Green building & new bldg code

[john the architect]

Insulation, along with consideration of the sun and the wind, is a part of careful architecture that is now called green building. Bamboo is a wonderful interior finish and furniture material when carefully selected and treated, but not a significant element in a building shell. Safe rooms will be a new code requirement. They are easily made using ICF's. We have one made of Castleblock that is safe, soundproof, and bulletproof. Fiber cement paneling used for interior walls is more costly than drywall but has the advantage of being structural. I use it also to eliminate mold from paper in conventional wall board. The best material is not stocked locally. Cement finishes are not water soluble like drywall mud, but do add more strength to the wall. They can also be integrally colored, eliminating paint. And they can go up fast, especially considering drying time in humid weather. You save a week in construction time. It requires knowing the material, where to get it, and training applicators.