ALTON, Ill. — To say that there is a powerful river in the Midwest that is threatening to flood communities nearby hardly narrows it down.
The Illinois, the Missouri, the Arkansas and the Mississippi Rivers were all at risk of spilling over in the coming days. The prospect put a patchwork of local and state officials on high alert on Friday, as they prepared sandbags, assembled barriers and nervously eyed the rising waters.
This spring has been a season of record-breaking floods across the Midwest, submerging farms, businesses and houses. Scientists have predicted that the flooding this year could be worse than the historic floods of 1993, which devastated the region.
And once again, the people who live along the four rivers were reminded of the delicate compact they have made, enjoying the beauty, recreation and commerce that the rivers provide, but also accepting their regular capability for destruction.
After the flood, after the flood damaged materials are out on the street, there is time to gather your thoughts and get the building dry before rebuilding.
Dry means less than 15% moisture content of the wood. Building materials will equalize moisture content with the amount of moisture in the air. The higher the relative humidity the higher the equilibrium moisture content.
Your home will dry out faster if the doors and windows are closed and the air conditioning is on.
To speed the drying mechanical ventilation and dehumidification is necessary. A portable mechanical dehumidifier will help with this.
Raised Floors
If your home is raised off the ground, a raised floor, it is important to have removed all of the floor coverings?that would keep the floor from drying: carpet, tile, vinyl and laminate flooring.
It is important to know how many layers there are in your raised floor. There will be a finished floor with tile, laminate, carpet or real wood. On raised floors, depending on when your home was built there may be a subfloor made of 1x6 laid diagonally or straight over the floor joists. Newer homes will have plywood or OSB (oriented strand board) over the floor joists. It is important all of the materials in your floor are allowed to dry below the 15% moisture content level.
This can be checked using a moisture meter, either a pin or pinnless one:
The next image is a pin moisture meter, it takes moisture readings by inserting the two pins into the wood and is calibrated to read moisture content of the wood at the depth of the pins.
The meter below is pinless and takes moisture readings by placing the back of the meter on the wood or other building material. The Accuscan pinless meter is capable of taking moisture content readings approximately 3/4" into the material.?
On concrete slabs the drying and testing process is a bit different. Since the concert is in direct contact with the ground?it may take ?the concrete longer to dry. It will continue to dry or put off moisture until the concrete moisture content is equal to the moisture in the air.?
One simple way to test the "dryness" of concrete is to place a piece of 6 mil poly (Visqueen) 24 inches square on the concrete and tape the edges. Leave it overnight or longer and check to see if moisture has accumulated underneath. If moisture does appear the concrete is still drying and needs more time to equalize with the interior air.
New Orleans has a unique stock?of historic buildings.
Currently the interest ?to maintain the historic fabric of these buildings on the exterior and to upgrade the interiors to current codes and expectations has created a unique need to keep the old single pane wood double hung windows.?
At 504historicwindows?we have developed a process where the old existing wood windows can be made to open and close as well as stopping the drafts and water from coming inside.
It seems there are more and more natural disasters in the news, or is it simply more news.
As we struggle to rebuild homes after disasters there are many bad guesses being implimented.?
The authors of the rebuilding guidelines are often relying on incomplete, dated or just plain incorrect information.
Here in the hot/humid (the South) the climate and buildings preform differently than the ones up north in heating climates.
The biggest disconnect is with the building enclosure, the walls, roof and floors. And the issue is the flow of energy through the exterior, th3 walls roof and floors.
In the northern heating climates the flow tends to be from inside to out, while here in the hot/humid it is from out to in.
You can learn more about this at LSUs Louisiana House.
On a recent visit to a home damaged during the Katrina levee failures I had an oportunity to see how homes were built 90 years ago in New Orleans and how they were planned to withstand the local weather conditions.
Every year in the spring volunteers stream into New Orleans to donate their time. effort and energy to the process of rebuilding the community. It is almost 8 years since the Federal Levees failed and flooded 80% of the city and the volunteers keep on comin'.
There is something special about the city not to be found anywhere else. If you haven't had a chance to feel it come on down!
