MAISON COCAGNE HOUSE - First Floor

FIRST FLOOR

Living/Dining 14' x 22'

Kitchen 14' x 15'

Laundry/Pantry 14' x 7'

3/4 Bathroom 8' x 7

Stair/Hall 8' x 17'8

Enclosed Porches (2) 14' x 8

990 sf (outside dimension)

860 sf (inside heated space)

The First Floor of the Maison Cocagne House is designed to be the public area of the house. The main components are a living/dining area and a kitchen/laundry/pantry area separated by a bathroom/stair core. The core walls are framed as double stud walls to accommodate the heat recovery ductwork that will be discussed later. These spaces make up the thermal envelope of the main house. The bathroom is designed as a 3/4 bath, but could also be a 1/2 bath. Finishes and final furnishing arrangement of areas are up to the occupant.

The house is accessed through a central open porch and two enclosed porches that would act as thermal collectors during cold months and as expanded living area during warm months. These porches could also be designed as open porches if the occupant so desired. There is also a secondary rear entrance from the laundry/pantry.

Windows of the main house would be high efficiency, triple glazed casements, double glazed casement and fixed windows at the porches. Doors would also be selected for high efficiency.

Maison Cocagne House is designed with double 2x4 insulated, exterior stud walls separated by a 3-1/2 inch fully insulated space to isolate the exterior walls from thermal bridging. The outside double stud walls would be erected prior to construction and erection of the interior stud walls. The inside stud walls are designed to be load bearing while the outside stud walls are designed to carry the exterior finish. The cold side of the inside stud wall is completely covered in a 6 mil vapor barrier then sheathed with 1/2 inch CDX plywood sheathing to provide lateral bracing as well as protect the vapor barrier. Experience has shown that the vapor barrier can be safely installed inside the wall as long as 2/3 of the insulation is on the cold side of the barrier. Locating the vapor barrier at the cold side of the inside stud wall allows for installation of electric without penetrating the vapor barrier. The cold side of the outside stud wall is sheathed with 1/2 inch fiberboard sheathing, then covered with house wrap. Tongue & groove sheathing can also be used at outside stud walls to facilitate insulation installation. Details for air-tightness and openings are provided in the links and will be discussed later.