Harvey's Pleasanton Home introduction

In writing about this new home project, I am aiming for three audiences:

1. New home owners/builders/architects to document the lessons learned in the planning and construction of this "green" home.

2. Family and friends who may be interested in following the progress.

3. For myself as a record.

so that's my excuse for the dry tone.....


We purchased an infill lot in an established downtown neighborhood with the intention of building a home that would better suit our sensibilities about sustainable living and comfort in the empty nester years ahead.

The basic direction given to the architects included:

• craftsman/arts and crafts architecture
• site orientation for solar energy exposure
• long lasting materials and building methods - think 500+ years
• use wood sparingly - reclaimed or "sustainable" harvested product
• solar hot water and PV's
• landscaping - no grass - fruit trees, veg garden and mostly local native or Mediterranean plants
• rain water collection for irrigation
• second unit

After about 1 year of design, the following basic construction materials and methods were defined:

• Durisol exterior walls - cement/wood fiber ICF (later changed to Faswall by Shelterworks in Oregon - http://www.faswall.com/ - more on that change later in the blog)
• plaster on Durisol inside and out (more on this later)
• SIP roof system
• solar hot water and photovoltaic panels
• hydronic heat in concrete slab first and second floor
• finished/stained concrete floors
• no AC - depends on insulation, thermal mass, site orientation
• metal shingle roof http://www.custombiltmetals.com/
• wood windows w/ metal clad exterior

The home is a two story design on a corner lot with the master and an office downstairs, one bedroom upstairs and a one bedroom apartment also upstairs (separate entry but connected inside).  The two car garage is separate with the driveway around the corner from the front entry.  The lot is about 11Ksf, approximately square with a gradual 6 foot slope from one end to the other.

The lot was split off from a property containing a 100yr old house and separate cottage in 2005.  Although there have been accessory structures (carport, shed, green house) on the lot over the years, there is no record of there ever being a house.

There are two mature oak trees (live oak and valley oak) at either end of the lot and one remaining (were 3) liquid amber near what will be the front entry.  The oak trees are not only beautiful, but play an important role in providing shade.