Big Window Part 1: Houston, we have a problem...

The big day arrives at the home site. Today, we put in the big window. As we prayed for safety for all involved, we never suspected what was about to happen...

We got our crew of guys assembled...



We fixed a platform outside the big opening for two guys to stand on...


Our strong guys lifted the window up to the opening...


and hmmm...the opening appears a bit larger than the window! Houston...we have a problem. The framers either cut the wrong rough opening, or we were given the wrong dimensions, or something! It's a full 18 inches too big!

Stay tuned for out next adventure! The guys did manage to stay around while some ladies gathered to cheer them on and installed four other windows.

More windows...

All windows on the basement and main level are installed! Today we only installed 5 more windows. We only worked for two hours due to the heat and other activities. But we managed to do one of the big picture windows, and that was a challenge!

The higher up we go, the more ladder work is required.


Chuck was able to help. Here he is considering the best course of action to install the big picture window.

Rajah and Josiah preparing to lift the window up to feed it out through the hole to Chuck and Daniel who were on ladders outside. At this point, I was needed to help steady the window, so I don't have any pictures of it going in. Suffice to say, it went pretty smoothly considering that the window weighs 145 lbs.

After it was in and secure, Chuck finished nailing it in. Josiah helped to steady the ladder.

How to Install your own windows...

Step 1: Have windows.

Step 2: Remove the wrapping from the window.


Step 3: Measure the window.



Step 4: Check the rough opening of the window to make sure the window will fit.


Step 5: Check to see if the window is level.


Step 6: Tape the bottom frame of the rough opening.



Step 7: Insert window from the front of the house into the opening.


Step 8: Insert shims under window frame and make sure window sits level in the opening.



Step 9: Hold window in place while nailing it in.




Step 10: Tape around the window.



Repeat. And repeat again...nearly forty times.

But not today...it was too hot, and we only finished about 13 windows. We'll keep working.

Where's the progress?

I'm sure by now you're wondering if we are EVER going to get moving again on the house!

We took some time out to work on something we should have worked on before, but didn't realize until now that we needed to know what we were doing by this stage on the house: Solar panels!

We got to the point of roofing, and realized that it sure would be nice to have the solar panel brackets put up there before the roof shingles went up! So Rajah took some time to investigate the different possibilities. But he figured it out, and the tracks and brackets come Friday by UPS. Chuck's son, Daniel is going to put them up there for us.

HVAC work starts tomorrow.

And here's some more fun: Chuck is helping us put some sweat equity into our home, and at the same time, save on labor cost. Friday WE will be helping Daniel install the windows! If they can turn our computer-geek family into handy-persons, that will be quite a feat!

So stay tuned, there's more fun to come! Here's some current pics:
The Tyvek wrap on the house.

Karen and Joshua examining the roof shingles and materials.

You probably can't see it, but Chuck had climbed onto the roof and marked where the solar panels could fit. He used orange spray paint.


The perfect place for Rajah's home security and monitoring equipment: under the stairs in the basement!


The beam in the garage has been attached to the concrete floor and the ceiling.

Technical details on moving the window

Robert Queen is the PE who has certified the structure of the house.
(All directions are from the outside of the house, while standing on the front porch.) Here's a problem: we'd like to move the window to the right of the front door several inches to the right, as you view it from the outside. Doing so would interfere with the header at the bay window. So here are some pictures, more for his benefit, but for everyone else to get a look at, also.

Outside view:


Inside view:


Tape measure with bay window header visible (if we move 4 boards to the left, we will interfere with the header):


Door and the window on the left side (as you stand on the porch), with tape measure:

Almost completed the framing

A view from our driveway.
Looking at the south-facing side, almost all of the roof surfaces are completed. The crew was out finishing up structures today.
A view of the side porch, all framed in.

A view of the back screened porch.
The front deck is being worked on today. They also will add space for a transom above the front door and a decorative roof over the door.

More work on the decks

A view of the front and side decks.

They were hard at work framing the screened side porch/deck early this morning.

Also beginning work on the back screened porch/deck.

The roof trusses got delivered yesterday.

Now if God would just hold off on the rain...

A walk through the house...

Rajah and I walked through with the camera today.

Not everything is finished. The masons were out getting started on the deck supports, they dropped off some more stone on the driveway where it had gotten soft, the backfill was finished, and the framers were itching to complete the framing on the top floors.

Roof trusses are due out soon.


Chuck talking to the masons.


You can see the mini-roofs over the windows now.

The back side of the house: The framers were anxious to get started framing the screened porch, but the masons need to put the posts in first. We had to ask them to go home and plan on finishing tomorrow.

The fireplace/hearth in the family room.