Traditional Building - As Green as it gets

My building career started in 1970 when I went to work for Rip Swan in Londonderry, VT. Rip had just joined forces with Stuart McDonald and the new company was McDonald and Swan. Rip was an old time builder. Very correct and methodical in his ways. I started out doing the architectural drawings for the firms projects. This gave me much time to look through the vast library of books on old houses. Rip also had an extensive collection of period tools, which further picqued my interest. Rip was very insightful and gave me good guidance. Even though we were actively engaged in new construction as well as restoration projects, we always leaned to the traditional methods and materials.

That start in building gave me the insight to investigate why early structures were still so intact and yet new buildings were falling apart. Early builders and designers worked in a very straight forard manner. From the siting of structures to their design and construction, early builders used logical intuitive thinking to create their structures. They were also presented with an abundance of readily available materials. From foundation stones to framing timbers, lumber and slate for roofing. The materials were at hand.

I know I'm a bit jaded living in Vermont, for even today we have everything necessary to build very sound structures of the highest quality. We still have stone for foundation work, we have multiple sawmills sawing native species for our framing and sheathing needs. We have many excellent millshops producing doors, windows and other architectural components. What we really need is the conscienceness of builders and of people having homes built to understand the benefit of utilizing our native materials.

It's not just Vermont that can gain by looking at what is available locally. Most all states have the ability to produce building materials out of sustainable materials. I have always loved the adobe buildings of the southwest. What better example of utilization of readily available sources that work better than those that have replaced it.

I feel the need to further push this agenda for what seems to me to be second nature. When I watch episodes of This Old House, I cringe to this how erroneous their actions are and yet 99% of those watching are being educated in how not to deal with an old house. Much more on this subject will be dealt with through this blog. Please feel free to ad as you wish.

Posted by Wade I. Treadway