Water flowing into the Lower Ninth Ward caused by levee breach.
It is rewarding to see the numbers of volunteers continuing to stream into New Orleans to lend a hand. While 7 1/2 years is a long time, it is typical to see a 10-year recovery perior from major disasters.
New Orleans' population has been declining since the '60's as have most urban areas. The good news now though is that our dear city has been gaining population in the last few years. This is not the case across the board in many urban areas. While many of the evacuees from 2005 have not returned there is a new immigration into the city, this new wave of New Orleaninans is made up of young, tech savvy, socially and envirinmentally conscious individuals.
We are coming up on another Spring wave of volunteers, if you are looking for a rewarding experience get involved.
Pictured a group from lowernine.org.
A significant portion of the new wave of immigrants have come to vilunteer ans stayed to renovate and rejuvinate.
Just returned from the Builder's Show in Vegas. While the attendance ( attendees and exhibitors) is not what it was a few years ago the tone seemed positive.
My old buddy Bob with Prazzi Tools always has something cool, this time it is the Pencil Blade, it is like a utility knife as a pencil. Graphite or whatever in the shape of a utility knife blade.?
We will be lokng to expand out training offerings in Louisiana in the coming months with a focus on:
Hazard-resistant construction
Building envelope design and installation
Energy efficient building
Moisture?
and of course door and window installation
If you have a need or know someone who does give a call.
Here is to a great year and the Saints getting back in the game.
Louisiana contractors are required to take six hours of continuing education units each year to maintain their license. We have recieved several calls requesting an end-of-the-year sesssion.
Sign up for the LaHouse session here. It is in Baton Rouge: Dec 18?http://bit.ly/SwmOTP?Class limit 45
Be sure to sign up for the right session.
Quality Counts - Techniques for efficient and durable building enclosures (NOLA session)?
Thursday, December 13, 2012 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM (Central Time)
Louisiana Green Corps building 504-613-4661 3616 Baudin St. New Orleans, Louisiana 70119? Map and Directions
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The devil is in the details...
Workshop Information: A “building enclosure” is meant to manage everything that gets into and out of it – water, humidity, air, heat, sound, and pests, along with the people and pets that occupy it.? How its components are put together makes all the difference in how a house performs, and for how long.?
Energy efficiency depends on more than R-value. Durability and quality require much more than sturdy materials.? Both are essential elements of building quality.
This 6-hour workshop will highlight common problem areas in residential building enclosures and demonstrate solutions tailored to the gulf region’s hot, humid, rainy climate and conditions. Participants will learn about effective building assemblies and quality assurance details.? Workshop topics include:
Moisture Management The drainage plane Weather resistive barrier properties and selection criteria Effective installation details
Insulation Recommendations, requirements and specifications Types, properties and criteria for selection Installation quality assurance inspection
Window Installation?(new and replacement) Installation methods Detail alternatives and essentials Selecting suitable materials
Flood-hardy Homes The concept and benefits of?Wet Floodproofing Flood-hardy materials Details for drainable, dryable assemblies Using Technology to Manage Projects Keeping project information where you can find it Choosing technology that’s right for you Putting technology to work
Course Time and Location: LaHouse Resource Center is located directly across from LSU Alex Box Baseball Stadium on 2858 Gourrier Ave., Baton Rouge, La. It is 1/4 mile west of the Nicholson Drive - Burbank Drive intersection.
Registration and coffee from 8:30 -9:00 a.m. in the LaHouse Teaching Center.?Program will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 3:30 p.m., with a half-hour lunch break (on your own).
Who should attend:????? Residential contractors, remodelers, construction supervisors and workers, home inspectors, code officials, residential designers, product suppliers, homeowners. Continuing Education Credits:?? This course is eligible for 6 CEU's for Louisiana residential contractors; a signed LSLBC form will be provided at the end of the workshop. ?A certificate of completion will also be issued to all attendees who complete the workshop. The certificate may be used to request continuing education credit for various professions who recognize LaHouse or LSU seminars.? Instructor:??? Bill Robinson,?LSU AgCenter Building Science Educator ? Cost:?? $125?registration fee*? (lunch on your own)
*20% discount??on class fee?for LHBA and?La. Realtor members, LaHouse Gold + Key Contributors, government employees, faculty, and non-profit organization employees. Reduced student fee available if space permits.?Select?Registration Type?for appropriate registration fee.
