Finally Bought Some Land II

[Ras72]

Good points regarding humidity and filtration. Perhaps I need to lessen my grip on fenestration R values and concentrate on conditioning.

[jesseth]

Highly highly recommend you hire someone with experience in MidAtlantic conditioning specifics, it's a very unique climate, especially when you get into low load houses like you're describing with very high quality enclosures I na humid environment.

Some very smart outfits worth contacting so you don't DIY yourself into a partial load / humidity mess:
John Semmelhack or other in Charlottesville: https://www.comfortsquad.us/home
Alison Bailes' group in Decatur: https://www.energyvanguard.com/hvac-design/

Alison even wrote a book recently that is great for what you're thinking about: https://www.energyvanguard.com/book-...he-or-does-it/
Also this book is also really really excellent, a bit cold climate centric, but it gets pretty cold up on the ridge: https://www.tauntonstore.com/pretty-good-house
https://www.prettygoodhouse.org
Matt Risinger's The Build Show on YouTube also talks a lot about modern high performance construction & HVAC.

Always an ERV in houses like yours, and almost always dedicated de-humidification in your climate. Then fill in the rest with air source heat pumps only is where almost everyone ends up.

[j44ke]

Highly highly recommend you hire someone with experience in MidAtlantic conditioning specifics, it's a very unique climate, especially when you get into low load houses like you're describing with very high quality enclosures I na humid environment.

Some very smart outfits worth contacting so you don't DIY yourself into a partial load / humidity mess:
John Semmelhack or other in Charlottesville: https://www.comfortsquad.us/home
Alison Bailes' group in Decatur: https://www.energyvanguard.com/hvac-design/

Alison even wrote a book recently that is great for what you're thinking about: https://www.energyvanguard.com/book-...he-or-does-it/
Also this book is also really really excellent, a bit cold climate centric, but it gets pretty cold up on the ridge: https://www.tauntonstore.com/pretty-good-house
https://www.prettygoodhouse.org
Matt Risinger's The Build Show on YouTube also talks a lot about modern high performance construction & HVAC.

Always an ERV in houses like yours, and almost always dedicated de-humidification in your climate. Then fill in the rest with air source heat pumps only is where almost everyone ends up.

Good info. Thanks for that.

[jesseth]

It's nice there is finally some books that are serious about the design & technical side of architecture and construction but accessible to normal people. Amazing buildings are possible now, but there is so so much chaff in the air from people trying to sell product that it's really hard to pick out a sensible way to build.

[Ras72]

Asheville floods - I'm speechless.
Since the purchase of this property in 2019, my heart, mind, and soul has been in Asheville. After learning about the total devastation Helene brought to the area (and beyond) I simply cannot believe what my eyes are seeing. My prayers, good wishes, happy thoughts - whatever you want to call them - goes out to all that's been affected by this storm. I pray that everyone has access to, at minimum, the bare necessities.

My personal plans to get started on the build of my home in Asheville was closing in on a start date. But this will have to wait. This build will be shelved for a long time. This is going to be a LONG recovery.

[mnoble485]

Rick,
I am in Waynesville, about 40 minutes west of Asheville, and the wreckage is unimaginable. We are at an elevation of 4,000 feet so no flood damage but no power, water (well), WiFi, cell service. Down below many bridges are gone. I-40 west to Tennessee and east to Asheville are closed. Trying to let friends and family know we are ok involved driving 30 miles to get a WiFi connection at a Ford dealership. They made coffee and hotdogs for everyone who came to get a signal.

We are going to visit family in Indianapolis for a bit until things get “better”. I could bitch but we are so much better off than many. It will be a struggle for many for a long time.

Mike

[Ras72]

Mike,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insight. Good to hear you’re okay. I know the people of Asheville are strong and will begin working through this.
I’m currently on the other side of the world trying to figure out how I can help. Logistical nightmare but mild inconvenience in comparison.
Be safe!

[j44ke]

Rick,
I am in Waynesville, about 40 minutes west of Asheville, and the wreckage is unimaginable. We are at an elevation of 4,000 feet so no flood damage but no power, water (well), WiFi, cell service. Down below many bridges are gone. I-40 west to Tennessee and east to Asheville are closed. Trying to let friends and family know we are ok involved driving 30 miles to get a WiFi connection at a Ford dealership. They made coffee and hotdogs for everyone who came to get a signal.

We are going to visit family in Indianapolis for a bit until things get “better”. I could bitch but we are so much better off than many. It will be a struggle for many for a long time.

Mike

Hey Mike - I am sure the bears will miss you being around, but I am glad to hear you have people to visit and a place to stay.

[Ras72]

The photos were taken at our lot. Intersection of Elk Mountain Scenic Hwy and Elk Trail. Elevation 3,600ft. By the looks of it winds must've been 100mph +. Total destruction. Speechless.

Helene1.jpg

Helene2.jpg

Thankfully, no neighbors were harmed.

[j44ke]

The photos were taken at our lot. Intersection of Elk Mountain Scenic Hwy and Elk Trail. Elevation 3,600ft. By the looks of it winds must've been 100mph +. Total destruction. Speechless.

Helene1.jpg

Helene2.jpg

Thankfully, no neighbors were harmed.

There is probably a pretty good seed bank established so watch what grows and where and plant some large trees accordingly to anchor the landscape. Later you can plant saplings to strengthen the botanical narrative to the area. Resist the temptation to cart everything away. The downed timber looks like trash now, but it is all full of nutrients and carbon, so lay out larger diameter trunks with full soil contact to start the decay and then chip and spread the small stuff. Decide whether to allow pines to take over sections - they are good nursery trees for deciduous species but can also grow too densely and block out everything. You might talk to the people at Ernst Seeds and ask about seeding native grass and other plants for soil retention to help re-start the sequential growth of the forest. Go after invasive vines and brush now to make it easier later. As things go along, plant understory - bushes and woody plants - fence off areas where deer are retarding normal growth. Remember everything is going to be shelterless and hungry, just like the people living up there, so asking a deer not to eat the raspberry bush you just planted is a big ask. Birds will be lacking for nest sites, especially cavity nesters, so leave standing deadwood where you can. All an adventure. The landscape looks alien now, but this is an act of nature and just a blip in the history of plants so a lot of what you'll do is just giving a helping-hand. The plants will do the driving. You'll have mullein and poison ivy before winter sets in.

[Ras72]

Jorn, thanks for the sound advise.
We trying to find some silver linings in all this and the best we can do is focus on the view. It’s definitely less obstructed. So there’s that. I’m also wanting to harvest some select species to later mill into lumber. Long term plans. I’m good at this delayed gratification bullshit.

[j44ke]

Jorn, thanks for the sound advise.
We trying to find some silver linings in all this and the best we can do is focus on the view. It’s definitely less obstructed. So there’s that. I’m also wanting to harvest some select species to later mill into lumber. Long term plans. I’m good at this delayed gratification bullshit.

You might write Santa for one of these.

https://woodlandmills.com