The plumber was here today and installed two more water heaters, or at least what I believe are water heaters. They all fit into the pan that was previously installed.
More siding work was completed. This is the gable on the west side of the house. It looks good and now is sealed up. Globe Lighting was here with Mark to go over some lighting issues, one of my favorite subjects. Masons continue to do their work and the weather continues to cooperate, cool but not raining.
The masons worked all weekend. They removed the scaffolding that went up to the chimney and finished just about all the prep work for the rest of the house. They started installing the stone on the back side of the house working their way toward the loggia. Weather is cooperating, clear and sunny, and it's supposed to stay nice through Thursday. They should get a lot done this week. We had visits this weekend by cousins Al and Joann and friends Leryl and Vic. Both have recently moved into new homes and information from them has also been helpful during our project.
Siding and masonry are coming along nicely. The south end of the house is now completely done. This is the part of the house you see driving up the road to get here and wondering what it will look like has now changed to just looking really nice.
We had a giant spider, now we have some sort of alien monster in the basement. The duct work is completed and this is one of the end results. Mark has temporary lighting working on the upper level everywhere so we can see even with the shorter days. I discovered Tuesday that my camera will not work without being charged from time to time so technology once again took the upper hand. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. My nephew Geoff is deployed so please remember all of those who are not able to spend Thanksgiving with their families.
Masons are cruising along. This section is completed and they say the entire south end of the house should be done tomorrow. Things will go faster for them for a short time as stone on the back is much lower but they say the loggia will take some time. I can't wait to see that part of the house once they are finished. Heating guys are getting the benefit of the temporary lighting and the attic lights. Much nicer to install duct work when you can actually see.
Siding and soffit covers continue to be installed. The last south end gable is getting close to being finished up with siding and one dormer in the woman cave is totally done with siding and trim.
Friday the chimney cap was installed. It finishes the chimney but more importantly it seals it up so that water doesn't come in.
Mark worked Saturday and Sunday so he's making a lot of head way especially since most of that time he's had the house to himself. There is now a sub-panel near the mechanical room so the heating system can be hooked up. Many of the light fixtures and outlets are wired and some of those are now 'hot'. We have working attic lights that pretty much light up the main floor since there's no ceiling to block them. Some of the kitchen lights are also now working. They look so good we may skip the trim and just leave them like they are. Just kidding of course. Working outlets make it easier as workers don't have to run extension cords all the way outside to the temporary power. Weather is wet and windy but with things getting closed up, it's much nicer to work at least inside the house.
The masons finished this wall under the master bath window. They got quite a bit done on the next section of south wall too.
Siding was put on this wall that actually won't be seen much. It's the garage gable that is toward the house. A lot of angle cuts.
These are the french doors with side lights that go out onto the screened porch. It's going to give us a great view from a wide area inside the house. We're getting it closed in and it will be warmer without the wind blowing through. They are also installing the other exterior doors although a lot of them are temporary doors. Heating continues to be installed as well as electrical. They also installed a two piece cap on the chimney.
Siding application continues, this on the south end of the house. Weather has cooperated with rain at night but for the most part letting up during the day. Wind did remove one piece of Jumbo Tex.
Mark keeps bringing wire to the electrical panel. He says he will be working Saturday.
Front gable is now covered with siding. This is one of the gables that gets two types with shake siding. I like how it turned out.
A new van showed up today. We now have some more pipe running through the house for the central vacuum system. We picked the self storing hose option so we don't have to carry a hose up and down the stairs. There are three of these access points, two upstairs and one down. When you are finished cleaning you just put your hand over the end of the hose and it sucks itself right back into the wall.
Siding is going up on the house, south end first. We are getting a better idea of what the finished look will be.
Masons got this wall on the front finished. The only thing left is the trim around the windows. We like the look of the stone which is a good thing as this is next to the front door. They broke down their scaffolding and moved it to the back of the house as we are expecting wind tonight with another approaching storm. Hope it doesn't get too carried away.
The weather cooperated on Tuesday and the masons made progress on the front walls. Their work is turning out to be very nice.
Carpenters got started on siding and trim. Today was all trim work. Soffit and eave enclosures are being put up and we like the look of the material selected.
Trim boards are also being cut and installed. Note the arched window, this one in the master bath. It is one of the windows with a bronze grid and the first of the arched windows with grids installed.
Masons have the stone climbing up the wall. Their prep work is done all the way around the south end of the house. It was VERY windy today. Their tarp that is tied to the top of the scaffold acted like a sail and nearly lifted it off the ground.
More can lights were put in place on the screened porch. Mark is stringing a lot of wire so they will all work.
