Jan

Unloading Our FSC Framing Lumber - First Order

Our first order of FSC-certified framing lumber arrived at the job site this morning, which we unloaded. Then, we lifted the grinder/polisher out of the lower level to the ground floor. Finally, we moved a stack of SIPs from the house to behind the house so we can grind and polish the concrete on the ground floor.

Scheduling West Coast Cranes

We have the following three tasks this morning that require a crane:

Lift the 800 lb grinder/polisher from the lower level to the ground floor.
Unload our first order of FSC-certified lumber, and move part of it to the lower level.
Move a stack of SIPs from the ground floor to behind the house.

The 30-ton crane arrived on site and was set up when the wood arrived.

Lifting the 800 lb Grinder/Polisher From the Lower Level

Since Pacific Decorative Concrete finished grinding and polishing the lower level, we moved the 800 lb machine out of the lower level to the main floor. This was easy, fast and safe with the crane.

With the grinder/polisher out of the way, we had space in the lower level for the framing lumber.

Unloading Our First Order of FSC-Certified Framing Lumber

We are using FSC-certified wood products wherever possible in our home. We engaged Dave Edwards, with Earth Bound Homes, for our framing and to install our SIPs (from insulspan). Dave reviewed our plans in detail and, using advanced framing techniques, estimated the amount of lumber required for our framing, both on the lower level and main floor. The initial lumber order had less than a 10% waste factor.

Currently, there is a cost premium for FSC-certified products but, with more supply to meet the demand, this premium is coming down. Given the higher cost, we have several incentives to use less material. In order to do so, we used advanced framing techniques to reduce the amout of wood required and we were diligent and careful in ordering just the amount of framing material required. This is just plain common sense and, at the same time, allows us to meet the prerequisite for LEED-H Material & Resources MR 1.1, and garner points in MR 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4. Of course, we will meet the requirements of MR 1.5 with our SIPs and hollow core concrete panels.

The initial order included 2×4 and 2×6 materials (8, 10 and 16 ft lengths) in both untreated and presssure treated form. The pressure treated material is for wherever the wood touches concrete; the 8 ft lengths are for the ground floor, the 10 ft lengths are for the lower level (9-1/2 ft ceiling height), and the 16 ft lengths are for top and bottom plates.

Using FSC-certified lumber for our framing will allow us to meet the requirements in MR 2.2 for Environmentally Preferable Products for the exterior wall - framing/wall structure, floor - framing, interior wall - framing, roof - framing, and roof, floor, wall - sheathing. Using more than 90% FSC-certified wood in these components will yield 0.5 points per component.

Moving a Stack of SIPs on Our Project Site

We had a stack of SIPs stored on the ground floor and they blocked a section of concrete that we need to polish. With the crane on site, we moved this stack of SIPs over to behind the Dining Room so Pacific Decorative Concrete could grind and polish all areass on the ground floor without any obstructions.

With the grinding and polishing completed in the lower level, Dave Edwards’ team started framing today!

A significant milestone for our project.

The first load of FSC-certified plywood comes off the truck.

Here comes the framing wood, which is going into the lower level (note the opening in the temporary cover over the atrium).

We use West Coast Cranes as they have good equipment and great operators. A crane makes moving items around our job site easy, fast and safe.

Paul maneuvered the 30-ton crane easily. We use West Coast Cranes as they have good equipment and great operators. A crane makes moving items around our job site easy, fast and safe.

The results of our work with the crane this morning - stack of SIPs on the left (under cover now), lumber (to be covered), and grinder/polisher for the ground floor. We can start faming in the lower level now!