Class size is limited. ?
Payment must be received to reserve?your seat.
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Quality Counts - Techniques for efficient and durable building enclosures (NOLA session)?
Thursday, December 13, 2012 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM (Central Time)
Louisiana Green Corps building 504-613-4661 3616 Baudin St. New Orleans, Louisiana 70119? Map and Directions
?
?
The devil is in the details...
Workshop Information: A “building enclosure” is meant to manage everything that gets into and out of it – water, humidity, air, heat, sound, and pests, along with the people and pets that occupy it.? How its components are put together makes all the difference in how a house performs, and for how long.?
Energy efficiency depends on more than R-value. Durability and quality require much more than sturdy materials.? Both are essential elements of building quality.
This 6-hour workshop will highlight common problem areas in residential building enclosures and demonstrate solutions tailored to the gulf region’s hot, humid, rainy climate and conditions. Participants will learn about effective building assemblies and quality assurance details.? Workshop topics include:
Moisture Management The drainage plane Weather resistive barrier properties and selection criteria Effective installation details
Insulation Recommendations, requirements and specifications Types, properties and criteria for selection Installation quality assurance inspection
Window Installation?(new and replacement) Installation methods Detail alternatives and essentials Selecting suitable materials
Flood-hardy Homes The concept and benefits of?Wet Floodproofing Flood-hardy materials Details for drainable, dryable assemblies Using Technology to Manage Projects Keeping project information where you can find it Choosing technology that’s right for you Putting technology to work
Course Time and Location: LaHouse Resource Center is located directly across from LSU Alex Box Baseball Stadium on 2858 Gourrier Ave., Baton Rouge, La. It is 1/4 mile west of the Nicholson Drive - Burbank Drive intersection.
Registration and coffee from 8:30 -9:00 a.m. in the LaHouse Teaching Center.?Program will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 3:30 p.m., with a half-hour lunch break (on your own).
Who should attend:????? Residential contractors, remodelers, construction supervisors and workers, home inspectors, code officials, residential designers, product suppliers, homeowners. Continuing Education Credits:?? This course is eligible for 6 CEU's for Louisiana residential contractors; a signed LSLBC form will be provided at the end of the workshop. ?A certificate of completion will also be issued to all attendees who complete the workshop. The certificate may be used to request continuing education credit for various professions who recognize LaHouse or LSU seminars.? Instructor:??? Bill Robinson,?LSU AgCenter Building Science Educator ? Cost:?? $125?registration fee*? (lunch on your own)
*20% discount??on class fee?for LHBA and?La. Realtor members, LaHouse Gold + Key Contributors, government employees, faculty, and non-profit organization employees. Reduced student fee available if space permits.?Select?Registration Type?for appropriate registration fee.
On a regular basis we rebuild our storm damaged homes. This most recent one is mostly afout flooding, how to decontaminate and the best way to rebuild.
I get several calls a day asking how to clean up and rebuild.
Cleanup is an awful experience, your home is a mess and your life is disrupted.
Fortunately there are several resources ready to help get you back on the road to normality
The primary issue is to remove damaged materials and to decontaminate what remains.
Contaminated flood water can carry all sorts of pathogens and the materials that cannot be removed need to be decontaminated before beig put back into use or contained in walls, floors and ceilings.
Add to that, most building materials are a buffet line for bio-organic growth (BOG), or mold if you prefer.
In the next section I will take a look at how to rebuild: what materials to use, when to begin work and the most important details.
Tuning them up and adding weatherstripping. There is a lot of pressure from window replacement companies to dump your old drafty wood windows and replace them with new high performance ones with a lot of whizz and bang.
Consider this though, the current windows in your home have lasted for many years, in some cases a 100 years. How long will the new ones last? And how much will they save?
