Morr Construction Blog

Examiner Article

Josh Crenshaw — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 18:27:27 +0000

Coverage continues for the Passive House in the Woods project completed in fall of 2010. Though we did not get a mention in the article we are pleased to see more coverage of this ground breaking project and hope that word will continue to spread about the Passive House concept of building homes that are so well insulated that they do not need a traditional furnace. We are behind the curve on this technology and need to get our region educated. Click here to be directed to the article.

More Cool Passive House Stuff

Josh Crenshaw — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:05:23 +0000

Jetson Green just posted this article about The Rise of the Passive House. If you go there be sure to check out the links to additional articles, lots of good stuff.

Nice photos of the Passive House in the Woods

Josh Crenshaw — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:20:42 +0000

Corey Gaffer, a photographer based in Minneapolis, took some additional photos of the Passive House in the Woods as well as a short video. Check them out at his blog.

Passive House MN Alliance Event

Josh Crenshaw — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:23:37 +0000

Interested in learning more about “Passive House“? Want to connect with people who are on the leading edge of building design and construction? Come to the Passive House Alliance of Minnesota‘s first annual meeting where Tim Eian of TE Studio and Morr Construction will be showcasing the Passive House in the Woods, a single family residence just completed in Hudson, WI.

To learn more and RSVP please visit the PHMN website.

The Season for Ice Dams

Josh Crenshaw — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:12:57 +0000

If you look up at your roof and see a wall of ice building up on your eaves, it may be time to take some action to prevent damage to the roof or even walls and finishes below. Some ice dams seem to be unavoidable because of the melting action of the sun or specific weather patterns hovering near freezing. Other ice dams are formed when heat escaping from the house melts snow on the roof which then refreezes at the eaves which typically stay as cold as the air outside. This is one of the main purposes of venting the attic…so that the warmth from the house escapes through the attic vents before it can melt the snow on the roof. There can be problems with enough venting and there can be problems caused by too much venting, actually helping to pull additional heat and moisture into the attic space which can cause additional problems. Morr Construction has been at the forefront of builders and remodelers in this area for several years and can fix or mitigate problems associated with heat loss and ice dams. Whether you need immediate or longer term solutions, Morr Construction can supply the knowledge and expertise to correct your particular ice dam problem. Stay tuned for more attic insulation information and solutions!

Posted by Steve Swanson

A New Centarian

Josh Crenshaw — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:40:05 +0000

Just in time for Christmas we put the final touches (before spring details) on an antique replica porch where none had been for about 50 years. After some careful planning and design input from the owner, the details came together and construction was begun. The rafter tails were traced from the roof above and shortened to the scale of the smaller porch roof while the decorative balusters were traced from a surviving period porch and lengthened to accommodate newer code standards. Throughout, material selection and preparation were optimized for longevity, beauty and sustainability. Overall the effect is of a porch that was always there, only brand new!

Posted by Steve Swanson

Passive House Tour

Josh Crenshaw — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:19:10 +0000

There are more opportunities coming up to take a look at the first house in Wisconsin to achieve certification by the Passive House Institute of the US. This unique home features stunning modern design, a 22″ wall section, and r-values that make common homes green with envy.

Morr Construction ‘Friends & Family’ Event at the Passive House in the Woods

Friday, October 15th, 2010, 4 – 7 PM

Please RSVP to amanda@morrconstruction.com by October 13th, 2010.

Passive House in the Woods Tour

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010, 12 – 1:30 PM

Please RSVP to amanda@morrconstruction.com by October 15th, 2010.

Passive House in the Woods Tour

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010, 12 – 1:30 PM

Please RSVP to amanda@morrconstruction.com by October 15th, 2010.

Passive House Completed

Josh Crenshaw — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 19:36:08 +0000

We are pleased to announce that the Passive House in the Woods in Hudson, WI is now complete. As it is one of less than 20 in the US and the first in the state of WI it is a significant milestone for Morr Construction as well as all of the members of the design Team. If you are interested in touring the house there will be a number of opportunities in the next couple of weeks as well as the MRES (Minnesota Renewable Energy Society) tour going on today. Stayed tuned for updates on the upcoming events.

First Blower Door Test successfully completed

Josh Crenshaw — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:50:33 +0000

First Blower Door Test successfully completed.

Pioneer Press takes notes

Josh Crenshaw — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:36:37 +0000

“Design is solar-heated and super-insulated”