Soffit Material, Outside doors, and Stairwell footings

The footings for the main stairwell are framed, and ready to be poured soon.



Here are the back stairwell footings.





The neighborhood continues to change. This house, across the street and on the corner, is a "remodel." I think they are leaving one wall. It will be raised another story as well.



Basement doors (fir, storefront clear glass)



The main floor store front style door frame, with side window integrated into the framing



Here is the front door, oversized.





On its side is the family room sliding glass door, with integrated windows above.



All of these door above need to be sealed, or course.




The soffit material was delivered and brought up to the main floor where it will be stained. It is some pretty nice stock (smooth face).





Instead of using the Tyvek, GMCraft 60 felt paper (Grade D) was chosen. This is typical high level felt paper (that is, it must withstand water for at least 60 minutes before it lets anything through), and comparable to Tyvek (albiet no vapor breathing ability). Proper flashing and good installation will probably take care of any potential problems. Also, since cedar siding is going on, the potential for leaching exists (though if the cedar is properly primed, which it is, there shouldn't be a problem, and Tyvek has come out with a chemical resistant product in the last 5 years). I think we could have gone with the newer version of Tyvek, but this is what was picked. It will work just fine.

Speaker boxes and Footings

This week speaker boxes inside and outside the house were installed. In all, there are about 10 or so built in speaker boxes. Pretty cool!

These two are in the family room, for the surrond sound.



These two are in the master bedroom, again for the same thing.



There are one each in the upstairs bedrooms.



The remaining footings and retaining wall for the outside of the house are just about ready to be poured. A tent has been erected for this purpose.

Gutters

The gutters were installed yesterday. They are very nice, simple, and oversized gutters that come out 8 inches from the fascia.







Here is the Master jet tub installed.



Category wire installed for the two bedrooms.

A Hodgepodge of Wiring, Vacuum System, Stariwell Lighting, Fireplaces, and Baths

Low light fixtures for the stairwells have been installed.



My father suggested a couple electric wall heaters be installed in the bathrooms, were instantaneous heat would be enjoyed before the radiant system kicked in. I am sure this could also be mitigated by putting automatic timers for startup, but as the motto goes, " a Boy Scout always comes prepared."





The basement bath insert arrived, sitting in the garage. Next to it is a temporary door to help close up the house, eventually.



The master tub from Kohler. I didn't notice at first, but there are tiny holes on the bottom sides, where air will flow. Supposedly this is better than the regular hot-tub like jets. It is smaller than a regular spec house spa tub, but cool looking (good geometric lines) and efficient.



The fireplaces arrived and are installed. The two downstairs ones are just glass (though you can't see with cardboard in the way).







The upstairs with a smaller fireplace with vents. Possibly the black grill cover will be replaced with a steel or brushed look.



The piping and outlets for the house vacuum system in part of the house. It took a day to install.









There are now three electrical boxes. WTF. The white one for the low voltage wiring, the one next to it for the regular system, and the one on the left for an eventual generator in an emergency (?).



Cat 6 and Cat 5e wiring is being installed throughout the house.

Little things

A few little things are happening before this week's installation of the gas piping and vacuum system.

Here is Dean, my father, finishing the installation of the downdraft for the oven, which will be part of the island in the kitchen. It is routed out to the west wall.



Jason Ward, the electrician, at work installing a recessed light in the basement.



2x4 walls (skinny way) were installed on the south, east and west walls for the garage, which will be finished off with sheetrock.



I actually got my hands dirty, and dug a big hole for one of the window wells.



There was a layer of claylike dirt on top, so it took a couple hours and a pick. There is nothing lik getting your hands dirty and working up a sweat.

Been gone, a lot done

I have been gone for work for the past month. Here are a few things that have happened:

Lights for the outside installed:



Ventilation for bathrooms and laundry rooms:



Being stupid on remote:



Visiting the largest cave ever in Carlsbad:



Cool clouds next to test plane:



The electrician, Jason Ward, is working hard:



A new window for the kitchen, which really lightens things up:



Light soffits for the basement:



Lots of recessed can lights in the house:



And lots of wiring:



More to come later when I have time. The house vacuum system, insulation, and other stuff will be installed in the next week.