net zero | passive house, maryland : window install mock-up
January 27, 2015
Michael Hindle, CPHC, and I headed out to Western Maryland to review the window box and TJI insulating cavity mock-up. It was cold and snowy. Really cold. I think I was the only one that noticed. The Gosnell crew is amazing, and, apparently impervious to freezing temperatures.
I said it was freezing, right? FYI, because of the freezing temperatures we chose to use tape for our water-tight detailing rather than a liquid applied product. Once again, the Tescon Vana tape performed extremely well. That stuff would stick snowflakes together.
As shown in the photos above, every corner of the box is being taped as well as every edge of the window (allowing bottom free draining). Our 11 7/8″ TJI wall is resting on the 4″ block ledge with a spacer of mineral wool sandwiched between the plywood base plate and the block. The window box is a 5/8″ plywood box with a horizontal TJI top and bottom.
Teamwork, Teamwork, Teamwork. It is really a pleasure to watch these guys take pride in their work and listen to and learn new ways of building. Peaceful implementation by the contractor is such a key factor to making these super-tight and efficient envelopes successful. Teamwork is always LESSON ONE.