It has been a tough week in St. Maarten.  Deep sea fishing (Bryan caught two Barracudas), working (Jo-Anne was on numerous conference calls and in multiple meetings), and spending some time at the spa (Jo-Anne) and beach front bar (Bryan).  Today, we rented a Jeep and went completely around the island (both the Dutch and French sides).

One of the highlights of our trip was meeting Chris at Vinissimo Wine and Spirit Boutique in Marigot (on the French side of the island).  We were hosting pre-dinner wines on the final night of Chairman’s Club and only had six bottles of wine.  And 26 guests.  We needed more wine so we ended up at Vinissimo and met Chris, the owner.

Driving Around the Island of St. Maarten

As is our tradition, we had to go on a ‘forced march’ and explore.  Thus, we rented a jeep for the day (with the roof down it gives your ‘double’ the vacation, right Bobby?) and drove around the island.

We made our way around the island, stopping on the beach in front of the main runway at Princess Julianna Airport (SXM) and then continued on to Marigold.  Yes, we were on the beach directly under the flight path as several large jets landed and took off.  We saw this on YouTube so we simply had to see it for ourselves.

After watching several planes land and take off, we started to get anxious as the day was starting to get away on us and we (desperately?) needed six bottles of wine.  Our deadline to return to the resort was 5:00 pm.

Verifying Our Wine Cellar Design at Vinissimo Wine and Spirit Boutique

We arrived at Vinissimo and it was closed.  It looked like the owner had just gone for lunch so we waited.  It was over an hour waiting.  Finally, Chris opened her shop at 2:30 pm and we immediately walked in the door.  It was fun to discuss wines with Chis and she recommended five French wines (her specialty, go figure) and we bought a ‘new world’ wine - 1997 Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon.  Interestingly, Chris had some bottles of Beauregard Vineyards, which she quite liked.  Bryan mentioned that Beauregard Vineyards is in the Santa Cruz Mountains not far from our house.

After buying six great bottles of wine, the next most important aspect of our visit was that we confirmed the design of our wine cellar. 

We had designed our wine cellar to have a hardwood floor with six inches of crushed limestone between the hardwood and the wine racks.  This is exactly what was in Vinissimo!  It looked perfect - just what we are looking for in our design.

Our Wine Cellar will have 18 inch hardwood floor in each aisle, with 6 inches of crushed rock between the hardwood and the wine racks.

It was conforting to know that our design is robust.

Warning sign at the end of the runway at Princess Julianna Airport (SXM) in St Maarten.

Take-off/landing schedule.

Plane landing at SMX.

Under the flight path watching a jet land at SXM.

Chris (right) reviewing her wines for us.

The wines were at a good height with room for at least six bottles under each display bottle.

Jo-Anne reviewing the 'new world' wines, where she spotted the 1997 Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon.

Chris finds a bottle that she thinks should be compatible with our tastes ...

Chris looks up the details on the vintages to confirm her recommendations.

These looked good; we didn't include them in our selection today (prices are all in Euros).

The design that we have for our wine cellar is very similar to this. We will have hardwood flooring (sanded but not finished) between the racks with space for six inches of crushed rock between the hardwood and the wine racks. There will be individual racks for each bottle and a display bottle above each column.

We're ready for the guests to arrive. Steve (left) and Cindy, with Rob and Jo-Anne (right). Seven reds and six whites opened and ready, breathing comfortably.

Yes, we also have plenty of wine glasses and water for the event.

We’re leaving tomorrow evening (Monday, January 18) for a week in St. Maarten and heavy rains are forecasted through the week, especially Wednesday, January 20.  Our framers were very busy last week and we want them to be able to continue working through the week.

Making a Moat with Sandbags

Since the atrium is open to the sky, the rains will come straight into the lower level.  Thus, we thought about building a moat with plastic and sandbags so the ‘angry waters’ are contained in the atrium and will drain into the exterior stair well drain.  That is the plan.

It may be like trying to put one’s finger in the leaking dike …

The real plan is for us to have a fabulous time in St. Maarten!

The sandbag 'moat' around the atrium.

Moat by Nik's Room.

Water to drain to exterior stairwell.

To the drain in the exterior stairwell.

