English (11/12-04) Metal's Environmental Capabilities Shapely Steel Home

Two Green Projects Evidence Metal’s Environmental Capabilities

© Copyright Metal Home Digest, May-June 2005
By Racheal Tafelski
Assistant Editor

One green design firm is creating some unique homes. Located in Wimberley, TX, matt bachardy building design has worked on several projects with conservation as a central factor.

Matt Bachardy, principal of the firm, said, "I specify steel framing for its durability, insect and fire resistance. Steel framing is also the logical complement to the insulated concrete exterior walls. I also like the quality and structural capabilities of steel framing, and it has become very cost competitive with other building methods.

"The recycled nature of steel meets the green building program requirements for my projects. There is less waste and the waste that is generated can be recycled easily." Both of the projects that follow use light-gauge steel framing and metal roofing. In both projects, Bachardy stated that metal was chosen for its modern appearance and low maintenance.

Smith-Zimmerman Residence

the homeowners of this project were set on building a comfortable, architecturally interesting home with green design in mind. The homeowners found an ally in matt bachardy building design, who shared the same home design philosophy.

The 5,278 sq. ft. multi-level home is located west of Wimberely, in Hays County, and features an industrial contemporary design. A modern interpretation of the traditional Texas Hill Country "dog run" entrance and stacked stairways was designed. Three bedrooms and three full baths, an office, kitchen, dining room, carport and adjacent workshop are included in the home. Extensive outdoor decks and patios provide a closer view of the river.

The site of the home sits on a narrow, restricted access riverfront on the Blanco River with heavy tree cover. Access to the site is provided by a shared concrete ramp. The river side of the home faces southeast with over a mile of un-buildable flood plain beyond. The flood plain elevation was determined using a GPS survey. The main level of the home was raised 2’ above this elevation.

Building With Green Materials: Insulated concrete walls and light-gauge steel provide structural strength and mass to the building. Berridge Mfg. manufactured the Space Frame, prefabricated light-gauge steel stud wall panels for the project. The wall panels were used on the upper levels and interior walls. Structural beams and deck framing used 16-gauge cee joists and wide-flange steel beams.

The foundation of the project is monolithic concrete perimeter beams and column pads on grade. The main floor was 2-1/2" concrete over Vulcraft decking and bar joists. The exterior walls use 6" core insulated concrete forms (ICE block). The roof system features expanded polystyrene insulation (EPS) foam panels fitted between the web of TJI rafters. Corrugated Galvalume panels were used as an exterior wall finish. TJI rafters were used over the heated spaces of the roof and steel framing over unheated areas. The roof decking is 5/8" plywood radiant barrier roof decking.

The insulated concrete form (ICF) walls enclose the spaces below the main level to protect from rapid water rises the site periodically experiences. The basement contains the lift station holding tanks for a rainwater collection system.

Green Water Resources: Water, supply and disposal are issues that face the area of Texas the project resides in. To conserve resources, the owners chose a rainwater collection system. Rain is collected from the roof area and is piped around the complex to a lift station under the main level of the house. Unique roof washers/leaf filters prevent debris from collecting in the tanks where the water is stored. Transfer pumps push the water through sand filters and then to a 15,000-gallon fiberglass cistern. The stored water is pressurized and sanitized for domestic use. A standard absorption septic tank is used for waste water.

Resource-Friendly Extras: Southeastern breezes wash through the southeast deck and living spaces. A steep hillside on the north side of the home helps buffer against northern cold fronts. The "dog run" entrance is aligned to pull ventilation from the entire structure to assist with natural cooling by thermal chimney effect. Consideration for ventilation was also given when choosing the placement of windows.

The home was designed to need little to no maintenance. Exterior materials consist of concrete, limestone, Galvalume-coated steel, glass and wood decks. The exposed structural steel beams were painted. Interior finishes consist of stained concrete, cork and linoleum floors, low volatile organic compounds (VOC) painted drywalls, tile in baths and concrete counter tops. The exterior doors and windows feature aluminum clad awning, casement and fixed windows, and clad slider and swinging doors.

