Plumbing, electrical, & mechanical

We're almost finished with the plumbing, electrical, gas and hvac interior work. As soon as we pass inspections there, we can move on to insulation. I think 2 bath tubs will be installed this week, and the gas hookups should be put in place.


In the garage, the framers came back and boxed in the plumbing pipes and hvac duct work.


Looking good!

The roof is on! (let it rain...let it rain...)

The shiny "bumps" on top of the roof are the standoffs for the solar panels. It really was a great idea to have those put on first before the roof shingles! Daniel and Mark J. worked hard to anchor them correctly to the joists so that the solar panels can withstand the wind blowing. We definitely don't want a flying roof in a storm!


They also installed our solar tunnel so that we'll have some natural light in the master bath.

All windows installed

A very happy camper...





We finished installing the windows and hope to start priming the interior wood soon.

HVAC

I know this post is probably not that interesting to read or look at but here are some pictures of our HVAC system currently going in:

Big Window...Part 2...We have clearance, Clarence

They had repaired the opening for the big window. Now it should be the right size!



Ahhh. Sweet success. The window fit through the opening and all was well!


We leveled it, and nailed it in. Then we installed the two windows on either side and called it a day. Only five more small windows to go!
Beautiful!

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.