A little on the Commercial side of things.

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Alright Larry, payback is a b$tch. I'll get my chance.

Marcel

Uh, oh...
Please excuse me if that felt too personal, Marcel. My attempt at humor may have been jaded by me still trying to wrap up my own furnace installation and a few other things before winter.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by lkage

Uh, oh...
Please excuse me if that felt too personal, Marcel. My attempt at humor may have been jaded by me still trying to wrap up my own furnace installation and a few other things before winter.

No problem here Larry. But you better not take any shortcuts installing that furnace, it is getting cold.
Saying 2" of snow here in the next couple of days.

Marcel

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Well, back at the Bookstore.
What is going on?

Attachment 16059
The fire proofing was completed on Monday, and I'll tell you what, what a stinking mess that sh#t is. That stuff goes all over and also needs 40 degree or better to set up.
Attachment 16060

Attachment 16061
The second stairwell is going in and all is well. Missing parts for the steel rails, but should come in Friday. Hopefully I can get these poured next week.
Attachment 16062

Attachment 16063
I call this one my favorite Architectural Blunder. ha. ha.
They are trying to eliminate snow load accummulation pile up by building crickets to divert it to that low roof on your left. Yea right.
Look where the sun dial shadow is on the existing roof and tell me if snow or ice build up will be a problem.
Some of these out of State Architects do not realize Maine winters and the view of this picture is looking Southeast.
There is 35' of existing sloped roof where the sun shines all day down to that shadow line and during the winter, even at temperatures of 20 degrees, it melts.

I tell everyone, ok guys, what do you think will happen here?
Talking to myself sometimes. ha. ha.

Aw well, I am just the Builder, so what do I know right? ha. ha.

Marcel

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Some of these out of State Architects do not realize Maine winters and the view of this picture is looking Southeast.

Aw well, I am just the Builder, so what do I know right? ha. ha.

Marcel

Marcel:

The first time I worked in the City of Halifax was in 1989 but I lived in New Brunswick then. I was hired by a BS consultant to come down to work on wind driven water leakage problems on a 7 storey luxury condo project near the water's edge with no protection from the winds coming in off the Atlantic Ocean. The building had been designed in Toronto by people who had not seen water move uphill before!

So they flew in a water leakage specialist (a guy like you or me- no degrees or certification as a building specialist) from Toronto who looked more like a street person (long, white ponytail down to his *****, loose baggy pants tied tight at the ankle, red sneakers, a shirt that looked like a quilt and a toque!!!) This guy has also taught Joe Lstiburek some of his water leakage knowledge though.

We worked with a masonry crew on swing staging with a hose for about 3.5 days and finally located the last 6-7 wind driven rain leakage sites.

By chance, in the past 2 weeks I have worked on 2 homes with wind driven rain problems- one for the largest modular home builder here and the other is the $800,000 9-10 month old home I mentioned which has had 2+1/2 storeys of Stonetile + trim + sheathing + rim joists on one ocean facing wall removed !!!

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

Marcel:

The first time I worked in the City of Halifax was in 1989 but I lived in New Brunswick then. I was hired by a BS consultant to come down to work on wind driven water leakage problems on a 7 storey luxury condo project near the water's edge with no protection from the winds coming in off the Atlantic Ocean. The building had been designed in Toronto by people who had not seen water move uphill before!

So they flew in a water leakage specialist (a guy like you or me- no degrees or certification as a building specialist) from Toronto who looked more like a street person (long, white ponytail down to his *****, loose baggy pants tied tight at the ankle, red sneakers, a shirt that looked like a quilt and a toque!!!) This guy has also taught Joe Lstiburek some of his water leakage knowledge though.

We worked with a masonry crew on swing staging with a hose for about 3.5 days and finally located the last 6-7 wind driven rain leakage sites.

By chance, in the past 2 weeks I have worked on 2 homes with wind driven rain problems- one for the largest modular home builder here and the other is the $800,000 9-10 month old home I mentioned which has had 2+1/2 storeys of Stonetile + trim + sheathing + rim joists on one ocean facing wall removed !!!

Why was it removed? Never seen the product, so what caused the failure?
I might come across that product someday and would like to know what to look for.

Thanks

Marcel

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Why was it removed? Never seen the product, so what caused the failure?
I might come across that product someday and would like to know what to look for.

Thanks

Marcel

Stonetile is a nice product but like all good things expensive.....about $15 or so per sq ft. I sent the address to Barry Adair yesterday since you end up with similar appearance but of better quality than the Decopierre he was investigating failure in today.

www.stonetile.com

It was removed because the builder/developer was trying to do a better job!!! He has a Masters of Health Administration as background, bought 60 acres of desirable real estate and wants to be a millionaire.......he's building a 6,000 sq ft house for himself now.

Anyways! On the wall facing the worst winds off the ocean, he installed BLUESKIN as sheathing membrane under the Stonetile which has a 1/4 inch rainscreen drain behind it. This was to keep the wind driven rain out......but it won't let ny moisture vapour to diffuse or "breathe" outward. The rule of thumb we use up here (well, knowledgeable practitioners do) is that the outer layers should be 10 times more permeable than the inner layers (been seeing 5 times in the US lately though....less harsh climate???)

The Blueskin is about 1/2 as permeable as a 6 mil certified sheet of polyethylene used as inner air barrier/vapour retarder. So you see he created a very good "double vapour barrier" ; if any water was locked in or got in it won't get out!! There was 1/4 ich of white wood decay fungus mycelia on sections removed; it looked and felt like a flexible spray foam until you smelled it. And that's what the owner thought it was as it was being removed.

