Archive for April, 2010

For a quick history of the project scroll down to go back through Older Entries.

The new store is located at 4625 Old Post Road (right next to the existing store).

Earlier today we set the first of the Climate-Block roof panels.  The roof panels are more than 11″ thick, with 10″ of expanded polystrene (EPS) insulation – R40 and no thermal bridging.

We  applied 5/8″ Type X drywall, which is both moisture  and fire resistant, to the underside of the roof panels before we installed them.  Navigating the beams and drywalling the cathedral ceiling would have been difficult and we think that we will have a better job by applying the drywall before we set the panels.

The structural members of the panels are made of engineered lumber and extend beyond the outside face of the EPS by 3/4″.   When the roof sheathing is applied we will have a 3/4″ air space and a cool, well-ventilated roof, resulting in lower energy costs and longer lasting roofing.

Pictured below are the completed wall panels which are in the process of being sheathed with water proof 11/16″ Zip-Wall (the green panels with black borders).  The exposed horizontal beam will support the roof of the farmer’s porch entry-way. And the three window openings above the beam will provide natural light to the retail space.  Traves Ogilvie, Tom Alexander, Jr., and Derek Lemire are installing the panels while Kurt McCormick sets them in place with the Lull.

For a quick history of the project scroll down to go back through Older Entries.

The new store is located at 4625 Old Post Road (right next to the existing store).

We are beginning to install the Climate-Block panels.  These panels will serve as the curtain wall for the timber frame portion of the building and the entire structure for the beer cooler and wine storage room. Made of engineered lumber and expanded polystyrene (EPS) the wall panels have a true R-value of 30, with no thermal bridging.

Both the timber frame and the Climate-Block panels are cut on a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine and delivered to our site ready to install.  This requires careful planning and thoughtful engineering and results in a tighter, more energy efficient building.

Special thanks to our structural engineer, Ernie George who has worked closely with Oyster Works, South County Post and Beam, and Delta H to integrate the different building systems and help us bring our design to life.

For a quick history of the project scroll down to go back through Older Entries.

The new store is located at 4625 Old Post Road (right next to the existing store).

Take a look!   Five days of beautiful weather and teamwork and the timber frame is up. Brother and sister owners, Jon Maldon and Jane Gross, watch as Todd Bissell, of South County Post and Beam, gets ready to lift the last beam.

We love the simple elegance of the timber frame and part of us wishes that we could leave the frame exposed.   But…Monday morning the Climate-Block panels arrive and we begin to close in the building.

If you drive by and notice parts of the foundation with no framing, don’t think that we ran out of lumber.   The areas without a timber frame are the wine storage room and beer cooler and they will be built entirely of Climate-Block panels.

The frame stands in the afternoon light.

For a quick history of the project scroll down to go back through Older Entries.

The new store is located at 4625 Old Post Road (right next to the existing store).

After months of planning and preparation we are raising the timber frame for the Charlestown Package Store.   South County Post and Beam cut the frame and is raising the structure.  The mortise and tenon frame is made from Douglas Fir and is held together by oak splines and pegs.   The structure is about 1/3 complete and we are scheduled to finish the timber frame by the end of the week.

Below ground there will be a maze of pipes and wires and we are working to get some of the lines in place before the timberframe arrives and construction starts next Monday.

We will have pipes leading into catch basins for the roof drains, a pipe bringing well water into the building for domestic use, pipes bringing water for the geothermal heating and cooling system, pipes for the septic system, wires for the electrical service,  and wires for parking lot lights and signage – not to mention three 450 foot deep geothermal wells and a separate well for domestic water.  The yellow plastic in the foreground is a stormwater detention tank; the aqua-blue pipes will channel the water collected in the gutters to the tank, and the cement column  is a base for a parking lot light.

All of this requires careful coordination and precise work with heavy machines.   Tony Nenna, of On-Site Engineering, is responsible for the site plan.   Morrone Excavation is doing the site work.  Brendan Friend levels a light pole base while Tim Place applies a gentle touch with the backhoe.