Fortress Builders, Wimberely, served as the general contractor for the beginning phases up to the roof decking and dry-in stages of the project. Fineline Custom Homes, Kyle, TX, served as the general contractor in the final phases of the project.

Avera Residence

This 5,024 sq. ft. project is near Henly, TX. The private ranch sits on 320 acres and features three bedrooms with walk-in closets, two full baths, a glass walled office, a great room with kitchen and dining room, a carport with heated mechanical/storage room and a screen wall. There are also outdoor patios, terraces, planters and walled gardens.

After the site of the project was carefully planned over numerous level changes, the attributes of the home dictated the floor plan, giving sight lines to the major rooms of the home. The plan of the home also allows for breezes to pass over it during the summer months.

Like the Smith-Zimmerman home, to achieve this dream home, insulated concrete walls were used in combination with steel superstructure, chosen for energy efficiency and to withstand the 80 mph winds the site periodically experiences.

Exterior materials consist of concrete, limestone, Galvalume-coated steel and glass. The walls utilized 6" core ICE block insulated concrete forms. Wide-flange steel beams were used for the structural beams. No painted surfaces were used with the exception of the exposed structural steel beams, most of which are protected from the weather. The heavy framing was supplied by SteelTex Inc. of San Antonio, TX.

Custom-made light-gauge steel studs were used for the interior walls. Interior finishes included stained concrete floors, clear-coated pine trim, low VOC painted drywall, tile in baths and granite countertops in kitchen. Windows and skylight placements were carefully chosen to aid in ventilation of the house.

The roof used 2" x 4" and 2" x 6" wood framing, providing ventilated space above the ceiling panels. Thermasteel light-gauge steel reinforced EPS foam panels were used in the roof system. Decking was 5/8" plywood with a radiant barrier. 24-gauge bare Galvalume standing seam panels top the roof. The home’s metal soffit panels were manufactured by Jenisys Engineered Products Inc. Metal wall finishes used site-cut Galvalume sheet metal. The general contractor for the project was Alpha Improvements of Austin, TX. Fortress Builders, who helped build the Smith-Zimmerman house, served as a sub-contractor.

Saving Energy: The home combines high mass, high R construction with the addition of natural ventilation. Careful attention was paid to ensure that the home, when being heated or cooled in extreme conditions, was ventilated to prevent humidity and indoor air pollution. Energy efficient heating and cooling systems were chosen for the home.

Water supply and disposal were issues in this home as well. The homeowners wanted to conserve resources, energy and water. Rainwater is collected from the roof area, piped to a lift station, which rejects the first dirty flush of runoff of the roof. The water is then transferred through a sand filter and is pressurized and sanitized for use in the home. A 97,000 gallon cistern is uphill approximately 1,500’ away from the home and provides water for the house in addition to the 40,000 gallon vegetable farm cistern.

A guest house is planned on the east side of the property, hanging over a hill. The house is designed to be on concrete columns with steel-bar joists supporting a concrete slab over metal deck. Light-gauge framing is planned to be used in the project. The screened deck will be over 16’ off of the ground.

Green Thinking

Bachardy noted, "I approach all of my projects in a manner of conservation, some to a greater degree than others. The level of conservation methods by design and material selection depend on the owner’s program and budget. Even on a low-budget standard wood frame project, at the very minimum I pay careful attention to proper site orientation and layout of the floor plan. However, approximately 80% of my projects fall into the category illustrated by the Avera and Smith-Zimmerman projects."

According to Bachardy, metal fits into the conservation mindset in many ways for many reasons, as evidenced in these two projects.

"I would like to give credit to my clients," he continued, "For their foresight and for allowing me to create these works. Since both projects are so unique compared to a ‘regular’ house, without my clients’ trust, these projects would not have been built as they were. It takes special people to do something different and they deserve credit as well."

© Copyright Metal Home Digest, May-June 2005

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