Quiet time

Well as of today things are quiet. The plumbers finished up all the rough in work on all floors, connected the city main and also the geo well lines to the home. I had them run 1″ lines from outside all the way in to the basement 1st where I have a main valve handy. The city service then drops to 3/4″ and 1/2″ through out the home and the Geo well water remains 1″ service to all outside faucets and both Geo water furnace units across the home.

We also signed contract with Rinehart Services Co for 2 Water furnace units. A 4 and a 5 ton unit with 5 digital zones controlling dampers for the home plus both units will provide hot water during a/c of which Im planning on installing a second hot water tank for the 5 ton unit and also connecting to a future outside solar panel system for hot water. Possible in the winter Im hoping with a ground mounted system protected by the home facing south I might get enough warmth to help cover the radiant slab heat needs without too much gas backup.

Shane Rinehart of Rinehart Services will be onsite in a couple days to begin installing the ducts starting from the basement mechanical areas into the 20″ floor truss system and hopefully up to the 3rd floor office avoiding the attic space completely. It looks like we can do it, just have to place it and see. If all goes well the geo units will arrive the following week from the factory and be connected. I will run temporary power to each unit and should be up and running in a couple week. Might be a really night place to work in for the remaining construction, Less sheet rock and painting.

Last, the natual gas / wood burning fireplaces arrived. We installed a large unit in the living room and a med 3 glass sided unit in the area between the kitchen breakfast and family room. We went with both gas/wood to save on energy costs if we choose to burn wood more of the time. It might be messy but wood puts out more heat.

We are still entertaining prices on Foam insulation for the walls and attic. Seems the 2 I have talked with on site each recommend something slightly different so I think its going to come down to personal choice and what I feel is most efficient to protect the home from the outside temps. We will meet with another local contractor this week for what I hope might be the last bid tho we still have time.

Electrical should start next week. Im finishing up the electrical plans when I have some time and will be meeting with our Electrician this Friday. Im planning on doing some of the work myself to keep some costs down and will also be running 100% of all the voice, data and video security since thats my gig.

Laurie and I are also expecting our 1st pool & spa bid very soon so we are keeping our fingers crossed.

Some pictures below.

Kitchen Fireplace:

Last of the roofing:

Framing is completed

After 5 weeks Ricks framing crew of “Lazy R Framing” put all the finishing touches on the home this past Thursday. Christian and his team put in a lot of hot days from 7a-330p Mon – Sat and got it done. Laurie and I are extremely happy with the structure of the home and the way it looks and feels to us. Friday the exterior trim, windows and solar roof deck were completed along with the last of the zip board taping around the windows.

Monday the plumbers will arrive and then the Geothermal Heating and A/C ducts.

Zip Board 7.7.08

Zip Board installation began today on the outside walls. Most of the home was actually covered then taped at all the seams and bases for air and water sealing.

The 3rd floor is almost framed which just leaves the main staircase, some ceilings and the the center roof.

4th of July 2008

July 3rd we had our 28ft steel beam installed into the kitchen and family room ceiling. Due to the span of the room, no supporting walls and the 3rd floor we had an engineered beam built to spec and put in place with a crane. With many thanks, Christian, the lead framer, he got his crew to complete the 3rd floor decking just in time for family to sit and watch the fireworks from 30′ up off the basement floor.

Monday the 6th, outside zip board wall sheething gets installed and the roof rafters have starting going up also. As it looks today, framing should be completed at the end of this week keeping things on schedule.