Bill Robinson's New Orleans Story

**Allan Edwards** · 03-20-2010, 06:18 AM

I just read this on Kathy's (Bill's wife) Twitter Blog, very nice story about Bill.

http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/2010/...ans/#more-2179

**always-learning** · 03-20-2010, 08:32 AM

Thanks Allan,

Nice article, Bill. Just goes to show that sometimes, even with the best intentions, we humans can screw things up more than they already are. Maybe you should call Brad Pitt and tell him about the wrongdoings on his jobsites.

Hey, maybe that's why he keeps adopting kids from other countries..... cheap labor to rebuild his homes in New Orleans. ;-)

,,,

**always-learning** · 03-20-2010, 06:21 PM

What ?

67 views and not one person said anything about all those houses in N.O. that have lead based paint in them?

You guys disappoint me......

**Lavrans** · 03-20-2010, 08:01 PM

Allan- I agree- good story. Both about the reconstruction happening down there and Bill's part in it. Nice to learn more of his background, too.

Still people out there who can make you feel proud of the profession. Well- at least some of the people in it... Kind of makes me want to take a little working vacation down South.

**Dick Seibert** · 03-20-2010, 08:35 PM

I noticed that he made no mention of building inspection, balloon framing without fire blocking? It is good reading, glad you posted it Allan.

**swbuilder** · 03-20-2010, 10:13 PM

Insulation works as fireblocking according to our inspectors anyway. We've had issues where soffits were not framed with OSB as a fire block against the stud cavity and the inspectors allow us to use insulation batts.

Good article Bill. Very interesting and enjoyable read.

**gburnet** · 03-21-2010, 07:43 AM

Ditto on the comments re. it being a good article - congrats, Bill!

Now, is it just me, or does he not look suspiciously like Gene Hackman in that one photo where he's wearing sunglasses? Hmm... we never see them both in the same place...

**Bill Robinson** · 03-21-2010, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by always-learning

What ?

67 views and not one person said anything about all those houses in N.O. that have lead based paint in them?

You guys disappoint me......

Trying to start something here Chuck:}?

Maybe this is why I stumbled into teaching the RRP class. You can't even consider restoring these homes here without running into LBP.

And since it is so important to rebuild and to rebuild safely the lead must be taken into consideration.

When the fuss dies back down and most are educated to the dangers of lead dust we can get on with the work.

**kreg McMahon** · 03-21-2010, 09:08 AM

bill good story congrulations. will you be in RI at JLC

**Allan Edwards** · 03-21-2010, 09:28 AM

Bill

Are you seeing much non-vented attics in New Orleans? HVAC and duct work in non-conditioned attics? Seeing much Icynene?

By the way, my Mom was born (in a charity hospital) in New Orleans back in the 1920's.

**Bill Robinson** · 03-21-2010, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by kreg McMahon

bill good story congrulations. will you be in RI at JLC

Yep, come by and see me on the show floor
or at a conference session.

And you can share your show experience. looking forward.

**Bill Robinson** · 03-21-2010, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by Allan Edwards

Bill

Are you seeing much non-vented attics in New Orleans? HVAC and duct work in non-conditioned attics? Seeing much Icynene?

By the way, my Mom was born (in a charity hospital) in New Orleans back in the 1920's.

Allan, the spray foam merchants are doing a good (if selling a lot of foam is good) job of convincing homeowners to condition their attic space. The problem is the rest of the building system is not usually included in the equation. For starters they are sealing the attic from outside ventilation and not providing combustion air for the gas appliances. And since there seems to have been some confusion many bath fans are not vented to the outside. At least when the attic was ventilated the attic was sorta outside. When the rafters are foamed the attic in inside..OOPS.

OTOH, in new construction we are seeing some of the builders providing a sort of chase in the attic where the ducting can run and insulation laid over the top.

We are crawling here, you know, crawl, walk run, with only having a building code since '07.

There is much to be learned, and I have some stories to tell. Maybe I can find a place to land some of them. It is really a learning experience for me. And one I am thoroughly enjoying.

I know your roots are here, did you know they are trying to tear Charity down and move it further away from the CBD?
Yet another way big business and the govt are destroying the city bit by bit.
Maybe the coming disaster is not moisture in the air but the money changers.

OOPS, there is another side of me showing:)

**Allan Edwards** · 03-21-2010, 10:22 AM

Bill

Yes, when attics are sealed combustion for gas appliances must be dealt with. And baths ventilate to the exterior. I am sealing my attics, the temperatures have dropped substantially and I'm controlling humidity, which is a big issue. It has also allowed me to size down the AC's, reducing operating costs.

Regarding Charity Hospital, my parents/grandparents/great grandparents/great-great grandparents were all from Louisiana. All were as poor as a church mouse. Mom's family from Cajun country, all spoke French. Dad's family from central LA. Large families, 12-13 kids. Life was tough.

**Allan Edwards** · 03-21-2010, 10:25 AM

By the way, here is Kathy Robinson's Remodeling Blog, I follow on Twitter.

http://www.kathysremodelingblog.com/

I think she is the smart one in the family :)

**m beezo** · 03-21-2010, 11:29 AM

Allan,
I have met Bill but not his wife so I do not know who is the smart one but you may be right!

Bill, this is a great article. I really enjoyed it. A couple of things you mentioned there that I would like a bit more info on if you don't mind. In one of the pictures you show a front door and a stairway with the caption that says something like how can you throw this away. I asked about lead and salvage materials. So how is it being handled there? I know it is being used and resold at the Green Project and Rebuilding Together's demo yard. Is there a warning label or warning pamplet given to the homeowners/contractors when they buy the stuff.

other comment is based on what you see and what I saw when I was there. The idea of "we can do another house if we do not spend as much to do certain things on this house". I heard that and I know that it is true not just for these organizations doing the work but for me personally. I do not want to think they started out to think they were going to do things wrong. I think the idea was to get folks back home as quickly as possible. And I think that is a good thing. But it does seem somewhat short sighted. How you battle the idea of getting them home versus doing it right I am sure is a battle not easily won.

Long way to ask if you have done a study of the costs of doing the job as you propose instead of some of the practices that you are seeing done wrong? I an thinking in particular of the wall insulation details. I see additonal costs in the foam installtion and the materials cost, the bug screens. You are still installing fiberglass insulation no matter what method you choose. I am asking because I am thinking if you could show that it is not as costly as you migh think then it might help get them to do it your way. Is anyone doing it your way?

Last thing I have to say is that I do appreciate those that go to other places in the world to work for those in need. But I like to see my own country taken care of also. I am not against sending help elsewhere or andything like that. Just thnk some of my fellow Americans could use a bit of help also and Bill has reminded us of that . I am thinking the JLC ought to have a JLC live in New Orleans and part of the attendance requirements is to spend a couple of days working with Bill.

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