The hardware was for bi-part sliding pocket doors to simultaneously open and close if one door was pushed or pulled.  The idea was to make it so you do not have to close or open one then the other.  After several calls around town, Angelo at Ricca Architectural Salvage http://www.riccasarchitecturalsales.com and Jay Seastrunk at Eskew Dumez + Ripple http://studioedr.com (coincidently found the desired hardware at the same time), handed me over to the HÄfele Hardware tomb.  http://www.hafele.com/us/

Here are the HÄfele specifications:

Top Hung System HAWA – Symmetric 80/Z

1. for bi-parting sliding wood doors
2. smooth quiet operation
3. rattle free bottom glide
4. simultaneous opening and closing of bi-parting sliding doors
5. special two way suspension
6. vertically and laterally adjustable
7. door stop with adjustable retention spring
8. maximum door weight per leaf 176lbs or 80kg
9. minimum door thickness 1” or 26mm

New Orleans Green Project

The Green Project carries a variety of donated items from doors, windows, shutters, window sash weights, door knobs, old glass, ironwork, and light fixtures just to name a few things!  This not so little non-profit’s main goals are to keep usable building materials out of our landfills.  Other places to find recycled building materials and other unique finds are:

• Ricca, www.riccasarchitectural.com, located at 511 North Solomon in Mid-City
• The Bank, www.thebankantiques.com, located at 1824 Felicity in Central City
• The Habitat ReStore, www.habitat-nola.org, located at 2830 Royal Street, in the Bywater

Tank / Tankless Water Heater Options:

Comparison of water heaters - photo from moreheaters.com

1. Gas Tank
   1. Venting: with galvanized double wall vent pipe out and above roof
   2. Pro: Efficient, electricity goes out you still have hot water, recovery is better because it is making hot water as you use it industry standard, comes in all sizes, from a low boy to a tall tank.
   3. Con: Requires space, prone to leak, you only get the amount of water in the tank, you have to have make up air to accommodate the carbon monoxide output so it needs venting unless in attic or outside garage
2. Electric Tank
   1. Venting: requires no vent because no combustion, operating cost is more, water recovery is not as good
   2. Pro: can fit in confined spaces
   3. Con: can leak, if electricity goes out you do not have hot water
3. Interior Gas Tankless
   1. Venting: requires double walled category 3 stainless pipes out and above roof
   2. Pro: Most efficient, less space, endless hot water, no standing pilot (flame no on all the time).  Only uses energy when you turn on the hot water, if electricity goes out you have hot water
   3. Con: Clean once a year with vinegar solution to get calcium out requires pan in case of leak
4. Exterior Gas Tankless
   1. Venting: no venting
   2. Pro: Most efficient, less space, endless hot water, no standing pilot (flame no on all the time). Only uses energy when you turn on the hot water, if electricity goes out you have hot water
   3. Con: Clean once a year with vinegar solution to get calcium out requires pan in case of leak
5. Electric Tankless
   1. Venting: requires no venting
   2. Pro: Good for single fixture point of use, not best for whole house
   3. Con: Not the best option because it is an energy hog, but to those of you in electric only buildings with out boilers, this is a good bet if you do not have space for a tank.  Power requirements are tremendous. Electricity goes out you have no hot water. Clean once a year with vinegar solution to get calcium out requires pan in case of leak

Metal Studs

When gauge is applied to metal studs the lower the number the harder and stiffer and more load the stud can handle.  The higher the number the softer the metal and the stud handles less load.

Thank you Long Supply Co for the image

Rebar

The word rebar is a combination of two words – reinforcing bar.  Rebars are steel bars that have ribs and they are placed into a bed of concrete to reinforce the concrete.  The ribs bind the bar to what it is planted in.  The thicker the bar, the higher the gauge.  The thinner the bar, the lower the gauge.

Synopsis for the quick reader.

When comparing 16 to 25 gauge metal studs:

• Metal Stud that is 16 gauge is thicker.  16 gauge can handle more load.

• Metal Stud that is 25 gauge is thinner.  25 gauge is the lightest or thinnest material available

When comparing 3 to 9  gauge rebar:

• Rebar that is #3 gauge is 3/8” thick.

• Rebar that is #9 gauge is 1” thick.

Soundproofing  is broken down into two areas: noise reduction (stopping the noise) and noise absorption (changing the noise).  These are achieved by different applications. I will approach this issue by separating floor, walls, and ceilings; there may be some overlap.  Measuring of soundproofing is usually indicated by an NRC value. (Noise Reduction Control)  .45 NRC is less sound absorbing than .75 NRC.

