Extension Summary: Foundation, footing, and slab-on-grade extension are separated by 8″ Foamglas rigid insulation from the surrounding soil. Walls were built using Durisol-brand cradle-to-cradle ICFs made of recycled wood chips, slag cement, and lined with Roxul mineral fiber insulation.
Not any extension: A smart extension
In constructing a secondary mass along the Southern elevation, our primary goal was to create a net-zero-energy building that unified the existing home with a new-construction extension. In doing so, materials were procured based a strict adherence to a cradle-to-cradle, VOC-free, and carbon neutral standard.
Window Placement – Natural light shouldn’t be a luxury amenity:
- Window were placed to maximize indoor natural light,
- Maximize heat gain- through direct sun- in the Winter,
- Minimize- through shading- heat gain in the Summer
Windows naturally shaded in summer
Full light transmission (summer months) even though windows are shaded from heat gain.
Footings encased in eight inches (8″) of Foamglas insulation
Thermally breaking extension footings with Foamglas
Executives of Pittsburgh Corning ensuring proper use and installation of Foamglas
Rebar cage constructed prior to concrete pour
Insulated & Zero-Carbon Concrete Forms
- Cement-bonded wood fiber – waste lumber and Portland cement.
- Mineral wool insulation
- Wall formed with interlocking units dry-stacked (without mortar) – saves time & expense over cinderblock.
- Heavy equipment not needed as with concrete forms.
- Filled with fly-ash concrete and 95% recycled-content steel.
Extension walls constructed of Durisol insulated concrete forms (ICFs)
ICFs continued up to second floor
Lumber from the existing home was salvaged for reinforced walls and floors
Steel was brought in to brace and reinforce the structure.
Building structure is 100% inside unbroken thermal envelope
A total of 72 pieces of structural steel were brought in to brace the structure, connecting retrofit with new section.
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