This is an interesting documentation of R-values with combinations of wall types and different claddings.
http://www.timber.Publish Postorg.au/resources/Rvalue1%20Edition%202%20Walls.pdf
Saturday, 30 April 2011
The Effects of A Glitchy Internet!
Internet was a mess! Telstra fixed it yet glitchy. More info coming soon, maybe some sketches too ;) !
Monday, 25 April 2011
The Disadvantages of Brick Veneer
Brick veneer has an identical appearance to solid brick.
brick wall image by Topcat from Fotolia.com Veneer, otherwise referred to as facing, is the name given to any surfacing material. Brick veneer is one such surfacing material that consists of a layer of brick. When brick veneer is installed on the outside of a house, it is built as a standing wall that is anchored to the home and connected to the house through mortar joints or wire ties. Brick veneer has the same appearance as face brick, and it costs less due to the cheaper cost of the veneer product. However there are some disadvantages to using brick veneer.
Challenging Installation
Although brick veneer installation may seem as simple as stacking a wall of bricks on top of each other, it is not a simple job any homeowner can undertake and is not considered a do-it-yourself project. Proper installation requires working with construction professions and paying for a job well done.
No Improvement to Structural Integrity
Brick veneer is installed as a separate structure, and therefore does nothing to improve the structural integrity of a building or other dwelling. It only affects the surface appearance of the structure; it does not help hold up the building.
Potential Water Damage
Brick veneer is subject to water damage due to its often poor drainage ability; however, by providing drainage holes at the bottom of the wall, you can prevent potential water damage.
Natural Damage
Aside from water damage, brick veneer is also susceptible to damage from earthquakes or even heavy winds. Brick veneer must support its own weight with only the help of wire ties, and in many places brick veneer installation codes are very tough because of this.
Benefits of Reverse Brick Veneer
When it comes to brick veneer construction, most people automatically envision the bricks being on the outside of the home. However, there is another form of brick veneer construction that is much more effective and this is reverse brick veneer. Here we outline the benefits of reverse brick veneer (for other design options see architecture).
What is Reverse Brick Veneer?
Reverse brick veneer, in simple terms, is when the bricks (the thermal mass) are placed on the inside of the structural framing. The outside of the home has some form of cladding on the outside, and there is a layer of insulation between the cladding and the brickwork on the inside.
Why is Reverse Brick Veneer So Beneficial?
Reverse brick veneer construction is a preferred form of construction as the thermal mass is inside the building not outside. In traditional brick veneer, the bricks are on the outside and they contribute very little to heating and cooling efficiency. When the bricks are on the inside combined with insulation, the heat and cold from the outdoors is not transmitted into the home as the bricks are protected from the external weather conditions. This gives you the huge advantage of interior temperatures remaining much more stable. The occupants of the home are also much more comfortable.
In winter, the bricks on the inside of the home can store the heat that is coming into the room (either from windows, or from heaters) and radiate it back into the room when it is needed. The insulation behind the bricks stops the precious heat from escaping. In summer, keeping the windows and doors closed means that heat doesn’t enter the home as easily, and the thermal mass acts to cool the interior. At night, you simply open the windows to allow the cooler air to dissipate any heat in the brickwork.
If you are worried that reverse brick veneer means that have to live with brick interior walls, don’t be. Reverse brick veneer is very attractive and can be rendered or covered with plasterboard so you won’t even know that it is there if you don’t want to.
What is Reverse Brick Veneer?
Reverse brick veneer, in simple terms, is when the bricks (the thermal mass) are placed on the inside of the structural framing. The outside of the home has some form of cladding on the outside, and there is a layer of insulation between the cladding and the brickwork on the inside.
Why is Reverse Brick Veneer So Beneficial?
Reverse brick veneer construction is a preferred form of construction as the thermal mass is inside the building not outside. In traditional brick veneer, the bricks are on the outside and they contribute very little to heating and cooling efficiency. When the bricks are on the inside combined with insulation, the heat and cold from the outdoors is not transmitted into the home as the bricks are protected from the external weather conditions. This gives you the huge advantage of interior temperatures remaining much more stable. The occupants of the home are also much more comfortable.
In winter, the bricks on the inside of the home can store the heat that is coming into the room (either from windows, or from heaters) and radiate it back into the room when it is needed. The insulation behind the bricks stops the precious heat from escaping. In summer, keeping the windows and doors closed means that heat doesn’t enter the home as easily, and the thermal mass acts to cool the interior. At night, you simply open the windows to allow the cooler air to dissipate any heat in the brickwork.
If you are worried that reverse brick veneer means that have to live with brick interior walls, don’t be. Reverse brick veneer is very attractive and can be rendered or covered with plasterboard so you won’t even know that it is there if you don’t want to.
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Cut,Copy and Paste!
This little bit of info puts it all in simple terms. Easy to understand even for someone who has never heard of bricks!
Reverse Brick Veneer
Reverse brick veneer, as the name suggests, puts the brickwork on the inside and timber framing on the outside i.e. the reverse of traditional construction. This form of construction enables a timber-style home to achieve the same level of thermal performance as a double-brick home.
By reversing the traditional construction type, the high thermal mass of brickwork can be used to advantage. Instead of being on the outside of the insulation and hence isolated from the room, the brick skin is within the insulation envelope.
Reverse brick veneer can be used in conjunction with either a concrete slab floor or a timber floor.
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Pciture Worth a Thousand Words?
This is a diagram of a typical brick veneer construction.
Link: http://www.ruralbuilding.com.au/pages/reverse_brick_veneer.asp
An Interesting Article
This is an interesting article I just read on BPN- Building Product News regarding reverse brick veneer. A good read for anyone willing to know more about the availability and usage of reverse brick veneer in Australia.
Saturday, 16 April 2011
Basics Of Brickwork:
This video is a good introduction for anyone who is going to work with brickwork for the first time.
A Bit About Us.
Once some time back, I took an oath to never venture in to the realms of blogging, Yet here I am due to great forces.
In the next few days, hopefully we will be constructing a small reverse brick veneer house. We will be sharing everything on this blog and hence so forth the journey begins.
These are the members:
Aobo
Hamidreza Fadavi
Michael Jo
Rui Zhang
Sarah Haque
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