Posted By Lbear on 12 Sep 2012 02:11 AM
What is the purpose of having it mirrored (besides making your neighbors angry)?

Lbear, the neighbor came over yesterday and asked that he not plant any trees between him and the building because he enjoyed looking at the building. Go figure?

Posted By cmkavala on 16 Sep 2012 12:55 PM


Lbear, the neighbor came over yesterday and asked that he not plant any trees between him and the building because he enjoyed looking at the building. Go figure?

At least he has nice neighbors.

I would be interested to see what the dead bird count will be after a year.

I'll let you know the count when we finish the job

Very cool and unique project Chris. I think the mirror effect is the height of architectural contextualism. The building doesn't compete with or detract from its natural surroundings, but just reflects and mimics it.

When I worked for Structall Building Systems, SIP manufacturer, there was a custom SIP project that involved building interlocking curved SIPs with a specific raduis and a mirror finish on one side that was going to be used in some kind of large solar collector.

You know, I've heard stories of highly reflective buildings like those curvy 'Frank Gehry' ones that have 'hot spots' in certain areas where the angle of the sun hits the curvature just right and concentrates the rays like a solar oven.

I've also heard of the sun reflecting off of a window of a house and melting the vinyl siding of the neighboring house in one spot. (could be just a 'construction tale' though, but maybe they should upgrade there fire insurance:-)

Posted By SimonD on 17 Sep 2012 12:45 PM


You know, I've heard stories of highly reflective buildings like those curvy 'Frank Gehry' ones that have 'hot spots' in certain areas where the angle of the sun hits the curvature just right and concentrates the rays like a solar oven.

I've also heard of the sun reflecting off of a window of a house and melting the vinyl siding of the neighboring house in one spot. (could be just a 'construction tale' though, but maybe they should upgrade there fire insurance:-)

That is a valid issue. Highly reflective surfaces and even glass surfaces do cause a sort of "magnifying glass" effect. That is why most city ordinances, HOA, building codes, prohibit highly reflective surfaces like those found on some glass film surfaces. These concentrated sun rays have been known to melt items including your neighbors vinyl siding, cause 2nd degree burns to unsuspecting bystanders, and even cause fires. The US Safety Product Commission had to issue a recall on reflective glass that was causing peoples homes to catch on fire due to the intense rays causing cedar paneling to catch on fire. A mirror like finish would reflect and concentrate the suns rays and if the geometry is right and the concentration is hitting something dry or flammable, having a fire start is not out of the question.

US Safety Product Commission

GBA Article

I know for certain that nothing like that could be built out in Arizona. They have very strict guidelines on reflective surfaces. It has been proven that a glass bottle laying in the Arizona sun can and has caused brush fires.

While interesting to see, IMHO I would NOT want that type of home being built next to my home. Not that they even could because legally they would not allow it in my area due to the reflective nature.

Question: After time, those panels are going to get dirty, dusty and streaky from rain and dirt, will someone have to wash them like they would a large window?

Its not glass, I am not sure I ever heard of a fire being started of the reflection of a chrome bumper?

Very cool! Please post more pics.

What are they doing for windows? I didn't see any cutouts. Are they attempting to match the SIP skin?

As for birds, AFAIK they fly into windows because they are trying to get into the interior and can't see the glass. Reflective it would seem would be better because at least they should at the last moment try to avoid their own reflection. I've seen some German windows with built-in stripes (visible to birds, but not to humans) but again that is transparent windows, not mirrors.

For heat reflection, yes that could be a problem but since it is heavily forested probably not an issue unless there are no evergreen tress and in general no leaves in winter. The extra heat though may be welcome in the winter! Rounded or concave much more of an issue - e.g. the MGM death ray in Las Vegas

Sharter; I will be back in Long Island next week, I will get some new pictures then. The bigger portion of the building is all man cave and the remainder of the building (one bedroom studio)walls will be clad with 6" mirrored SIPs. Existing Anderson casements will be removed and reinstalled over panels, then a thinner layer of mirror ss will be clad to the frame & sash. Glass will receive silver reflective film on the inside. Overhead door and swing doors will be stainless steel.

Chris,

I thought the reflective film went on the outside of the window.  Am I wrong?

Alton, all the reflective films I have seen in Florida are used on the inside, there may be some used on the outside, but I am nor familiar with it

Most window films have to be protected from the elements so they don't get water under the edges and peel off. That almost always means being applied to the inside. Acid rain will oxidize metallic coated films.

I talked to a local window tint installer who has been in the business for 15+ years out in Arizona. He stated that window tints on vehicles is different than the tint that goes on residential home windows. The car tint is designed to absorb the light but prevent it from penetrating into the cars interior. While a home window must reflect and NOT absorb the light because it can cause the window to overheat, causing it to damage the window seals and make the glass fail.

He said people make the mistake of placing vehicle tint onto residential windows and then experience glass failure on their homes. Window manufacturers actually spell this out in the warranty and will void your warranty when you put on any type of aftermarket window tint on your home windows.

He also mentioned that mirror tint on vehicles is ILLEGAL because it can blind drivers due to the reflection. With residential tint he said that it depends on the local ordinances but highly reflective window tint is forbidden in many areas due to the reflection causing issues like those mentioned before.

That's what I got from him...

Posted By Lbear on 19 Sep 2012 01:22 AM
I talked to a local window tint installer who has been in the business for 15+ years out in Arizona. He stated that window tints on vehicles is different than the tint that goes on residential home windows. The car tint is designed to absorb the light but prevent it from penetrating into the cars interior. While a home window must reflect and NOT absorb the light because it can cause the window to overheat, causing it to damage the window seals and make the glass fail.

He said people make the mistake of placing vehicle tint onto residential windows and then experience glass failure on their homes. Window manufacturers actually spell this out in the warranty and will void your warranty when you put on any type of aftermarket window tint on your home windows.

He also mentioned that mirror tint on vehicles is ILLEGAL because it can blind drivers due to the reflection. With residential tint he said that it depends on the local ordinances but highly reflective window tint is forbidden in many areas due to the reflection causing issues like those mentioned before.

That's what I got from him...

Lbear; all true, but I don't think the owner is concerned about voiding the warranty on his existing 20 year old windows

I think it will look amazing, at least until it gets dirty and the dirt causes the shiny surface to score and diminish its reflectivity. Has anyone tested the panels to see how well they hold their shiny surface under normal environmental conditions for the area?

A fascinating project!

-Rosalinda

Rosalinda; No testing done, as far as we know it is the first mirrored SIPS ever built anywhere, what we do know is that the panels can be re-polished if they get dull.316 stainless #8 mirror was used and is the most reflective mirror finish on the market. All of the polishing, or "grit," lines from the preliminary polishing operations are removed. The look is that of a glass mirror. Sometimes referred to as a nondirectional mirror finish

Updated photos from the Hamptons

and more

Thanks, cool to see how the home is developing.

Is that large opening going to be a window area?

What was the reasoning behind the homeowner with going with mirrored SIPs? Was it an architectural reasoning or something else?

Posted By Lbear on 03 Oct 2012 10:00 PM
Thanks, cool to see how the home is developing.

Is that large opening going to be a window area?

What was the reasoning behind the homeowner with going with mirrored SIPs? Was it an architectural reasoning or something else?

Lbear;
Yes the large opening is to be "storefront " glass looking towards a pond.
PS.... since we started, no birds have been killed flying into the panels, we speculate that unlike glass they see their own reflection and steer clear.

The building disapears! Really excellent effect.