I got called in as the first repair was just about to be covered at the main floor deck ledger. did a bit of deep moisture testing in the original rim joist and founf that it was still rotting!!!! So the deck comes off again, new doubled ledger, flashing, sheathing, large Stonetile trim, they broke a large window.....it goes on and on!!! Guess what?? The builder is vacationing in Peurto Rico as I write. Should be hung up. I'm now baybsitting the owner with calls everyday. This'll cost the builder 30-40 grand.

And that's just the beginning; here's other things I still have to address in the second part of my report (after we get the wall complete):
1) the ground source HP/AC is not doing its job in either season!! Probably undersized. Its very noisy with small ductwork.
2) the Heat Recovery Ventilator is not balanced and when balanced correctly may be too low volume.
3) a few electrical misses
4) Low insulation levels in the attic...not the R50 stated in advertising. Nor are the walls the R30 stated.

There have already been 3 engineers onsite, A Phd Mycologist (I brought him in), an energy auditor is coming to do an air leakage test and heat loss/gain calculation, the warranty corporation has been there 4-6 times and then there's ...me. So far (here's where I can brag a bit)I rule!! Barely nothing gets done or changed without a consultation.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Well, the last few boards are being installed at the Gym and the sanding has begun.

When I showed up, I was lucky enough to meet the manufacturer of the machine that you see below and the representative from Clark that has Manufactured hardwood sanding machines that date back to the 1903 era.

Got an education today from the installers and Manufacturers.

Look at this machine and tell me if that is not high tech hardwood floor sanding.


Attachment 16075 Now this thing is pretty

Attachment 16076
Unique tool in itself, a rack and pinion clamp for when they finish the last few installs of the Maple flooring.

Attachment 16077 Twin sanders and ride on it. One drum is equipped with a 36 grit and the other drum has a 50 grit. On the second pass going backwards it alternates and the 50 grit passes on the 36 grit path.
The second pass overall, will have a 60 grit on one roller and 80 grit on the other and the same process continues.
The final sanding procedure will be done with 100 grit on buffing machines. Then the finish goes on once the lining is done.

Attachment 16078 And there is the take off. ha. ha.

Attachment 16079 This machine runs at about 5 miles per hour.
Freaked me right out to watch this.
The conventional sanders walk behinds are used to finish the last 6 feet or so on both ends.

This was enjoyable to watch.

Will try to get pictures of the lining process and the finish.

Hope you enjoyed.

Marcel
</IMG></IMG></IMG></IMG>

[Peter C. Russell]

Hey Marcel, where's the cup holder!!!!!!

I was wondering though, how do the fasten the flooring when it gets close to the wall. I saw the tool that clamps the boards tight but does that fasten it too, also are they using staples, what size and because of humidity are they galvanized or stainless?

Great pictures, please keep them coming.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by prussell

Hey Marcel, where's the cup holder!!!!!!

I was wondering though, how do the fasten the flooring when it gets close to the wall. I saw the tool that clamps the boards tight but does that fasten it too, also are they using staples, what size and because of humidity are they galvanized or stainless?

Great pictures, please keep them coming.

Peter, the last few boards the guy told me that they face nail it.
Most of it will end up under the Bleachers anyways.

They used the conventional nails (galv.) with the power nailers. This floor is running over 100,000 nails.

Marcel

[Peter C. Russell]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Peter, the last few boards the guy told me that they face nail it.
Most of it will end up under the Bleachers anyways.

They used the conventional nails (galv.) with the power nailers. This floor is running over 100,000 nails.

Marcel

Marcel, that's what I do too, just hoping you had a little trick up your sleeve to do it better.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by prussell

Marcel, that's what I do too, just hoping you had a little trick up your sleeve to do it better.

Thanks for the interest Peter and yes I have a few tricks that have spawned over the years, but usually only come out when sparked.

Marcel

[Larry D. Kage]

What a sanding tool!

Thanks for the pics, Marcel. Looking forward to the finishig pics.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Little update to the Bookstore project.

Well, cold weather is here and now we are trying to close up the building.

Using steam heat for temporary heat inside with a fan coil unit.
We are piped in on the College's steam supply.

Attachment 16157 Getting ready to install some of the curtain wall system at the exterior windows.

Attachment 16158

Attachment 16159 The attachment as you see is with these base clips and the same clips at the head. Curtain wall systems are only attached top and bottom and nothing on the sides. That is why they are designed to be 11 1/2" deep frames.

Attachment 16160 Managed to get this far with the masonry without shelters, but now shelters are required and the last portion of masonry will be done inside these shelters.
Temp. heat will be maintained at about 50 degrees.

Attachment 16161

Till' next time.

Marcel

[Marcel R. Cyr]

A few more pictures from today.

Interior work is on the way. Metal stud framing, electrical rough in's and ductwork installation.

Attachment 16162 The second metal pan stair is installed and steel railings are being welded in place.

Attachment 16163 In the other stairwell, clips are being shot in the fireproofed beams and then patched up by hand and then the firewall can be installed.

Attachment 16164 The next two pictures is the 1-hour wall assembly consisting of a 1" corewall with 6" stud and will get one more layer of 5/8" drywall for a finish. The stairwells, elevator machine room and elevator shaft are required to have a 1 hour rating. (Full fire sprinkler building.)

Attachment 16165

Attachment 16166 Wouldn't you know it. Here comes the snow. Man, I don't have the windows in yet. ha. ha.

Marcel

[arussell]

Hey Marcel

Lot of great pics and very interesting as well. It's nice to see commercial work that is similar to residential work being done. Great job, keep it coming.

alan