DIY Network

DIY's 2006 Best Built Home Special Grand-prize winner, Billie Bentley, moves into her grand-prize home. From "Special Presentation" episode DBBH-S

(Continued from page 3)

Roofing

To build the Bentleys' roof system, the first thing the builders did was to install a drip edge (figure N), which directs run-off water to the gutter. Next an ice and water guard (figure O) is attached. This guard is an adhesive membrane that prevents ice and snow buildup on the roof.

Figure N

Figure O

advertisement

Figure P

The last element for the roof system is the shingles. Once they've been installed the roof is complete and is sure to protect the Bentleys' from the outside elements.

The roofing system is critical to the building envelope so it makes sense that every measure was taken to ensure its resistance to outside elements.

Plumbing

The plumbing system employs use of a PEX tubing (figure P), a pliable tubing system. Traditionally a plumber will use copper pipes, but the challenge with copper is that it has many connections and takes a lot of fittings. The joints have to be soldered together and all this takes time and money.

With PEX you can run one continuous tube from the manifold system to the exact fixture location with no fittings. This is also a best practice because unlike copper the tubes will not corrode.

	The HVAC system in the Bentley home is a science all its own.
	Figure Q
	Figure R

Heating and Cooling

The best practice for installing a heating or cooling system (HVAC) in the home is to make sure that the ducts are sized properly and fit the needs and size of the home. When this is done correctly not only is it more energy efficient but also the homeowners will find that the temperature in each room is within one or two degrees of each other.

The old school of thought when it comes to HVAC is that one size fits all, but that isn't true. It's vital that the ducts in the home be sized properly, and this is accomplished by having an HVAC contractor involved.

A contractor will look at the design of the home and the R value, which refers to a material's resistance to heat flow, of the windows, doors, walls and roof system. He or she will design a heating and cooling system specifically for the home.

Saving Energy

The Bentley home is being constructed with best built practices that will lead to saving energy and lowering utility bills.

Energy Star is a government-backed program that assists businesses and individuals in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. Energy efficient choices can save households approximately a third on their energy bill. In fact, Energy Star household products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy.

To make these appliances even more efficient they are powered by liquid propane gas--or LPG. Propane is about half the cost of gas in the United States. Another way to lower electrical bills is to use fluorescent lighting throughout the house--and not only are they energy efficient but cost effective as well.

A tankless water heater (figure Q) heats water only when you turn on the hot water instead of heating the water continuously even when you are not using it.

In order to conserve energy and eliminate drafts, the Bentleys' home was built "air tight," which means stale air can get trapped inside the house. To remedy this problem an air exchange was installed. The energy recovery ventilator (ERV--figure R) circulates the new outside air and the inside air to give a healthy mix while still maintaining the energy efficient seal on the home. It also acts as a dehumidifier for the home.

Air is recycled every 30 minutes to keep a constant supply of fresh oxygen into the house.

You Could Be the Next Winner! If you would like to know more about constructing the best built home or if you feel lucky you can enter DIY's Best Built Home sweepstakes by visiting our Best Built Home Zone.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5