Nelson,
I now understand enough with the additional description on how the nest tray is in relation to the exterior. Thanks again.
New Styrofoam Fiberglass/Epoxy Coated Martin House
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Guest
That makes sense. Urea-formaldehyde concentrate does sound a bit like the paper industry. And the Googling I did suggests one of the main culprits for formaldehyde outgassing is cellulose-based insulation, made of recycled newspapers.Guss P O'Brien wrote:... Formaldehyde is a very common ingredient in construction products- pretty much anything containing wood or paper bound together.
The foam insulation being used here is apparently polystyrene-based, which (as far as memory serves) is in no way related to cellulose products. It's a polymer. As for how it's produced and what chemicals are involved...well...I'd have to Google that.
I agree completely. The design of the PM house should provide adequate ventilation.... I think the issue with outgassing is more important when there is a tight enclosure without much ventilation- like an energy efficient new house. Even a poorly ventilated martin house should be ventilated well enough to allow the volatile formaldehyde gas to escape and not reach dangerous levels.
....
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Guest
Guss,
As promised, here are some detailed pics of the foam house and how it splits for service and inspections. The bottom shot shows the rope going up (through the house sections) to the pulley at the top of the pole. The rope then travels back down through the sections and is anchored to the bottom side of the bottom section by simply knotting the rope through a large washer.
On the other side of the pole you can see the spring that anchors to the bottom side of the top section and is pulled down through the sections and hooked to the eye hook at the bottom. The chain keeps the spring threaded when the house sections are split.
You can see the wooden dowel that fits in a hole in the pole and is used as a stop to hold the upper sections away when inspecting the section(s) below.
I hope these pictures help explain it better. So far I am very pleased with how easy it is to service the house. Of course it would be a better test if I actually ever get an martins
! Our tree swallows returned this past weekend and I am constantly scanning the sky for martins.
I have to apologize to Nesto in that I did not get a chance to put together a bill of materials or cost estimate. I promise that I will do that but it may take week or so.
Jeff Nelson
As promised, here are some detailed pics of the foam house and how it splits for service and inspections. The bottom shot shows the rope going up (through the house sections) to the pulley at the top of the pole. The rope then travels back down through the sections and is anchored to the bottom side of the bottom section by simply knotting the rope through a large washer.
On the other side of the pole you can see the spring that anchors to the bottom side of the top section and is pulled down through the sections and hooked to the eye hook at the bottom. The chain keeps the spring threaded when the house sections are split.
You can see the wooden dowel that fits in a hole in the pole and is used as a stop to hold the upper sections away when inspecting the section(s) below.
I hope these pictures help explain it better. So far I am very pleased with how easy it is to service the house. Of course it would be a better test if I actually ever get an martins
! Our tree swallows returned this past weekend and I am constantly scanning the sky for martins. I have to apologize to Nesto in that I did not get a chance to put together a bill of materials or cost estimate. I promise that I will do that but it may take week or so.
Jeff Nelson
- Attachments
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- coil spring holds house together, hooks at bottom side of bottom section
- P1010008.JPG (125.76 KiB) Viewed 1901 times
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- house split for inspection - nest compartments are removable
- P1010014.JPG (114.25 KiB) Viewed 1896 times
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Guss P O'Brien
Nelson,
Thanks for taking the time to put the pics and descriptions together. It will all be very helpful when trying to build. The house looks really good. Hope you get a bunch of martins this year so you can claim them as dependents next year- helps pay for the martin habit.
Thanks for taking the time to put the pics and descriptions together. It will all be very helpful when trying to build. The house looks really good. Hope you get a bunch of martins this year so you can claim them as dependents next year- helps pay for the martin habit.
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Guest
Guss,
Great idea about claiming martins as dependents
! I hope we get martins so that I can try that!
As it now stands I declare our property as a martin ranch so that I can take advantage of federal agricultural programs that pay us martin ranchers not to raise martins
!
I am happy to share any information I can. I will be interested in seeing how your project goes. And don't forget about Bernie - he is still the number one expert on this type of construction and his advice was very helpful to my project.
Jeff Nelson
Great idea about claiming martins as dependents
! I hope we get martins so that I can try that!As it now stands I declare our property as a martin ranch so that I can take advantage of federal agricultural programs that pay us martin ranchers not to raise martins
!I am happy to share any information I can. I will be interested in seeing how your project goes. And don't forget about Bernie - he is still the number one expert on this type of construction and his advice was very helpful to my project.
Jeff Nelson