3 ms·

Or perhaps if you're prioritizing things other than maximally efficient use of materials? It seems like they're prioritizing standardization, especially of meth

Or perhaps if you're prioritizing things other than maximally efficient use of materials? It seems like they're prioritizing standardization, especially of methods, more than almost anything else. AFAICT we have far more excess material than excess labor, so it doesn't seem particularly crazy to me?

geraldwhen 3y ago
Is that so? Materials went crazy expensive during Covid and didn’t come back down.
- scld 3y ago
  Lumber, for one, went back down to prepandemic pricing.
class3shock 3y ago
Using a unique block construction system that 99% of builders have never used is not really in the spirit of standardization. As for materials, for a theoretical 2 story 20Wx50Lx20H home (2000 ft^2), you have 1,000 ft^2 of roof (assuming flat) and floor, as well as 20,000 ft^2 of wall. Cheap fiberglass insulation is $1.32 per ft^2 10 in thick (1/10/24) https://www.homedepot.com/p/Owens-Corning-R-30-Faced-Fiberglass-Insulation-Batt-16-in-x-48-in-1-Bag-ME24/100320328 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Owens-Corning-R-30-Faced-Fibergl... Assuming we use this for everything that is $29K I'm going to pull some ratios roughly out of this article. https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/how-much-insulation-is-needed https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/how-much-insula... This is in the high energy efficiency area of construction but I'm using this to illustrate the inefficiency of a standard floor/wall/roof thickness, take it with these caveats. So if you were building to this insulation cost would be: 1,0001.32 + 20,0001.32(2/3) + 1,0001.32*(1/6) = $19K You could view that as $10K of wasted material or, if you chose not to fill the blocks with full thickness material, calculate how much of their volume is being wasted to achieve a standardized thickness. Lots of ways to look at it but, to put it simply, I think however you look at it, it's not optimal to be unable to adjust your floor/wall/roof thickness.
- class3shock 3y ago
  Can't edit it but it should read: "1,000x1.32 + 20,000x1.32x(2/3) + 1,000x1.32x(1/6) = $19K
mosselman 3y ago
“It is freezing honey” “I know dear, but the house was built efficiently”
- BHSPitMonkey 3y ago
  Not very apt; The accusation here is that the insulation use is overkill, which just means you are installing (and paying for) more material to yield the same performance as less material.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]

geraldwhen 3y ago

Is that so? Materials went crazy expensive during Covid and didn’t come back down.

scld 3y ago
Lumber, for one, went back down to prepandemic pricing.

class3shock 3y ago

Using a unique block construction system that 99% of builders have never used is not really in the spirit of standardization. As for materials, for a theoretical 2 story 20Wx50Lx20H home (2000 ft^2), you have 1,000 ft^2 of roof (assuming flat) and floor, as well as 20,000 ft^2 of wall. Cheap fiberglass insulation is $1.32 per ft^2 10 in thick (1/10/24) https://www.homedepot.com/p/Owens-Corning-R-30-Faced-Fiberglass-Insulation-Batt-16-in-x-48-in-1-Bag-ME24/100320328 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Owens-Corning-R-30-Faced-Fibergl... Assuming we use this for everything that is $29K I'm going to pull some ratios roughly out of this article. https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/how-much-insulation-is-needed https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/how-much-insula... This is in the high energy efficiency area of construction but I'm using this to illustrate the inefficiency of a standard floor/wall/roof thickness, take it with these caveats. So if you were building to this insulation cost would be: 1,0001.32 + 20,0001.32(2/3) + 1,0001.32*(1/6) = $19K You could view that as $10K of wasted material or, if you chose not to fill the blocks with full thickness material, calculate how much of their volume is being wasted to achieve a standardized thickness. Lots of ways to look at it but, to put it simply, I think however you look at it, it's not optimal to be unable to adjust your floor/wall/roof thickness.

class3shock 3y ago
Can't edit it but it should read: "1,000x1.32 + 20,000x1.32x(2/3) + 1,000x1.32x(1/6) = $19K

mosselman 3y ago

“It is freezing honey” “I know dear, but the house was built efficiently”

BHSPitMonkey 3y ago
Not very apt; The accusation here is that the insulation use is overkill, which just means you are installing (and paying for) more material to yield the same performance as less material.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]