Recently the FTC cautioned five window companies for making flase claims on the energy savings from installing new windows. I have talked to several homeowners who are disappointed in the energy savings from replacing their windows.
This is not to say some windows should not be repalced however if you have wood windows please consider tuning them up before calling the window replacement company, we can help.
My very most favorite rebuilding group, Rebuilding Together, (RT) held an orientation for the newest class of volunteers in Washington DC. This in preparation for going out to affiliates in New Orleans, Cali, Denver, St Louis and more to lead rebuilding efforts for elderly and low income families.?
Great Stuff.
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As an EPA approved RRP trainer through NCHH, I have the opportunity to work with RT and conduct the 8-hour RRP Certified Renovator training.
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This was the third class I did with Rebuilding Together.
At the end of the class the students unwind by doing somethng goofy.
A home in the historic Ninth Ward.. ?a home restored after the levy's broke. Well it is being restored.
Saturday Oct 1 9:00- 1:00: a window restoration workshop.
In this session local window advocate Bill Robinson will guide you through the process of restoring old wood windows.
Identify window parts
Assess level of repair
Replacing glass
Minor patches
Prep for painting
The majority of wood windows can be brought back to good operating condition.
In fact, once the windows are operating correctly we can weatherstrip them and make them nearly air tight and close off the gaps and air leaks where your cooling and heating $$$ go literally out the window.
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Please click on the Pay Pal link to sign up.
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There will be a $49.00 fee for this session.
You will recieve location information with reciept of your payment.
Directions will be provided with your payment reciept.
There is a potential for the presence of lead-based paint. We will discuss the precautions necessary to reduce exposure to lead-based paint.
There will be an additional fee for personal protective equipment, bring your own if you plan on working on windows after the workshop.
Recently the EPA published changes to the RRP (Renovation Remodeling and Painting) rule.
These changes are posted on the Federal Register: RRP Rule changes
The proposed rule published on May 6, 2010. EPA has decided not to
promulgate dust wipe testing and clearance requirements as proposed.
However,
EPA is promulgating several other revisions to the RRP rule,
including a provision allowing a certified renovator to collect a paint chip sample and send it to a recognized laboratory for analysis in lieu of using a lead test kit, minor changes to the training program accreditation application process, standards for e-learning in accredited training programs, minimum enforcement provisions for authorized state and tribal renovation programs, and minor revisions to the training and certification requirements for renovators. EPA is also promulgating clarifications to the requirements for vertical containment on exterior renovation projects, the prohibited or restricted work practice provisions, and the requirements for high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuums.
From the update:
Renovator trainees must receive hands-on training in using
test kits, renovation methods that minimize creation of dust and
lead-based paint hazards, containment and cleanup methods, and
cleaning verification.
See our DVD for training your crew in LSWP (lead safe work practices)
Vertical Containment:
Vertical containment. EPA's 2010 proposal included more specific
language on vertical containment requirements for exterior projects.
As proposed, the rule would specifically state that vertical containment
is required for exterior renovation projects that are covered by the
rule and that affect painted surfaces within 10 feet of the property
line. In such cases, vertical containment is necessary to ensure that
adjacent buildings or properties are not contaminated by leaded dust or
debris generated by the renovation.
HEPA exhaust control
power tools used to remove painted surfaces are prohibited
unless such machines have shrouds or containment systems and are
equipped with a HEPA vacuum attachment to collect dust and debris
at the point of generation. Machines must be operated so that no
visible dust or release of air occurs outside the shroud or containment
system.''
HEPA Vacuums
EPA has decided to promulgate the requirement that HEPA vacuums be operated
in accordance with manufacturer's instructions,
more...
HEPA vacuum means a vacuum cleaner which has been designed with a
high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter as the last filtration
stage. A HEPA filter is a filter that is capable of capturing
particulates of 0.3 microns with 99.97% efficiency. The vacuum cleaner
must be designed so that all the air drawn into the machine is expelled
through the HEPA filter with none of the air leaking past it. HEPA
vacuums must be operated and maintained in accordance with the
manufacturer's instructions.
