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Ken Secor ?
Ken_29
Member Posts: 9
We designed the house to have few rooms, but each to be large. Only two bedrooms; ours (which is 21 X 15) and a "guest" BR (~12 X 10). We have the unique situation of having the existing A-frame about 100 yards down nearby for the kids and grandkids - if there's crowding at the house being built.
The design tempertaure is for 30 below zero. We have two seasons here; winter and Fourth of July.
The design tempertaure is for 30 below zero. We have two seasons here; winter and Fourth of July.
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Comments
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Alive & Well...
Recent posts regarding the nine year existence of "The Wall" were brought to my attention by many friends recently.
Last fall my wife Jaye and I decided it was time to move on. She had over 25 years of time at Rahway (NJ) of service as a nurse, we both hit the big six-two and my son Scott was more than adequately prepared to run our heating company, Palmer Heating, LLC.
The real estate market in our part of NJ had our home maxed out in value and we always loved the mountain cabin we owned for 25 years in Vermont and decided to build a real house in a small village, Enosburg - on the same 13 acre mountain top property the cabin is on. My primal desire to build my own house became a reality and we have been involved with that endeavor for so long now, it as become a full time job. When completed, which should be in a month or so, we will move in and really relax and actually retire. I plan on keeping busy by doing more wet-heat consulting and teaching a few classes a year, writing an installation, service and marketing piece for one manufacturer, and breaking 100 on the local golf courses.
The house we are building is small (1620 S.F) but super energy efficient. ICF foundation, SIPS construction and heated with an oil-fired condensing boiler. A mix of radiant and HWBB is the heating design.
When things calm down, I will provide some pictures and details of what I believe is a radical departure from "typical" construction.
Happy 9th anniversary Dan!0 -
Enjoy your retirement!
Sounds like your Vermont winters will be nice and cozy in your new home. I hope you enjoy your retirement years up north, and thanks to you and Palmer Heating for doing a great job on my house a few years back...
Tim M.0 -
Sweet!
Good on ya Ken & Jaye! You both deserve it!
Leo G
PS - Ken, are you going to be instructing the IBR course in Seattle/Spokane in May?
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The Mighty Passaic
Sixteen twenty seems just about right for two people. Have a good time and we will look forward to finding out more about how you built your home.
Expected date of completion? Housewarming party planned? Wallies invited?
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thanks for the update
Hi Ken,
Sounds like your plans are materializing. Why not a nice one pipe steam system? Curl up with a cast iron radiator on a long cold Vermont night, eh?
Look forward to the pics, I'm sure it will be first class workmanship.
Best regards, Pat0 -
Howdy Stranger !
Glad to hear you made it through the winter.
So....is the lovely Jaye ready to kill you yet? I've been told , by a reputable source too...that building a home is only second to Money in causing a marriage to fail. You want this, she wants that and never the 2 shall meet.Nah, not you guys...
Best of luck in your semi-retirement bunkie. Have you thought about joining us at Brookhaven again this year? May 2nd is the date and it would be a hoot to see you and Noel come out again. Chris0 -
Howdy Stranger !
sorry :P0 -
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Have you been good?
We missed you Big guy. Does the place in VT have a working WC or is it the out house;-) The Ken is back:-)
Just got a warm & fuzzy:-) Looking foreward to more truth V power.
Wallace Radiant Design
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All of these
All of these first posts and I remember posts would not have been complete without you Ken. Being in Mass you aren't that far from me.
Good Luck,
Leo0 -
Hey Ken
Good to hear from you. Mighty jealous of you running off to the wilderness like that. Stay well and say hey to Jaye for me. WW
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Thank you all
for the comments and feedback.
We are blessed with sub contractors who know what they're doing, work hard and are aware of the difference between high quality work and "good enough."
We are ecstatic over the hybrid heating system of HWBB and radiant within the same room. Based on a beta "blower door test," we only have one air change every 21 hours. This makes the heat losses from infiltration absurdly low, virtually non-existent.
We have deployed alternate strategies for "fresh air" and are awaiting State certification for the coveted 5-Star Energy rating. Substantial rebates are offered to meet these goals. In view of the present condition of my wallet, anything that may put money in - is a welcome event.
More to follow...0 -
One air change
every 21 hours ?? Well there goes the Mexican food !
Have you got your Ben And Jerrys tee short yet ?
Gone to any Phish concerts ?
Sorry you missed them, maybe a phish tribute band.
Ya I think a Wetstock pahty at the new Vermont digs would be a blast.
Scott
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Ken one of the All-Time Greats!
I always enjoyed your posts, in the words of the Guinness guys "BRILLIANT". Will never get to retire, youngest is 4 and I am 50... Are you sick of maple syrup yet?
Rick0 -
Good to see you're still active Ken...
in and OUT of the industry.
So, there's probably little truth to the rumour about you and Frank Blau starting your own service business out there in the wilds of Vermont eh... :-)
Keep us informed on your castle, and take lots of pics.