1. Floors

   • Carpet is a good noise absorption; one can put cork or neoprene underneath the carpet and carpet pad to further muffle the sound. This is good to do if you live above someone and want to reduce noise you make.

2. Walls

   • The best way to soundproof a room is a double layer of sheetrock, known as a resilient channel.  This can be done a couple of ways: placing metal tracks along the wall and hanging another sheet of rock. The metal tracks are put on neoprene pads or siliconed creating a cavity and noise barrier for apartments next to each other.
   • Spray foam does little for sound proofing, but what does well is sprayed-on cellulose.  Don’t forget to seal your outlet holes.
   • Sound Board is similar to a sheet of rock, only hard foam, and is placed between the stud wall and sheetrock.
   • Lead lined sheetrock, but is costly at 125 to 250 a sheet.
   • Windows; replacing your single pane with dual pane window units with a soundproof element.  Not all dual pane window units have soundproofing.
   • Fabric wrapped Acoustical Panels are used in movie theaters and public areas. These boards have noise-absorbing foam are hung on existing walls.

3. Ceilings

   • Sugarcane Panels are made from the stalks of sugar cane bound together into a panel.  The panel has a high NA value and can be spray painted up to 6 times with non-bridging paint; good for public places.
   • Acoustical Tiles; there is a hierarchy here, all panels are not created equal.  Please look at the NRC (Noise Reduction Control) value to see how much soundproofing you want to achieve.

Image from Hannant Property Assessments

In addition to the above, the thicker the insulation the higher the R Value will be.  The R Value describes heat being transferred in three ways: conduction, radiation and convection.

Please Note:

• The manufacturer’s R Value only applies to properly installed insulation, so please read the directions!
• The R Value weakens in time.
• Compressed insulation will not give its full R Value

R Values apply to:

• Insulation for walls, floors, roof (foam, batt, cellulose, sound baord etc)
• Windows
• Thinsulate for clothing and sleeping bags
• Concrete
• Glass for Windows
• And more

Per Climate Insulating Tips:

• US Department of Energy has a great website to help you determine the insulation level for your house and climate type.  http://www.ornl.gov/~roofs/Zip/ZipHome.html

• To learn more about insulation go to the US Department of Energy fact sheet website at http://www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/insulation/ins_02.html

HCC selected as Best Place to Work 2009

Back in July of 2009, our own Bryon Cornelison (HCC Project Manager) forwarded an email nominating Hal Collums for CityBusiness Best Place to Work in New Orleans.

“To be acknowledged by CityBusiness, and be able to show the City of New Orleans what we are made of, is a proud moment for me.”

Due to the excitement of the World War II Museum, Wilson Elementary and the Port Sulphur Government projects our business life was hectic and the email was forgotten.

In October, I received a voicemail, saying “we had been nominated for…”.  To my surprise, this cheery voice (Autumn Giusti) over the phone explained that we had won!!  To be acknowledged by CityBusiness, and be able to show the City of New Orleans what we are made of, is a proud moment for me.

New Orleans CityBusiness picks Hal Collums Construction as Best Place to Work in 2009

Inspector Blondie approves of the beautiful new heart pine shipment

A new heart pine shipment came in last week from Maryland.  This beautiful reclaimed heart pine was originally cut from old growth pine forest in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama back in the early 1900’s.  It was then shipped up river to build manufacturing plants in the New England area.

Today, many of these old manufacturing plants have been disassembled and the old heart pine has been shipped back home.  Here at Hal Collums Construction and Central City Millworks we use it to make flooring and cabinetry. ]]> http://www.halcollums.com/new-orleans-flooring-heart-pine-shipment-arrives/feed/ 0 http://www.halcollums.com/acquisition-of-2611-3rd-street-warehouse/ http://www.halcollums.com/acquisition-of-2611-3rd-street-warehouse/#comments Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:45:51 +0000 Nairne http://halcollums.com/blog/?p=182

HCC Acquires Third Street Warehouse

Hal Collums Construction, LLC and Central City Millworks, LLC are pleased to announce the acquisition of the property located at 2611 Third Street.  This warehouse is adjacent to our home 2610 Second Street.

This extra space is crucial to our growth and will help us add an entirely new finishing facility.  Outside consultants from Sherwin Williams and others have come to help on the planning and logistics.  By early 2010, we will have a state of the art finishing assembly line.  We hope, Peter Dave, the head of the HCC Finishing / Paint Department, will be thrilled with his new work space!