Prepping the eyebrows for Shotcrete

While prepping the tower and mezzanine, we also worked on the bedroom eyebrows.  It was just too big for one video.  More on what “bedroom eyebrows” are after the video.

The Video

Bedroom Eyebrows

Bedroom eyebrows are not some sort of double entendre that only earth sheltered home builders get after a long hard day. They are simply the structures we used to keep dirt off the windows while still having a hilly appearance.  You see them in Peter Vetsch earth shelters all the time.  However, I suspect (from construction photos) that Peter’s eyebrows are big heat radiators that drastically reduce the thermal efficiency of his buildings.  I wanted to avoid that problem, so I needed mine to be thermally isolated from the actual home.

I did this by separating the shotcrete into two phases.  After completing the bedroom shotcrete and waterproofing it, I added a saddle of 4 inch thick XPS Foamular 250…  This is the kind that can handle 25 psi of pressure and is intended for burial.  Above the XPS, I build another rebar framework and put shotcrete over that.  Or at least, that is what I wanted to do.

In more practical terms, I used tapcon screws to mount treaded wood 2x4s directly to the bedroom shotcrete.  Then I drilled holes in the 2x4s to hold the rebar framework…  So there is a little edge all the way around where I sacrificed long-term insulation for a more buildable structure.  I have since considered other ways I could have done this and may do it differently if I ever had to do it again, but I don’t think the performance will be too bad.  Certainly still better than a more traditional house.

The Gallery

I am tired of typing, you may be tired of reading, so let’s just skip to the gallery.

Various stages of progress

Bedroom south eyebrow rebar

John helping with the rebar above the hall roof

Sherri and I often have end of the day discussions that get caught on timelapse

David was almost 13 and going thru a bit of a goofy phase

Another goofy David Pic

Even Sherri decided to get in on the goofy poses. Maybe it was the heat?

Hunter leaving me an Easter Egg to find. This is the appropriate punishment.

Not to be outdone, Michael also made a number of goofy pics

Michael again

Sherri and David posing for the time lapse cam. They like to leave these little Easter eggs in there for me to find.

Lots of turtles around

Office Apse viewed from the roof of the garage. This big area was going to get a bit water tank, but I ended up deciding it wasn’t worth the money.

Kids playing on the office apse jungle gym

After putting the french drain for the office apse, this time before the shotcrete so we wouldn’t have to deal with any mess

Kids playing on the office apse jungle gym

The eyebrow for the master bedroom apse was the most elaborate