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Santa Cruz

Posted on Oct 7th, 2009 by Doug Marsh VP, CR, CAPS, GBP  |  1 Comments

This project started out with a modest budget however sometimes a client gets really excited about the possibility of what their home can become.  The chance to be creative with something you own can also be exciting.  The original plans called for a large porch addition, modest kitchen and bathroom remodeling, new windows and doors throughout.  After numerous tweaks including deleting the porch we have settled into this project keeping many of the original directions created by our Architect, Francois Levy, while enhancing some of the interior finishes and upgrading more of the exterior than was originally planned.  I really enjoy this kind of project because, although we are not adding any new space, the project is such a  complete renovation (the only thing we are not working on is the existing wall insulation and the garage) that we are getting to radically impact the performance of this building.  From the beginning we were planning all new windows and Francois specified Marvin Integrity because, while they look like a vinyl window, they actually are a fiberglass product (UlTrex)which skips chlorine in the manufacturing process.  The original structure had an Anderson slider already so we ordered Anderson sliders for the other doors and once again these are fiberglass products.  All the glass in the windows and doors is Federal standard rated (U value and SHGC of .3 or less). 
Two other major components in the remodeled building are a tankless hot water heater which we put in the same location as the original and tied in the water to and the unvented attic which basically means shooting open cell foam against the roof deck and making the attic part of the heated and cooled space.  Another important component is the all new HVAC system and quiet exhaust fans.  Since we knew about all the components of the building up front we could properly calculate the sizing and design of the HVAC system.  The unvented attic keeps the furnace and coil and ducts within a relatively cool space (unvented attic is about 8-10 degrees hotter than house instead of 75 degrees hotter) but does require the furnace to be a sealed combustion unit because the combustion air must come down the flue instead out of the attic as in a regular (soon to be irregular) attic. 
Added to all this is the recent change of a new standing seam galvalume metal roof.  The Client had hail damage money and so it was on the table to re-roof the house including the flashings and changes required because of the two new, low e skylights and the 5 new vent penetrations through the roof deck (exhaust fans must go through the deck in an unvented attic-no soffit or gable vents available).  However the idea of a lifetime roof coupled with the Clients desire to add decent gutters to provide eventual rainwater collection drove the truck on getting the metal roof.  The moderate kitchen remodel has expanded to be extensive including new appliances that had been left out for cost cutting; new floors, interior doors, new gable siding and fascia, and completely new bathrooms and fixtures round out the rest of the project.  During the course of the project we are continuing with our typical waste management program to divert as much debris out of the landfill as possible by using single stream recycle dumpsters.
Our City of Austin Green building rep, Bryan Bomer, has viewed the site and it looks like we will be able to achieve a 4 star rating award through the City program.  The Client gets a great new 4 star efficient building, rebates from the toilet replacements and hot water heater, and the Federal Tax credit for the window and HVAC upgrades not to mention a fantastic new house.