs and extend the life of your roof surface. They are almost necessary if you are considering a whole house fan. We will talk about those next time. With homes being built tighter to gain energy efficiency proper ventilation is more important than ever. Don’t overlook it. Bill Bell, Gotcha Covered, 302.542.3747

Posted via email from Gotcha Covered Contractors: Aging In Place/Universal Design

Well we are finally “dried in” as they say. Next, our trade partners will come in. Plumbing, HVAC, and electrical. I will be starting on the exterior any day now. Finally, it will start to look like we are doing something again. Looks are deceiving, we’ve been very busy. That’s all for now. Bill Bell, Gotcha Covered, 302.542.3747

Posted via email from Gotcha Covered Contractors: Aging In Place/Universal Design

We are starting to make some progress now. Stay tuned for more updates.
Bill Bell, Gotcha Covered, 302.542.3747

Posted via email from Gotcha Covered Contractors: Aging In Place/Universal Design

There have been several design changes to our original concept and someone asked me “how do you plan for that?” I replied “I have gotten used to the sort of evolution that takes place with this kind of project.” What I mean is that while plans and “planning” are important, it is also important to remain flexible and allow this evolution to occur. Too often, we become rigid in our thinking (this is the plan and I’m sticking to it) and then start forcing the project. I’ve never seen that approach work out. So if you are embarking on a project of your own, start by finding the right contractor. Then trust, relax, and “roll with it”.
Bill Bell, Gotcha Covered, 302.542.3747

Posted via email from Gotcha Covered Contractors: Aging In Place/Universal Design

our porch is finished, and just in time. The bugs are starting to come out. If you live in Sussex County Delaware and need a screened area to enjoy the outdoors, give us a call. We can help with design and construction of your new screened porch or deck. Bill Bell, Gotcha Covered, 302.542.3747

Posted via email from Gotcha Covered Contractors: Aging In Place/Universal Design