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Szarka |
Local info critical
Jul 3 2006, 12:31 PM EDT
This project is such a great idea - hits many of my favorite soapbox topics at once! I'm a residential architect living and practicing on Florida's Gulf Coast, where real estate has skyrocketed, labor is scarce and dear, everything but wood comes from everywhere else, and storms blow out what shouldn't have been built here in the first place.Regional info re: availability, labor issues, and natural concerns can really affect the bottom line. Much as I would like to avail myself of opportunities to reuse old building parts, as an architect, I know that code does not allow such reuse of non-tested materials as exterior components and cladding in hurricane zones. New windows and doors are an expensive stumbling block in front of affordable homeowner-built assemblies, though they are a good investment for efficient thermal performance. I would like to find out more about the outlets that Habitat for Humanity reportedly runs--they may be my only viable quasi-local alternative to big box purchases. So far - the best buildable, non-custom, inexpensive prefab I've seen for where I practice have been Roccio Romero's kits, which apparently ship across the US. I haven't built one yet, though from what I've seen of her drawings, they seem like they might be adaptable to our climate and wind conditions. I'd like to hear anybody's info on structural insulated panels, too. Do you find this valuable? |
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