Hand Tool

Renumeration Opportunities with Green Building Concepts & Cloak Media

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Somewhere in 2009, I had an idea to device a scheme to build a residential addition with just 2 people, and when necessary heavy equipment like forklifts, cranes, pump-jacks, and other material handling rigs. Some tasks became untenable, and I had to bring in specialized sub-contractors to get the job done quickly and safely. I’ve utilized a lot of volunteer labor, but I cannot expect altruism on a regular basis, but often on a quid pro quo status. If you come help me set a few fiber cement panels, I can home help you move some boxes, or access some online service.

As my project enters a more time sensitive window, where the sun’s UV radiation, can regrade certain elements, I need to expedite the installation. If you have the tools, interest, and courage to come on an adventure with a demanding building scientist, please contact me. Direct message me through my @greenconcepts twitter account, or a phone call to +1-818-308-5773. I don’t have much to offer, but if your financial requirements align with my renumeration model, and you see an opportunity not just to contribute to the Dark Green Sandwich Panel Addition, but participate in an ongoing research platform, we can publish our journal articles together. I have opportunities in the construction of both the information and physical world for the next six to eight months. I Look forward to our discussions (Accepting applications on a continuous basis, 1st round interviews from 13 March – 18 March 2015).

Tools of the SIP trade

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The contractor finished assembly of the structural components of the project. Air sealing and applying the weather and fire resistive cladding come next. I though it would be a good idea to review some of the tools I’ve learned to use to make construction easier, and many times essential to a structural insulated panel building.

Cordless Adhesive Dispenser
I applied at every joint, intersection, overlay, and boundery a bead of panel mastic to seal the structure. After distributing over 60 tubes of 29 oz size, the DEWALT DC546K performed admirably. The tool weighs around 8 pounds, but saves the fingers to dispense such a quantity of mastic.

Cordless Palm Nailer
Practically every wall required a plethora of nails to act as a shear wall, living in a seismically active location. I’ve pounded over 250 pound of nails without the use of a pneumatic nailer. Skilled nailing acts as a key component holding up this building, where each nail does not break the panel skin, so achieving the maximum holding power. The majority of nails have been 8D box nails, with a good share of 8D common, 16D common, and 10D common nails. Along the walls in each 2 x 4 contains two rows of 8D box nails at a 3 inch spacing, making fasteners seem to be 1-1/2” separation. Without 3 palm nailers, I would still be pounding nails. The Milwaukee Palm Nailer 2458-20 has had it’s problems, but the manufacturer stood behind their product 100% in prompt repairs or replacement no questions asked.

Parallel Bar Clamps
It is often seen that truck straps are a good tool to sandwich two panels together at the seam, but I’ve found much better control and flexibility using long bar clamps. I have a system based on 50 inch clamps and extenders, where I can get a 16 foot or longer clamp to ease a panel together safely and efficiently. Likewise, a clamp will hold a panel together before panel screws complete the job at the corners. Sears once sold a Craftsman Parallel Bar Clamp system based on the Bessey Vario K Body REVO series of clamps with movable upper and lower jaws.