Framing in the Lower Powder Room ('Men's Room').

The job site was very busy today.  We were framing the interior walls in the lower level, measuring the openings for the windows and sliding doors, and signing a Canadian passport application.

Providing a Capillary Break Under the Pressure Treated Bottom Plates

Moisture inside a house is bad because it creates an environment where mold can flourish.  In houses that are very ‘leaky’, the moisture problem is somewhat reduced.  On the other hand, it is exacerbated in a ‘tight’ house.  There is an excellent presentation on GreenBuildingAdvisor.com entitled, ‘Got Mold? Energy Efficiency and Moisture Management‘ that was presented by Mike Guertin and Peter Yost on December 18, 2009.  It is 63 minutes long and well worth watching.

Under our Durability Planning, our integrated project team completed a Durability Risk Evaluation Form that identified all moderate- and high-risk durability issues for the building enclosure.  Then, we developed specific measures to address those issues.  In addition, we identifed and incorprated indoor moisture control measures with our plans.

Given we have an immense amount of concrete in our house, we will have a huge potential pool of moisture in that concrete.  Water can move through concrete into wood, hence building codes require pressure-treated wood wherever wood is in direct contact with concrete.

Water, however, can move through capilliary action through wood and other materails.  Thus, having a pressure treated bottom plate that is resting on concrete will prevent the moisture in the concrete from rotting the bottom plate.  The pressure treated bottom plate may allow the moisture to migrate through it to the stud walls, which may cause mold and rot.

Having a capilliary break between the bottom plate and the concrete prevents water from gaining access to the bottom plate.  We are using a product called ‘Low-E Reflective Insulation‘, which is a reflective insulation and is made of two layers of aluminum foil with a closed cell foam in between (sometimes known as ‘foil-bubble-foil’).   Bryan met Charlie Snow at West Coast Green in San Francisco on October 12, 2009, when they first discussed this project and how Low-E Reflective Insulation would provide significant benefits to increasing the energy performance of the house.

We are using Low-E Reflective Insulation in every instance where wood touches concrete.  An additional benefit in our exterior walls will be to use the Low-E Reflective Insulation between the mud sill and the foundation.  Low-E Reflective Insulation will provide a capilliary break for moisture and provide a tight seal so air cannot go through the wood and the concrete.  This will make our house tighter and more energy efficient.  Although we will have separate termite shields in place, the Low-E Reflective Insulation will provide another defensive barrier for termites.

The Low-E Reflective Reflective Insulation comes in rolls that are 48 inches wide and 125 feet long.  Our framing team cut the Low-E Reflective Insulation into strips 5-1/2 and 3-1/2 inches wide so it could go under 2×6 and 2×4 plates.

Establishing the Window and Sliding Door Opening Dimensions

As we’re framing the lower level we are zeroing in on establishing the exact dimensions for our windows and sliding glass doors.  Annie Rouse (Murray Window and Door) and Dave Edwards (Earth Bound Homes) walked through the house and reviewed the dimensions for each window and sliding glass door.

This task required an immense amount of attention to detail.  Making an error with an aluminum frame and double pane glass will be expensive and look bad.  Also, we pulled in Francisco, who is doing the actual framing on site, on several occasions so we’re all on the same page with how the windows and sliding doors will fit.

Signing a Canadian Passport Application (Guarantor)

Our friend, Mats Menhardt, is a Canadian citizen and requires a new passport (Canadian passports are only valid for five years).  His mother, Trixi, brought his completed passport application to the job site for Bryan to review and sign.

That was easy.

Roll of Low-E Reflective Insulation (48 inches wide by 125 feet long).

Close up of the packaging.

Trimming the Low-E Insulation so it will go under the 2x6 plate. Trimming the insulation was easy and fast.

The Low-E Insulation is under the 2x6 pressure treated plate and it will provide a capilliary break and prevent moisture from moving from the concrete to the wood.

Without the capilliary break, water could move through the pressure treated bottom plate and cause mold and rot in the 2x6 studs.

Dave Edwards (left) with Annie Rouse (back) and Francisco (measuring). Trixi (right) is getting the passport application out for Bryan to sign.

Trixi, holding Mats' completed and signed Canadian passport application.