As you might imagine, the beams needed a little work. We took them to Quality Solutions, a carpentry shop owned by Mike Anderson here in Olympia. Mike has the right equipment for cutting and planning large lumber like this. We started by cutting the beams down to the size we wanted, which was 8″ X 8” We then ran them through a planner to get all four sides smooth. From there we took them back to the house to finishes prepping them.

Using a hand power planner with a special curved blade, we proceeded to cut gouges into three sides of the beams. After that was completed, we sanded the beams with 60 grit and then again with 120 grit sandpaper. Then we coated them with a dark stain to contrast with the pine T&G boards we had already installed on the ceilings. After cutting the beams to fit between the walls and wedged them into place we crawled into the attic and secure them. We did this by laying 4X4’s across the top of the trusses bottom cords and then screwed ten inch long lags into the beams.

The end result is beautiful. It also fills good to know the beams have been given a new life ready to go for another 100 years.

Also a product that we think is very handy is their sealer. The Penetrating Sealer is perfect for giving the earth plastered walls sheen and making surfaces smooth to make cleaning easy. However its primary purpose is making your wall water resistant – especially in places where you have water seepage issues. The Gloss Sealer is used over the penetrating sealer to create a high-gloss look where desired.

Their best buy however the Mud-Glue – which is a binder for their plasters and at the same time a primer for your walls. Thus, not only is it environmentally friendly, but it also saves time because you don’t have to prime the walls separately. As a binder mud glue works to create more resistance within the earth plasters against water.

Other than that, you can use tried an trusted methods, like speaking to people who have remodeled their house before and also checking with local remodeling contractors. An important point to know here is that a remodeling contractor is different from a builder who also does remodeling. You want to ensure that you take the services of a remodeling contractor – since building is a completely different ball game.

You can take the help of associations like NARI (National Association of The Remodeling Industry) or the USGBC (US Green Building Corporation). Their websites will inform you on how to locate a certified remodeling contractor in your area. When you look for green remodeling contractors, you also want to make sure that they understand green building well. You can judge by their suggestions about the project.

Finally, what matters most of all is whether your contractor really thinks green building is important and if he really is into saving the environment. Green building is not so much about skills as it is about ethics. A contractor who looks at green building as just a competitive edge, is not such a good bet.

The design-build system holds one individual usually the architect or a contractor, as the central figure, responsible for overseeing the entire project. This has obvious advantages for the owner – he has to interact only with one individual, co-ordination is easier and time is better managed. The design-build contractor or firm will strive to streamline the entire process of designing (drawing up plans), construction planning, obtaining permits, etc. Because of this streamlining, activities can easily be overlapped – construction on parts can begin even while the designing is in process. At times, the main contractor may involve other organizations on the project with him, but in those cases too, the contractor will be the one dealing with them.

This overlapping offers flexibility to make changes to the design of the house, while construction is in process. With the popular design-bid-build system, this isn’t possible, since construction can begin only once the blue prints are finalized. Thus, for a home remodeling projects, wherein owners may want to try out different ideas the design-build system offers a lot of freedom.

Constructions also began on an eight foot high retaining wall in the front of the house. Once complete, this wall will give the Coopers a 12 foot wide level front yard.

Forming up the footing for eight foot retaining wall in the front of the house

All the retaining walls, and the footings on the house, have perforated pipe installed at their bases. The pipes have been wrapped in silt fabric to prevent infiltration of dirt. Drain rock was then put over the pipes, and covered in silt fabric before backfill soils were added. These pipes were connected to the city storm drains in the front of the house so all water along the foundation or retaining wall is now carried away from the structure. In the future, the Coopers hope to add a water collection system that would capture some of the rain water and store it for irrigation in the summer.

Tomorrow the framers will start the interior walls and then the trussed roof.

One of the main advantages to LEED over other certifications is that it begins in the design phase. Before plans are drawn up the owners, architects, builder and key sub contractors like HVAC, plumbing and electrical, meet to discuss the design and ways to make the home more efficient and livable. The synergy created in this type of process produces a home that is very livable, healthy, sustainable, and has less impact on the environment.

The disadvantage is the cost. Third party verification requires hiring a LEED consultant to over see the process. LEED also requires a record keeping and inspections & testing through out the building process. All of this can add eight to ten thousand dollars to the cost of the home.

Although it is expensive LEED is clearly to most comprehensive certification process. With the third party verification, the record keeping and the testing done during the building process LEED far exceeds any other certification process available. Owners who buy or build a LEED certified homes defiantly know what they are getting.

Rendering by Tessa Smith

On April 15, 2009, Laupen Homes LLC took over construction of the Cooper residence. This home is a very unique property. Located on the west side of Olympia, within walking distance of downtown, it features spectacular views of the downtown area, the state capitol building, Budd inlet and Mt. Rainier. This Mediterranean style home, designed by Tessa Smith is being built to achieve a LEED silver certification. This project should be only the fourteenth home in Washington state and the first in Olympia to be certified as LEED.

The home itself is being built using Amvic insulated concrete forms or ICF’s. ICF blocks, made of Styrofoam then filled with concrete, will give the house approximately an R31 insulation value in the walls. The interior walls and the roof will then be built from wood. The attic area will be insulated with spray foam. The end result will be an air-tight house that is very cost effective to heat and cool.

The second floor butting into the ICF’s

The lot for this home is very steep and has posed many difficulties and unexpected costs. Construction on the house had begun in September, but had been stalled for most of the winter. When we took over, the lower floor walls, main level sub floor, and two small retaining walls in front were all that was completed. In the first week we started by finishing the backfill, and excavating for more retaining walls.

We hope to finish the house by September in time for the Solar Tour sponsored by the Eco Builders Guild. Once complete this extremely energy efficient home will be a beautiful addition to the area and a very eco-friendly home.