ME0 -
M.E.
Mark,
I remember that picture. That's from back when I still had some hair - which was in the early 60's - I think.
Aren't you retired yet?
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Ken...
... we're doing similar things with house construction. Very similar size and construction. I'd like to compare notes sometime if you feel like.
Yours, Larry0 -
Ken
Room-wise, we're different. Ours is 3 bed 2 bath, on two levels, with a full basement/garage underneath. There is 2" foam under slabs, ICF's with 2" foam added, 8" stress skin walls, 10" floor between basement and living area and 12" roof. Because of the height, heat can be gravity driven. Radiant heat is in wall using finned copper tube, on upper and lower zones. I'm hoping to make a gravity cooling system as well. 3/8" PEX manifold for the water distribution system. It's off grid, solar thermal and electric with propane backup. 600W of photovoltaics should power it easily.
Design temp for me is +10...that's almost hot by comparison!
Yours, Larry0 -
Ken...
I was too busy making hay to worry about packing it away for retirement. As a consequence, I'm going to be a litttle late showing up at the retirment party... But you have my FULL envy.
Hopefully in the next 10 years or so.
Enjoy!
ME0 -
Ken
I was wondering what had become of you.
Glad to hear you're plans and would hope you wear your orange vest off your property. We wouldn't want the locals to mistake you for a bear.
I hope you come back for a visit. I've been waiting to go to the "Star Tavern" for some pie with you.
All the best!
Robert O'Connor/NJ0 -
pipes & windows
nice house but who engineered the chimney blocking the window ? the offset is a nice concept although i like it so much i would've centered it. possible change order ??0 -
Everything...
...is my fault. There is a truss-joist running horizontally between stress skin panels, right where the chimney wanted to go. It's hard to know exactly where the stove will go (with clearances to combustibles) while framing. Fortunately, it isn't a view window. There is white fiberglass inside of the glass so I don't get to look at the pretty stainless. Even with years of planning, some mistakes are hard to make look like they were on purpose.
Yours, Larry0 -
Great to see you back on the Wall!
I knew you'd be getting cabin fever by now. Glad to hear all is well, and the house is progressing. Enjoy "mud season", then blackflies, then July Fourth, leaf peepers, and then snow around September 15th. Color me green with envy! Have a great retirement.0 -
enosburg
Hey Ken. t.p tunstall here. give me a call and i can put you in touch with the vermont ASHRAE group. good people, good events and a very active membership. best wishes, tp0 -
Best of Luck Ken,
> Recent posts regarding the nine year existence of
> "The Wall" were brought to my attention by many
> friends recently.
>
> Last fall my wife Jaye and I
> decided it was time to move on. She had over 25
> years of time at Rahway (NJ) of service as a
> nurse, we both hit the big six-two and my son
> Scott was more than adequately prepared to run
> our heating company, Palmer Heating, LLC.
> The real estate market in our part of NJ had our
> home maxed out in value and we always loved the
> mountain cabin we owned for 25 years in Vermont
> and decided to build a real house in a small
> village, Enosburg - on the same 13 acre mountain
> top property the cabin is on. My primal desire
> to build my own house became a reality and we
> have been involved with that endeavor for so long
> now, it as become a full time job. When
> completed, which should be in a month or so, we
> will move in and really relax and actually
> retire. I plan on keeping busy by doing more
> wet-heat consulting and teaching a few classes a
> year, writing an installation, service and
> marketing piece for one manufacturer, and
> breaking 100 on the local golf courses.
>
> The
> house we are building is small (1620 S.F) but
> super energy efficient. ICF foundation, SIPS
> construction and heated with an oil-fired
> condensing boiler. A mix of radiant and HWBB is
> the heating design.
>
> When things calm down, I
> will provide some pictures and details of what I
> believe is a radical departure from "typical"
> construction.
>
> Happy 9th anniversary Dan!
0 -
Well Deserved
You fought the good fight Ken and truly deserve a comfortable retirement. You were instrumental in the "We do it the old fashion way, we earn it"
As far as the "guru" is concerned he has pretty much dropped off the scene. A rumor going around a wholesale house in Milwaukee has him doing consulting work for HD. They figure he chased alot of customer their way when he was in business so they felt with effort he could really help their marketing.
Enjoy your retirement Ken and the Easter season!
Rich0 -
Hello!
Hey, haven't conversed with you since soon after our ISH trip.
Glad to hear of your exciting "retirement".
I'm consulting with Mestek Corp. I developed the KN (would that be KEN without the 'E')? series of boilers. A great product, I must say. Put a lot of thought into that baby.
Love to hear from you.
Beat regards to you and your wife (Are you taking more than one bag on this move)?
Ken Cohen0 -
A picture of our new home
Design temp? 30 below zero!0 -
A picture of our new home
Design temp? 30 below zero!0 -
Ken
Glad to see you living happily ever after in Vermont. Nice looking place there. Good luck with it.
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