Paint Chip Samplingfrom Appendix 13.2 of the 1995 Hud Guidelines
Dust sampling must always be done before paint chip sampling in
order to minimize the prospect of cross-sample contamination.
Paint chip sampling is a destructive method that may release a
small quantity of lead dust. Although paint chip samples are to
be collected from inconspicuous areas, the occupant must always
be notified that paint chip sampling may be necessary.
Method One: Plastic Sheeting Underneath Sampling Area
A clean sheet of plastic measuring four feet by four feet should
be placed under the area to be sampled to capture any paint chips
that are not captured by the collection device or creased piece
of paper. Any visible paint chips falling to the plastic should be included
in the sample. Dispose of the plastic after each sample is collected by
placing the sheeting in a trash bag. Do not throw away the plastic at
the dwelling. Wet wipes may be used to clean the area.
It is my opinion paint chip sampling will be a PITA for the average renovation contractor and the Lead Check and D-Lead sampling options will be the first choice to determine the presence or absence of LBP
Contractor CEUs/ Certificate of Attendance for all attendees!
Here in New Orleans there are so many old, historic and salvageable wood windows. ?
In most cases it is not cost effective to replace them. Vinyl windows are less expensive but do not last as long as a well-maintained wood window will.
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Replacing with high quality wood windows meeting historic guidelines is prohibitively expensive.
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Come join us Saturday August 6
from 10:00-2:00 at 526 Caffin
in the Ninth Ward to learn how Bill Robinson does it!
Be sure to click on the button below to sign up for the class.
There is a $59.00 fee for the session.
If you are having difficulty with Pay Pal it might be the browser.
If you are using Internet Explorer please try Firefox.
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You will learn:
Which materials work best and where to buy them.
What tools you will need and?
Best practices for applying weatherstrip to wood windows
You can bring your own tools if you prefer, however it is not required.
We will be working in a home built before 1978 and may be disturbing lead-based paint.
Proper PPE is recommended. Respirator (P-100) nitrile gloves, eye protection, coveralls.
There are no restroom facilities. Water will be provided. Bring lunch if you will get hungry.
The 2011 American Institute of Architects conference was held in New Orleans this year.
While the flood waters of the Mississippi raged on the other side of the levee, conference goers attended educational sessions, visited exhibits and even learned some things. Plus, they enjoyed New Orleans food, music and ambiance.
Above, I explain to a crowd of architects the ins and outs of raised floor insulation, ventilation and moisture management.?
Michael Shultz, owner of Millbrook Electric in the Town of Washington, says he carries a test kit to determine if lead-based paint is present before he starts a job. / Lee ferris/poughkeepsie Journal
If you're from a "heating climate," one where you spend most of your annual utility bill on heating your home in the winter, you have quite a different experience from those of us in a "cooling climate," where the bulk of our annual utility outlay is spent on air conditioning during the blazing hot summers.
I never considered one type of climate control more important that the other. But I have come across some articles lately on the federal budget cuts, one of which is cutting heating assistance for poor people, and one of the criticisms for the program is that some people use those funds for air conditioning.
This got me thinking: is heating really more vital to human well-being than air conditioning? I say no way! If you live in an area like I do where the temperature can be 100 degrees with 90 percent humidity, that is life-threatening, my friend.?
Some people think we're being extravagant down here in the south to use air conditioning. But do they feel they're being extravagant heating their homes in winter? We use very little energy down here in the south during the winter. I guess we could say to the northerners: man up and live in a cold house. But of course, I wouldn't say that.
Others say: Turn off your air conditioner because our ancestors lived without air conditioning. The truth is, houses back then were built to allow for air flow. There were tall ceilings and leaky walls and porches and transoms.?
Now the houses are tighter, with windows that barely open, and insulation in the walls.
If we are to cut down on air conditioning costs, we can either restore to our old homes the air-moving features of a century ago, or we can seal them up so a very little bit of air conditioning goes a long way.
No matter what we do, please don't discount our need for air conditioning. If you could experience what we experience down here, you'd know it's a matter of life and death, not just comfort.
In exchange, I won't challenge your need and right to warm your home in the winter. Deal?