Carpenters were also here today getting the outside walls ready for siding. Some of the siding and trim were delivered today so they will start putting it up tomorrow. They are accommodating my request to start on the south end where most of the weather hits. Flashing was also put on the tops of the beams on the north facing deck.
The masons worked today, Saturday. They may be back tomorrow too. The weather will dictate when they are here. Today was nice but chilly, perfect they said for their work. They got high enough on this wall so we could see the first of the window trim. It doesn't show well in this picture but since they worked until dark I had to use the flash.
I think we should have purchased stock in the can light company. These four are on the upper level back porch. Can lights have been a topic of discussion with lighting people, cabinet maker and electrician. We say too many, they say not enough. We usually give in but it's amazing how many there will be installed.
The last of the incoming pipes is for propane. Inside the house the fireplace and back up water heating will use propane. There will also be a few things outside using propane but that hasn't been all sorted out yet. So that's the last of the posts from my time away. Thanks to everyone for checking in.
Two of my nephews have a metal fabrication business and they made this pan for our house. There are three tanks, one of which is in place. The pan is dual purpose. First it contains any leak that may occur and directs it to the floor drain without any wandering around. Second is that we are going to install a device called WAGS which stands for 'water and gas shutoff'. When it senses water in the pan it shuts off the water supply and the gas. With this pan, we can install one safety valve as it will sense water regardless of which tank leaks. At least that's the theory. I'll give them a plug; their company is Solid Form Fabrication in McMinnville and yes that's a stainless steel pan.
If you've ever wondered how electricians keep things straight, they simply write it on the wall. Mark is happy that framers and plumbers are getting out of his way. Heating guys will also be done soon.
Yup, we are even getting a dryer vent. No more wash board for Diana.
When I got home Thursday afternoon there was no place for me to park. Masons, plumbers, carpenters, electrician and PGE were all here. Josh was pleased with himself that he made it all happen. PGE had the road blocked so they could install the new transformer, which they got done. Mark now has power inside the house and will get some of the outlets hooked up so the temporary power box and all those extension cords can go away.
The last of the in floor heat tubing was installed under the floor of the woman cave. They are getting very close to being done with the system.
Heating manifold is full so they must have all the lines run. I'm not sure how many feet of tubing have been installed but it's a ton.
This is JW himself installing the water storage tank for the in floor heat. He's a man of few words but knows heating for sure.
This is a good shot of the prep the masons have been doing. Jumbo Tex against the wall, then mesh and then a grit sealer that I'm not sure the name of.
Then finally the mortar and stone. We are having a dry stack install and it's 'country ledgestone' from Owens in 'shale' color.
This chase is behind where the cook top will be when we have a kitchen. They are managing to get it filled with ducts and pipes.
For those of you wondering why there have been no posts for a while, it's because I was in Montana hunting with my son Bobby. You will notice there are no pictures of new trophies but you know what they say about the worst day hunting. We still had fun and I really enjoy the time with Bob. House work continued while I was away and Diana took pictures for me to keep things up to date. The last of the windows were delivered and the three top windows in the office are shown installed in this picture. They have grids that are bronze and not a standard grid for Jeld Wen and that's why they took longer to get here. They are very subtle from the outside and I like the look.
Doors also arrived and this is door number one to be installed. It comes out of the man cave and onto the lower back porch.
Looking into the man cave the center arch was completed as well as the insulating board covering the in floor heating tubes. One of the heating guys is cutting more of this insulation.
Our fireplace was delivered and installed. It will be a while before we can enjoy a fire though.
Masons completed their work on the chimney and this is a good look at what the stone will look like. They did a ton of prep work during the week too.
Our bathtub is in place. Not usable yet but still it's where it belongs.
Heating install continues and lines keep getting attached to the manifold. These lines are all for upper floor heating.
The first of the stone was applied today. I know it's not a lot of stone but it is the start of another phase of our project. Sam has been back on site moving dirt and getting final grades in place. Fire sprinkler heads are all in place and tested. Framers are working on the last of their work in the basement and Mark is trying to figure out where to put all the switches or not put some of them in at all.
Framers got the area framed in for our bathtub and shower. The tub has been here for a week or so and now it has a place to go. They are almost clear of the upper level and then they can finish the basement.
Masonry prep is moving along. It appears they will be ready for the stone when it actually arrives.
Mark has the breaker box mounted up and is pulling wire, at least on one end of the house. It will be easier for him once the framers are out of the way. Heating guys were also working today and nearly have all the floor tubing fastened in place.
This is the fire place shelf we picked up over the weekend. It was cut from a juniper tree in Central Oregon. We think this will be the underneath side of the shelf.