The Habitat Group - Builder of Fine, Affordable Homes Emphasizing Smart Material Choice

Lime stucco done

2010-09-16T22:46:00.000-07:00

The beautiful patinaed look of an historic old world cottage. Bricks for the fireplace and chimney salvaged from the old Oregon State Insane Asylum, made famous in the movie 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest'. This home is one of only 10 in SW WA featured in October 2nd ASES National Solar Home Tour due to its unique ICF Faswall block walls and masonry heater.

19503 NE 144th Street

2010-07-01T05:05:00.000-07:00

Lance went back to his full time job, leaving me and Salonen to complete the framing. Next step is roofing with mgo board and installing windows and doors. We plan to have a stucco workshop by the end of july to cover the Faswall.

Junior builders create buzz with their leading edge designs!

2010-02-10T10:05:00.000-08:00

backfilled, decking in place

2010-02-10T10:02:00.000-08:00

First floor deck down and sealed from the weather with thoroseal. Faswall blocks are finally starting to dwindle in quantity!

break for ice skating

2010-01-28T07:11:00.000-08:00

we brought the girls to Lloyd center last week for ice skating...most of the pictures came out really blurry, but this one shows Layla is so excited! She did amazing, running around on the rink and jumping up like a princess :) Emily was more hands off, wanting to learn by herself along the outside rail.

framing

2010-01-28T07:03:00.000-08:00

The first floor framing is finally begun on our fiber-cement ICF block home near Portland, Oregon (we're in Clark County, Washington, but north of the Oregon/Washington state line - Vancouver, not BC, Washington, not DC).

These are the original insulated concrete forms, developed nearly 75 years ago in Switzerland as an answer to reduce the loads of wooden rubble left after World War II, and to expensive lumber and low-performing building materials. The discovery of a way to chip up the scrap wood, mineralize the fibers to neutralize the sugars so there can be no rot, and bond them to cement and cast them into forms paved the way for companies such as Durasol and Faswall to grow.

This method of construction is very common and popular in Europe and has taken strong roots in much of Canada as well. It is a proven system, not some fad or untested new technology. Please realize that this is not some form of save-the-earth or tree hugger agenda. Rather, it is a wise and prudent way to construct a home or building that will last for hundreds of years, conserves valuable resources and provides its occupants with optimal comfort, beauty, durability, and the lowest possible cost to heat and cool.

What beautiful weather we have had over the last week! Reminds me of Florida :) (sure!)

Thoroseal

2010-01-19T06:43:00.000-08:00

Think of Thoroseal as 'Gore-Tex' allowing any vapor moisture within the wall to escape, yet no water to enter the block. The Delta-Drain dimplemat is simply a drainage plane to eliminate hydrostatic pressure against the foundation and direct ground water to the footing drain-tile.

Worldchanging: Bright Green: The End of Cheap Oil as an Opportunity

2010-01-18T00:33:00.000-08:00

Please read this article by the author of 'How to Build a Village', Claude Lewenz, about the much needed steps we need to take as a nation to create more user friendly, inviting, beautiful and sustainable communities.

Worldchanging: Bright Green: The End of Cheap Oil as an Opportunity

Why we chose to build with a breathable wall....

2009-12-22T21:37:00.000-08:00

Good things are worth waiting for, and proper construction doesn't happen overnight. Despite the daily rain and near freezing temps, we actually are making progress! I am thankful for many blessings in life and should adhere more closely to my motto 'Festina Lente' - Make Haste Slowly! Here we've mixed 3 parts sand to 1 part portland cement then will apply 2 coats of Thoroseal, a microporous breathable waterproofing cement. Followed with dimplemat for a drainage plane and we should never see a drop in the basement. Well, if one did get in there, it probably wouldn't be the end of the world, as Faswall is self-draining and won't support mold or rot unlike any other wall system I know of.

Foundation

2009-11-05T06:52:00.000-08:00

As it all starts with the building foundation ... do it once, do it right. Faswall wall forms for a breathable, rot-proof, termite-proof, fireproof envelope (not to mention hurricane and earthquake proof!). Oh, did I mention these are made from recycled wooden shipping pallets,which are mineralized and concrete coated, then given mineral wool insulation inserts- about as low embodied energy and resourceful as one can get without plundering the natural resources we were given to be stewards of!

plywood bracing to prevent blowouts during grouting!

Derek takes his hand at the grouting