A unique project, a net zero wood barn, was featured on Build with Matt Risinger. This project was the culmination of quality craftsmanship by a wide range of building experts including architect Steve Baczek, and builder Howell Custom Building Group, with a little help from timber frame specialists, Normerica.
This incredible Net Zero project is a combination boat barn, boat workshop, and party barn built on the New England coast powered by free heating, cooling, and electricity.
The owners wanted to capture an old barn look and feel while incorporating a modern flair, and modern amenities to create the ultimate green barn.
Matt Risinger, a builder who specializes in architect-driven and fine craftsmanship work, uses his YouTube Channel to cover building science and best practices for building and remodeling.
In his Net Zero Party Barn YouTube video, Risinger tours a beautifully and scientifically designed and constructed moment frame barn and dives into the details of the systems used to ensure this project is not only Net Zero, but can also deliver excess power to other structures on the property.
Risinger states emphatically:
| "When I die and go to heaven... this will be my barn! Join me as I tour this beautiful moment frame barn with an all wood interior! The craftsmanship and systems are really interesting and well done on this project." |
Watch Net Zero Party Barn on YouTube Now:
The Net Zero Party Barn features a wood-based moment frame. A moment frame is where the beams rigidly connect to the columns. Why a moment frame? As architect Steve Bascek explains, there are no lateral ties in the ceiling which frees up space to bring large vehicles and boats into the building, as the owners wanted. Usually, a moment frame is engineered with steel, however, the owners wanted to use wood to better fit with the New England aesthetic. The builders added grade beams that run across at the bottom of the columns in the slab to deliver stability to the moment frame structure. Steel hidden inside the joints help to keep the frame rigid.
Normerica Timber Frame Homes was contacted by Howell Custom Building Group to supply the wood frame and the ceiling panels. Normerica has worked on previous projects with Howell and was thrilled at the opportunity to work with them again on this exciting Net Zero Party Barn project. The wood frame structure was custom cut and preassembled in Canada by Normerica and then shipped to the New England location and reassembled by the builder. The wood frame structure is comprised of 5 huge pine glulam timber bents. Normerica also supplied the ceiling SIPS panels, prefinished with 1x6 tongue & groove pine on the bottom. ‘SIPS’ stands for ‘structural insulated panels’. The panels consist of an insulted foam core sandwiched between two pieces of oriented strand board (OSB) and results in a ceiling system that is extremely strong and energy efficient.
Normerica Timber Homes has lots of experience partnering with builders and architects on a variety of residential and commercial projects. Whether you are an architect or builder looking for someone to help with incorporating and/or supplying timbers in your clients' projects, or a client already working with a builder or architect interested in adding timbers into your project, we would love to help.
Check out the Architects & Builders section of our website for details on the services we can provide, as well as example collaborations.
At Normerica, we are truly impressed with the effort and focus the homeowners, architect and builder placed on sustainability for this project. This barn is net zero – this means it produces at least as much energy as it consumes. Here are some of the sustainable highlights that the architect Steve, and builder Brian detail in the show:
At Normerica we’re always excited to play a part in a green building project. We are passionate about marrying the tried-and-true craftsmanship of a timber frame home with the latest in building science and technology. The results are homes of the highest quality – homes that are not only beautiful in design, but energy efficient, eco-conscious, and long lasting. All our house plans are Net Zero and Energy Star ready.
To read more about making your building a green home read our blog, What to Consider When Building Your Timber Frame Green Home.
Normerica is wow-ed by Steve Baczek and the Howell group’s creativity and ingenuity around this project. Here are some other cool elements of this Net Zero Party Barn, as described in the video:
The team at Normerica was proud to play a part in the larger team dedicated to building this outstanding Net Zero Barn Project.
Matt started learning about construction by working summers at an inner-city ministry that fixed up row houses for elderly people who owned their homes but couldn’t afford to maintain them. He got a BS in Industrial Management from Grove City College and wanted to work for Toyota as he was fascinated with all things from Japan. He ended up working for one of the National Production Builders (NVR Ryan Homes) after college where he met his Texan wife in Washington DC.
His 7 years with that mega builder was really fun, but it didn’t satisfy his desire for “Craftsmanship” as he was building houses insanely fast. He moved to Portland, OR in 2002 and it was the national mold crisis that lead him to the path of Building Science. He wanted to learn why these houses were failing and learning everything about the science behind construction has been a passion ever since.
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For 25 years, our reputation has been built upon meticulous planning and expert craftsmanship — delivering consistently spectacular results on projects large and small. Working with Howell Custom Building Group means no surprises, no regrets. Just a great building experience and a home that will serve your family well throughout your lifetime. Check out our award-winning home additions, renovations, and custom homes north of Boston.