Last year, I reported that LeadCheck swabs would soon be approved by the EPA for lead testing on drywall (sheetrock), plaster and stucco (in addition to wood and metal).
Unfortunately, that has not yet happened. Below are the EPA-approved test kits for various materials. Note that the State of Massachusetts?administers its own program.
(Seattle – April 6, 2011) College Works Painting, a company operating in Oregon, has agreed to pay $32,508 penalty for alleged violations of the federal pre-renovation rule. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency alleged that the Irvine, California based company violated the federal pre-renovation rule while renovating nine properties in Portland, McMinnville, and Hillsboro, Oregon.?
The federal Pre-Renovation Education Rule requires painters, contractors, carpenters, property-management companies and others involved in remodeling or renovation of pre-1978 housing to provide home owners and occupants with an EPA?Renovate Right?lead hazard information pamphlet. In 1978 lead was banned from paint used for housing.
This pamphlet educates home owners or occupants on how to minimize exposure to hazardous lead dust that is often generated during sanding, cutting, demolition or other renovation activities. The pamphlet also provides resources for more information about lead and minimizing lead hazards.
The violations in this case took place during renovation work done in 2008.
College Works failed to establish and maintain records necessary to demonstrate compliance with Toxic Substances Control Act regulations, according to the EPA. College Works has corrected the violations and is now in compliance with EPA’s Pre-Renovation Education Rule.
“Families have a right to know about possible lead health hazards around the home,” said Rick Albright, Director of EPA’s Office of Air, Waste and Toxics in Seattle. “By reading the?Renovate Right?pamphlet families can learn how to avoid hazardous lead dust during renovations.”
Lead-based paint can be on walls, ceilings, woodwork, windows, or even floors. When lead-based paint on these surfaces is chipped, sanded, or scraped, it breaks into tiny, barely visible pieces that children can swallow or inhale. Even small repair and renovation jobs, including repainting projects, can create enough lead dust and chips to harm children.
Lead poisoning is a silent disease that can cause serious health consequences for children because of its detrimental effects on both physical and mental development. Nearly one million children in the country are affected by elevated lead levels.
For copies of the Federal pamphlet,?Renovate Right,?the Federal Rule, or information on the hazards of lead paint, call 1-800-424-LEAD or via the Internet at:?www.epa.gov/lead.
According to many, lead poisoning is the No. 1 environmental threat to children's health.?Experts agree that the most common?cause of lead poisoning is?exposure to dust from deteriorated lead-based paint in the child's home or daycare.
And the EPA's RRP program is designed to help protect children and their developing bodies from this danger.
Happily, the federal program to reduce this hazard, known as the Lead Hazard Reduction program, escaped the recent federal budget cuts. I can't think of a better use for my tax dollars than protecting children from being poisoned.
See details of the Lead Hazard Reduction program here.
To see all cuts in the recently passed budget, go here. The very last item on this list is the $26 million for Lead Hazard Reduction program.
EPA?RRP Question?— How much will it cost contractors to comply with the Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule?
RRP Answer — From the?EPA:
In order to comply with the RRP rule, renovators will incur costs for EPA certification and costs to take a training course from an EPA-accredited training provider, as well as for supplies needed in order to carry out the required lead-safe work practices designed to reduce exposure to lead dust from renovations.
Firm Certification and Training Costs:?The rule requires renovation firms to become certified by EPA or an EPA-approved state RRP program in order to perform renovation, repair or painting activities for compensation in target housing or child-occupied facilities.?EPA is required by law to charge firms a fee that covers the government’s cost of administering the program.?Firm certification is valid for 5 years.?The fee for most firms is?$300, which is equivalent to a cost of?$60 per year.?
RRP Question — Is it a violation of the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (RRP) for a homeowner to hire a firm that is not certified??
RRP Answer — From the EPA:
The Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (RRP) does not impose requirements on homeowners, unless they are performing renovations in rental space. However, the hired firm would be in violation of the RRP Rule if it was uncertified and performing a covered renovation.?
Map and Directions
EPA?RRP Question?— How much will it cost contractors to comply with the Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule?
(Click to enlarge)
