07-26-2013, 07:38 PM
My wife and I moved to Pahoa on the Big Island from Texas in 2012. I am an architect, and I became interested in single wall construction. We bought a lot in Hawaiian Shores Recreational Estates about 250 feet off the ocean. I designed a single wall home for us, found a really good builder, and it is under construction as of July 2013. As prolific as single wall construction once was in Hawaii I was surprised to learn that many of the workers on our house, even some who have been in the business for several decades, have never actually been involved in the construction of a single wall construction home.
This is an incredible experience. Everyone connected with this project appears to be excited about it. We are attempting to pay respect to the spirit of the single wall style of building, while at the same time incorporating sound construction techniques. We are framing the building with heavy timbers and cladding the walls with 2x6 tongue and groove white fir, painted on the outside and stained and varnished on the inside. There is no attic. All the heavy timbers in this project are left exposed, and we are using 2x6 wood tongue and groove roof decking, topped with a peel and stick roof underlayment and a white 24 gauge deep rib corrugated metal roof.
There is no insulation, but we are using 3'-0" overhangs and very large windows and ridge vents to maximize shade and rain protection and to maximize ventilation. In Hawaii near the ocean if you have shade and ventilation you just about have it all.
This is an incredible experience. Everyone connected with this project appears to be excited about it. We are attempting to pay respect to the spirit of the single wall style of building, while at the same time incorporating sound construction techniques. We are framing the building with heavy timbers and cladding the walls with 2x6 tongue and groove white fir, painted on the outside and stained and varnished on the inside. There is no attic. All the heavy timbers in this project are left exposed, and we are using 2x6 wood tongue and groove roof decking, topped with a peel and stick roof underlayment and a white 24 gauge deep rib corrugated metal roof.
There is no insulation, but we are using 3'-0" overhangs and very large windows and ridge vents to maximize shade and rain protection and to maximize ventilation. In Hawaii near the ocean if you have shade and ventilation you just about have it all.