Posted on 01/03/2014 8:51:24 PM PST by Steelfish
Katrina Victims Say Brad Pitt's Charity Homes Are Already Rotting By Heather Alexander, Houston Chronicle January 2, 2014
Actor Brad Pitt visits the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans during a trip to lobby government officials to increase the speed of re-construction on July 13, 2006 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Pitt and Global Green USA created a sustainable design architecture competition to showcase affordable, energy-efficient construction.
Actor Brad Pitt visits the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans during a trip to lobby government officials to increase the speed of re-construction on July 13, 2006 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Pitt and Global Green USA created a sustainable design architecture competition to showcase affordable, energy-efficient construction. The competition drew entries from around the world. Brad Pitt's charity home builders are replacing timber used on dozens of properties built in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina because the wood used on them is rotting.
To date, 100 have been built. Wood used for decking and steps is now rotting, according to a charity spokesperson.
"It was unable to withstand moisture, which is obviously a big problem in New Orleans," Taylor Royle told the New Orleans Advocate.
"This doesn't usually happen," Royle went on, "Most of the (new products) work, and they're great, and we're always testing new products to see if they can help make the homes more sustainable, more affordable or both."
The charity prides itself on making safe and sustainable houses, their website says they meet the highest level of certification offered by the Green Building Council.
Brad Pitt reportedly met President Barack Obama at the White House to promote green housing projects and his Make it Right program has been award winning.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Always use pressure treated wood in the South when using it outside and PT wood suitable for ground contact when exposed to termites.
I don’t blame Brad Pitt for this. Now, if it was Sean Penn....
long narrow houses - shotgun houses
You racist, homophobe!
I suspect the homeowners didn’t take care of the homes. Don’t expect Brad Pitt to have to come over and maintain them.
Lazy do-nothing assholes. The storm was a decade ago! Act like an adult, and fix your own damn wood rot problems.
Yep. One would think they’d show a bit of initiative and do some periodic surface maintenance on the wood. But then, aren’t these the same schlubs who, instead of helping themselves and their families before and during Katrina, chose instead to sit on their fat asses and bitch about how da gub’mint ain’t he’ppin’ fas’ enuf?
“Now just LOOK at the molars on this horse you’re giving me. I can’t believe you think I’d accept a free horse with such shoddy oral hygiene. “
My guess is shoddy construction and some shoddy materials. There were probably tons of workers, some inexperienced, who were only interested in knocking these places out at fast as they could, with Brad's encouragement. Lack of attention to details leads to water infiltration. In a humid climate, it never dries out. Mildew and rot follows quickly.
Righto.
Many of the new and “green” building materials have, by definition, no history of how well they will stand up, particularly to moisture and humidity. And when they do develop a record, it usually isn’t good.
One example is OSB. It has largely replaced plywood in construction. It is both cheaper and “green,” since it can be made from smaller pieces of wood that would otherwise be waste.
It is entirely comparable in performance to plywood as long as it stays dry. Repeated wetting, as around windows, and it will quite literally disintegrate. Highly elevated humidity will also cause it to disintegrate eventually.
We once removed leaking EIFS stucco from a home exterior. Most of the sheathing under the EIFS was OSB, but there were a few sheets of plywood.
The plywood sections were discolored but structurally sound. Most of the OSB could be pulled apart with fingers.
The manufacture response is that the material is supposed to remain dry. My response: What is the chance that a building will get wet at some point over its theoretically 100 year life?
It’s unfair to blame either Pitt or, probably, the owners of these properties.
These were defective materials. Any composite material assembled with cellulose and no anti-fungal agents, then exposed to NO rain and humidity will rot. Don’t know the specifics, but probably there is no practical maintenance method that would have prevented the decay.
Good One!!
TimberSIL which isn't treated with chemicals so it can be mulched at the end of its 'lifecycle', was used for the decks and stairs of these 9th ward homes.
The wood was also sold with a 40 year guarantee.
“There were probably tons of workers, some inexperienced, “
Probably lots of Mexicans.
Like paint for instance?
Sad…..
Heaven forbid the Urban Feral recipients of these homes actually get off of their government cheese fed asses and actually make an effort to maintain their free homes.
Typical Section 8 mentality. They live in squalor and make ZERO effort to clean and maintain that which has been given to them.
Even feral cats clean themselves. Animals in the wild clean and maintain their dens and nests.
Credit if the task was to provide housing.
No credit if the task was to push “green” housing.
It's not quite clear to me which one was being done in this case.
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