Chapter 2
Roof Windows Doors HRV Zoned Heat 
Insulated concrete roof/floor/deck form systems provide the
ultimate roof. The concrete wall transitions to the concrete roof deck
and beam system. This style of building is the next step for Nutmeg
Homes. A roof that is super insulated, indestuctable, and can be used
as a giant deck! Turning this roof system in to the ultimate eco roof -
a green roof is easy. Nutmeg Homes is working with several architects,
ICF suppliers and green roof drain system specialists to build the
first ICF residential green roof in BC. Although green roofs are being
strongly promoted by the provincial government in commercial buildings,
residential green roofs appear to be banned by the BC New Home Warrantee Office (HPO). Hopefully we will be allowed to use an Ontario Home Warrantee company as it is accepted practice there.
Congratulations to Verade Windows on becoming Energy Star Rated.
For a small family run company to pay for and work through this
expensive process shows their commitment to quality. Detlief
Recktenwald (and his wife Vera and daughter Nadia) have been suppling
windows to us since 1999. Verade uses the German Rehau vinyl frames, we
believe this is the best frame in North America. If you are looking for
windows that last - visit their show room in Courtenay.
Chapter 2
Roof
Concrete Tile
Roof - long lasting value
A concrete tile roof is the best traditional roofing option. Very long lasting, long warrantee period, little to no maintenance. The engineered roof trusses must take into account the additional weight of the tiles. For extreme wind conditions - like the north west coast of Vancouver Island - tie down clips can provide more wind protection.
Roofing is a challenge for us at Nutmeg Homes. The roof systems that commonly are available, and are reasonably priced are - arguably - the weakest part of a Nutmeg Home. The ICF wall system, and many other components of a Nutmeg home should easily last several centuries. A wood frame roof can not confidently make that claim, especially in the rain forest climate of most of Vancouver Island. Fire, severe wind events, mold / rot / moss, aging, wear and tear will limit the life span of a wood frame roof.
Engineered Factory
built Roof Trusses
The most common, if not only, residential roof frame, is an engineered pitched truss system. Using computer modeling, and engineer approved designs, a truss company builds all, or most of the roof system in a factory, using metal plates to attach pieces together. The pre-built trusses are then shipped to the building site and put in place with the help of a large crane. The other type of wood roof frame is the hand frame method. This is very rarely done and can be almost called a lost art.
After the roof frame is completed, the roof material is applied. Most likely choices are:
- Asphalt Shingles
- Metal Sheets
- Metal Tiles
- Concrete Tiles
The first three options require a wood sheet (chip board or plywood) surface on the trusse; concrete tiles use a special fabric and wood strapping. Wood shingles are not listed, as they are not a reasonable option (fire and moss issues, for example).
Windows and Doors
Crenelated window opening
Because the wall system we use is 11 3/4 inches deep there are many architectural and design choices available for openings - door and window. One of our own unique opening treatments is to flare or crenelate the opening (like in a castle window to allow archers a wide angle of fire). Drywall return - as in no trim, although more difficult to construct, emphasizes the view, where appropriate. If the view corridor does not exist or privacy is desired then a square return may be chosen.
Architectural rating: able to withstand heavy use, this window achieves a grade 70 rating (a rating often associated with resisting winds in excess of 130 mph) even when made in the large 3' x 5' "architectural" size. The rating signifies that the windows passed a battery of 2,500 cycles of opening, closing and locking, "misuse" torsion and loading, and subsequent retesting to prove continued air and water infiltration resistance. Verade Windows - using European Components.
45 degree stubbed return
This doorway features two full side lites, an over head transom lite and snubbed 45 degree corners. As you may note, the door swings outward. This allows more interior space use. The security factor improves with out-swing doors as they can not be forced open by outside pressure (ie kicked in). Consider the problem of rain and wind on an outswing door - the harder the wind blows, the tighter the door seals!
Full Glass Transom with 2 sidelites
Trends in interior finish come and go. Remember shag carpets? The current trend in door and window trim seems to be - lots of it! Top molding with several layers, corner details etc. Soon the trend for trim will probably go to simple, flat trim. Nutmeg Homes tries to address the finish trim issue with the timeless simplicity of little or no trim at all. Slightly more expensive, trim elimination also should mean a very long lifespan in terms of "the look". As a Nutmeg Home will be around for several centuries, we try to finish our homes with a "timeless" look - clean, simple and elegant. Which is more important - the picture or the frame?
Heat Recovery Ventilator HRV
Every room is vented
A well designed HRV system will have at least one supply vent, or an exhaust vent for each room. The idea is to extract or exhaust stale or moist air from rooms like bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms, and to supply fresh clean air to all the other rooms. The fresh outdoor air coming into the home has been filtered and tempered (warmed or cooled by the out going exhaust air). It then flows to the exhaust vents and is vented outdoors. The amount of air is controlled by the fan speed, the adjustable on / off pulse (ie. 15 minutes on, then 45 minutes off), and by adusting the opening of each individual vent. All the vents are set in the ceilings or high on the walls, minimizing dust issues. Kitchens and bathrooms have timer controlled high speed override for when lots of air exchange is needed - shower steam, cooking (and other) smells are exhausted out doors. The interior humidity level will also automatically turn the unit on. One minor adjustment/problem can occur in bathrooms when those unfamiliar with the system turn on the "fan" as there is no noise to indicate that the system is in high extraction mode, versus the usual noisy bathroom fan most people are used to.
Zoned Heat Control
This quote is worth repeating!
I think the best heating system in the world is radiant heat. It's the most even, comfortable form of heat because it works by actually heating the floors, walls, and objects in the room, rather than by just blowing warm air over them. Radiant heating systems can also be among the most efficient. Mike Holmes
Hot water lines being layed
Completely silent, clean, dust free, uniform, comfortable, efficient heat delivery system - that is hydronic radiant heat. We can't tell you how wonderfull this system is without sounding fanatical. No drafts, no cleaning ducts, no noticeable hot - cold cycles, no furnace noise, no heat pump noise, no adjusting thermostats. Warm feet are happy feet! In this picture Shaun and helper are laying down the Wirsbo water lines and tacking the lines down with a special stapler. The floors have been watered down as the concrete will be poured the next day and will cure better if the floors don't suck out the moisture in the fresh concrete.
Some zones require several loops
As the hot water flows through the
lines, it transfers heat to the insulated concrete floors (the floors
are insulated with either ridged ESP foam for slab-on-grade floors or
fiberglass batts for wood joist floors or an insulating blanket
system). Designing and sizing a radiant system is a specialized skill.
Each room can have it's own thermostat (unlike forced air systems, but
similar to electric baseboard systems). Several rooms or areas can be
run on the same thermostat if desired.
For large areas several loops, or "runs", may be required. These loops
can then be locally adjusted. For example; when the valves are
installed on a zone with two loops - one a hallway, the other loop a
bathroom, the hallway loop valve can be partially closed, resulting in
more heat going to the bathroom, but both run from one thermostat.
Next - the Plumbing, Electrical, Exterior Siding and Interior Drywall
>>> Chapter 3