Worksite Diaries – Episode 6
When designing a large building in the heart of nature, the microcosmos—the world of the infinitely small—also comes into play.
In this new episode of our Worksite Diaries, Guillaume Pares-Amado, project manager for the Institute’s Residences, discusses the search for an ethical solution to prevent termites from entering the building.
Termites are social insects that live in colonies underground and thrive in humid environments. They are particularly fond of the Dordogne region! They can cause significant damage to homes by digging tunnels in the wood they feed on or by infiltrating micro-cracks that can appear over time. They can enter the building through buried elements or elements close to the ground, particularly through cracks that appear naturally over the life of the building, or through various networks rising from the ground.
The solution chosen by the Institute’s Residences is a stainless steel mesh, manufactured in Alsace and applied in all areas where termites could enter.
There are two reasons why we chose this product, explains Guillaume. Firstly, as Buddhists, it is important for us to try as much as possible not to kill living beings.
The alternative solution was a chemical insulator containing an insecticide that kills termites on contact.
The second reason is that this stainless steel mesh will not deteriorate, Guillaume continues. Stainless steel is rot-proof and is not affected by the external environment. Normally, it is a stable material that shouldn’t change over time. In contrast, the lifespan of the chemical molecule is not clearly known. If it is no longer effective in fifteen or twenty years, the barrier is useless. Legally, the physical barrier must be active for at least ten years, which is a short time in the life of a building.
Indeed, French law requires all builders to take out a ten-year warranty. This guarantees the repair of any damage that appears after the work has been completed, for a period of ten years.
There was a lot of design work involved. We identified all the areas where termites could get in. And we applied this mesh to prevent them from entering, explains Guillaume.
The project requires nearly three kilometers of the product. It is relatively simple for professional masons to apply on site: the mesh is applied to a type of tile adhesive at different stages of construction, prior to creation of the walls for the interfaces between the concrete slab and the walls, and towards the end of constructions for the drains.
The material is invisible to the naked eye, but it reflects the ethics at the heart of this project—the daily application of the Buddhist path, one of the guiding principles of the future Residences.
Be part of this project:
Building Dhagpo Kagyu Ling happens together. You can participate in this project in different ways:
- make a donation (non-eligible for tax deduction)
- loan funds
- donate construction materials or share your skills to carry out the project
- acquire a blue box containing definitions from The Entry to the State of a Pandita (available at the library or at Dhagpo’s reception)
Keep informed and be part of this project.
For further information, don’t hesitate to contact us: dkl.donateurs@dhagpo.org
If you wish to support this ambitious project, it is possible to make a donation:
By bank transfer or check
Download the generosity form in PDF format
Via Paypal
(one-time/regular donation)
