I just got back from a tour of the Marvin Window manufacturing facility in Warroad, MN. The tour included time in the plant looking at windows on the production line and time in the visitors center going over the various windows Marvin manufactures. I got some great new ideas looking at all the wonderful variations of designs being built. We have specified Marvin Windows for many years mainly because of their extruded aluminum cladding system which I find to be very well crafted and the Kynar 500 paint system which is the best exterior paint system for color retention. I also like the fact that Marvin (like many good window manufacturers) can make most any thing we can dream up.
It was fun seeing Warroad, MN – aka Hockeytown, USA and was very impressed with every person I meet there. For a great article on Warroad’s love for hockey read this NYT article. I love small town America and was reminded that it is the backbone of this great country. I am sure it has not been without pain that Marvin has kept Warroad and the surrounding region working during this difficult economic time without layoffs – Amazing Job!
Thanks to Mike St. John and Bob Davis with Marvin Window Concepts for making the trip happen.
Every so often we stretch our wings and reluctantly try new construction materials. I say reluctantly because we have been burnt in the past by materials that were cutting edge and overtime ended up being major problem products: ie, PVC membrane roofing, EIFS, and most recently Tendura Plank porch decking.
However, after consulting with members of our project team we felt it was time to try an insulation system we have been hearing about for several years now – Icynene. We decided to use it on a LEED-certified and Energy STAR qualified project in Knoxville, TN. The Icynene system’s strength is not in a higher R-value as much as in its ability to seal the home tightly and prevent unwanted air leakage.
Iceynene explains on their wesite that “R-value measures energy moving in and out of a home through the insulation material (conduction). But the real energy-waster is air leakage (convection) – the cause of up to 40% of a home’s energy loss (Source: U.S. Department of Energy).”
I like how quite this insulating system makes the home even before gypsum board is applied. I also like the ability to insulate the ceiling deck so that all attic mechanical ducts are within the insulated envelope of the home providing additional energy performance. And it is fun making hand and face prints in the stuff before the wall boards go up. Once the insulation is installed, the house is so tight that the HVAC system must provide fresh air to keep the indoor air healthy for the inhabitants, so a poor mechanical system with this product could be a real problem. My biggest complaint about Icynene so far is the strong odor the product emits when being installed. Also, like most chemically created products, it consumes a great deal of energy during manufacturing. Icynene cost about %40 more than standard Fiberglass batt insulation but the trade off is some significant payback on the utility bill. In the end, I am confident the product will perform well for the home’s inhabitants for generations to come.
Mortar Washed Brick
We have recently been thinking about simplicity in exterior materials as a way of refining architectural style while helping with the often tight construction budgets. Taking to the streets today, almost all new houses you pass have three and four materials vying for wall space, the result: visual confusion, bad material transitions, and uneccessary dollars spent. Simplicity is the way to go. Our recommendation: one, or two at the most, quality exterior materials will help your home and your budget. And remember, when using two materials, keep them similar in texture and color for a more timeless look. Obviously, simplicity in materials is only one part of the equation, but a part which provides one of the most subtle aspects of beauty in a house.
